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PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33310

PERMIT NO. 1179

Fort Lauderdale approves

$2M payment

to protester shot in eye

with rubber bullet

PAGE 12

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024

VOL. 53 NO. 45 $1.00

Broward Judge

wins Bar Association

honors for ‘profound

and positive’ impact

Daniel Penny Acquitted in

Subway Chokehold Death

of Jordan Neely,

Sparking Fresh Outrage

A MESSAGE FROM

THE PUBLISHER

MICHAEL A. ROBINSON

Submitted by Jesse Scheckner

(Source: Florida Politics )

Michael A. Robinson, a longtime Judge with

the 17th Judicial Circuit in Broward County,

just earned honors from the Virgil Hawkins

Florida Chapter National Bar Association.

The organization bestowed Robinson

the Justice Peggy A. Quince Judicial

Excellence Award for his “outstanding service

and significant contribution to the fair

administration of justice for all people.”

Judge Charlene E. Honeywell, a senior

district Judge with the U.S. District Court of

the Middle District of Florida, also received

the award.

(Cont’d on page 12)

The case has drawn comparisons to the infamous 1984 incident involving Bernhard Goetz, a white man

who shot four Black teenagers on a New York City subway after claiming he believed they were trying to

rob him.

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior

National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

Daniel Penny, the former Marine who

placed Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold

on a New York City subway, was acquitted

Monday of criminally negligent homicide.

Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man with a

documented history of mental illness, died on

May 1, 2023, in an incident that drew national

attention and ignited weeks of protests over

issues of mental health, public safety, and

racial justice.

The acquittal came after a jury of seven

women and five men deliberated for five days.

Their decision followed a deadlock on a more

serious manslaughter charge, leading Judge

Maxwell Wiley to dismiss it on Friday. Penny,

26, who faced up to four years in prison,

walked free after the jury found no unanimous

consensus on his criminal liability.

Neely’s final moments were captured on

bystander video, showing Penny restraining

him with a chokehold for nearly six minutes.

Witnesses testified that Neely, a onetime

Michael Jackson impersonator, had

been shouting on the train, expressing his

desperation, hunger, and desire to return to

jail. His erratic behavior allegedly frightened

some passengers, and Penny grabbed Neely

and placed him in a chokehold.

The case has drawn comparisons to the

infamous 1984 incident involving Bernhard

Goetz, a white man who shot four Black

teenagers on a New York City subway after

claiming he believed they were trying to rob

him. Goetz’s acquittal on attempted murder

charges, despite being convicted of illegal

firearm possession, sparked fierce debates on

race, vigilantism, and self-defense. Much like

the Goetz case, Penny’s acquittal has again

highlighted the persistent racial disparities

in how the justice system perceives and

punishes acts of force, particularly when the

victims are Black.

The Trial of Daniel

Penny IN the Death

of Jordan Neely:

A Reflection of

America’s Divisions

…‘Truly I tell you, whatever

you did for one of the least

of these brothers and sisters

of mine, you did for me.’---

Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.

The legal trial of Daniel Penny,

a former Marine, in the death of

Jordan Neely, a homeless Black man,

has become yet another flashpoint

in America’s ongoing struggle with

its deepest divides—race, class,

mental health, and justice. The tragic

encounter on a New York subway

between Penny and Neely has sparked

outrage, debate, and reflection, forcing

the nation to confront uncomfortable

truths about who we value, who we

fear, and how justice is applied.

(Cont’d on page 12) (Cont’d on page 3)

Miami-Dade County Commission Vice Chairman

Kionne L. McGhee Honors Dr. Desmond

Meade with Street Naming Ceremony

Interim President William McCormick

Gets Vote of Confidence from FMU Board

Submitted by Wands Wright

MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. -- Recently

the Florida Memorial University (FMU)

Board of Trustees unanimously cast a

vote of confidence in Interim President

William McCormick, recognizing his

exceptional leadership and strategic vision

during his first six months in office. Under

McCormick’s guidance, the university

has embarked on a transformational plan

that is steering FMU towards a promising

future.

Since assuming the interim presidency,

McCormick has worked diligently to foster an

environment of fiscal oversight, collaboration,

innovation, and academic excellence. His

commitment to enhancing student experiences Submitted by Jessica Garrett Modkins

and expanding academic programs has

already begun to yield positive results.

The Trustees commended his proactive

approach in addressing the challenges faced

by the university, as well as his ability

to inspire faculty, staff, and students.

“The Board is confident in President

McCormick’s leadership and his ability to navigate

FMU through this pivotal time,” said Board Chair Walt

(Cont’d on page 5) (Cont’d on page 12)

The Westside Gazette Newspaper

In a powerful and emotional ceremony on Friday,

December 6, Miami-Dade County Commission Vice Chairman

Kionne L. McGhee honored Dr. Desmond Meade, a visionary

advocate for justice and equality, by renaming a portion of

Southwest 268th Street (Moody Drive) as Desmond Meade

Street. The event, held at 26700 S. Federal Highway, marked

a significant moment in Miami-Dade’s history, recognizing

a man whose personal journey exemplifies resilience,

@TheWestsideGazetteNewspaper

Thursday

Dec 12 TH

Fri

77°

67°

Cloudy

Sunrise: 6:48am

77°

68°

79°

69°

55°

74°

Sunset: 5:28pm

Sat Sun Mon Tues

80°

69°

WESTSIDE GAZETTE IS A MEMBER:

National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)

Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA)

Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)

80°

68°


B-CU

concession being the postponement of painting and

stripping the basketball court – a minor hiccup until

PAGE 2 • DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024

okman University more favorable weather prevails.

gnificant day of unity Dr. William Berry, Provost and Acting President,

Thursday, Jan. 18, expressed excitement and gratitude, stating, “We are

l and Libby Johnson excited about this project and grateful to all those who

Civic Engagement

momentous occasion

er students, faculty,

, and friends to

the University’s

lishment – securing

position in Home

gious “Retool Your

ition and receiving a

,000 grant dedicated

ancement.

ler temperatures and

the collective spirit

ost 135 participants,

epot Daytona Beach

r Therese Watsonforces

in yesterday’s participated in the vote for B-CU. These enhancements

ort. Their mission will help create more vibrant and engaging spaces for

, involving projects our students to retreat on campus for a brain break or

ssembling bookcases find inspiration through the downtime.”

tdoor dining sets to Home Depot’s “Retool Your School” program,

rcade

Empowering

games, foosball established Communities

in 2009, has been a beacon for positive change,

ball hoops, hockey Through providing CPAR over $9.25 million in campus improvement

tennis tables. Even grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities

er conditions The Children’s couldn’t Services (HBCUs). Council Beyond of the Broward competition, the Office of Alumni

ication, County with proudly the only supports

Continue

Community

reading

Participatory

online at: thewestsidegazette.com

www.ulbroward.org/donate

Action Research (CPAR), an initiative that empowers

residents to create meaningful change.

iveness after Biden credited the success The president outlined the

ated

CPAR

service.

unites

of these

community

relief efforts

members

to the broader achievements of his

e to to 30,000 identify corrective local challenges, measures develop taken administration in supporting

have actionable been to solutions, address and broken implement student students and borrowers,

or lasting at least improvements. loan programs. He asserted

Santa’s

including achieving the most

ut receiving By amplifying that these YOUR fixes voice, have CPAR removed significant increases in Pell

ncome-driven ensures that barriers programs preventing and initiatives Reindeer

borrowers Grants in over a decade, aimed

will truly now see reflect from the accessing needs of the Broward relief they List Continue created reading by online at:

n. County residents. were entitled to under the law. Kamar thewestsidegazette.com

Jackson

Join the Urban League of Broward County

in transforming lives by supporting students,

equipping entrepreneurs, and creating

pathways to success. Together, we’re building

stronger, more equitable communities.

Fuel brighter futures today—

donatenow[www.ulbroward.org/donate]

www.thewestsidegazette.com

Empower Education &

Entrepreneurship!

College

Prep

adjective

Word of

the Week

anachronistic

(adjective)

being at rest; inactive or

“The old-fashioned

motionless; quiet; typewriter looked still: a

anachronistic in the

quiescent mind.

something is out of time

or belongs to a different

historical period, essentially

meaning it seems old

fashioned or outdated

HOW TO USE IN A SENTENCE:

modern office filled with

computers.”

quiescent

[ kwee-es-uhnt, kwahy- ]

HOW TO USE QUIESCENT IN A

SENTENCE

It’s possible that other volcanoes with

long quiescentperiods may also have

subtle but protracted warning periods

as well.

Leia’s Mathematics

Corner

Emma had 47 apples in her basket. She

gave 29 apples to her friends. How many

apples does Emma have left in her basket?

362

+ 82

371

- 16

Created by Leia Palmer 3rd grader!

Word Search

List Compiled

by Kamar

Jackson,

Freshmen

at Dillard

High School


Deeply Rooted

11-Year-Old Girl Narrates How A Teacher Joined Students

In Racial Taunts During Class: ‘She Laughed So Hard’

www.thewestsidegazette.com

By Gee NY

(Source: Shine My Crown)

DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024 • PAGE 3

The DeSoto County School District has

launched an investigation after 11-year-old

Amaya Foster, a sixth grader, reported that

her teacher, Taylor Wiles, made a racist joke

comparing Black people to animals during class.

Amaya recounted the incident during an

interview, stating that the teacher joined

students who were already making inappropriate

jokes.

“Ms. Wiles goes, ‘Hey, y’all want to hear a

dark humor joke?‘ Then she said, ‘What’s the

difference between a Black man and an animal? An

animal is there for its family,’” Amaya recalled.

According to Amaya, the teacher laughed audibly

after making the comment.

Amaya’s mother, Olivia Jones, reported the incident

to school authorities, expressing her concern about the

harmful impact such remarks can have on children.

“I don’t want my daughter to become a statistic,”

Jones said, referencing cases of bullying that have led

to severe mental health issues among students.

In response to the allegations, the DeSoto County

School District released a statement affirming its

commitment to fostering a “safe, inclusive, and

respectful environment for all students and staff.”

Jay-Z Denies Sexual

Assault Allegations,

Accuses Lawyer Tony

Buzbee of Blackmail

A MESSAGE FROM

THE PUBLISHER from FP

Two Americas on Display

On one side stands Daniel Penny, a young white

man hailed by some as a hero for intervening during

what he claimed was a threatening situation. He

is described as a veteran embodying discipline and

duty, with a defense team backed by significant

financial contributions. On the other side is Jordan

Neely, a Black man struggling with mental illness

and homelessness, remembered for his Michael

Jackson impersonations but cast by others as

a vagrant whose erratic behavior invoked fear.

These two narratives represent starkly different

Americas: one defined by privilege and opportunity,

the other by poverty and despair.

The details of the case are chilling. Neely,

reportedly in the throes of a mental health crisis,

was restrained by Penny in a chokehold for over

six minutes—an act that led to Neely’s death. The

incident was captured on video, igniting public

outrage and calls for accountability. Yet, as the

trial unfolds, it becomes clear that this case is not

just about the actions of two men but about the

systems that shaped their lives and the biases that

influence how we perceive them.

AMAYA FOSTER AND OLIVIA JONES

The district added that it takes such concerns

seriously and is actively investigating the

matter. Amaya has been reassigned to a different

classroom to ensure she no longer interacts with

the teacher involved.

While the district investigates, Jones is calling

for accountability and hopes the incident sparks

greater awareness about the potential harm of

such actions.

“Comments like these have a severe impact on

people’s lives,” she said.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the

district has yet to announce any disciplinary

actions against the teacher.

Jay-Z urged Buzbee to pursue a criminal

complaint instead of a civil suit if the

allegations were genuine.

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior

National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

Jay-Z has forcefully denied allegations of sexual

assault involving a minor, calling the claims a

calculated attempt at Blackmail. The accusation

emerged from a civil lawsuit filed by an anonymous

accuser, who alleges the music mogul, along with

Sean “Diddy” Combs, raped her at an MTV Video

Music Awards after-party in 2000. The accuser was

13 years old at the time.

In a statement to E! News, Jay-Z, whose real

name is Shawn Carter, expressed the personal toll

the allegation takes on his family, particularly his

children: 12-year-old Blue Ivy and 7-year-old twins

Rumi and Sir.

“My only heartbreak is for my family,” he said.

“My wife and I will have to sit our children down,

one of whom is at the age where her friends will

surely see the press and ask questions about the

nature of these claims and explain the cruelty and

greed of people.”

He added, “I mourn yet another loss of innocence.

Children should not have to endure such at their

young age. It is unfair to have to try to understand

inexplicable degrees of malice meant to destroy

families and human spirit.”

Lawsuit and Response

The lawsuit, originally filed in October and

refiled in New York last week, alleges that Jay-Z

raped the girl while Combs and another individual

referred to as “Celebrity B” watched. The suit

claims the girl was taken to the after-party under

false pretenses by a limousine driver who said she

“fit what Diddy was looking for.” After denying her

entry to the awards ceremony, the driver allegedly

invited her to the party.

Jay-Z vehemently denied the allegations in a

statement released via his Roc Nation platform. He

specifically called out the accuser’s lawyer, Tony

Buzbee, for attempting to extort him.

Justice Department and Memphis

to address the results of a

scathing police investigation

Bodycam footage of Tyre Nichols after the severe beating that lead

to an investigation into the Memphis Police.

Submitted by Adrian Sainz, Jonathan Mattise and Alanna Durkin Richer

(Source: Miami Times)

The fatal beating of Tyre Nichols by officers after he ran away from a January

2023 traffic stop exposed serious problems in the Memphis Police Department,

from its use of excessive force to its mistreatment of Black people in the majority-

Black city, a federal investigation found.

A report released Wednesday revealed the findings of a 17-month Department

of Justice investigation into Memphis police that began after officers kicked,

punched and hit Nichols with a baton. Members of the Justice Department’s Civil

Rights Division plan to discuss the report during a Thursday news conference,

after which city officials are expected to offer a rebuttal at their own press

availability.

Nichols was Black, as are the former officers involved in his beating. His death

led to national protests, raised the volume on calls for police reforms in the U.S.,

and directed intense scrutiny towards the Memphis Police Department, more

than half of whose members are Black, including Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis.

The federal probe looked at the department’s “pattern or practice” of how

it uses force and conducts stops, searches and arrests, and whether it engages

in discriminatory policing. The city said in a letter released before the report

Wednesday that it would not agree to negotiate federal oversight of its police

department until it could review and challenge the investigation’s findings

The investigation found that officers would punch, kick and use other force

against people who were already handcuffed or restrained, which it described

as unconstitutional but which were nearly always approved after the fact

by supervisors. Officers resort to force likely to cause pain or injury “almost

immediately in response to low-level, nonviolent offenses, even when people are

not aggressive,” investigators determined.

“Memphis police officers regularly violate the rights of the people they are

sworn to serve,” according to the report, which noted that Black people were

disproportionately affected by such violations.

Memphis police cite or arrest Black people for loitering or curfew violations

at 13 times the rate it does for white people and cite or arrest Black people for

disorderly conduct at 3.6 times the rate of white people, the report said.

Police video showed officers pepper spraying Nichols and hitting him with a

Taser before he ran from a traffic stop. Five officers chased down Nichols just

steps from his home as he called out for his mother. The video showed the officers

milling about, talking and laughing as Nichols struggled with his injuries.

“My lawyer received a Blackmail

attempt, called a demand letter, from

a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee,” Jay-Z

said. “What he had calculated was the

nature of these allegations and the

public scrutiny would make me want to

settle. No sir, it had the opposite effect!

It made me want to expose you for the

fraud you are in a VERY public fashion.

So no, I will not give you ONE RED

PENNY!!”

Jay-Z urged Buzbee to pursue a

criminal complaint instead of a civil suit

if the allegations were genuine. “These

allegations are so heinous in nature

that I implore you to file a criminal

complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever

would commit such a crime against a

minor should be locked away, would you

not agree? These alleged victims would

deserve real justice if that were the

case.”

Combs’ Denial

Diddy’s representatives also denied

the accusations. “This amended

complaint and the recent extortion

lawsuit against Mr. Buzbee exposes his

Continue reading online at:

thewestsidegazette.com

A Divided Jury and a Divided Nation

The jury—composed of seven women and

five men, nine of whom are white and three

who are not—is emblematic of the racial and

cultural divides that permeate this case. Their

deliberations will undoubtedly be shaped by their

own experiences, perceptions, and implicit biases.

How will they interpret Penny’s actions? Was he

a Good Samaritan trying to protect others, or was

his response driven by unconscious prejudices

about race and class?

The racial dynamics are undeniable. Had the

roles been reversed—had a Black man choked a

white man to death—how different would public

perception, media coverage, and legal outcomes

be? Would the narrative shift from heroism

to criminality, from Christian benevolence to

unwarranted aggression?

Mental Health and the Cost of Neglect

Jordan Neely’s death also shines a glaring

spotlight on the failures of America’s mental

health system. Neely’s struggles were welldocumented;

he was on a city list of individuals

in need of urgent intervention. Yet, like so

many others, he fell through the cracks of an

overwhelmed and underfunded system. His

death is a sobering reminder that homelessness

and mental illness are often criminalized rather

than addressed with compassion and resources.

Penny’s defenders argue that he acted in the

absence of law enforcement, stepping in to protect

subway passengers from what he perceived as

a threat. But should the burden of addressing

mental health crises fall on individuals

untrained for such situations? Neely’s life, and

Penny’s subsequent actions, highlight the dire

consequences of systemic neglect.

Justice or Just Us?

This case forces us to ask: what does

justice look like in a nation so fractured

along racial and socio-economic lines? For

many, Penny’s trial is about more than

his guilt or innocence—it is a referendum

on how America values Black lives, how

it treats its most vulnerable, and how it

reconciles its ideals with its realities.

For others, Penny is a scapegoat, a

man who acted in a moment of fear and

uncertainty, now facing the full weight of

a polarized nation’s anger. His trial has

become a stage for debates about race,

privilege, and the right to self-defense.

Moving Forward

The outcome of this trial, whatever

it may be, will not provide closure to

the larger issues it represents. Whether

Daniel Penny is found guilty or acquitted,

the deeper wounds of race, inequality, and

systemic failure remain.

As the verdict was announced, I

couldn’t help but reflect that justice is not

confined to the courtroom. It extends to

the society we create and the values we

choose to uphold. Justice means ensuring

that everyone—Black or white, LGBTQ+

or straight, Muslim or Jewish, rich or poor,

whether living in the White House or on

the streets—deserves a fair and equitable

judicial system. Can we truly say that this

ideal was realized in this case—or in so

many others like it?


PAGE 4 • DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024

Westside Gazette

Calendar of Events

Deeply Rooted

LOCAL HAPPENINGS IN

BROWARD MIAMI-DADE

AND PALM BEACH

COUNTIES

HAVE YOUR COMMUNITY EVENTS

PLACED ON THIS PAGE

email:wgproof@thewestsidegazette.com

*********************************

Celebrate Announcements:

Call -- (954) 525-1489

Happy Birthday * Weddings

* Anniversaries

Retirements * Congratulations

www.thewestsidegazette.com

SHINE A LIGHT ON COMBATTING HATE

“Shine a Light” is the signature event for the Jewish

Community Relations Council of Broward County/Alcee

L. Hastings Broward Black-Jewish Alliance. Each year,

the organized Jewish community and allies gather at

the David Posnack JCC (5850 S. Pine Island Rd, Davie,

FL 33328) to celebrate the holidays and what matters

most: peace.

The free event on December 20 at 1:30 p.m., will

recognize leaders who combat antisemitism and hate

in all forms, including Bobby R. Henry, Sr., publisher of The

Westside Gazette. Other honorees include: Maor Elbaz-

Starinsky, Consul General of Israel in Miami, Anna Fusco,

Broward Teachers Union, Randy Katz, U.S. Attorney’s

Office, Southern District of Florida, Major Renea Peterson,

Broward Sheriff’s Office, Veronica N. Walker, Broward

State Attorney’s Office. Together, they represent the

diversity, strength, and tenacity of our community.

The event will feature music from Black Jewish recording

artist Alexander Star & the Golden People along with

delicious holiday treats.

To register, please visit: https://jewishbroward.org/event/

shine-a-light-2024/

African-American

Research Library

and Cultural Center

2650 Sistrunk

Blvd,

Fort Lauderdale, FL

33311

A TASTE OF JAZZ DECEMBER 12 | 7 PM

Join the Gold Coast Jazz Quartet as they explore entertaining

and educational encounters with the musical

genre, accompanied by wine tastings. Jazz is the original

music of America and is the basis for the popular music of

the past and today.

The Gold Coast Jazz Society has been a major presenter

of jazz concerts, jazz education and jazz outreach programs

in Broward County since 1992. Get your tickets now

for this monthly event and join us from 7 - 7:30 pm for our

wine tasting followed by music from 7:30 - 8:30 pm

LYRICS LAB DECEMBER 18 | 8 PM

Step into a vibrant and unforgettable open-mic night in

Pompano Beach, where creativity comes alive! Whether

you want to perform or simply soak in the atmosphere with

a cocktail, you’ll be surrounded by inspiration and support.

Bring your best poems, captivating stories, catchy songs,

or witty jokes, and let our dynamic house band and charismatic

host, Erick Carter, elevate your experience. Join us

for a magical evening where art meets community, and

every voice truly shines!

LUNCH WITH ART: LIVE MUSIC EDITION DECEMBER 19 | 12:15

PM

Prepare to be captivated by the extraordinary talents of

Marquis Sklenar! A rising star whose musical journey, from

Berklee College of Music to the vibrant Miami reggae

scene, shines through her diverse covers, original tracks,

and a heartfelt R&B album, “2 am”—and we can’t wait to

see what she creates next!

Join us for an exhilarating performance that promises to

uplift your spirit! Bring your lunch and make it a festive occasion—dance,

sing along, or simply unwind and soak in

the enchanting atmosphere while mingling with fellow

music lovers. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience

the magic of live music, come and be part of something

truly special!

CULTURAL DANCE SAMPLER DECEMBER 14 & 28 | 12:00 PM

Get moving and explore the world through dance! Join

us every 2nd and 4th Saturday from November 2024 to

April 2025 for an exciting series of dance classes at the

Green Market. Each session includes a cultural heritage

presentation followed by an instructor-led class, where

you’ll learn everything from hip-hop to belly dance, swing,

and more—perfect for all ages and skill levels! Don’t miss

this unique opportunity to dance, have fun, and connect

with culture.

CULTURAL DANCE SAMPLER DECEMBER 14 & 28 | 12:00 PM

Get moving and explore the world through dance! Join

us every 2nd and 4th Saturday from November 2024 to

April 2025 for an exciting series of dance classes at the

Green Market. Each session includes a cultural heritage

presentation followed by an instructor-led class, where

you’ll learn everything from hip-hop to belly dance, swing,

and more—perfect for all ages and skill levels! Don’t miss

this unique opportunity to dance, have fun, and connect

with culture.

Follow @TheWestsideGazette Newspaper on Social Media

+ WATCH episodes of the 2-Minute Warning via YT or FB

STAY

CONNECTED --

www.thewestsidegazette.com


www.thewestsidegazette.com

Deeply Rooted

Hometown Shero: From Fort Lauderdale to

Leading the Charge in the U.S. Army

In the bustling halls of a Fort Lauderdale magnet school,

a pivotal moment quietly unfolded for a young girl named

Rhone. Little did she know, a seemingly small decision by

her mother—signing her up for the school’s Air Force ROTC

program—would set her on a path to becoming one of the

Army’s most accomplished leaders. Today, Lieutenant Colonel

Rhone serves as the Battalion Commander of the 302d Signal

Battalion, headquartered at Fort Detrick, Maryland, playing a

critical role in ensuring the digital infrastructure that powers

America’s military operations.

A Path Less Traveled

Unlike many of her military peers, LTC Rhone didn’t grow

Meet the graduate … Dr. Susanne L. Timmons!!!

By Lufay Timmons Licen,

Author

The Family of the late

Hubert and Alberta Timmons

proudly announces the

graduation of Dr. Susanne

L. Timmons, Ph.D. from

Walden University. Dr.

Timmons earned her doctoral

degree in Public Policy and

Administration, with a

concentration in Law and

Policy. She is also a published

author, recognized for her

work titled, “Influence of

Incomplete and Unverified

Vote-by-Mail Ballots on Mail-

In Voting.”

In addition to her Ph.D.,

Dr. Timmons holds a

Master’s Degree in Public

Administration from Nova

Southeastern University and

a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal

Studies from Purdue Global

University.

With over 25 years of

experience, her career has

spanned the private, nonprofit,

and public sectors.

Currently Dr. Timmons

serves as the Director of

Human Resources at the

Broward County Supervisor

of Elections Office.

Dr. Timmons is also an

active member of the New

Mount Olive Baptist Church

in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

As a caring family member,

she deeply values her loved

ones and is dedicated to

guiding her nieces and

DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024 • PAGE 5

up steeped in military traditions. Her connection to the armed

forces was limited to two uncles: one a senior non-commissioned

officer in the Army, the other a chief petty officer in the Navy.

But her journey began to take shape when, as a high school

freshman, her mother recognized qualities in her—teamwork,

discipline, and a desire for purpose—that aligned perfectly

with ROTC.

“I was sick when it came time to register for courses,”

Rhone recalls, “and my mom felt that [ROTC] was aligned

with my character—wanting to be part of a team, wanting to

be part of an organization with traditions, acquiring skills and

experience, and using them with purpose.” The next year, a move to a new high school offering only

Army ROTC sealed her destiny. By the time she graduated

from Florida A&M University and was commissioned as a

Signal Officer in 2004, her future was firmly in focus.

nephews, inspiring them

toward a brighter future.

We are confident that

her parents and loved

ones in heaven are joyfully

watching over her during this

momentous achievement.

“Dr. Timmons, I wish

you a future filled with

prosperity, vibrant health,

and many successes!” -- Lufay

Timmons Licen – Sister

“You Rock! You did it!

You deserve it! You continued

to push onward and upward

until you completed course

requirements to earn your

degree. Congratulations

Doctor!” --Chandra

Timmons – Sister

“All my life I have looked

up to you. You are such a

great definition of what

drive, perseverance, truth,

and determination and more,

mean. Thank you for being

you. Congratulations on

your new journey!” --Lisa G.

Timmons – Sister

“Swoozers, Congratulations

on this incredible

The City of Fort Lauderdale 2024

Commission Swearing-In Ceremony

achievement! While less than

2% of the world’s population

has a doctorate, now 10% of

our family does. Being the first

to publish your dissertation

is such an amazing

accomplishment. You have

set a new bar, and I’m beyond

proud of you. Your hard

work, dedication, and passion

have led you here. It is truly

inspiring to see your dreams

realized. I cannot wait to see

the impact your work will have

and to celebrate all the success

that lies ahead. You are truly

a trailblazer in our family.

I am so honored to witness

this moment with you.” -- Dr.

Jessika Timmons – Niece

“A title well earned, and

well deserved. The intense

energy, diligent work ethic, far

exceeds average. I witnessed

the earnest focus that you

employed, depriving yourself

of simple pleasures. You

motivate me. I love you for

that! All the best.” --Kenneth

Timmons – Brother

This pass week marked a

memorable milestone as all

five commissioners officially

took their oaths to serve and

represent our community.

We extend our heartfelt

thanks to everyone who

joined us in celebrating

this special occasion!

Congratulations to:

Mayor Dean Trantalis,

Commissioner John C.

Herbst, Vice Mayor Steve

Glassman, District 2,

Commissioner Pam Beasley-

Pittman, Commissioner

Ben Sorensen. Here’s to a

successful term ahead!

Rising Through the Ranks

LTC Rhone’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Over the years, she has deployed in support of Operation

Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation

Freedom’s Sentinel. Her assignments have spanned the

globe, including roles as the U.S. Army Forces Command G-6

operations officer at Fort Liberty, NC; the U.S. Forces Korea

J-6 Joint Network Operations Branch Chief; and the Brigade

S-6 for the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade in Germany.

Her current role as Battalion Commander of the 302d Signal

Battalion places her at the forefront of critical Department of

Defense Information Network (DoDIN) operations. Her team

ensures secure, reliable communication for everyone from

the President to the Warfighter, underscoring the immense

responsibility she shoulders daily.

Breaking Barriers

In a field historically dominated by men, LTC Rhone has

faced her share of challenges. But her approach has always

been to let her work speak for itself. “As a woman in this career

field, there are often assumptions—that you’re not as physically

capable or technically competent,” she says. “Once we get to

know each other, those assumptions are proven false. Showing

that you are competent allows you to build trust among your

peers, subordinates, and leadership, regardless of gender.”

Trust is a cornerstone of her leadership philosophy. “You

may be the smartest person in the room, but if people in the

room don’t trust you, that will hinder your leadership of the

organization,” she explains.

Inspiring the Next Generation

For young women considering a future in the military, LTC

Rhone offers words of encouragement. “The Army provides

discipline and shows you how to hone those skills that you’re

not even aware you have,” she says. “One of the greatest things

you can take away from joining the Army is the individual

coaching and development.”

And for those wondering if it’s possible to balance a

demanding career with a personal life, she shares advice that

has stayed with her throughout her journey: “I had a male

supervisor who sat me down once and said, you can have a

family and you can serve at the highest levels in the Army.

Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do both.”

A Legacy in the Making

From a modest beginning in Fort Lauderdale to leading

critical operations for the U.S. Army, LTC Rhone’s story is one

of perseverance, leadership, and breaking barriers. Her journey

serves as an inspiring reminder of what can be achieved with

determination, trust, and an unwavering sense of purpose.

For this hometown girl turned trailblazer, the sky’s the

limit -- and she’s showing the next generation how to reach for

it.

aAAA

Westside Health Brief

Marsha Mullings, MPH

December 9, 2024

This Week in Health: Update on Oropouche Outbreak

LIKELIHOOD OF SPREAD TO UNITED STATES

Continental United States

Interim President William McCormick Gets Vote of

Confidence from FMU Board from front page

Weatherington. “His vision for the university not only aims to uphold our tradition of excellence,

but also positions us to meet the demands of a rapidly changing educational landscape. We believe

that with his direction, FMU is on the right path to achieving its goals.”

As part of the transformational plan, McCormick has initiated several key projects aimed at

enhancing the university’s infrastructure, expanding community partnerships, and increasing

student and faculty engagement. These initiatives reflect a deep commitment to fostering a supportive

and dynamic learning environment that equips students for success in their future endeavors.

“Leading FMU during this time has been a tremendous honor,” said McCormick. “I am deeply

grateful for the support of the Board of Trustees and the entire university community. Together,

we will continue to work tirelessly to advance our mission and ensure that FMU remains a beacon

of higher education in South Florida.”

The Board’s vote of confidence reaffirms their belief in McCormick’s leadership and the direction

in which he is taking the university. As FMU continues to implement its transformational plan,

the Board looks forward to seeing the positive impact of these efforts on students, faculty, and the

broader community.

Founded in 1879, Florida Memorial University is the only Historically Black College and

University in South Florida. FMU is a private, coeducational, culturally diverse institution that

offers 26 undergraduate programs, four graduate programs, and several professional programs.

FMU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

(SACSCOC). FMU programs are accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International,

the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, the Computing Accreditation

Commission of ABET, the Florida Department of Education, and the Council on Social Work

Education. FMU has a competitive Inter-Collegiate Athletics program, more than 40 clubs and

organizations, and its ROAR Marching Band is ranked number one in Division II among HBCUs.

Please visit www.fmuniv.edu to learn more about the university.

KEY FACTS ABOUT OROPOUCHE DISEASE

• Oropouche virus disease (Oropouche

fever) is a febrile illness, that is caused

by the Oropouche virus, which is spread

to humans through the bites of infected

biting midges, and possibly some

mosquitoes.

• The Oropouche virus is present mostly

in South America and the Caribbean.

• Since December 2023 more cases were

reported from areas where it was not

previously detected.

• Common symptoms include fever,

severe headache, chills, muscle aches,

and joint pains.

• Oropouche has been linked to

complications in pregnancy, including

fetal death, miscarriage, and

microcephaly in newborns.

• No specific treatments or vaccines are

available for Oropouche virus disease,

and patients should receive supportive

care.

• Although the likelihood of Oropouche

spreading widely in the continental

United States is low because of

differences in climate, types of biting

midges and mosquitoes, and lifestyles

(such as the use of air conditioning),

some cases may occur in limited areas.

• The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) continues to evaluate

the possibility of spread in the

continental United States and will

provide updates as more information

becomes available.

U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico and U.S.

Virgin Islands

It is unknown how widely Oropouche virus

could spread in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin

Islands. Please maintain caution if you plan to

travel in these areas.

Source: CDC;

https://www.cdc.gov/oropouche/causes/inde

x.html

WHO; https://www.who.int/news-room/factsheets/detail/oropouche-virus-disease


PAGE 6 • DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024

WESTSIDE

GAZETTE

Bobby R. Henry, Sr.

PUBLISHER

NEWSPAPER STAFF

Sonia Henry-Robinson

COMPTROLLER

Tawanna C. Taylor

ADMINISTRATIVE

ASST.

Pamela D. Henry

SENIOR EDITOR

Arri D. Henry

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Carma L. Henry

COMMUNITY NEWS

EDITOR

Sylvester “Nunnie’

Robinson SPORTS

Editor

Elizabeth D. Henry

CIRCULATION

MANAGER

NoRegret Media

WEBMASTER

Carma T. Taylor

DIGITAL SPECIALIST

Eric Sears

IT SPECIALIST

Ron Lyons

PHOTOGRAPHER

Levi Henry, Jr.:

PUBLISHER

(Emeritus)

Yvonne Henry:

EDITOR

(Emeritus)

WEBSITE:

www.thewestsidegazette.com

Broward County’s

Largest African

American Owned and

Operated

Newspaper Serving

Broward - Miami-Dade

and Palm Beach Counties

545 N.W. 7th Terrace

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 5304

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310

OFFICE (954) 525-1489

FAX: (954) 525-1861

E-MAIL ADDRESS:

MAIN

wgazette@thewestsidegazette.com

EDITOR

pamlewis@thewestsidegazette.com

COMMUNITY DIGEST

wgproof@thewestsidegazette.com

PUBLISHER

brhsr@thewestsidegazette.com

PROUD MEMBERS OF THE:

NATIONAL NEWSPAPER

PUBLISHERS

ASSOCIATION (NNPA)

AND FLORIDA

ASSOCIATION

OF BLACK OWNED

MEDIA

The Westside Gazette

Newspaper is Published Weekly

by Bi-Ads. Inc. DBA Subscription

Rates: $50 Annual

$1.00 per copy

CREDO -The BlacK Press

beieves that American best

lead the worldaway from

racial and national

antagonisms when it accords

to every person, regarless of

race, color or creed, full human

and legal rights. Hating no

person, feaing no person, the

Black Press strives to help

every person in the firm belief

that all are hurt as long as

anyone is held back.

LETTERS TO THE EDiTOR

GUIDELINES

We welcome letters from the

public.Letters must be signed

with a clearly legible name

along with a compete address

and phone number.

No unsigned letters will be

considered for publication.

The Westside Gazette reserves

the right to edit letters. Letters

should be 500 words or less.

Sistrunk is targeted

for the gentrification

so many Black

neighborhoods

have faced

By Vaughn Wilson

We have seen it over and over again. Here

in Tallahassee, we’ve seen neighborhoods

get bought up and the dynamic of the

residency totally changes from its former

makeup. In Tallahassee, the Frenchtown

area was a bustling center of Black culture.

Small businesses littered the Macomb Street

corridor. It was a hub for social activity,

culture and history.

The first major piece to fall was the

relocation of many of the City of Tallahassee’s operations to the

Renaissance Center. Many small businesses were led to believe

that the building would have affordable rentals for them to be

able to improve their residence on the street. In the end, not a

single one of them occupied the center. Some of those hopeful

small businesses still work in dilapidated conditions right next

door to the newer construction. Some lost a lot in preparing to

make the move to the center.

Around that structure, former businesses and some who had

closed were purchased to build an elaborate student housing

district. The massive buildings took the skyline of the area

and totally changed the look and feel of the area. No longer

are buildings being built on the very edge of Frenchtown,

they are now on the next phase of going deeper into the

neighborhoods. Homes owned by generations of Blacks will

surely be targeted for purchase as the effort moves into the

next phases. The displacement will affect centuries of family

identification with that geographical location.

A scenario eerily similar to that one is happening right

now in Fort Lauderdale. Sistrunk is an area known for

Black culture. The Westside Gazette, a local Black-Owned

Newspaper and a recent transformation of an old grocery store

into a restaurant (Smitty’s Wings Sistrunk) are in jeopardy of

falling victim to gentrification.

There are efforts to bring a multi-housing district to

Sistrunk. These units are not targeted toward the individuals

who currently live in Sistrunk, but much wealthier residents

who are looking for space in land-locked Broward County. It

was a matter of time before investors would target the Black

neighborhood as a potential takeover for residences.

The problem is it would, like Frenchtown, take the entire

dynamics of the residential area away. Businesses would see

increase costs associated with their property. Local residents

would be eventually forced out because where one residency

pops up, others are sure to follow just like Tallahassee’s.

Bobby Henry Sr. sent out a warning in his editorial space

in the Westside Gazette. “Sistrunk Boulevard has always

represented something more than just a street in Fort

Lauderdale. It’s a symbol of our heritage, our resilience, and

our ambition for the future—a destination that proudly reflects

the strength and culture of this community,” he said.

His oration sounds exactly like every oration against the

Renaissance Center and the new housing units which have

changed Frenchtown. You could literally copy and paste

Henry’s words and replace it with Frenchtown and you would

have the exact dialogue that was happening here in the center

of Tallahassee.

Our culture is more than art. Often locations house the

essence of that culture. It is going to take an effort to fight

off business to save Sistrunk from becoming Frenchtown. The

issue is this narrative has happened and will continue to

happen all across this country.

A Miami-based company named the Housing Trust

Group (HTG) is behind the new construction slated for Fort

Lauderdale. With businesses like the Westside Gazette and

Smitty’s Wings embedded in the area, the trust will no doubt

build around them until they are able to force them out. With

the inherent issues operating a Black business, the last thing

you need is investors targeting your area with no regard for the

welfare of the current residents or businesses.

FRANKLY SPEAKING

Judge not lest we be judged!

By W. Frank Wilson

Deeply Rooted

You can’t judge a book by its

cover is a phrase we have heard

all of our lives, but it is obvious

that a certain flight attendant

on a major Airline did not!

A young Black woman boarded

her flight recently and proceeded

to her seat in First Class.

Shortly after taking her seat,

a white Flight Attendant approached

her asking to see her

boarding pass which she produced

and asked, what is the problem? The flight attendant

stated there is a problem; please follow me and the young woman

followed her to the main cabin where she was shown an empty seat.

Once seated and without confrontation the young Black

woman took out her phone and silently placed a call.

Sometime later into the flight the flight attendant was called

into the cockpit and thoroughly reprimanded because the young

Black woman was a major stockholder and board member.

The flight attendant assumed and made a judgement based

upon appearance.

Have you ever been judged by your race sex or ethnicity?

Do you judge folk by their race, sex or ethnicity?

Needless to say the flight attendant joined the ranks of the

unemployed!

We all form instant opinions about people, places and things,

but most of us are smart enough to reserve acting until we get

more information.

www.thewestsidegazette.com

The Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reserves

the right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers that

may not necessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of

The Westside Gazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the

responsible individual(s) who submit comments published in this

newspaper.

Democracy’s Achilles’ Heel: Humankind

“Democracy’s Achilles’ Heel is only vulnerable to

Humankind when its people turn a “blind eye” to the

U.S. Constitution, the rule of law, and commit their

allegiance to a demagogue!”

John Johnson II.. 12/12/24

By John Johnson II

America has become the most potent

Democracy throughout the world and

the reigning nuclear power. It created

the NATO Alliance, a collective defense

agreement among North American

and European countries. It has further

strengthened its ability to defend

itself from other adversarial Countries

with nuclear weapons. Despite having

prevailed in every major war, beginning

with the American Revolution of 1812,

and continuing through World War II

of 1941, Democracy’s Achilles’ Heel remains Humankind!

The question is, “How could democracy’s Achilles’ Heel reside

within its creator, Humankind?” The answer lies in history,

and we must learn from it. Are politicians, professors, social

scientists, and citizens oblivious to the lessons from the fall of

great empires? We must not be naïve!

A quick review of the common elements that led to the fall

of four past and recent great empires, such as Persia, Rome,

China, and the Soviet Union, may provide clues on protecting

Democracy’s Achilles’ Heel. These empires collapsed due to

internal political instability, economic decline, social unrest,

corruption, and a lack of strong central leadership with

integrity.

Given the information presented above, every individual

residing in America should put on hold temporarily their

concerns about inflation, immigration, and the costs of food

and gas and ask aloud, “If Democracy’s Achilles’ Heel is

humankind, how can we defend and preserve it?” We have a

role in this, and our citizen responsibility is crucial.

The answer to this age-old question is that America is a

“republic” because voters elect their Officials to run their

government as a Democracy of, for, and by them. Consequently,

voters must elect Officials with integrity, especially the

President. A summary of the following historical declaration

provided by the Founding Fathers about Democracy reads:

“The longevity of pure Democracy could be prone to instability

and “mob rule,” emphasizing the importance of a representative

republic with checks and balances to safeguard Democracy

through a system where elected leaders would represent the

people’s interests while preventing tyranny of the majority;”…

Founding Father John Adams’ infinite wisdom provided

another disturbing quote about Democracy’s Achilles’ Heel and

fate:

“Democracy never lasts long. It soon degenerates into anarchy,

which is the extreme of tyranny; and then, the people, seeking

security, take refuge in the absolute power of an individual.”

The 2024 Presidential election has again exposed

Democracy’s Achilles’ Heel: Humankind. Unfortunately, this

group includes voters blinded by racism, non-voters embroiled

in apathy, Officials void of integrity, ultra-rich fueled by

greed, Evangelicals driven by moral convictions, and SCOTUS’

descent into the pits of unethical purgatory.

Who is the individual that John Adams envisioned the people

would turn a “blind eye” and one day seek security and take

refuge?

YOU BE THE JUDGE!

White House Tree-Lighting Vigil

Centers Christ in the Rubble

By Laurie Gagne

While the Biden administration proclaims

“a season of Light and Peace” as the theme

of its Christmas celebrations this year

and thousands gathered in Washington on

December 5 th to view the lighting of the White

House tree, a group of around 50 activists held

another kind of commemoration of Jesus’s birth.

Lined up along 17 th Street, in full view of the crowd heading

toward the Ellipse to hear Biden’s speech and performances

by James Taylor and Tricia Yearwood, Christians4Ceasefire,

a Pax Christi-affiliated ecumenical organization formed right

after the Hamas attacks of 2023, highlighted Christ in the

Rubble.

In a dramatic departure from the traditional nativity scene,

their Baby Jesus was all alone in a bombed-out space. And the

carols they sang, sounding so familiar to the crowd at first,

Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com

There is No Moral Case for Fossil Fuels. The

Bible Even Tells Us the Opposite.

By Ben Jealous

Reflections on God are common right now.

We are about to enter a new year. Many of

us are getting ready to celebrate Christmas

or Hanukah. With 2024 “virtually certain”

to be the hottest year on record, some may

look at the symptoms of the climate crisis –

the extreme heat, the fires and floods, the

climate-charged cyclones – as signs of God’s

wrath.

Whether you believe in the Bible, the Torah, the Quran, or

are an atheist, we can all agree there is a moral imperative to

address the climate crisis. After all, it kills people and destroys

lives. The cause of the climate crisis – the burning of fossil fuels

– is also responsible for plenty of death and destruction.

Donald Trump’s choice for Secretary of Energy Chris

Wright and one of his picks to co-lead the so-called Department

of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Vivek Ramaswamy seem to

have a different message. It is one that turns the concept of

morality on its head and distorts reality.

Wright has invented a warped “moral case” for the rampant

extraction and burning of fossil fuels. Wright portrays fossil

Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com

The Gantt Report

When Lies

Become The

Truth

By Lucius Gantt

The “Boogieman” has a

long history of tall tales about

scaring adults and children.

“If you’re bad boys and girls,

the Boogieman will come and

get you!”, some parents and

caregivers might say.

The Boogieman in Russia

is called “Babayka”. There is

also a boogieman in America

that is controlled and/or influenced

by Soviet interests.

How did the Babayka become

President-elect in the United

States of America? He lied to

the American voters!

Misinformation, misdirection,

and misrepresentation are

nothing new in politics.

Almost all political candidates

exaggerate or understate

political policies and political

proposals, including the politicians

that African Americans

love.

The Babayka in America is

an experienced liar. He lied

about his businesses, he lied

about his taxes, he lied about

his relations, and he lied

about his political promises.

Why? How?

We all know one lie leads

to another but if you lie

over and over for years and

years, some people and many

registered voters will begin to

believe you! At least a third

of registered voters believe

everything seen or heard on

conservative news networks

like Fox News is the truth

and no other viewpoint is.

Let me give you a nonpolitical

example.

Every night at the

neighborhood nightclub,

some woman is approached

by a man who wants to be a

“hitter”, who merely wants to

have sex.

A conversation might go

like this, “You are beautiful.

I want you to be my baby

mama. I want to settle down

with you, I want to take care

of you and our family. I want

to buy us a big house, buy you

an expensive car, and a fourcarat

diamond wedding ring!”

Ladies, no honest man, will

promise you everything in

the world after buying you a

glass of wine at one o’clock in

the morning at the juke joint!

Even though it’s all lies, there

may be a woman who believes

everything a man says.

The President-elect told

many of his supporters and

comrades all they had to do

was lie. He said, the more

you lie eventually, the more

people will believe you.

The lies worked.

Many of my female and male

friends are terrified. They

believe everything that the

President-elect said he would

do, he will do.

Too many African Americans

have always believed what

the oppressors and exploiters

say is more truthful than

what the rebels say, what

the activists say, or what the

truthtellers say.

Candace Owens is the darling

of some Black podcasters and

influencers. The social media

people who shun research,

avoid the truth, and suggest

she is a great Black truthteller

will never understand

how her lies about politics are

damaging our missions for

unity, progress and survival.

I don’t know her but I

believe she is married to a

conservative white man who

Continue reading online at:

thewestsidegazette.com


www.thewestsidegazette.com

BUSINESS

UNITY IN THE

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY

DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024 • PAGE 7

First Black Director of U.S. Mint Makes History with Limited-Edition Harriet

Tubman Commemorative Silver and Gold Coins Available Until December 31st

The event is part of the Young Women’s Financial Wellness Forum before the coin program ends on Dec. 31, 2024

From Piggy Bank to Family Banking:

BofA Launches New Solution to Help

Parents Raise Financially Savvy Kids

Only 47% of college students feel

financially prepared for the “real world”

Cell: 754-234-4485

Office: 954-733-7700 ext. 111

Fax: 954-731-0333

Kenneth R. Thurston

REALTOR, CPM, CAM

4360 W. Oakland Park Blvd Email: ken@acclaimcares.com

Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313

Web: www.acclaimcares.com

Submitted by Brandon Grant

Bank of America today announced a new solution to help

parents support their children as they begin their financial

journeys. SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking is a bank

account that offers parents the tools and resources they need to

help their children practice healthy financial habits and learn

to manage their money through a convenient, secure digital

experience.

“For many parents, it can be hard to find the right financial

tools and resources that can also instill positive financial

habits in their children,” said Mary Hines Droesch, Head of

Product for Consumer, Business and Wealth Management

Banking and Lending at Bank of America. “Family Banking

offers the foundation young people need for managing money,

with support for parents seeking to help their children on the

path to financial health and independence.”

A recent Bank of America survey found 90% of parents

believe they bear responsibility in teaching their children

financial literacy and 61% start talking to their kids about

money by the age of 10.

“Designed with the whole family in mind, Family Banking

offers the convenience and safety features parents seek, along

with knowledge-building tools that will help set their children

up for a strong financial future,” said Holly O’Neill, President

of Retail Banking at Bank of America.

Family Banking can be opened via Bank of America online

banking or the mobile banking app and allows parents to

maintain oversight of their child’s spending and supervise the

account. Key features include:

Intuitive digital experience: Allows a parent to open and add

a child to an account, and offers an age-appropriate banking

experience · Financial literacy resources: Easy-to-understand

Better Money Habits educational resources help parents have

personal finance conversations with a child

Child’s first debit card: When a child is ready for their first

experience managing money or budgeting, parents can give

them access to a physical or digital debit card

Flexible parental controls: Daily spending limits, card

lock/unlock features and real-time alerts act as guardrails

and help teach responsible financial management · Monthly

maintenance fees waived: SafeBalance Banking® for Family

Banking has no monthly maintenance fees while the child is

Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com

(Source: BlackNews.com)

NATIONWIDE — The Young Women’s Financial Wellness

Forum event in the New York Stock Exchange’s Freedom Hall

on December 11th will celebrate Harriet Tubman, well timed

with the holiday season and the final month to purchase the

limited-edition Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coins. Hosted

by Seneca Women, a global women’s leadership platform, in

partnership with the National Underground Railroad Freedom

Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com

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johnnie.smith@hrblock.com

Cell (954) 303-5779

johnnie.smith@hrblock.com

www.hrblock.com

www.hrblock.com

133 N. State Road 7

Plantation, Fla. 33317

(Corner of Broward Blvd. & State Rd. 7

(954) 587-7075

FRED LOVELL, Lic. Opt.

(Over 30 Years in Optics)

* $29.50 - Single Vision

*$44.50 - Bifocal * $89.50 - Progressive

* (-+400 sph+200 cyl/add + 3.00)


PAGE 8 • DECEDMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024

CHURCH DIRECTORY

First Baptist Church Piney Grove, Inc.

4699 West Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313

(954) 735-1500 - Fax (954) 735-1999

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Church Website: www.fbcpineygrove.org

Dr. Ezra Tillman, Jr. Senior Pastor

WORSHIP SERVICES

Sunday ..... 8:00 AM & 11:00 AM In Person Virtual

Sunday School.......9:30 AM In Person

Bible Study on Wednesday.......11:30 AM & 7:00 PM In Person & Virtual

"Winning the World for Jesus"

Harris Chapel Church, Inc.

Rev. Stanley Melek, M.Div

e-mail: harrischapelinc@gmail.com

2351 N.W. 26th Street

Oakland Park, Florida 33311

Church Telephone: (954) 731-0520

SERVICES

Sunday Worship........................10:30 AM

Church School................................................9:00 AM

Wednesday (Bible Study).........11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Living Waters Christian Fellowship

Meeting at Central Charter School Building #5

4515 N. St. Rd. 7 (US 441)

(954) 295-6894

SUNDAY SERVICE: 10 AM

Iwcf2019@gmail.com (Church)

lerrub13@gamil.com (Pastor)

Rev. Anthony & Virgina Burrell

Jesus said, ‘‘let anyone who is thristy come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37)

Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church

Reverend Henry E. Green, III, Pastor

401 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Phone: (954) 463-6309 Fax: (954) 522-4113

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Email info@mthermonftl.com

SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES

Worship Service....................................9:00 AM

In person/www.mounthermonftl.or/YouTube Live/FaceBook

Church School.............................9:30 AM

BIBLE STUDY: Wednesday........................10:00 AM

Bible Study Wednesday ...............7:00 PM via Zoom

Meeting ID: 826 2716 8390 access code 55568988#

Daily Prayer Line.............................6:00 AM

(716) 427-1407 Access Code 296233#

(712) 432-1500 Access Code 296233#

New Mount Olive Baptist Church

Dr. Marcus D. Davidson, Senior Pastor

400 N.W. 9th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Office (954) 463-5126 - Fax: (954) 525-9454

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday- Thursday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDY

Sunday Services: In Person

8:00 AM and 10:45 AM

Virtual..................9:00 AM

Sunday School....................9:30 AM

Wednesday Encountering Truth

Noonday Bible Study...........12:00 PM to 12:30 PM

Where the Kingdom of God is Increased through:

Fellowship, Ledership, Ownership and Worship

As we F.L.O.W. To Greatness!

Mount Nebo Missionary Baptist Church

2551 N.W. 22nd St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

P.O. Box 122256, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

(954) 733-3285 - Fax: (954) 733-9231

Email: mountnebobaptist@bellsouth.net

Website: www.mountnebobaptist.org

WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDY

(In Person)

Sunday..........................10:00 A.M.

Sunday School ....................8:30 A.M.

Tuesday Night Bible Study..............7:00 P.M.

“Reaching Our Wrold One Persons At A Time”

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church

Dr. James B. Darling, Jr., Pastor/Teacher

1161 NW 29th Terrace; Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310

(954) 581-0455 - (FAX) 581-4350

mzbc2011@gmail.com - www.mtzionmbc1161.com

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday - Friday 11:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.

WORSHIP SERVICES

Sunday Worship...................................................10:15 A.M.

Communion Service (1st Sunday) .........................10:15 A.M.

2nd & 4th Tuesday Night Prayer Workshop/Bible Study................7:00 P.M

Wednesday Night Prayer Service.......................6:30 P.M.

Wednesday Night Church School ............7:00 P.M.

New Birth Baptist Church

Catheral of Faith International

Bishop Victor T. Curry, M. Min., D. Div. Senior Pastor/Teacher

ORDER OF SERVICES

Sunday Worship.............................9:30 AM

Sunday School ..............................8:30 AM

Tuesday Bible Study...................7:00 PM

Wednsday Bible Study..................10:30 AM

(305) 685-3700 (0) * (305) 685-0705 (f)

www.nbbcmiami.org

Deeply Rooted

New Creation Baptist Church In Christ

r.curry7me@gmail.com

Drive-Up Sunday Worship - 10 AM

4001 North Dixie Hwy.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33064

(954) 943-9116

newcreationbcic@gmail.com

Williams Memorial CME Church

644-646 N.W. 13th Terrace

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311

Office: (954) 462-8222. Email: inf@wmsfl.org

Reverend Errol Darville, Pastor

E-mail: erroldarville@gmail.com

WORSHIP SERVICES and BIBLE STUDY

In person, Zoom; 646-558-8636 ID: 954-462-8222, Stream: Facebook Live @ WMCMECHURCH

Sunday Church School..................... 9:00 AM

Sunday Worship Service ................10:00 AM

Tuesday Prayer Meeting...............7:00 PM

Tuesday Bibke Study................7:30 PM

"Celebrating over 100 years of SERVICES"

St. Ruth Missionsary Baptist Church

145 NW 5th Avenue

Dania Beach, FL 33004

(954) 922-2529

WORSHIP SERVICES

Wednesday (NOON DAY PRAYER.......................12- 1 PM

Sunday Worship Service ...................................10:00 AM

Website: www.struthmbc.org

"Celebrating 115 Years of Service"

Victory Baptist Church Independent

Pastor Keith Cunningham

2241 Davie Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Church: (954) 284-9413

Sunday School .................................................9:45 AM

Worship Service Sunday Morning..................................11:00 AM

Sunday Evening Service.........................................6:00 PM

Bible Study...................................................7:30 PM

Wednesday Evening Bible Study & Prayer ........................7:00 PM

Saturday Morning Soul Winning/Visitation..............10:00 AM

Men’s Fellowship (Every 2nd & last Tuesdays)................6:00 PM

Ladies Fellowship (the last Saturday of each month)..........................5:00 PM

Youth Fellowship (Every Friday)...............6:30 PM

Discover GOD Let Us Help You Find The Way To Jesus Christ

We STRIVE to PROVIDER Ministries that matter Today to Whole Body of Christ,

not only the Believers, but also for those stranded on the “Jericho Road”!

“Celebrating over 85 Years of FAITH and FAVOR!

Come to the WILL.....We’ll show You the WAY: Jesus the Christ”

Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church

Rev. Dr. William Calvin Haralson, Pastor

522 N.W. 9th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Church: (954) 647-8254

Email: AMEZ522@Yahoo.com

SERVICES

Sunday School.................................................10:15 AM

Sunday Morning Worship.................................11:00 AM

Bible Study.....................................................7:30 PM

“Reaching beyond the four walls touching lives, touching communities”.

Jesus Christ Ministry Of Faith, Inc.

Jesus Loves You

Join Us Sundays

at 9 AM

477 NW 27 Avenue

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

JCMOFINC@gmail.com

The New Beginning

Embassy of Praise

The Most Reverend

John H. Taylor, Bishop, Sr. Pastor

Dr. ML Taylor, Executive Pastor

4035 SW 18th Street, West Park, FL 33023

Sunday Worship Service - 11:00 a.m.

Conference Line - 848-220-3300 ID: 33023

Bible Study - Tuesdays - 7:30 p.m.

Noonday Prayer - Wednesdays- 12:00 noon

Come Worship With Us For Your New Begnning!

Pastor David Deal, Jr.

www.thewestsidegazette.com

Every Christian's Church

SUNDAY @11:00 am

Phone (313) 209-8800 Conference ID 1948-1949

Bible Trivia

‘Test Your Bible Knowledge'

1) What tribe does Moses come from?

2) How did Moses meet his wife?

3) When God asked Moses to go back to Egypt with a message,

name one of 5 excuses Moses gave to God?

4) How did the Israelites escape from the final deadly

plaque?

5) Why was Moses not allowed to enter the Promise Land?

6) What does the name Moses or Moseh’ mean?

7) What items were kept in the ark of the covenant?

8) Joshua and another were the only two men to live through

the wilderness wanderings. Who was the other man?

***Biblical Note*** Ancient Israel drafted soldiers, but exemptions

were allowed for those who had just built a house,

planted a vineyard, or gotten engage. Another exemption:

“Is anyone fearful and fainthearted (scared) can go home.

The reason being is that your attitude will scare the next soldier.

(Deuteronomy 20:5-8)

Answers – 1) Tribe of Levi; 2) Exodus 2:15-21; 3) Exodus

3:11-13, Exodus 4:1, 10, 13; 4) They put blood on their doorposts

so the Angel Of Death would ‘pass over’ them (Exodus

12:7); 5) Numbers 20:10-12; 6) ‘One who draws forth’; 7)

Hebrews 9:4; 8) Numbers 14:30

First popularly elected Black mayor

in New England, Thirman Milner,

has died at 91

The Connecticut NAACP says that former

Hartford Mayor Thirman Milner has died

By The Associated Press

(Source: abcnews)

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Former Hartford Mayor Thirman

Milner, the first popularly elected Black mayor in New England,

has died, the Connecticut NAACP said on Friday. He was 91.

Milner’s death was announced Friday afternoon in a statement

on the Instagram page for the Connecticut Conference of the

NAACP.

“His tenure was marked by significant strides towards

equity, justice, and empowerment for all,” the statement said,

adding that memorial arrangements would be forthcoming.

The statement did not specify exactly when or where Milner

had died.

Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com

Hartford’s Thirman Milner,

first Black mayor in New

England, dies

By Mark Pazniokas

(Source: ctmirror)

Right now, every gift to CT

Mirror is being MATCHED —

doubling your support for

original, in-depth journalism

in Connecticut.

Former Hartford Mayor

Thirman L. Milner has

died at 91. Credit: Courtesy

of Connecticut NAACP

Thirman L. Milner, whose

election as Hartford’s mayor

in 1981 made him the first

popularly elected Black

mayor of a New England city,

an accomplishment tempered

by a city charter that gave

him scant power over three

two-year terms, died Friday.

He was 91.

His death was announced

by Virginia Monteiro, who

was Milner’s stepdaughter

and is the first vice president

Continue reading online at:

thewestsidegazette.com


www.thewestsidegazette.com

Deeply Rooted

VIEW OBITUARIES ONLINE AT

www.thewestsidegazette.com

******************************

Acknowledgments/ Announcements:

In Memoriam * Death Notices * Happy Birthdays

Card of Thanks* Remembrances

*******************************************************************

HAVE YOUR CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS PLACED ON THIS PAGE (954) 525-1489

Obituaries

Death and Funeral Notices

A Good Sheperd's

Funeral Home

& Cremation Services

Central

Jonhisha

Mitchell – 33

Funeral

Service

was held

December 7 th

at The Calvary

Baptist Church.

DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024 • PAGE 9

Denis Ramon

Rivas

Funeral

Service

was held

December 8 th

at McWhite’s

Funeral

Home Chapel.

Nikki Giovanni, Iconic Poet and Voice

of the Black Arts Movement, Dies at 81

Giovanni rose to prominence during the 1960s as a

fierce voice in the Black Arts Movement, alongside

literary giants such as Amiri Baraka, Audre Lorde,

Ntozake Shange, and Sonia Sanchez.

By Stacy M. Brown,NNPA Newswire

Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

Nikki Giovanni, the groundbreaking poet,

author, and professor whose work embodied

the spirit of the Black Arts Movement and

beyond, died on Monday in Blacksburg,

Virginia. She was 81. Her wife, Virginia C.

Fowler, confirmed the cause was complications

from lung cancer.

Born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni Jr. on June

7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Giovanni

spent her formative years in Cincinnati, Ohio,

but returned to Knoxville every summer with

her sister to visit their grandparents. These

visits helped shape her sense of identity and

belonging, themes that would become central

to her work.

She graduated with honors in history from

Fisk University, a historically Black college in

Nashville and her grandfather’s alma mater.

While at Fisk, Giovanni’s defiant spirit and

intellect were evident. Expelled briefly due

to issues with authority, she returned after a

period of reflection and was readmitted with

the help of a supportive Dean of Women. This

early experience of rebellion and reconciliation

laid the groundwork for her unapologetic

approach to life and art.

A Voice of Rebellion and Resilience

Giovanni rose to prominence during the

1960s as a fierce voice in the Black Arts

Movement, alongside literary giants such as

Amiri Baraka, Audre Lorde, Ntozake Shange,

and Sonia Sanchez. Her early works, including

“Black Feeling, Black Talk” (1968) and “Black

Judgement” (1968), were steadfast in their

militancy and pride. Her poetry grappled

with the injustices faced by Black Americans,

including the brutal murder of Emmett Till

and the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist

Church in Birmingham, which killed four

Black girls.

At a time when mainstream publishers

showed little interest in the work of a young

Black woman writing what they labeled

and comes home and brutalizes his wife? Where does that leave

his daughter?” Baldwin’s response: “Sweetheart. Our ancestors

taught us how to do that.”

“militant” poetry, Giovanni took matters

into her own hands. She self-published her

work, founding a company to distribute her

collections. “No one was much interested in a

Black girl writing what was called ‘militant’

poetry,” she once wrote. “I thought of it as good

poetry.”

Her boldness paid off. In 1972, at just 29

years old, she sold out Alice Tully Hall at

Lincoln Center, reading her poetry to a crowd

of more than 1,000 alongside the New York

Community Choir. The following year, for

her 30th birthday, she filled the 3,000-seat

Philharmonic Hall, where the choir joined

her again, along with Melba Moore and

Wilson Pickett. The audience erupted joyfully

when she recited her now-iconic poem, “Ego-

Tripping.” The piece, a celebration of Black

female strength, begins with the lines:

“I was born in the congo

I walked to the fertile crescent and built

the sphinx…”

And concludes triumphantly:

“I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal

I cannot be comprehended

except by my permission

I mean…I…can fly

Like a bird in the sky…”

A Prolific Career

In addition to her poetry, Giovanni wrote

children’s books, essays, and a memoir,

“Gemini: An Extended Autobiographical

Statement on My First Twenty-Five Years of

Being a Black Poet (1971).” She was known

for her candid reflections on race, gender,

and identity, blending the personal with the

political in provocative and deeply human

ways.

Giovanni’s interview with James Baldwin

on the television program Soul! in 1971

remains a touchstone in American cultural

history. Their two-hour conversation, filmed

in London, explored the intersections of race,

gender, and societal expectations. At one point,

she posed a raw question about the cycle of

violence affecting Black families: “What do you

do about a man who is mistreated in the world

Amery M.

Armbrister

– 32

Funeral

Service will

be held

December

14th

at A Good

Shepherd’s Funeral Home.

Kashayla

Martin - 31

Funeral

Service

will be held

December

14th

at True Vine

COGIC.

Erma

Thompkins

- 73

Funeral

Service

was held

December

7th at Annie Laura Sheppard

Smith Chapel.

Casey Myers

Love And Grace

Funeral And

Cremation Service

Mother Rosa

Mae Beaufort

Funeral

Service

will be held

December 14 th

at Lighhouse

Worship Center

Church of God In

Christ.

Patrick

Sims

Funeral

Service

was held

December 7 th

in Chapel.

James C. Boyd

Funeral Home Services

Clara Mae

Finklin - 81

Funeral

Service

was held

December 7 th

at United

Pentecostal

First Born

with Overseer

Dr. Lennie O. Gaskins officiating.

McWhite’s Funeral

Home Services

Ralph W.

Corker, Jr.

Funeral

Service

was held

December

7th at The

Word Of the

Living God

Ministries.

Myrtle H.

Oban

Funeral

Service

was held

December 6th

at New Mt .

Olive Baptist

Church.

Ersulie

Senecal

Funeral

Service

was held

December 7 th

at McWhite’s

Funeral

Home Chapel.

Roy Mizell & Kurtz

Funeral Home Services

Mary Louise

Ware – 90.

I will sing about the

LORD's

faithful love

forever; I will

proclaim Your

faithfulness to all

generations with

my mouth.

For I will declare,

"Faithful love is built

up forever;

You establish Your

faithfulness in the

Heavens."

Psalm 89:1-2

An Educator and Mentor

In 1987, Giovanni joined the faculty at Virginia Tech,

where she became a University Distinguished Professor.

She remained there for 35 years, influencing generations of

students with her wit, wisdom, and unwavering commitment

to truth. Even in academia, her rebellious spirit shone through.

Giovanni famously supported her student, Seung-Hui Cho,

before he committed the tragic mass shooting at Virginia Tech

in 2007. She had him removed from her class when she sensed

his troubling nature.

Giovanni earned seven NAACP Image Awards, a Grammy

nomination, and the distinction of having three of her books

listed as New York Times and Los Angeles Times Best

Sellers—a rare feat for a poet.

Giovanni described herself as a dreamer. “My dream was

not to publish or to even be a writer,” she remarked. “My dream

was to discover something no one else had thought of. I guess

that’s why I’m a poet. We put things together in ways no one

else does.”

A Legacy of Dreams and Defiance

Giovanni’s poetry was a lifeline for many, especially young

Black women who saw their power and potential reflected in

her verses. She wasn’t just a poet but a cultural force who

celebrated Blackness, womanhood, and the art of dreaming.

“I’m a writer. I’m happy,” she demanded.

Nikki Giovanni leaves behind her son, Thomas, and her

granddaughter. Her father, mother, sister, and aunt preceded

her in death.

Romans 10:13


PAGE 10 • DECCEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024

Deeply Rooted

www.thewestsidegazette.com

Lequita Brooks: Wicked Movie Review

Through The Lens of a Black Woman

(Source: Jacksonville Free Press)

By Lequita Brooks,

LCSW, MSW | Do you, Boo!

No one is going to save you!

This is my sentiment today

and has been my mantra of

being a professional Black

Woman living in America.

Validating what I already

know simply puts lighter fluid

on the flame of frustration of

always being required to be

better than others in certain

environments and even in

my own communities being

required to “be in the right

click” is equally aggravating

as a non-conformist,

free-spirited, creative,

independent critical thinker

and writer that loathes being

put in boxes.

I am truly a gluten for

punishment when I decided

to watch Wicked after reading

multiple Black Women Social

Workers and Therapists’ rave

reviews on LinkedIn and

Facebook feeds.

If I’m being honest, Wicked

was not on my movie to-do

list. I wasn’t moved to see

another Oz and musicals

aren’t my go-to.

Now, Gladiator II is more

of my speed, I loved it, and I

highly recommend it.

Like most people, I had to

see what the hype was about,

especially, after reading

Grachelle Sherburne-White’s,

Licensed Clinical Social

Worker, Facebook post and

her overall takeaway, “This

is a prime example on the

big screen of why we’re tired

and want to focus on saving

ourselves, self-care and

resting”.

A few key things she

mentioned in her content I

could relate to:

(1) Being seen as less than

and treated as such because

Dwight Brown Film Critic Photo

of the color of her green skin.

(2) Having “black girl

magic” inside you that others

use for themselves but never

give you acknowledgment or

credit for.

(3) To THINK you have

an allyship with someone

else, but they stab you in the

back for their own wants and

desires despite what’s best for

the collective.

The unfortunate reality,

like most Black Women,

I’ve experienced all three of

these on multiple occasions

whether it was during my

tenure at the Department of

Veterans Affairs as a Social

Worker or along my social

entrepreneurial journey.

The issue still remains

present whether it’s reality

or a mental block from past

experiences that continue to

Continue reading online at:

thewestsidegazette.com

Tuwaine Barrett, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and David Webber in HARD

TRUTHS. (Courtesy of Simon Mein Copyright Thin Man Films Ltd)

By Dwight Brown

Film Critic for

DwightBrownInk.com

and NNPA News Wire

(***)

She speaks her mind.

Unfortunately for family,

friends and strangers, most

of her rants are aggressive,

accusatory, abusive and petty.

Hard to believe anyone could

be so irascible. Hard to believe

she can change. Can she?

Pansy (Marianne Jean-

Baptiste) has a bug her up

her crawl. She belittles her

twentysomething-year-old,

overweight and aimless son

Moses (Tuwaine Barrett):

“Don’t you have any hopes or

ambition!” Her son’s inferiority

complex has got to be rooted in

his mom’s constant nagging.

Her husband Curtley (David

Webber) is a saint for not

chiding her when she confronts

him. He’s always composed

and somewhat immune. The

antidote to Pansy is her calming

sister Chantal (Michele Austin),

but even her soothing tone is

not a real fix. And Pansy saves

her best ire for strangers on the

street, in the supermarket and

whoever else is the target of the

day, hour or minute. Look out

London. Grouch walking.

Rarely is a character so

driven by a contempt for others.

It’s a secondary characteristic

that actor Jean-Baptiste

(Secrets & Lies) mines until

there is nothing left in the till.

Emotionally, psychologically

or creatively. She can credit

writer/director Mike Leigh

(Secrets & Lies) for the gift. He’s

written a masterclass thesis

on character study. Pansy is

his muse and he skillfully,

instinctively builds a world

around her with people stuck

in her orbit. It’s a testament to

his keen sense of what makes

good people watching.

Pansy is funny because

her abruptness is so curt,

not because she has a sense

of humor. She has none.

Shockingly, she says things

generally reserved for

conversations behind someone’s

back. At some point, when she’s

insulting strangers about their

physical presence, it makes you

wonder if she has some form of

depression or dementia. That’s

where the screenplay falters

a bit. The explanation for her

behavior is thin. Building a

case around her is admirable.

Bringing it to fruition is

harder. Oddly some of the

Hard

Truths

quiet moments are as effective

as the curse-laden ones. This

layering compensates a bit for

the ambiguity.

Jean-Baptiste takes the

poor wretch to heart. She’s

invisible inside this storm. She

lets you know, bit by bit, that

behind the bluster is a broken

person. Afraid. Traumatized.

Traumatizing others. The

emotions she displays are

primal as she squawks like a

myna bird caught in a bear

trap. The ensemble cast groups

around the lead actress like

people watching a car crash

over and over. They look but

can’t heal. Except Chantal, who

pulls Pansy closer and closer.

At some point the audience

needs to see a metamorphosis.

Pansy must change, grow,

learn or crash. For all that’s

been viewed, there has to be

a significant capitulation. She

doesn’t have to turn into a saint.

Nor see the error of her ways.

Nor join a 12-step program. But

there needs to be something

that’s a marked progression or

digression. There isn’t.

The interiors of the homes

of these Black middle-class

folks in modern London look

a bit like sets. They’re sterile

(production designer Suzie

Davies). The clothes on their

backs look bland. On the other

hand, the pacing (editor Tania

Reddin) never dies down. The

camera lens (cinematographer

Dick Pope) is as probing as a

colonoscope, and the musical

score (Gary Yershon) has a

curious, satiric feel to it.

Hard Truths may be billed

Continue reading online at:

thewestsidegazette.com

Let BCT take you on a magical ride

This holiday season, take Broward County Transit to your favorite festivities,

shopping and more. Sit back, relax and enjoy the wonderment of the season.

It’s easy, simple and affordable! Just Try It. BCT takes you where you want to go.

To plan your holiday trips, visit Broward.org/BCT Or call Customer Service At 954-357-8400.


www.thewestsidegazette.com

Deeply Rooted

DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024 • PAGE 11

Bernard and Shirley Kinsey: Preserving Black History with Art

Source: Jacksonville Free

Press

TOURÉ | This episode

of “Masters of the Game”

features Bernard and Shirley

Kinsey. They are not just

art collectors but curators of

history. Over the years, their

passion for collecting African

American art has evolved

into a powerful mission to

preserve and share the rich

cultural contributions of

Overtown - Part 1

The Harlem of The South

Purvis Young’s

“Everyday Life” Mural

Black Americans. What began

as a hobby has blossomed

into one of the country’s

most important private art

collections, with pieces that

span centuries and tell the

story of Black life, struggle,

By Don Valentine

Founded in 1896, Overtown

is one of the oldest Black

communities in Florida. It was

incorporated only 31 years

after the Civil War with the aid

of the Black vote. Black men

were temporarily granted the

right to vote so that both Miami

and Overtown could become

cities. Soon thereafter the state

rescinded their right to vote.

That move was indicative of

Overtown’s Jim Crow era name

of “Colored Town.” Overtown

was built by those same Black

men who also helped build

the rest of Miami and the

county’s portion of the Florida

and triumph.

Their collection comprises

over 3,000 works, including

paintings, sculptures,

manuscripts, and artifacts

from the 18th century to the

present. Many of the pieces

East Coast Railway. At that

time South Blacks were not

allowed to live in the same

neighborhoods as Whites,

so they built their homes on

the unsuitable side of new

railroad tracks. This created

a hotbed for Black business.

Black entrepreneurs owned

successful shops, grocery

stores, and theaters;

Continue reading online at:

thewestsidegazette.com

PART 2 NEXT WEEK

Khalil Kinsey (son with parents) Bernard and Shirley Kinsey

(Photo courtesy of @WaltDisneyWorld/Epcot)

are rare and often overlooked

by traditional art institutions,

highlighting the resilience

and creativity of Black artists

throughout history. The

Kinseys have intentionally

ensured that their collection

reflects the accomplishments

of individuals and the

collective journey of Black

people in America.

This episode of “Masters of

the Game” features Bernard

and Shirley Kinsey. They

are not just art collectors

but curators of history. Over

the years, their passion for

collecting African American

Continue reading online at:

thewestsidegazette.com

Delivering maternity

programs for new moms

in your neighborhood.

80% of your health is shaped by how and where you live,* including whether you have support

during and after pregnancy. That’s why Florida Blue is working with local organizations to provide

maternal health programs for neighborhood moms.

Solving for

Lauderdale Lakes,

Lauderhill,

and Sistrunk

*Source: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement, Going Beyond Clinical Walls: Solving Complex Problems (October 2014). Florida Blue is a trade name of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

118896 0824


Deeply Rooted

Fort Lauderdale approves $2M payment to

protester shot in eye with rubber bullet

PAGE 12 • DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024

Submitted by Jesse Scheckner,

(Source: Florida Politics)

Broward County’s most populous city has agreed

to settle a lawsuit with LaToya Ratlieff, whom police

tear-gassed and shot in the eye with a rubber bullet

during a 2020 protest over the murder of George

Floyd.

The sum — $1.975 million.

Fort Lauderdale Commissioners unanimously

approved the settlement, ending a two-year legal

battle over the 2020 incident. Ratlieff sparked a

federal civil rights complaint in 2022, which later

joined a class action complaint.

As part of the settlement, the Fort Lauderdale

Police Department agreed to adopt or maintain

policies to prevent a repeat of what Ratlieff suffered.

The agreement (see below) specifies that the city

must use SWAT and tactical and training policies for crowd management and control

“consistent with the standard promulgated by the National Tactical Officers Association

and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).”

Ratlieff, 36, said in a statement Tuesday evening, shortly after the City Commission

vote, that her life “has changed dramatically” since her encounter with the Fort Lauderdale

police on May 31, 2020.

“What I once considered as normal is now replaced with ongoing trauma and disability.

Through this process, there were moments when, both mentally and physically, I was ready

to give up. But I’ve tried to focus on the fact that this was important, not just for me but for

everyone who seeks to use their voice to create meaningful change,” Ratlieff said.

“After 1,647 days, I close this chapter and begin the process of moving forward. But for

others, this is just the beginning. I stand ready to support other victims in seeking justice

through the pending class action suit. Just as so many members of the community extended

their support to me during this challenging time, I encourage you to support them, too, as

this journey can be both difficult and isolating.”

LATOYA

RATLIEFF

www.thewestsidegazette.com

Ratlieff thanked her attorneys, Michael Davis, Ben

Kuehne and Stuart Ratzan, whom she called “first-class

lawyers, civil rights advocates, and human beings.” She

thanked former Miami Herald reporters Sarah Blaskey

and Nicholas Nehamas, who now work for the Washington

Post and New York Times, respectively, for their reporting

that “elevated my voice.”

Ratlieff added that Fort Lauderdale Commissioner

Ben Sorensen — a pastor and third-generation member of

the U.S. Armed Forces currently serving as a lieutenant

commander in the Navy Reserve — is the only city official

to have apologized to her.

He’s also the only person from the city, she said, “who

treated me with respect and dignity.”

Sorensen, a pastor and lieutenant commander in the

U.S. Navy Reserve, told Florida Politics that he contacted

and met with her when he learned of what happened to

Ratlieff.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

of Broward County Raises $400,000

at Déjà Vu Goes Country presented by JM Family

Broward Judge wins Bar Association honors for

‘profound and positive’ impact from Front Page

Benjamin J. Garcia, President of the

Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter, described

Robinson’s impact on the South Florida

community as “profound and positive.”

Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale,

Robinson, a Plantation resident, was admitted

to the Florida Bar in 1983 after earning his

Juris Doctor from the North Carolina Central

University School of Law. He worked in private

practice and as an Assistant Public Defender

until 2007, when he was appointed General

Magistrate of the 17th Judicial Circuit. Former

Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Robinson three

years later as a circuit court Judge.

Today, he presides over civil proceedings.

“Your dedication to upholding the highest

standards of judicial conduct aligns perfectly

with the principles for which this award

was established,” Garcia wrote in a letter

announcing the award, which Robinson

received Nov. 22 at the FAMU College of Law

in Orlando.

“Your tireless efforts in multiple areas

of the law have set a standard of excellence

and your impact has been felt far beyond the

courtroom.”

Chief Judge Jack Tuter of the 17th Judicial

Circuit agreed. He called Robinson’s winning

the award — named for former Florida

Supreme Court Chief Justice Peggy A. Quince,

the first African American woman to sit on

the state’s highest court and head any branch

of Florida government — a “consequential

achievement.”

Dr. Desmond Meade

Street Naming Ceremony

from Front Page

Déjà Vu Co-Chair Traci Miller, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County CEO

Malena Mendez, Alumni Hall of Fame honoree Rep. Chip LaMarca, Big Brothers Big

Sisters of Broward County Board Chair Marlene Williams and Déjà Vu Co-Chair Nikki

Tesser.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County raised $400,000 at Déjà Vu Goes Country, presented

by JM Family Enterprises and hosted by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, featuring

country music’s iconic feel-good duo, LOCASH. Proceeds of the event support Big Brothers Big

Sisters of Broward’s lifechanging mentoring programs and will go directly toward matching

Littles on the organization’s waitlist.

“We are honored and humbled by the support of community members who recognize that

our important work is a direct investment in the lives of young people in Broward County. Our

organization ensures that more youth will have the mentorship and opportunities they need

to succeed and thrive,” said Malena Mendez, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters

of Broward County. “Thanks to the generosity of all of our attendees, donors, supporters and

sponsors, we will continue to ignite the potential of young people and inspire their futures. We

truly could not be more grateful.”

redemption, and dedication to justice.

Vice Chairman McGhee sponsored the resolution to rename the

street in Meade’s honor, a tribute to his extraordinary life and work.

From his struggles with addiction and homelessness to becoming

one of the nation’s leading civil rights advocates, Meade’s story

has been one of profound transformation. “Desmond Meade Street

stands as a testament to the enduring impact of a man who not

CELEBRATE THE SEASON AT THE

only overcame his own adversity but made it his mission to change

the lives of others,” said McGhee. “His tireless fight for justice has

restored dignity to over 1.4 million Floridians and reshaped our

state’s history.”

The street that now bears Dr. Meade’s name holds deep personal

significance. It is the very street he walked as a young man, during

some of his darkest days when he struggled with addiction. That

very road, now renamed in his honor, symbolizes both his journey

of redemption and his unwavering commitment to uplift others. “I

walked this street as a drug addict, and today, I walk it with pride,

knowing that it now stands as a beacon of hope for those who need

it most,” Meade shared in his remarks. “This street sign is not just

for me—it’s for everyone who has ever felt they didn’t have a second

chance.”

Meade’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. After a troubled

period in his youth, which included addiction, incarceration, and

homelessness, he refused to let his past define him. While living

in a homeless shelter, he enrolled

in Miami-Dade College, where he

graduated with honors in 2010.

He then went on to earn his law

degree from Florida International

University College of Law in 2013.

Today, Dr. Meade is the president

and executive director of the Florida

Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC),

a grassroots organization dedicated

to ending the disenfranchisement

and discrimination of people with

criminal convictions. Under his leadership, the FRRC

spearheaded the successful campaign for the passage

of Amendment 4 in 2018, which restored voting rights

to over 1.4 million Floridians—a monumental step in

expanding democracy.

Dr. Meade’s advocacy has earned him global

recognition. In 2019, he was named one of TIME

Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, and he has

also been honored as a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow and

a Nobel Peace Prize nominee. His work continues to

inspire individuals worldwide, proving that redemption

is not just possible, but powerful.

Vice Chairman McGhee emphasized the importance

of recognizing and celebrating figures like Dr. Meade

while they are still with us. “Desmond Meade’s legacy

is one that will continue to inspire us for generations

to come. We are grateful for the opportunity to honor

him today,” McGhee said. “Thank you, Desmond, for

showing us that the power of change starts within, and

for being a shining example of what is possible when we

never give up on ourselves.”

As the community gathered to unveil the newly

designated Desmond Meade Street, the ceremony

served as a powerful reminder of the transformative

power of redemption. It is a lasting tribute to a man

who turned his personal pain into purpose, and in doing

so, paved the way for a more inclusive and just future

for all.

WITH FRESH LOCAL GOODS, FESTIVE TREATS, AND

UNIQUE GIFTS!

DEC 14 & 28

SCAN FOR

MORE INFO

Daniel Penny Acquitted in Subway

Chokehold Death of Jordan Neely,

Sparking Fresh Outrage

from Front Page

Prosecutors argued Penny’s actions were reckless and caused Neely’s death by neck

compression. The city’s medical examiner ruled Neely’s death a homicide, attributing it to the

chokehold. Penny’s defense team maintained he acted out of fear for other passengers’ safety

and did not intend to kill Neely. They further claimed that the amount of pressure Penny applied

during the restraint was unclear.

The case has resurfaced deep societal divides over the handling of mental health crises and

vigilantism. Neely, a Black man battling untreated mental illness and homelessness, became

a symbol of systemic failures. Penny’s actions—and his subsequent legal defense—drew sharp

criticism for perpetuating dangerous stereotypes and justifying lethal force against vulnerable

individuals.

Jordan Neely’s father, Andre Zachary, has since filed a civil lawsuit against Penny in New

York Supreme Court. The suit alleges negligence, assault, and battery, seeking damages

exceeding the jurisdictional limits of lower courts. “We are still seeking justice for Jordan,”

Zachary said.


www.thewestsidegazette.com

By Stacy M. Brown,

NNPA Newswire Senior

National Correspondent@

StacyBrownMedia

While officials and

residents of the District of

Columbia gear up for a MAGA

Republican takeover of the

federal government, a large

group of Democratic governors

met in California to solidify

a defense against certain

attacks from Donald Trump’s

incoming administration, a

GOP majority in the House

and Senate, and a hostile U.S.

Supreme Court.

Democrats elected

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly to

serve a full term as Chair of

the Democratic Governors

Association (DGA) for 2025.

The decision came during

the DGA’s annual meeting in

Los Angeles, where Kentucky

Gov. Andy Beshear was also

elected as Vice Chair for 2025

and Chair-Elect for 2026.

Kelly began 2024 as DGA

Vice Chair and assumed

the Chair role in August

after Minnesota Gov. Tim

Walz joined the Democratic

national ticket. Under

her leadership, the DGA

successfully held onto every

Democratic governorship in

the 2024 election cycle. This

included critical victories in

battleground states such as

North Carolina, where Josh

Stein won, and Washington,

where Bob Ferguson secured

his governorship.

“I’m proud of the DGA’s

success in 2024 and look

forward to building on our

momentum to win both

competitive races in Virginia

and New Jersey next year,”

Kelly said. “As Democratic

governors, we’re delivering

real results for the people

of our states and making

lives better for millions of

Americans by focusing on

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Democratic Governors

Double Down on Trump

Strategy; Pick Party

Leaders

A large group of Democratic governors

met in California to solidify a defense

against certain attacks from Donald

Trump’s incoming administration

Political watchers said the GOP’s landmark retaking of Virginia resulted from

a massive conservative turnout, the failure of Democrats in Washington to keep

campaign promises of old, and the dog-whistle of critical race theory creating an

anti-white bias in the school curriculum. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

the issues that matter most.

We’re keeping our foot on the

gas and ready to get to work

in 2025.”

During her time as

governor, Kelly has focused

on bipartisan progress. She

attracted over $20 billion in

new business investments

and created over 70,000

full-time jobs, including the

largest economic development

project in Kansas history — a

$4 billion initiative promising

up to 4,000 new jobs. Kelly

balanced the state budget,

fully funded public schools,

improved infrastructure,

and brought Kansas

back from years of fiscal

mismanagement.

Beshear’s election as Vice

Chair and Chair-Elect follows

his historic re-election in

2023, which he won in deepred

Kentucky by a significant

margin. His focus on economic

growth has led to over 1,000

private-sector projects and

more than 57,500 new jobs,

including the state’s largest

economic project—a Ford

battery plant in Glendale.

Beshear’s administration

also legalized sports betting

and prioritized infrastructure

development.

“In Kentucky, we’ve

shown that when you focus

on the challenges families

face every day, Democrats

can win anywhere,” Beshear

said. “I’m excited to build on

that record to help elect and

re-elect Democratic governors

across the country.”

The DGA’s annual meeting

took on added significance

with a gathering of prominent

Democratic leaders, some of

whom are considered potential

2028 presidential candidates.

Governors Gavin Newsom of

California, Gretchen Whitmer

of Michigan, JB Pritzker of

Illinois, Roy Cooper of North

Carolina, and Tim Walz

Deeply Rooted

of Minnesota attended the

Beverly Hilton alongside

a packed crowd of donors,

strategists, and lobbyists.

Despite the speculation,

Kelly remained focused on

near-term goals. “Trust me,

we’re not thinking beyond ’26

at this point,” she said.

The meeting also

highlighted Democratic

governors’ plans to navigate

the challenges of a second

Trump administration. Some

governors are preparing to

push back against potential

policies that threaten civil

rights and democracy. “You

come for my people; you

come through me,” Pritzker

asserted. In states like

New York and California,

governors are laying the

groundwork to defend against

federal overreach. New York

Gov. Kathy Hochul and

Attorney General Letitia

James announced plans

to counter any regulatory

threats from Washington,

NNPA

HOROSCOPE

DECEMBER 12, 2024

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ARIES-Mail, e-mail, or telephone brings

news of a matter that demands more

attention than you might think. Opportunity

knocks at work this week. Tonight, spend

some quality time with your family. 7, 10, 30

TAURUS-Listen well for the indications

that money can be found in an unusual

place. Social and romantic interest should

be your focus this evening. Love comes from

what you do not say. 13, 24, 76

GEMINI-Some people may not “get” where

you’re coming from but ask your family and

significant other to give you time to explain

your way of looking at life this week. Do it

calmly and confidentially. 09, 43, 21

CANCER-Now’s a better than usual time for

self-reflection and meditation. Share your

ideas. They’re more valuable than you think.

28, 54, 01

LEO-Listen carefully and follow good advice

that will come from someone you’ve often

regarded as foolish. You run into difficulties

with one of your projects; don’t worry, it’s

only temporary. How You manage your mind

will affect the eventual outcome. 23, 65, 25

VIRGO-If there is someone or something

that you’re avoiding don’t panic if you find

you must confront from what you’ve been

hiding.16, 48, 20

LIBRA-Be flexible. Yes, you. There are many

ways to be right and your lover or friend will

have produced one that is different from

yours. 23, 28, 36

SCORPIO-Use your natural magnetism to

get to someone who might be hard to reach.

If you have a problem that you need to get

off your chest, tell a relative or friend, don’t

hold it inside. 06, 84, 23

SAGITTARIUS-Even if you can’t be with

someone you care for, call that person, or

send a Soul Vibration to let them know you

care. 10, 12, 14

CAPRICORN-Any dissatisfaction you feel

might come from not doing what you told

someone that you would do. 18, 20, 22

AQUARIUS-If you’re not sure about a

business deal, ask someone who knows.

Asking questions now can help avoid

mistakes in the future. 33, 36, 29

and Newsom called a special

legislative session to prepare

for potential clashes with the

Trump administration.

Washington Gov. Jay

Inslee pointed to past

experience resisting Trump

policies. “We’ve already

taken considerable efforts to

prevent him from abusing

our state financially and

targeting us,” Inslee said.

“You can’t say we’re ‘Trumpproofed,’

but we’ve made

significant progress.”

As Democratic governors

prepare for the 2025 and

2026 election cycles, their

strategy blends defense

against federal policies with

a focus on delivering results

at the state level.

“We will continue to do

what we do, which is work

with whoever we need to work

with to get what we need for

our states,” Kelly said.

Westside Gazette

CELEBRATING BLACK

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The Westside Gazette

Recognizes & Support

That December

Is

* AIDS Awareness Month

* Cancer Fatigue

*Handwasher Awareness Month

* International Human Right

Awareness Month

* National Impaired Driving

Prevention Month

* Procrastination Awarness Month

*Seasonal Affective Disorder

Awareness Month

*Support Depression Awarness

*Vascular Compression

Syndromes Awareness Month

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PAGE 14 • DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024

Deeply Rooted

www.thewestsidegazette.com

For the Week oF December 10 - 16, 2024

JACKSON STATE

TIGERS (11-2)

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE

BULLDOGS (9-2)

IT ALL

COMES

DOWN

TO THIS

Cricket Celebration Bowl logo

JACKSON STATE AND SC STATE PLAY FOR NATIONAL

TITLE IN ATLANTA; FOUR MORE COACHES LET GO

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RECAPS

SWAC

Jackson State 41, Southern 13

JACKSON, MS | Zy McDonald came off the bench late in the first half,

sparking a rally from Jackson State and leading the Tigers to a 41-13 victory

over Southern in the 2024 Pepsi SWAC Championship Game presented

by GM at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday. It was JSU’s

second win over Southern this season.

The championship is the third in four years for Jackson State (11-2),

winners of nine straight games, and the first for head coach T.C. Taylor.

McDonald was named the Offensive MVP after

coming in late in the second quarter wth Southern up 10-3

and leading a touchdown drive to tie the game late in the

half. He orchestrated five second-half scoring drives and

finished with 95 yards rushing on eight carries including

a 23-yard third-quarter touchdown. He also threw for 75

yards on 6-of-11 passing with a 13-yard fourth-quarter

touchdown to Joanes Fortilien. Irv Mulligan added 116

yards on 23 carries with a 2-yard touchdown, while Travis

© AZEEZ Communications, Inc. Vol. XXXI, No. 19

THE ONE WE WANT TO SEE:

SWAC champ Jackson State

and MEAC champ South Carolina

State meet in Atlanta in black

college season-ender (12n, ABC).

UNDER THE BANNER

WHAT'S GOING ON IN AND ArOUND bLAcK cOLLeGe SPOrTS

THREE AT 2-AND-21 AND DONE:

Three head football coaches who posted 2-21 records

over the past two seasons were among four dismissed last

week.

GREENSBORO, NC – N. C. A&T Director of

Athletics Earl Hilton announced last Wednesday (Dec. 3)

that head coach Vincent Brown had been relieved of his

duties after going 2-21 and not winning a game (0-16) in

the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) over the past two

seasons. Brown reportedly had three years remaining on

his contract.

A&T wasted little time Friday in naming

Fort Valley State head coach and former

Aggies running backs coach Shawn

Gibbs as Brown's replacement. Gibbs,

48, who spent 11 years at A&T coaching

running backs and special teams, has led

Gibbs FVSU to a 22-9 record in three seasons.

NORFOLK, Va. – Mississippi Valley State

announced last Wednesday it was moving on from head

coach Kendrick Wade after the Delta Devils finished 2-21

over the past two seasons, 1-7 in the East Division in each

of those seasons.

DOVER, DE - Delaware State head football coach

Lee Hull, who had gone 2-21 overall and 0-10 in two years

in the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) was

relieved of his duties Tuesday.

Hull, 58, was a former head coach at Morgan State

who led the Bears to a share of the MEAC title and a 1-AA

playoff berth in 2014 while being named the conference's

coach of the year. Hull left MSU after a two-year 12-12

record for a brief stint as an NFL assistant.

RALEIGH, NC - Shaw announced last Tuesday that

the contract of eight-year head coach Adrian Jones would

not be renewed. Jones had compiled a 35-45 overall record

and a 29-28 record in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic

Association (CIAA), never finishing higher than second

place.

McDonald

Terrell Jr. added 47 yards rushing and a 2-yard touchdown for the Tigers who

finished with 275 yards on the ground.

Jameel Gardner Jr. had four receptions for 71 yards to lead Tiger

receivers.

After its 10 first-quarter points, Southern (8-5) could only add a

fourth-quarter 28-yard Joshua Griffin field goal. Jaguar QBs Czavian

Teasett (11-21, 127 yards) and Noah Bodden (4-13, 53 yards)

were both picked off once. The dynamic Southern RB duo of Kobe

Dilon and Kendric Rhymes combined for 72 yards on 15 carries.

Defensively, Robert McDaniel intercepted two passes including one to

put an exclamation on the game late, and was named Defensive MVP. Shamar

Hawkins finished with eight tackles, a sack, and a tackle for loss; while Ashton

Taylor finished with seven tackles and a sack. Joshua Nobles finished with

five tackles with a sack and a forced fumble.

The SWAC title game win puts the Tigers in the season-ending Cricket

Celebration Bowl in Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium this Saturday, Dec.14 vs.

MEAC champion South Carolina State (9-2).

NCAA Div. II - Super Region II

No. 1 Valdosta State 49, No. 7 Virginia Union 14

VALDOSTA, GA – CIAA champion Virginia Union surrendered 560 total

yards and four passing touchdowns at NCAA Div. II No. 1 Valdosta State in

falling here in a Super Region II championship game Saturday, 49-14.

VSU senior QB Sammy Edwards completed an efficient 13 of 19 passes

for 302 yards and four touchdowns, three to wideout Rodney Bullard (5 catches,

158 yards) enabling the Blazers (12-0) to pull away to the victory. Bullard had

38- and 42-yard second quarter scoring receptions as VSU built a 28-7 halftime

lead. Edwards hit Samuel Curry on a 52-yard score early in the third quarter

before Bullard hauled in a 47-yarder late in the period for 42-7 Blazers’ lead.

VUU star running back Jada Byers ran for 109 yards on 22 carries to

go over 2,000 rushing yards on the season. He scored the Panthers’ (10-

4) first TD on a 7-yard run with 4:57 left in the second quarter. But Byers

also uncharacteristically lost two fumbles on back-to-back second quarter

possessions. The last led to Edwards’ first TD pass to Bullard and came with

:03 seconds left and gave VSU the 28-7 halftime edge.

VSU added a fourth-quarter 41-yard TD run while VUU got its second TD

on a 5-yard pass from QB R. J. Rosales (8-15-0, 88 yards) to wideout Reginald

Vick Jr., with midway thru the period.

VUU LB Shemar Graham led the VUU defense with 12 tackles, 10 solos

but the team had just one sack and did not register an interception.

Head Coach

T. C.

TAYLOR

CHAMPION

SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

TEAM RECORD

2024 Overall 11-2

2024 SWAC East 9-0

2024 BCSP Ranking 1st

All-Time vs. SC State 1-1

Last Time vs. SC State 37-7, W, '23

SWAC Championships 20 (Last '24)

Celebration Bowls 2, 0-2 (Last '22)

COACH'S RECORD

Alma Mater: Jackson State '01

Record vs. SC State: 1-0

Record at JSU: 18-6, .750, 2nd year

Career Record: Same

2024 RESULTS

JACKSON STATE 11-2

14...............@ ULM ............... 30 L

58.................Lane...................7 W

33.............Southern .............15 W

20..... @ Grambling State ...... 41 L

43......@ Texas Southern ......14 W

45... Alabama A&M in Mobile ...38 W

35...........Florida A&M ...........21 W

37... @ Bethune-Cookman ...17 W

41.....Arkansas-Pine Bluff ......3 W

51....Mississippi Valley State ....14 W

16....... @ Alabama State .......10 W

48.........@ Alcorn State ........10 W

41............. Southern .............13 W

Championship match-up and intrigue in Atlanta

LUT WILLIAMS

BCSP Editor

ATLANTA, GA – The two best teams in black college football will

meet here Saturday in the ninth-annual Cricket Celebration Bowl.

Mid Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion South

Carolina State (9-2) with first-year head coach Chennis Berry and

Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) champion Jackson State

(11-2) under second-year head man T. C. Taylor will battle for black

college Div. I supremacy at Mercedes Benz Stadium at 12 noon on ABC.

The game is intriguing and spicy on several levels.

First, each has run the table in their respective FCS conference. JSU is

No. 1 in the BCSP FCS Top Five and SC State is No. 2.

SC State went 5-0 and only was only moderately challenged (a 24-21

win over North Carolina Central on Oct. 31) in the MEAC. The Bulldogs

won the rest of their conference games by a wide 53-19 margin. The

Bulldogs are on an eight-game win streak

JSU was 9-0 in the SWAC including a 41-13 win over Southern in last

week's league championship game. The Tigers' only stumble was a 41-20

designated non-conference loss to Grambling State early in the season

(Sept. 21). Since then, the Tigers have won nine straight in league play with

an average winning margin of 39-15.

So, there are no upset winners here. Each team has been dominant.

Secondly, three years ago the same teams met in the season-ender here

with a much different set of characters and players and with a stunning

outcome.

Then, it was much ballyhooed second-year JSU head coach and

NFL Hall of Famer Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders who brought his

11-1 SWAC champion Tigers into Atlanta to be christened black college

national champions as they faced the 6-5 MEAC champion Bulldogs of SC

State under the tutelage of venerable 20-year head coach Oliver "Buddy"

Pough.

To the surprise of many (most), Pough's Bulldogs stifled and stunned

Sanders' Tigers in a 31-10 blowout win. It included a SC State receiver

(Shaqan "Shaq" Davis) imitating and mocking the touchdown skip-dance

made popular by Sanders during his NFL career after getting the Bulldogs

on the board with a second-quarter TD catch. Davis went on to catch two

other touchdowns passes and win the MVP award in the blowout win.

JSU fans, and perhaps its players as well, have not forgotten the

dance or the beatdown. JSU coaches and perhaps players will deny it, but

Tiger fans want some revenge (get-back). JSU under Taylor won 37-7 in a

MEAC-SWAC Challenge season-opener vs. Pough's SCSU in 2023.

Cricket Celebration Bowl IX Match-Up

Unlike their 2021 run-in, there is no clear favorite between the two in

this year's game (see CELEBRATION BOWL YARDSTICK).

Both teams have high-powered offenses averaging over 35 points per

game (JSU 37.1 ppg., and SCSU 35.5 ppg.) and over 400 yards per game

(JSU 404.4 and SCSU 426.5). They both have stingy defenses with JSU

giving up 17.9 ppg. and SCSU surrendering 20.9 ppg.

Each features their league's offensive player of the year.

JSU senior running back Irv Mulligan won the SWAC award after

rushing for a league-best 1,174 yards and 11 TDs. Mulligan averages 6.5

yards per carry and 106.7 yards per game and was the only SWAC rusher to

top 1,000 yards.

SCSU quarterback Eric Phoenix won the MEAC's offensive award

when it was unveiled Tuesday afternoon at the National Football Foundation

(NFF) event in Las Vegas. Phoenix led the conference with 2,469 passing

yards (224.5 ypg.) with 20 TDs and just seven interceptions. He completed

65.0% of his passes. He was the only MEAC passer to top 2,000 yards.

Syracuse junior transfer QB Jacobian Morgan (2,003 passing yards,

19 TDs, 7 ints., 63.0%) was selected second team all-SWAC. Joanes

Fortilien leads Tiger receivers with 35 catches for 594 yards and tied for

the league-high with nine TD receptions. Junior D'Andre Townes-Blue

(1st team) and senior Kirk Ford Jr. (2nd team) are JSU's all-conference

offensive lineman.

SCSU's wide receivers Caden High (58 receptions 892 yards, 7 TDs) and

Justin-Smith Brown (49 rec., 729 yds., 4 TDs) were 1-2 in MEAC receiving

stats and first-team all-MEAC selections. The Bulldogs had their tight end

(Keshawn Toney, 27 rec., 287 yds., 3 TDs) and three offensive lineman (C

Eric Brown and OTs Cam Johnson and Nick Taiste) named to the all-MEAC

first team. Deondra Duehart is the rushing leader (467 yds., 7 TDs.)

TOP PERFORMANCES

PASSING COMP-ATT-INT YDs TDs (YDS)

Czavian Teasett, SOU 11-21-1 127 0

R. J. Rosales, VUU 8-16-0 88 1 (5)

Zy McDonald, JSU 6-11-1 75 1 (13)

RUSHING CAR YDS TDs (YDS)

Irv Mulligan, JSU 23 116 1 (2)

Jada Byers, VUU 22 109 1 (7)

Zy McDonald, JSU 8 95 1 (23)

Czavian Teasett, SOU 14 55 1 (1)

RECEIVING REC YDS TDs

Jameel Gardner, JSU 4 71 0

Darren Morris, SOU 6 65 0

Keon Davis, VUU 1 42 0

Reginald Vick Jr., VUU 4 36 1 (5)

TACKLES

12 Shemar Graham, VUU

9 Vicent Page, SOU;

8 Shemar Hawkins, JSU; Lamumba Howard, VUU

SACKS

1.0 6

INTERCEPTIONS

2 Robert McDaniel, JSU

1 1

FROM HBCU GAMES OF DEC. 7, 2024

TOP NUMBERS IN BOLD

vS.

2024 RESULTS

SC STATE 9-2

18.........@ Florida A&M ......... 22 L

23......... @ The Citadel .........20 W

14.... @ Georgia Southern ..... 42 L

45.............N. C. A&T.............25 W

22..... @ Tennessee Tech .....20 W

30....... Fort Valley State .........3 W

69........ Delaware State ........35 W

24.......... N. C. Central ..........21 W

38............ @ Howard ............14 W

54........@ Morgan State .........7 W

53.......... Norfolk State ..........21 W

CHAMPION

MID EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

JACKSON STATE

TEAM RECORD

2024 Overall 9-2

2024 MEAC 5-0

2024 BCSP Ranking 2nd

All-Time vs. Jackson State 1-1

Last Time vs. Jackson State 7-37, L '23

MEAC Championships 19 (Last '24)

Celebration Bowls

1, 1-0 ('21)

COACH'S RECORD

Alma Mater: Savannah State '94

Record vs. Jackson State: 0-0

Record at SC State: 9-2, .818, 1st year

Career Record: 35-8, .813 (4 years)

S A T U R D A Y , D E C E M B E R 1 4 , 2 0 2 4 • A T L A N T A , G A • M E R C E D E S B E N Z S T A D I U M • 1 2 N O O N E T • A B C

CELEBRATION BOWL YARDSTICK

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE

Head Coach

CHENNIS

BERRY

Mulligan Morgan Fortilien Duehart Phoenix High

JACKSON STATE TEAM STATS SC STATE

37.1 ppg. (1st) SCORING OFFENSE 35.5 ppg. (T1st)

17.9 ppg. (2nd) SCORING DEFENSE 20.9 ppg. (2nd)

404.4 ypg. (2nd) TOTAL OFFENSE 426.5 ypg. (1st)

280.5 ypg. (2nd) TOTAL DEFENSE 295.0 ypg. (1st)

218.5 ypg. (1st) RUSHING OFFENSE 153.6 ypg. (3rd)

116.8 ypg. (1st) RUSHING DEFENSE 115.5 ypg. (1st)

185.9 ypg. (7th) PASSING OFFENSE 272.8 ypg. (1st)

163.8 ypg. (3rd) PASSING DEFENSE 179.5 ypg. (4th)

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Irv Mulligan (1st) RUSHING Deondra Duehart (6th)

1,174 yds., 106.7 ypg., 6.5 ypc., 11 TDs 467 yds., 51.9 ypg., 4.1 ypc., 7 TDs

Jacorbian Morgan (5th) PASSING Eric Phoenix (1st)

148-235-7, 63.0%, 2,003 yds., 19 TDs 171-263-7, 65.0%, 2,469, yds, 20 TDs

Joanes Fortilien (7th) RECEIVING Caden High (1st)

35 rec., 16.7 ypc., 584 yds., 9 TDs 58 rec., 15.4 ypc., 892 yds., 7 TDs

Reid Pulliam (LB) TACKLES Aaron Smith (LB - 2nd)

62.0 tackles, 4.9 tpg. 71 tackles, 7.9 tpg.

Joshua Nobles (DE - 4th) SACKS Ashaad Hall (DE - 1st)

8.0, -36 yds. 11.0, -56 yds.

Robert McDaniel (T9th) INTERCEPTIONS Diego Addison (1st)

3, 0 TD 3, 1 TD

Gerardo Baeza (1st) KICK SCORING Kyle Gallegos (3rd)

54-55 PATs, 22-28 FGs, 120 pts. 38-45 PATs, 9-14 FGs, 65 pts

Pulliam Nobles McDaniel Smith Hall Addison

Give JSU the edge on the ground and SCSU the edge in the air.

SCSU grad linebacker Aaron Smith's 71 tackles (7.9 per game) is

second-best in the MEAC. Sophomore LB Reid Pulliam leads JSU with

62 stops. SC State features the MEAC's leader in junior Ashaad Hall

with 11 sacks. Senior Jayden Broughton is fourth with 8.5. They are

both MEAC first-teamers as is senior DB Jarod Washington. Junior edge

rusher Joshua Nobles is fourth in the SWAC with 10 sacks and is joined

on the SWAC first team defense by senior defensive back Ke'Vric Wiggins

Jr. JSU senior DB Robert McDaniel is considered one of the best pro

prospects in black college football.

The defense match-up is a stalemate.

JSU redshirt junior placekicker Gerardo Baeza has nailed 22 of 28

field goals and 54 of 55 PAT kicks for 120 points that is eighth in the nation.

Fabulous freshman kick returner Travis Terrell Jr. averages 30.8 yards per

kickoff return, fourth-best in the FCS. His two kickoff return TDs is tied for

first in the nation. Senior Matt Noll (42.5 avg.) is the second team punter.

SCSU redshirt freshman Kyle Gallegos has hit on just nine of 14

field goals and 38 of 45 PAT kicks for 65 points but is the MEAC's firstteam

placekicker. Senior Dyson Roberts, one of the heroes of the 2021

Celebration Bowl win as he averaged 49.2 yards on eight kicks, averaged

42.0 yards per kick this season to earn second team all-MEAC punter.

The special teams edge goes to Jackson State.

It's hard to say which of the two coaches has done the better job. Both

have performed remarkably well.

Taylor, with a high recommendation from the former coach, took over

after Sandcrs bolted to Colorado after a second Celebration Bowl defeat.

He has re-tooled the line-up, brought in a bevy of Div. I transfers and gotten

JSU right back to the top of the SWAC. He was 7-4 overall in his first year,

tied for second in the SWAC East at 5-3, before bringing home the title this

year. Taylor was a JSU assistant on both Celebration Bowl losses under

Sanders. He was also the offensive coordinator at NC Central when the

Eagles lost Celebration Bowl II to Grambling.

Berry took over from Pough this season, with a hearty endorsement from

the former coach, after winning back-to-back Southern Intercollegiate

Athletic Conference (SIAC) titles at Benedict in 2022 and 2023 during

a three-year stint there. He brought with him six standout players from

those Benedict teams that have blended in seamlessly with the holdovers

from Pough's teams. Conference leaders Phoenix, High and Broughton all

played for Berry at Benedict and have helped push SC State to the top of

the MEAC race.

In the eight-year history of the Celebration Bowl only two games have

been decided by double-digits. The MEAC leads the series, 6-2.

This should be another close one.

BCSP NFL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

For NFL games of December 5 - 9, 2024

DEFENSE

– #2 JOSHUA WILLIAMS, DB, Kansas City (3rd

season, FAYETTEVILLE STATE) - In Kansas City’s

19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, Williams

started at cornerback and had five total tackles, three

solos. Williams played 38 defensive snaps (63%) and

four on special teams (15%).

OFFENSE

– #31 EMANUEL WILSON, RB, Green Bay (#31, FORT VALLEY STATE)

– In 34-31 loss to Detroit, Wilson had one carry for 7 yards while playing

three snaps (6%) on offense.

SPECIAL TEAMS

– #6 JAMIE GILLAN, P, New York Giants (6th season, ARKANSAS-

PINE BLUFF) - In the Giants 14-11 loss to New Orleans, Gillan punted

eight times for 299 yards (37.4-yard average) with a net average of

37.4 yards. He had a long punt of 47 yards and had four punts downed

inside the 20. Gillan was in for 11 special teams’ snaps (38%).


www.thewestsidegazette.com

SPORTS

Nunnie on the Sideline

By Nunnie Robinson, The Westside Gazette Sports Editor

The Celebration Bowl in

Atlanta this week will feature the

SWAC Champion Jackson State

University Tigers versus the

South Carolina State Bulldogs,

who have been lying in wait on

the eventual SWAC champ which

was decided this past Saturday in

Jackson, Ms. After a slow start,

the Tigers preceded to overwhelm

Southern University 45-17. JSU

under Deion Sanders didn’t fare

so well in previous Celebration

Bowl appearances against South

Carolina State and North Carolina

Central. Present Bulldog coach,

Chenis Berry, who led Division

II Benedict to successive undefeated seasons, was charged with

the task of leading a proud SCSU program and has proved up

to task. Probably his most important victory was overcoming

the North Carolina Central Eagles, coached by good friend Trei

Oliver, who led NCCU to a Celebration Bowl victory over a

JSU- led Deion Sanders team which included players Shudeur

Sanders and Heisman Trophy favorite Travis Hunter.

JSU coach T.C. Taylor has led a smooth transition from

Deion, leading the Tigers to 10-2 record and a conference

championship.

Willie Simmons, who led FAMU to a Celebration Bowl

victory and a Black National Championship before leaving to

become the running backs coach at Duke University, was hired

by FIU to become its next head football coach. Apparently the

move to and experienced gained on the DI level was the catalyst

which led to his hiring along with the track record at Florida

A&M.

CFP finalists have been decided, most on the field, but the

controversy has only been exacerbated. The most notable

discussion centered around the committee’s selection of SMU,

loser of the ACC championship to Clemson, over 3 loss Alabama,

despite the Tide having a stronger strength of schedule

argument and having defeated eventual SEC champions the

Georgia Bulldogs. Of course, it was inevitable that someone

was going to be left out, rightfully so even as the tournament

expanded to 12 games. Although we all knew that the formula

for inclusion was simple: WIN! The four conference champions

received first round byes. They are Oregon, Georgia, Arizona

State and Boise State. First round games will feature #5 Texas

vs. #12 Clemson, #6 Penn St. vs. #11 SMU, #7 Notre Dame vs.

#10 Indiana, & #8 Ohio St. vs. #9 Tennessee.

Prominent teams not included: Alabama, Miami, Ole Miss

& South Carolina. Suffice it to say, conference champions have

a decided advantage of bye week. The lingering question is

whether there are better teams not making the final 12 than

some who did? Did the committee get it right? I can only draw

one conclusion: there is no perfect or foolproof system.

Ohio State’s Ryan Day, I believe, needs to win the national

championship to keep his job. What say you……

College Football Playoff bracket

1.Oregon (13-0)*

2. Georgia (11-2)*

3. Boise State (12-1)*

4. Arizona State (11-2)*

5. Texas (11-2)

6. Penn State (11-2)

7. Notre Dame (11-1)

8. Ohio State (10-2)

9. Tennessee (10-2)

10. Indiana (11-1)

11. SMU (11-2)

12. Clemson (10-3)**L

B-CU volleyball: Historic season

ends in SWAC semifinals

The Bethune-Cookman women’s volleyball team made it

to the SWAC Tournament semifinals. Their season also

had a record eight-game win streak. The Wildcats finish

with a 16-14 record. B-CU ATHLETICS

By ANDREAS BUTLER/

DAYTONA TIMES

(Source: Daytona Times)

The Bethune-Cookman

University Wildcats had a

season to remember.

The Wildcats finish the

season with a 16-14 record.

Their best since going 16-16 in

2018 and a big improvement

from last season’s seven wins.

B-CU fell to Florida A&M

3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25- 16) in the

SWAC Tournament semifinal

on Nov. 23. The Rattlers went

on to win the tournament.

In that match, Jasmine

Robinson had eight kills,

Ktyal Price five kills and

seven blocks, Nola Hemphill

15 assists and Sydni Poston

14 digs.

Continue reading online at:

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Shedeur Sanders

Was officially given the

2024 Johnny Unitas

Golden Arm Award

By Byler Henry

Deeply Rooted

What’s Going on

With the Lakers?

One of the most historic and prestigious

franchises in the NBA has went from the

top of the mountain to the bottom of the

valley. Even when they had down years

before, you knew they were rebuilding to

come back stronger and win it all. With 17

titles under their belt (1949, 1950, 1952,

1953, 1954,1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987,

1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020)

how did a storied franchise turn into a

joke from 2018 until this year? I have an

educated guess and all I an say is he wears

the number 23 (LeBron James).

Ever since he has come to the Lakers management has some

good decisions but also some bad ones. Back in 2018 when the

Lakers first signed LeBron the roster was full of young talent

who could’ve been a good team if given time to gel, but when

you have veteran LeBron on your team he doesn’t have time for

younger talent to develop so all the talented young pieces were

traded away for other vets. This move wasn’t a complete waste,

they ended up getting Anthony Davis in 2019 and winning the

championship that same year. This tactic for LeBron is nothing

new, he did the same thing in Cleveland, trading some young

developing pieces for veterans.

I believe one of the main reasons, that Lakers are in

disarray is because of LeBron constantly needing a scapegoat

and a revolving door of head coaches. LeBron changes Head

Coaches like people change clothes. In his seven years in L.A.

the Lakers are on their fourth head coach. Darvin Ham was

showing promise but after two years he was fired and replaced

by current head coach JJ Redick. His first year coaching the

Lakers Darvin Ham went 43-39, won the in season tournament

and made it to the Western Conference Finals, losing to and

being swept by the Nuggets. The next year Lakers improved

in wins going 47-35, losing in the first round of the playoffs.

Many coaches have had hiccups in the beginning, but Darvin

wasn’t given a chance to learn and grow from his hiccups.

Current coach JJ has not been an improvement over Darvin.

Just knowing X’s and O’s does not always make you a great

coach. JJ has had no coaching experience even at the collegiate

level, he played 15 years in the league, but he hasn’t even been

an assistant coach. Also, JJ can be arrogant, he seems to think

he is the smartest guy in the room. He is learning the hard way

that coaching is easier when you are not on the court. When

you’re arrogant you better back it up and produce results.

All in all, it seems that the Lakers problems are not only on

23, but also management for not knowing when to not make

certain decisions the “star” player wants to make. I hope to see

things turn around for the better and get back to championship

glory.

Juan Soto Cashes in on Historic

$765 Million Mets Deal,

Changing the Game for New York

His new contract dwarfs the $700 million

deal signed by Shohei Ohtani last year,

which included significant deferrals that

reduced its present-day value.

By Stacy M. Brown,NNPA Newswire Senior National

Correspondent@StacyBrownMedia

Former Washington

Nationals phenom Juan

Soto bet on himself — and

won big. The superstar

outfielder signed a 15-

year, $765 million contract

with the New York Mets,

making it the largest deal

in professional sports

history. The contract

includes a $75 million

signing bonus and no

deferred payments, unlike

previous offers he received

from the Nationals. With

opt-out clauses starting

after year five, the Mets

can keep Soto in Queens

by increasing his salary

by $4 million annually,

potentially pushing the deal beyond $800 million.

Soto’s decision comes after he turned down a 15-year, $440

million extension from the Nationals in 2022, a gamble that

has now paid off handsomely. His new contract dwarfs the $700

million deal signed by Shohei Ohtani last year, which included

significant deferrals that reduced its present-day value.

Despite the staggering headline number, taxes and fees will

significantly reduce Soto’s net earnings. Federal taxes at 37%,

combined with New York’s state and city taxes totaling nearly

15%, will take a major chunk of the contract. According to the

Black Press USA’s unofficial calculation, adding the 5% agent

fee for Scott Boras, Soto will net around $350.5 million — still

a massive figure.

At just 26, Soto’s resume speaks for itself: a World Series

champion at 20, four-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger,

and one of the game’s most disciplined hitters. His career .421

on-base percentage leads all active players since his debut,

and his .953 OPS places him among the game’s elite. With 201

home runs, 592 RBIs, and more than 36 WAR, his combination

of power and patience at the plate has drawn comparisons to

Barry Bonds.

A Transformative Signing for the Mets

Soto joins a Mets team coming off an unexpected run to the

National League Championship Series. His addition signals a

serious push for a championship. Longtime Mets broadcaster

Gary Cohen called the signing “the biggest and most important

transaction the Mets have ever made.”

“The only one even in the same ballpark is the Mike Piazza

trade in 1998,” Cohen said on SNY. “The Mets have never

dipped this deeply into free agency for a player of this caliber

and age. Juan Soto just turned 26. He’s arguably the best hitter

in baseball. This changes the conversation around the Mets

entirely.”

Soto’s presence in the lineup, likely hitting alongside star

Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com

DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024 • PAGE 15

WG

Dolphins Special in

Victory Over Jets

Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith (9) makes a

catch for the game winning touchdown during overtime

against the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium. /

Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

By Nunnie Robinson, The Westside Gazette Sports Editor

After a frustrating first half in which the secondary

struggled in coverage and the defense had no answers for

Aaron Rodgers and the Jets’ offense, a defensive revival,

timely offensive execution and exceptional special teams play

catapulted the Dolphins to an overtime win over the division

rival New York Jets on Sunday at the Hard Rock.

Kader Kohou and Jalen Ramsey acted like they hadn’t

played together or communicated defensively, blowing or

confusing coverages which left Davante Adams and Garrett

Wilson constantly open on crossing patterns, keeping the Fins

in an uncomfortable uphill battle. Thankfully, the defense

found their footing, playing more aggressively as the game

progressed. In the fourth quarter with the Jets seemingly in

control, two plays for losses of five and six yards by defensive

tackles Benito Jones and Zack Sieler respectively following an

Allen Lazard reception changed everything. The Fins were out

of timeouts when Rodgers completed a 14 yard pass to Davante

Adams, who was forced out of bounds fortunately by Kendall

Fuller, keeping Miami’s hopes alive. The Jets subsequently

made a 57 yard goal to take a 26-23 lead with 52 seconds left

in the game. If not for the play by Fuller- forcing Adams out of

bounds, the remaining time likely wouldn’t have been enough

for a comeback. Fate was on the Dolphins’ side.

Offensively, the Dolphins were led by Tua, Tyreek, Jaylen,

De’Von and a much improved offensive line that has given the

QB the time to complete a high percentage of passes, making

him, as Tyreek Hill has stated, the most accurate passer in the

NFL. As proof, since his return to action in week 8, Tagovailoa

has thrown 15 touchdown passes with just one interception,

completing 73.8 percent of his passes while raising his all-time

mark to an NFL-best 68.1 percent.

Malik Washington’s 45 yard kickoff return following the Jets

field goal, allowed Tua Tagovailoa to work his magic. Tua

found wide receiver Tyreek Hill for 14 yards and Waddle for

6 yards which set up the November Special Teams Player of

the Month, Jason Sanders, for a successful 52 yard field goal to

send the game into overtime, his fourth of the game.

Winning the coin toss at the beginning of overtime, the Jets

offensively would never see the ball again.

Jonnu Smith, who had been incognito during game, became

Tua’s go to target, catching 3 passes for 44 yards, including the

game-clinching touchdown.

The old adage consistently echoed by coaches proved

prophetically true on this scintillating Sunday as all three

phases contributed to the victory.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the fourth quarter, the

complementary football,” McDaniel said. “When plays needed

to be had, some of the biggest plays in the game were on special

teams.”

The Dolphins 32-26 victory gives the Fins 6-7 record as

travel next week to Houston to face a Texans squad ripe for an

upset.

Go Fins!!!

NHL franchise valuations surge,

reflecting unprecedented growth

By Stacy M. Brown/ NNPA

NEWSWIRE

(Source: Florida Courier)

The National Hockey

League (NHL) is enjoying

a financial boom, as

CNBC’s 2024 NHL team

valuations reveal an average

franchise value of $1.92

billion.

This milestone underscores

the league’s growing

economic impact, bolstered by

increased revenues, lucrative

sponsorships, and strategic

cost management that

ensures profitability for all 32

teams.

At the top of the list, the

Toronto Maple Leafs are

valued at $4 billion, followed

by the New York Rangers at

$3.5 billion and the Montreal

Canadiens at $3.1 billion.

These franchises represent

hockey’s richest markets,

leveraging their iconic status

to drive record revenues and

profitability.

Factors behind growth

The NHL’s financial success

stems from a combination of

record-setting revenues and

disciplined financial practices:

PK Subban played for the

Montreal Canadiens for

13 seasons. NHL teams are

enjoying a financial boom,

as their value continues to

soar. NNPA NEWSWIRE

Revenue Growth: The league

reported $6.3 billion in

hockey-related revenue for

the 2023-24 season, an 8.6%

increase year-over-year.

Ticket and Sponsorship

Revenue: Regular-season gate

receipts reached $2.4 billion,

while national sponsorship

revenue soared to $250

million.

Media Deals and Salary

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PAGE 16 • DECCEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2024

Deeply Rooted

www.thewestsidegazette.com

Lifting our community,

and the world, to its feet.

We’re proud to be the Official Bank of FIFA World

Cup 2026, and proud to help Fort Lauderdale

clients reach their goals, big and small.

Lori Chevy

President, Bank of America Ft. Lauderdale

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