The Westside Gazette

PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33310

PERMIT NO. 1179

6 Diseases to

Watch Out

for in 2026

PAGE 3

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1 - JANUARY 7, 2026

VOL. 54 NO. 48 $1.00

A NEW YEAR’S

RECKONING

America Needs an

Exorcism — and the

Courage to Change

the Soil

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.

As we stand on the edge

of a new year, America is

not simply divided.

America is possessed.

Scripture tells the story of

a man overtaken by many

demons who answered to

one name: Legion — because they were many. If one

man could hold a thousand demons, just imagine how

many are roaming freely through America, Inc. today

cloaked in power, normalized by repetition, excused by

double standards, and protected by institutions that

were never meant to serve them.

This is not about one man.

It is about a nation wrestling with its soul.

And sometimes the clearest lessons don’t come from

Washington, they come from home.

As the holidays approached, like many families, we

began preparing our house. Cleaning. Decorating.

Making room for guests. That preparation came with

an unexpected wake-up call. We were being pestered by

what we thought were harmless fruit flies. You know

those little nuisances darting around your kitchen like

Muhammad Ali, peppering opponents faces jabbing

left and right while your guests politely pretend not to

notice.

We tried everything. Vinegar traps. Soap. Sprays.

Home remedies. Nothing worked. In fact, the problem

got worse.

So, we called in the professionals.

And here was the shock: they weren’t fruit flies at

all. They were fungus flies, born not from what we could

see, but from the soil of our houseplants. Living beneath

the surface. Feeding quietly. Multiplying because the

roots were compromised.

To fix it, every plant had to be taken outside. Washed

down to the roots. Old soil completely removed. Repotted

in clean, treated soil. Messy. Uncomfortable. Necessary.

And that is America’s problem in a nutshell.

For years, this country has been swatting at

political pests little lies, big lies, scandals, intimidation,

corruption, and behavior that once would have ended

careers. We told ourselves these were just irritations.

Harmless fruit flies. Something we could outlast or

ignore.

But what we are dealing with is not surface-level

chaos.

It is fungus. Rooted deep in our political soil. Fed

by neglect. Protected by power and thriving because too

many people keep saying, “It’s not that bad.”

The turmoil surrounding Donald Trump, his

enablers, his imitators, and even a Supreme Court

increasingly behaving like a political arm instead of a

constitutional referee is not a moment. It is not normal.

And it is not harmless.

This is not something you fix with air freshener.

What started as loud rhetoric has metastasized into

a culture where truth is twisted, laws are selectively

enforced, intimidation is normalized, and accountability

depends on who you are and who you know. If the tables

were turned, we already know the outcomes would

look very different and that truth alone should trouble

anyone who still believes in equal justice.

America loves to talk about freedom. We said,

“Let Freedom Ring,” but the question remains: for

whom? Because freedom that only rings in certain

neighborhoods, courtrooms, and boardrooms is not

freedom it’s marketing.

We have demanded a seat at the table, not as

symbolism, not as charity, but as a right earned through

generations of labor, sacrifice, and contribution. Yet too

often that table is guarded, invitations are selective, and

justice is rationed. Diversity is celebrated in speeches;

equity is resisted in practice.

During the holidays, history itself became a guest

in our homes quietly reminding us of promises made

and broken. Our Christmas wish list wasn’t filled

with toys or slogans, but with honesty in leadership,

accountability without exemptions, and courage that

shows up in policy, not platitudes.

Instead, we are watching a nation rocking and

reeling. Selling out or waking up its unsure which it

wants more: comfort or conscience.

And while all of this unfolds, Black-owned media

continues to be treated as optional.

So, let’s be clear. Support is not symbolic.

Support is not seasonal. Support is not a proclamation,

a photo-op, or a press release.

True support is definitely expected when Black History

(Cont’d on page 9)

Inside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Artists Walk Away

as Kennedy Center

Faces Backlash Over

Trump Renaming

If protesters have their way this is what the inside the John F.

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts would look like nightly

with the name change.

More performers are canceling appearances at the John F. Kennedy

Center for the Performing Arts following the addition of President Donald

Trump’s name to the building, with the acclaimed jazz supergroup The

Cookers withdrawing from a planned New Year’s Eve concert.

The latest cancellations extend a backlash that began earlier this

year. After Trump removed the center’s board and named himself

chairman in February, actor Issa Rae and the producers of Hamilton

scrapped scheduled engagements, while musicians Ben Folds and Renée

Fleming stepped down from advisory roles.

In a statement posted on their website, The Cookers said their

decision to cancel A Jazz New Year’s Eve came together quickly and

acknowledged the disappointment it may cause ticketholders. While the

group did not directly cite the renaming or the Trump administration,

they emphasized a desire to perform in spaces that allow audiences to

“celebrate the full presence of the music and everyone in it,” reiterating

their commitment to bridging divisions rather than deepening them.

One member addressed the issue more bluntly. Saxophonist Billy

Harper wrote on the Jazz Stage Facebook page that he would not

perform in a venue “bearing a name—and being controlled by a board—

that represents overt racism and the deliberate destruction of African

American music and culture.” Harper added that both the board and the

name reflect values he has long opposed.

The White House says Trump’s handpicked board approved the

renaming. Harper countered that the move embodies a mentality he

continues to resist.

Trump ally Richard Grenell, installed to lead the Kennedy Center

after the previous leadership was forced out, responded on X that artists

canceling shows had been booked by “the previous far-left leadership.”

In a statement to The Associated Press, Grenell said the last-minute

withdrawals show the performers were “unwilling to perform for

everyone,” adding that the center has received inquiries from artists who

reject political messaging in their work.

It remains unclear whether the Kennedy Center will pursue legal

Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com

New Math

By Stacy Brown

Black Press USA Senior

National Correspondent

The Westside Gazette Newspaper

If you’re a teacher, a nurse, or an Uber driver, after groceries, gas, and childcare, how

much is really left at the end of the month? Affordability is about whether you can pay the

rent and still afford one meal with friends.

Everton Blair Jr. says the first place

he learned how power works was not in

Washington, but inside the classrooms

where he grew up.

Those same schools, Blair says,

once labeled him a problem child.

Later, he was labeled gifted. “Same

kid, same brain, different labels,”

Blair said during his appearance on

“Let It Be Known.” “And I watched

how those labels determined who got

investments and who got written off.”

Now, as Blair launches his bid

for Congress in Georgia’s 13th

Congressional District, that lived

experience is colliding with new

national momentum. Former

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has

endorsed Blair, giving the 32-year-old

educator a high-profile boost as he

challenges long-serving Rep. David

Scott in a safe Democratic seat.

“Everton Blair is a deeply caring

servant leader with big ideas and a

record of getting things done,” Patrick

said. “I had the privilege of getting to

know Everton as a graduate student

of mine at Harvard and am excited for

the fresh leadership he brings. As an

educator, problem-solver, and public

servant, Everton understands that

politics is about expanding opportunity

and dignity for everyone, not just the


@TheWestsideGazetteNewspaper

powerful or those who already

agree with him.”

Blair said the endorsement

reinforces the central question


Thursday

Jan 1 st

Partly Cloudy

Sunrise: 7:07am

Fri

71°

50°

74°

54°

76°

61°

77°

58°

68°

44°

Sunset: 5:39pm

Sat Sun Mon Tues

WESTSIDE GAZETTE IS A MEMBER:

National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)

Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA)

Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)

78°

72°

aries

PAGE 2 • JANUARY 1 - JANUARY 7, 2026

an repayment structure

hile providing life-changing

upport to students and their

milies.

“Today, my administration

pproved debt cancellation

r another 74,000 student

an borrowers across the

ountry, bringing the total

umber of people who have

ad their debt canceled under

y administration to over 3.7

illion Americans through

arious actions,” Biden said

a statement on Jan. 19.

he beneficiaries of the latest

ound of relief include nearly

4,000 teachers, nurses,

refighters, and other public

ervice professionals who

Nathan Rawls is a high school student who attends a Broward

County High school. He enjoys lacrosse, reading and public

speaking. Nathan is fluent in Spanish and has traveled internationally.

He wants to attend an HBCU and major in Pharmacy.

Depot’s prestigious “Retool Your

School” competition and receiving a

substantial $60,000 grant dedicated

to campus enhancement.

Despite cooler temperatures and

overcast skies, the collective spirit

prevailed as almost 135 participants,

led by Home Depot Daytona Beach

Store Manager Therese Watson-

Murray, joined forces in yesterday’s

By Nathan Rawls

successful effort. Their mission

was ambitious, involving projects

ranging from assembling bookcases

and indoor-outdoor dining sets to

constructing arcade games, foosball

tables, basketball hoops, hockey

sets, and table tennis tables. Even

adverse weather conditions couldn’t

deter their dedication, with the only

During this time of year, many people focus on buying

physical gifts, but I’ve learned that giving experiences

and spreading joy is more important. Several weeks ago,

I had the chance to volunteer at a food and toy drive

at New Mount Olive Baptist Church. This event was a

team effort between New Mount Olive Baptist Church,

Community Education Alliance (CEA) and the Mount

Olive Development Corporation (MODCO). By working

together, these groups created a great support system

for people who needed it, and I felt proud to help make a

difference in my own neighborhood.

Being part of an event that helps others was a

wonderful experience. As a young person, it felt good

have earned forgiveness after

a decade of dedicated service.

Additionally, close to 30,000

individuals who have been

in repayment for at least

20 years without receiving

relief through income-driven

repayment plans will now see

their debts forgiven.

Understanding,

that it is more

blessing to give

www.thewestsidegazette.com

participated in the vote for B-CU. These enhancements

will help create more vibrant and engaging spaces for

our students to retreat on campus for a brain break or

find inspiration through Habari the downtime.” Gani?

Home Depot’s “Retool Your School” program,

established in 2009, has been a

Ujima

beacon for positive change,

providing over $9.25

Under

million

a clear

in

night

campus

sky, the Westside

improvement

Gazette

opened its property and its heart, inviting the

grants to Historically community Black to gather Colleges for the third and day Universities

of Kwanzaa and

to reflect on Ujima collective work and responsibility.

(HBCUs). Beyond the competition, the Office of Alumni

more than a property; they became a village.


Biden credited the success

of these relief efforts to the

corrective measures taken

to address broken student

loan programs. He asserted

that these fixes have removed

barriers preventing borrowers

from accessing the relief they

were entitled to under the law.

to know that my hard work was improving the lives of

my neighbors and friends. To make the day even more

special, we asked for each child’s age and gender so we

could give them a gift that matched their interests. This

small detail turned a simple giveaway into a personal

and memorable moment for every family there. Overall,

the experience filled me with pride and gratitude, and it

made me want to keep giving back to my community in

the future. If you are looking for a way to be more

fulfilled this holiday season, please consider

giving what can’t be found under a tree…. love,

peace, forgiveness, compassion.

College

Prep

Word of

the Week

The familiar grounds of the Westside Gazette became

Partnering with the Ujima Men’s Group, the

evening unfolded as a reminder that progress is never

a solo journey. Families arrived with lawn chairs and

shared stories, elders nodded in recognition, and

The president outlined the

broader achievements of his

administration in supporting

students and borrowers,

including achieving the most

significant increases in Pell

Grants in over a decade, aimed

Continue reading online at:

thewestsidegazette.com

children moved freely among generations—learning

by watching, listening, and participating.

Greetings were offered by NAACP President

Marsha Ellison, whose words echoed the spirit of

unity and purpose. Longstanding families whose

roots run deep. Last names like Burrows, Gray

and Black stood alongside Black business owners,

educators reinforcing the idea that the strength of the

community is built together, brick by brick, hand in

hand.

As candles were lit and reflections shared, while

eating fresh fruits and salads, the most powerful

presence was the youth engaged, attentive, and

active—claiming their place in the circle. Beneath the

stars, surrounded by history and hope, the message of

Ujima was not just spoken; it was lived.

Thank you to all who made this outing and

learning event successful. Harambee!!!

quiescent

[ kwee-es-uhnt, kwahy- ]

List compiled by Kamar Jackson, a junior at Dillard High School

nuanced adjective

(adjective)

being definition: at characterized rest; inactive by subtle shades or of

meaning or expression

motionless; quiet; still: a

HOW TO USE IN A SENTENCE:

“Most quiescent of our decisions are mind. highly nuanced,

very few are cleary black and white”

HOW TO USE QUIESCENT IN A

SENTENCE

New Math

It’s possible that other volcanoes with

long quiescentperiods may also have

subtle but protracted warning periods

from Front Page

as well.

where Democrats dominate general elections, he

argues, voters are deciding what kind of leadership

they want, not which party controls the seat.

Blair’s campaign is anchored in education,

affordability, and generational accountability. He

often points to his journey, returning home to teach

high school math to students who distrusted systems

but trusted him.

“They pushed themselves because for once the

system was working with them, not against them,”

Blair said.

Still, Blair says classrooms alone cannot counter

federal policies that drain resources from public

education. He has criticized President Donald



Leia’s Mathematics

Corner

Each New Year’s Eve party uses 6 boxes of

fireworks.

If 8 parties are happening in the neighborhood, how

many boxes of fireworks are needed in all?

52

x 7

Word Search

List 26Compiled

by Kamar

- 25Jackson,

Freshmen

at Dillard

Created by Leia P. High School

4th grader!


Ain’t That A VHIT

The Gift and

the Weight

Deeply Rooted

JANUARY 1 - JANUARY 7, 2026 • PAGE 3

By Von C. Howard

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how

life has a way of revealing both your gift and

your weight sometimes at the same time. The

very thing that makes you shine is often the

same thing that can wear you down if you’re

not careful. It’s a strange kind of combination,

but it’s also what makes us human.

For as long as I can remember, my gift has

been vision. I’ve always been able to see beyond

what’s in front of me, to find potential in people,

purpose in pain, and possibility in what others

might call a lost cause. Whether it’s in the

community, in my fraternity, at church, or in

my professional life, I’ve always felt this pull to

build, connect, and help things grow.

I can walk into a space that feels heavy and

still see light. I can sit with someone who feels

forgotten and see greatness written all over

them. That’s not arrogance, that’s grace. God

graciously gave me eyes for the unseen and a

heart that beats for progress, even when I can’t

necessarily find it for myself. And for that, I’m

truly grateful.

Unfortunately, here’s what I’ve come to

understand with time: the same gift that

inspires me can also exhaust me. The same

vision that allows me to build bridges can

also become the reason I rarely stop walking.

Because when you care deeply, really care, you

carry more than most people realize.

When you’re a helper, a fixer, a leader, or

a dreamer, you feel responsible for outcomes

you can’t always control. You want everyone to

win, everyone to heal, everyone to grow. And

when things don’t move as fast as your faith

tells you they can, it weighs on you. You start

to feel like maybe you’re not doing enough, not

pushing hard enough, not praying long enough.

The truth is, that’s the weight of purpose.

It’s the reminder that even good intentions can

become heavy if we forget to rest. The same

heart that fuels your purpose needs time to

recharge. The same hands that build for others

need time to be still. The same mind that

creates solutions needs moments of silence to

hear God clearly again.

I’ve learned, and I’m still learning, that it’s

okay to pause. To breathe. To say, “I can’t carry

it all today.” It doesn’t mean the work stops or

that you’ve failed. It just means you’re honoring

your humanity in the process. Because purpose

without peace becomes pressure, and that’s not

what God intended for us.

I’ve also realized that part of managing

the weight is recognizing that not every

battle needs your sword. Sometimes your

presence is the gift. Sometimes your example

is the message. And sometimes your silence

is the sermon. We don’t always have to move

mountains; sometimes we’re just called to rest

in the shadow of them until it’s time to climb

again.

So yes, my gift is the fire

to lead, uplift, and build.

And my weight is the reminder that I can’t do

it all at once.

However, I’m learning to love both. Because

both keep me grounded. Both keep me grateful.

And both remind me that grace isn’t just what

we give it, it’s what we must learn to receive.

If you’ve ever felt that tension between your

purpose and your peace, know this: your calling

isn’t supposed to crush you. It’s supposed to

grow you. The same God who gave you the gift

also gave you permission to rest.

So, as I keep walking this journey, I’m

learning to balance the fire with stillness, the

mission with the moment, and the purpose

with peace. Because at the end of the day, both

the gift and the weight are part of what makes

me, and maybe you, exactly who we’re meant

to be.

6 Diseases to Watch Out for in 2026

By Black Doctor.org

As 2026 approaches, many of us have

high hopes. Whether it be for our finances,

our family, or even in our relationships, the

new year brings a certain level of hope for

the future. But to enjoy any of the things

we hope for, we need to be healthy. Health

experts are warning of several conditions

that may hinder our hopes of a healthfilled

year. Some see higher activity due to

climate change, global travel, food supply

pressures, and shifting viral patterns.

While not all outbreaks will impact every

community the same way, understanding

what’s emerging—and how to prepare—can

help you keep your family safe and healthy.

Here are the diseases to watch closely in

2026, plus practical, evidence-based ways to

reduce your risk.

The Best Multivitamin

for Women: What to

Know Before You Buy

By BlackDoctor.org

Between work, family, and the constant

game of “did I drink enough water today?”,

most of us are already doing mental

gymnastics just to stay on top of our

health.

Counting macros and keeping track of

every single supplement? Yeah… It’s a lot.

That’s why so many sisters lean on

the best multivitamin for women; it’s one

less thing to overthink. Finding the best

multivitamin for women can help cover

gaps and keep your nutrition on track,

freeing up some brain space for the rest of

life.

But here’s the catch: not all

multivitamins are created equal. What

you need at 25 isn’t what you need at 50,

and your lifestyle and health goals matter

too.

So we pulled in voices who really

understand this stuff — like geneticist

and nutrition scientist Dr. Folami

Ideraabdullah and Dr. Bryanne Standifer-

Barrett, MD. Their work helps us explain

what matters most, especially for Black

women and women over 50.

Let’s get into what really matters when

it comes to vitamins for women.

Why Multivitamins Still Matter

A recent study found that multivitamins

may not do much to prevent cancer or

heart disease in older women. But that

doesn’t mean they’re useless, especially if

your diet isn’t picture-perfect (and really,

whose is?).

Poor nutrition increases a woman’s risk for

heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. While

experts agree that food should always

come first, supplements can play a smart

supporting role.

Multivitamins can’t and shouldn’t take

the place of eating a healthy, balanced

diet.

Depending on your age group, your

needs for certain nutrients can change.

The Vitamins Women Really Need

Here’s a breakdown of the nutrients



1. Respiratory Viruses: Covid Variants,

RSV, and Flu

Why You Need to Watch:

New COVID-19 variants continue to circulate

globally, with some showing increased

transmissibility.

Symptoms to Monitor:

Fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest

pressure, congestion, sore throat, fatigue.

Improve indoor ventilation—open windows,

use HEPA filters, and avoid crowded poorly

ventilated spaces during peaks.

Keep hand sanitizer accessible and practice

regular handwashing.

Risk-Lowering Tips:

• Boost immunity with regular sleep,

balanced diet, and daily movement.

• Stay home when sick to avoid spreading

illness to vulnerable family members.

2. Norovirus and Foodborne Illness

Spikes


Experts anticipate an elevated norovirus

season in 2026, driven by viral mutations and

inconsistent food-handling conditions. Other

bacterial illnesses like salmonella, listeria,

and E. coli may also rise as supply chains

become increasingly global.

Common Sources:

Leafy greens

Poultry

Seafood

Improperly washed produce

Contaminated surfaces

Symptoms:

Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps,

dehydration, fever.

How to Protect Your Family:

aAAA



This Week in Health: Rising Above Post-Holiday Depression

THE YEAR IS QUICKLY COMING TO AN END;

Christmas and other holidays are now behind

us. Still, for many there is sometimes a feeling

of letdown that we experience after the high

energy and bustle of the holidays. Sometimes

this leads to a more serious condition –

loosely termed “post-holiday depression.” In

this issue, we discuss the post-holiday blues

and ways of mediating this condition.

Easing Post-Holiday Depression

The holiday season is often painted as a time

of joy, connection, and celebration. But when

the decorations come down and routines

return, many people experience an emotional

dip — a sense of sadness, or emptiness

known as post-holiday depression. It’s more

common than most people realize, and it’s

usually temporary. With awareness and

supportive habits, the mind and body can

regain balance.

Westside Health Brief

Marsha Mullings, MPH

December 29, 2025

• Wash produce thoroughly—even items

labeled “pre-washed.”

• Use separate cutting boards for meat and

vegetables.

• Cook proteins to safe internal

temperatures.

• Disinfect kitchen surfaces after handling

raw foods.

• When in doubt, throw it out—especially

with leftovers older than 3–4 days.

Risk-Lowering Tips:

Keep a weekly fridge clean-out routine.

Prioritize restaurants and grocery stores with

high sanitation grades.

3. Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Dengue,

West Nile, and Zika Resurgence


Climate warming increases mosquito habitats

across the U.S., including regions previously

unaffected. In 2026, health experts warn of

rising:

Dengue fever outbreaks in warmer states such

as Florida, Texas, and parts of California.

West Nile virus activity nationwide.

Minor but notable Zika flare-ups due to global

travel.

Symptoms:

High fever, severe headache, joint pain, rash

(dengue); neurological symptoms (West Nile).

How to Protect Your Family:

• Remove standing water around your

home (buckets, gutters, birdbaths).

• Use mosquito repellent with DEET,

picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

• Install or repair window screens.

Why the Post-Holiday Slump Happens

Several factors can contribute to this

emotional downturn:

• Emotional letdown after high

stimulation. Weeks of anticipation,

social events, and activity can elevate

dopamine levels. When the excitement

stops abruptly, mood can drop just as

quickly.

• Unmet expectations. Holidays are

often idealized — in media, advertising,

and memory. When reality doesn’t

match the imagined “perfect holiday,”

disappointment can follow.

• Disrupted routines. Irregular sleep,

travel, spending, and social obligations

can leave the nervous system

overstimulated.

• Loneliness or grief. For many, holidays

highlight absences — loved ones who

have passed, relationships that have

changed, or connections that feel

strained.

Understanding these roots helps normalize

the experience. It’s not a personal failing; it’s

a natural response to an intense season.

Signs You May Be Experiencing Post-Holiday

Depression

People describe a range of symptoms,

including:

• Low mood or irritability

• Fatigue or low energy

• Difficulty sleeping

• Anxiety or restlessness

PAGE 4 • JANUARY 1, 2025 - JANUARY 7, 2026

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

Call -- (954) 525-1489

Happy Birthday * Weddings * Anniversaries

Retirements * Congratulations

FROM THE

WESTSIDE GAZETTE

MANAGEMENT AND STAFF

TO OUR ADVERTISERS,

READERS AND SUPPORTERS


Name:

Address:

City:

State/Zip:

YMCA of South Florida’s 22nd Annual Martin

Luther King, Jr. Inspirational

Celebrations Set for January 15-19

Series of events in Broward and Miami-Dade counties include

a Breakfast, Luncheon and Day of Service

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (December 2025) – The YMCA of

South Florida’s annual inspirational celebrations of Dr. Martin

Luther King Jr.’s lasting legacy, which include a series

of events in Broward and Miami-Dade counties that bring

together more than 1,400 community members, are set to

take place January 15-19. The Signature sponsor of the Y’s

MLK Jr. Inspirational Celebrations is Delta Air Lines.

The Inspirational Breakfast in Fort Lauderdale and the

Inspirational Luncheon on Friday, January 16 in Miami will

feature an inspiring keynote speaker, Dr. Joyce Ladner.

Presented by JM Family Enterprises, the breakfast is at First

Baptist Church, 301 E. Broward Boulevard, in Fort Lauderdale

at 7:30 a.m. and the luncheon, presented by Amazon,

is at 11:45 a.m. at Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Jungle

Trail in Miami.

This year’s keynote speaker for both the breakfast and

luncheon is Dr. Joyce Ladner, civil rights activist and former

professor of sociology, provost, and interim president at

Howard University. Dr. Ladner was on the front lines of most

of the major civil rights protests in the sixties, including Selma

and Greenwood. She was also among the twelve-person

staff that organized the 1963 “March on Washington

for Jobs and Freedom” under the direction of Bayard Rustin

and A. Phillip Randolph in Harlem, and present on the

stage when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I Have A

Dream” speech. A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Dr.

Ladner was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the District

of Columbia Financial Control Board to balance the

city’s budget after it became bankrupt and served as a

Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

The celebrations culminate on Martin Luther King Jr. Day,

Monday, January 19, with a Day of Service. Y team members

and volunteers will organize community projects from

8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community

Center, 1409 NW 6th St. in Fort Lauderdale and at the Village

of Allapattah YMCA, 2370 NW 17th Ave. in Miami.

“For the past two decades, the Y has been dedicated


Follow @TheWestsideGazette Newspaper on Social Media +

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

STAY

CONNECTED --



WESTSIDE

GAZETTE

NEWSPAPER STAFF

Bobby R. Henry, Sr.

PUBLISHER

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:


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

OWNEDMEDIA

The Westside Gazett

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 world away fromracial

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 firmbelief

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 witha

compete address and

phone number.

No unsigned letters will be

considered for publiction.

The Westside Gazettere

serves the right to edit

letters. Letters should be

500 words or less.

SCOTUS RULES AS A

CONSIGLIERE

“The Founding Fathers crafted not a perfect

Constitution. Yet it had the wisdom to install

institutional guardrails to protect democracy but

lack the power to enshrine Officials‘ integrity.

Consequently, it remains the peoples’ ultimate

duty to defend and protect democracy or yield

to Autocratization.” John Johnson II 12/31/25

By John Johnson II

The United States Supreme Court

(SCOTUS) — once the constitutional

guardrail of the Republic — now behaves

like a mafia consigliere, advising

and shielding a political mob boss who

treats the presidency as criminal territory

to be conquered. Instead of restraining

power, the Court greases the

rails for it.

By granting near-absolute immunity

to presidential actions, SCOTUS paved

the way for the former president to be

re-elected as America’s 47th president while functioning above

the law. The presidency has mutated into an untouchable

throne, and the Court has carried the crown for him.

America now displays the early traits of a police state. Immigration

policies are the clearest evidence: families torn apart,

children disappeared into bureaucratic voids, migrants held in

conditions condemned by human rights observers, and illegally

obtained evidence allowed in court as if the Constitution were

an inconvenience rather than a covenant. The 8th Amendment

is treated as optional. Checks and balances are treated as outdated.

The Court has not restrained power — it has consolidated

it inside the executive branch.

This administration’s tactics echo the early stages of Hitler’s

“Final Solution of the Jewish Question” — not in scale, but in

method. Genocide did not begin with gas chambers; it began

with rhetoric. Dehumanization. Propaganda. Teaching a population

to hate. This administration resurrected the same architecture

of cruelty: immigrants labeled criminals, invaders,

parasites. The result was predictable.

When hatred is solidified, any action becomes justified. Families

were separated, migrants shipped across borders like

cargo, and detention centers resembled the shadows of internment

camps. The only things missing now are incinerators and

gas chambers — and the fact that this comparison can even be

made is a moral crime.

Which raises the question: Where is America’s moral spine?

Where are the churches, the denominations, the pulpits that

once claimed the mantle of righteousness? While the Pope

has spoken against these injustices, his words are too few and

echoed by too few. The nation’s moral institutions have remained

disturbingly silent — as though compassion has a political

affiliation. Today it is immigrants. Tomorrow, who will

feel the lash of state vengeance? Black people? Journalists?

Dissidents? Anyone who refuses to kneel?

Where’s our Congresspersons; have they abandoned their

oaths to the Constitution; have they auctioned their integrity;

or have they too become co-conspirators to the dismantling

of our democratic system? The Founding Fathers feared Officials

abandonment of their integrity more than enemies from

abroad.

A “mob boss” presidency, the Unitary Executive theory, shadow-docket

rulings, and a partisan Supreme Court have turned

the Constitution into collateral damage, a mere relic! The

Court has abandoned its duty and joined the enterprise. It has

become the president’s consigliere, co-conspirator, and shield.

Or do they, the ”six conservative justices”, view themselves as

the “kingdom,” and the President is its “Puppet of Vengeance.”

History will not ask how low we knelled and how loudly we

cheered — but how shamefully we stayed silent.

YOU BE THE JUDGE!

Hoping And Praying That 2026

Will Be A Good Year For Us

By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D.

Wishing, hoping and praying that

the best is still yet to come. “My hope is

built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood

and righteousness. I dare not trust the

sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’

name”. These lyrics come from the hymn,

The Solid Rock by Edward Mote in 1834.

This song should resonate with us

today as 2026 is upon us. Our Christian

beliefs have always been centered around

faith and hope. Getting better and being better has always

been our goal. We live our lives with that expectation.

What can we say about the year 2025? Well, first off, we

must be thankful that God gave us life, health and strength.

Being in our right mind is indeed a blessing.

Getting older makes us think about our younger days. Those

were days when we thought we were invincible. We believed

we didn’t have to worry about tomorrow. I believe we just made

assumptions about life.

Equally important was how we treated senior citizens back

in the day. For my circle of friends, we viewed them with great

respect. We were fortunate that we learned some basic life

tenets from them.

We opened doors for them, gave them our seats and carried

their groceries. Those are just some of the home training lessons

that we actualized each day. Our home training as children

was the foundation for our wisdom today.

Getting older wasn’t something that was factored into our

daily lives. As the phrase goes, we were just living for the

weekend.

Senior citizens back then were volunteer philosophers.

They weren’t paid to give advice and wisdom. As youngsters,

we didn’t know when these wisdom talks would occur. These


Deeply Rooted


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.

Manufacturing global

crises won’t give U.S.

foreign policy legitimacy

By Jared O. Bell

For anyone paying even modest

attention to the current administration’s

foreign policy posture, a Christmas

Day bombing justified as “protecting

Christians from ISIS” in Nigeria was

neither shocking nor clarifying. It fits

a familiar rhetorical script. What it did

not fit was reality.

Nigeria’s violence is real,

devastating, and long-standing, but it

is not best understood as a campaign

of religious extermination. Insecurity

there is driven primarily by land

disputes, criminal networks, resource

competition, ethnic fragmentation, and profound state fragility.

Religious identity often becomes the language through which

these conflicts are narrated, but it is not their root cause.

Reducing Nigeria’s crisis to a story of Christian genocide is not

only analytically lazy, it is misleading.

What makes the Christmas Day strike especially troubling

is its direct contradiction of the administration’s own stated

national security doctrine. That strategy criticizes decades of

U.S. foreign policy built on vague platitudes masquerading

as strategy and calls instead for disciplined, outcome-driven

statecraft with clear political end states.

Yet a one-off bombing on Christmas Day, absent any

coherent diplomatic or political framework, is precisely the


Democrats Can’t Win In 2026

on Trump Resistance Alone

Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel

Democrats ended 2025 with important victories that

steadied a rattled party still reeling from Donald Trump’s

return to power. Yet even after those wins, Democratic

approval ratings remain stubbornly low. A recent Quinnipiac

University poll found only 18 percent of voters approve of the

way congressional Democrats are handling their jobs. A record

low of 73 percent disapprove. In stark contrast, congressional

Republicans have a 35 percent approval rating while 58 percent

disapprove.

Democrats are even under water within our own party.

The same poll found only 42 percent of Democrats approve of

congressional Democrats with 48 percent disapproving. Among

Republicans, 77 percent approve of their own party in Congress.

This data indicates Democrats will need to do more than

run against Trump if we want to win in 2026. To keep the

momentum going, Democrats will have to show working class

voters we also know how to govern in the places where we

currently hold power.

That starts with recognizing a hard truth: being anti-Trump

is not a governing agenda. It can mobilize a base, raise money,

and win a news cycle. It cannot, by itself, lower grocery bills,

stabilize rents, or make healthcare more affordable.


When dehumanization becomes

policy: Ableist language and

the quiet violence of

By George Cassidy Payne

When the most powerful person in the

world uses dehumanizing language, it is

never just rhetoric. It is instruction.

In late November, Donald Trump

publicly referred to Minnesota Governor

Tim Walz as “seriously retarded” while

attacking Walz’s leadership. When

questioned afterward, Trump did not

retract the slur. He doubled down, saying there was “something

wrong with him.” This was not a stray insult or an offhand

remark. It was a deliberate statement, delivered through

the megaphone of presidential power, reviving a word long

recognized as dehumanizing toward people with intellectual

and developmental disabilities.

This is not a debate about free speech. It is a lesson in who

is human—and who is disposable. Words spoken from the Oval

Office are never empty; they shape empathy, justify policy,

and redraw the boundaries of moral concern. When a leader

devalues a group of people, society follows, step by step, policy

by policy.

Donald Trump is not a private citizen muttering into the

void. He carries the authority of the presidency and a global

microphone. Every word signals who deserves dignity, who

can be mocked, and who may eventually be excluded from

protection altogether.

Disability advocates recognize this pattern immediately.

BJ Stasio, a peer specialist with the New York State Office for

People with Developmental Disabilities, explains that when

national leaders weaponize the R-word, they reactivate real

harm, especially for people who were once labeled, segregated,

or deemed incapable by systems of power. Language does not

merely reflect prejudice; it reopens it.


Get Ready

to Honor

America’s

Birthday by

Fighting for

Freedom,

Again

By Ben Jealous

America has a big birthday

this year.

Here’s a hint: The

celebration will not feel much

like the last big one in 1976.

I still believe our nation’s

best days are ahead. But our

history—and our headlines—

suggest we are facing a

familiar test. Another

fraught fight for freedom and

democracy is already upon us.

That, too, is part of a

pattern.

How America marks

century anniversaries has

looked different from how

we mark the halfway points.

The difference is not in the

fireworks. It is whether we

are expanding the idea of who

belongs—or shrinking it.

In 1776, the colonies

declared independence from a

monarchy and made a radical

claim: that all men are created

equal.

By 1826, that promise had

narrowed, not widened.

Slavery was more entrenched

and brutal than at the

founding. Congress outlawed

the transatlantic slave trade

in 1807, effective in 1808. But

it did not weaken slavery. It

intensified it. A vast internal

slave trade tore families apart

as enslaved people were sold

further south to fuel cotton’s

explosive growth.

The nation celebrated

independence while perfecting

a domestic machinery of

human trafficking.

Another fifty years

brought a different moment.

In July 1876, the centennial

told a more hopeful story. The

party of Lincoln remained

in power. The constitutional

amendments guaranteeing

citizenship and voting rights

were part of the national

narrative. Federal troops still

protected Black communities

in the South. Much would

change months later. But on

the nation’s birthday, Black

America was living in an era

defined by hard-won freedom.

That pattern would repeat

a century later.

In 1976, the Bicentennial

arrived in the midst of

desegregation. The mood

was reflective. Protest was

understood as American.

Reconstruction was no

longer erased. The country

celebrated what many called

a second Reconstruction.

But in 1926—America’s

150th birthday—the pattern

broke the other way.

The nation was in the grip

of xenophobic, antisemitic,

and racist backlash. White

supremacist organizations

wielded real political

power. Racial violence and

intimidation were facts

of daily life. Antisemitic

conspiracy theories were

mass-produced. Anti-Catholic

campaigns targeted Irish,

Italian, and eastern European

immigrants.

All of it was wrapped in




BUSINESS

UNITY IN THE

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY

Deeply Rooted

Attorney Kaysia Early

Debuts ‘Houses Built by Faith’

Highlighting Resilence

and Service


Orlando street named in honor

of deceased state senator

Serving South Florida for Over 40 Years

Management Sales Rentals

Cell: 754-234-4485

Office: 954-733-7700 ext. 111

Fax: 954-731-0333

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

Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313

Web: www.acclaimcares.com

STS TAX STS TAX

SERVICES INC. in association with

Kenneth R. Thurston

REALTOR, CPM, CAM

Johnnie Smith, Jr.

Jr.

Enrolled Agent

Agent

Franchise Tax Professional

Franchise Tax Professional

*Tax * ax Tax Preparation Preparation * *Accounting Accounting * Payroll

*Payroll

3007 W. Commerical Blvd., Suite 204

3007 W. Fort . Commercial Lauderdale, FL Blvd., 33309

Suite 204

Tel. Fort (954) Lauderdale, 730-2226 - Fax: FL 730-2036

33309

Tel. el. (954) 730-2226 Cell (954) - 303-5779

Fax: (954) 730-2036

johnnie.smith@hrblock.com

Cell (954) 303-5779

johnnie.smith@hrblock.com

www.hrblock.com

www.hrblock.com

PARKLAND, FL -- On December 13, 2025, the Marriott Coral

Springs–Heron Bay Convention Center served as a stage for

testimony, purpose and redemption as attorney Kaysia Earley,

Esq., unveiled her first book, Houses Built by Faith: Jailhouse.

God’s House. Courthouse.

It was evident the event extended beyond a traditional book

launch. The program was carefully curated by Dr. Naomi Blemur,

a civic leader, author and advocate, who passionately

engaged the audience to the deeper purpose behind the book

launch. In 2022, Blemur made history as the first Haitian

American and woman of color to secure a statewide party nomination

for Florida commissioner of agriculture, earning more

than three million votes across political lines.

The caliber of the event reflected the depth of Kaysia’s influence

across legal, civic and humanitarian circles, including a

distinguished gathering of community leaders and dignitaries,

underscoring Kaysia’s standing beyond the courtroom. Attendees

included U.S. Rep. Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-Mc-

Cormick; Oliver Mair, Consul General of Jamaica in Miami;

Denise D. Grant, Mayor of the city of Lauderhill and the first

Jamaican-born woman to hold that office; Florida State Rep.

Lisa Dunkley (District 97); and Latoya Clarke, Assistant Deputy

Mayor for the city of Sunrise, along with several former

elected officials, including Howard Berger, former Lauderhill

Vice Mayor. Alejandra Vicent, a transformational and holistic

life coach, Letasha Taylor, owner of Sweetwood Gels, and Titanya

Johnson, writer, coach, and author, were instrumental in

helping to bring the project to completion.

At the center of the program was an intimate onstage conversation

between Kaysia and acclaimed poet, journalist and

author Curtis Myrie, whose participation added cultural depth

and emotional resonance. During the exchange, Myrie recited

entirely from memory “Persist With Me,” one of Kaysia’s

favorite poems from his collection Staring Into My Soul. The

moment resonated beyond its artistry, reflecting Kaysia’s consistent

practice of elevating others, even during an event dedicated

to her own story.

Kaysia later took the stage to read from the prologue of Hous-

Elected leaders from across Central Florida stand in

front of the Senator Geraldine F. Thompson Way.

By Danielle Prieur

(Source Central Florida Public Media)

A new street sign has gone up

in downtown Orlando honoring

the life, legacy and work of

former State Sen. Geraldine F.

Thompson.

Thompson was not only an

elected leader, but a teacher and

historian in Central Florida.

The City of Orlando has

designated part of West South

Street as “Senator Geraldine

F. Thompson Way” in honor of

Thompson.

She died on Feb. 13, due to

complications from knee surgery.

Thompson was 76.

The location was intentional

as the street goes past the

Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture,

which Thompson founded in Parramore in 2001. In fact, the

street sign is right in front of it.

The museum is in the historic Wells’Built Hotel, which was

almost demolished before Thompson saved it. The Wells’Built

tells the stories of Black residents in Orlando and documents

important moments in the local history of civil rights.

It’s open to Orlando residents and school groups to tour

throughout the year.

Educator, historian

Before she was a legislator, Thompson was an Orange

County Public Schools teacher for six years and a Valencia

College administrator for 24.

At Valencia College, she founded the College Reach

Out Program, designed to help low-income and historically

underrepresented students go to college.


Jolly’s Momentum cont’d from Page 7

their Temporary Protective Status. That order will send thousands

of Haitians back to their homeland, where they face certain

death. “There is a crisis of hope in the Haitian community.

We must stay in touch with the common man,” explained

Father Reginald Jean Mary, who presides over Notre Dame

Catholic Church. Haitian leaders complained that candidates

campaign for votes but never return to the community. David

Jolly said the change he’s talking about applies to that phenomenon

too. Here are highlights of the conversation.

Affordable Healthcare: The option of providing primary

care at local health clinics for affordable access and preventive

care.

Affordable Homeowners Insurance: Establish a state Catastrophic

Fund to cover major disasters and provide premium

relief.

Increase Public School Funding & Stricter Voucher/

School Choice Standards: Utilize 20% of the $1.8 billion

annual Tourism Development Tax and $3 billion from other

insurance taxes.

Choice Schools/Schools accepting vouchers would operate under

the same public school standards required by law.

Teacher Pay Raise: 10-year Public School Renaissance -

30% teacher pay raise.

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)

Advertise Here

Have Your Business Card Placed On This Page

For more information, call (954) 525-1489

U.S. Rep. Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

(District 20), and Kaysia Early.


FRANCINE

Your Tailor

Alterations For

Men & Women & Kids

Cell: (754) 274-8537

A: 784 NW 91st Terrace

Miami Gardens Councilwoman Linda Julien, Dessalines

Ferdinand, David Jolly, Dr Larry Pierre, North Miami

Beach Mayor Michael Joseph, Esq, and Jean Monestime,

government consultant, discuss issues confronting the

Haitian community.

WANTED OLD COPIES OF

THE WESTSIDE GAZETTE

Seeking

Westside Gazette editions

from the 1970s –1990s

for digitizing.

All borrowed copies

will be returned after

scanning.

Call (954) 525-1489

or email

wgazette@thewestsidegazette.com.


CHURCH DIRECTORY

Deeply Rooted

Have Your Church Announcements Placed

In Our 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

Rev. Danny L. McKenzie, Sr., Senior Pastor

2251 N.W. 22nd St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

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

Church: (954) 733-3285 - Office: (954) 733-3606

Email: mountnebobaptist@bellsouth.net

Website: www.mountnebaptist.org

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

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

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

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

"A Great Place To Worship"

Celebrating 100 Years of Blessing!! 1925-2025

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.

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength"

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

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”

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!

Bethel A.M.E. Church

Dr. Micah C. T. Sims, Senior Pastor & Servant Leader

RD

405 NW ESTHER ROLLE (3 ) AVENUE

POMPANO BEACH, FL 33060

(954) 943.6220

email: bethelamepompano@gmail.com

Church Office Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 10am to 4pm

SUNDAY WORSHIP......10AM

TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY........7PM

Zoom ID: 7066533918

bethelpompano.org

Pastor David E. Deal, Jr.

Every Christian's Church

SUNDAY @11:00 am

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

Bible Trivia

‘Test Your Bible Knowledge'

When Joshua guided Israel across the Jordan River 12

stones were set as a memorial for generations to remember

the history of Israel crossing on dry land. Listed are the history

of some of our community churches when created and

the first pastor:

(1) Mt Hermon A. M. E. Church – 1906 – Reverend J. H.

Haines

(2 First Baptist Church Piney Grove – 1904 – Reverend B.F.

Goodwin

(3) Mt Calvary Missionary Baptist – 1902 – 5 Clergy started

the church - Reverends L.J. Ely, BJ Goodwin, NB Williams,

BF James, and AJ Thomas

(4) New Mt Olive Baptist Church – 1918, followed by the

name change – 1923 – Reverend HP Bragdon

(5) St John United Methodist Church – 1904 – Reverend L.

J Little

(6) Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church – 1946 – Reverend

DD Miller

(7) St Christopher Episcopal Church – 1930’s – Father Q.E.

Primo

(8) Ascension Peace Presbyterian Church – 1950’s – Reverend

Scipio

In Next week’s edition we will explore other community

churches beginnings and 1st pastors.

*** Biblical Facts*** The use of a pulpit dates back to the

Old Testament times. Nehemiah 8:4 reads,” And Ezra the

scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for

the purpose..”

My favorite is Luke 5:1-11, speaks about, as the multitude

followed Jesus, Peter’s boat was used as a (pulpit) for Jesus

to preach the gospel. If you search the scriptures you will

find other examples where pulpits were used.” Amen!

Jolly’s Momentum Grows

in Communities of Color

David Jolly and Rev. RB Holmes chat with pastors at

the Florida General Baptist Convention.

David Jolly lived up to his reputation of going far and wide

to make his case to Floridians. He drove from South Florida

to St. Augustine to meet with members of the Florida General

Baptist Convention. He was the first gubernatorial candidate

to address the group in a forum, offering answers on spiraling

healthcare costs, education funding, gun violence, restoring

the autonomy of state universities, and Black history in the

public school curriculum.

Some were surprised at Jolly’s response to his position on

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. While most candidates avoid

it, he said it is central to his coalition-building strategy. “The

economy should work for everyone because this race is about

Florida, regardless of color, faith, or sexual orientation. I’m not

intimidated by diversity. I embrace it,” he said.

Reverend R.B. Holmes, of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church

in Tallahassee, added, “David Jolly is running to break a decades-long

cycle of backward thinking in Florida politics. He is

uniquely positioned to do so because his message transcends

party lines, resonating with Democrats, Republicans, Independents,

and young voters alike. His leadership offers hope, healing,

and a renewed sense of purpose for our state.

He then headed south AGAIN to Little Haiti and would also be

the first gubernatorial candidate to meet with those community

leaders. Renowned advocate, Dr. Larry Pierre, led the meeting.

The discussion touched on a broad range of problems. Miami

Gardens is dealing with an unfunded mandate that amounts

to an additional tax on law enforcement services. Councilwoman

Linda Julien pointed that out, among others. “We want

change!” she said. David Jolly's agenda is built on change to

provide more services to Floridians instead of instigating culture

wars. “On day one, I will close Alligator Alcatraz,” Jolly

said, adding, “I will turn around ICE agents. It’s not a good

idea to use law enforcement resources to go after immigrants

who have been working for fifteen years and growing their communities.”

The Haitian contribution to the Miami-Dade economy

is substantial. But now their lives are at risk because the

Trump administration is ending Cont'd on Page 6


HBCU Band

Director

Richard

Beckford

Has Performed

His Last

Halftime Show

His passing sparks an outpouring of tributes from HBCU music programs nationwide

The historically Black college and university band community is mourning the loss of Dr. Richard

Beckford, a pioneering band director, educator, and mentor whose influence extended far

beyond the rehearsal field.

Florida Memorial University announced Beckford’s death on Dec. 26. While the exact date

of his passing was not disclosed, the university confirmed that he died following complications

from a prolonged illness. In 2024, Beckford’s daughter, Angie, launched a GoFundMe campaign

to assist with his recovery after a lung transplant. According to updates shared in May 2024, the

surgery had been successful and he was reportedly on the road to recovery.

A proud graduate of Florida A&M University, Dr. Beckford was a member of the legendary

Marching “100,” an experience that helped shape his musical philosophy, discipline, and lifelong

commitment to excellence in HBCU band culture. That foundation would later inform his work

as an educator and visionary leader.

Dr. Beckford served as Director of Bands at Florida Memorial University, where he was instrumental

in founding and building the institution’s band program. He led the ROAR Marching

Band, oversaw concert ensembles, and advanced music education initiatives across the university.

Throughout his tenure, Beckford became known for his insistence on musical precision, innovative

show design, and the holistic development of student musicians. Under his leadership,

the ROAR Marching Band gained increased visibility and respect within the competitive HBCU

band circuit.

University officials credited Beckford not only for elevating performance standards, but also

for his dedication to mentorship, academic excellence, and personal guidance. His work helped

prepare countless students for careers in music, education, and leadership.

News of Beckford’s passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from HBCU band programs

across the country. In a statement shared on Instagram, the Florida Memorial University ROAR

Marching Band honored the man who helped shape its identity:

“We honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Richard Beckford, whose passion for music,

unwavering leadership, and dedication to excellence shaped generations of student musicians.

His influence will forever echo through the halls of Florida Memorial University and live on in

every life he touched. Though he has departed from this earth, his legacy remains eternal. May

his soul rest in perfect peace.”

Alabama A&M University’s Marching Maroon and White Band extended words of comfort to

Beckford’s family and the Florida Memorial University community. Winston-Salem State University’s

Red Sea of Sound offered its condolences, while Southern University’s Human Jukebox

praised Beckford for “his passion for music, commitment to students, and impact on band culture.”

Beyond institutional tributes, individuals throughout the HBCU band community shared

personal reflections on Beckford’s teaching style, leadership philosophy, and lasting influence.

Beckford’s passing comes at a time when HBCU marching bands continue to gain national recognition

for their innovation, cultural impact, and visibility through televised performances and

major competitions. Fellow educators noted that his legacy lives on in the prominence of these

programs and in the many students he mentored who now carry his lessons forward.

Deeply Rooted

Obituaries

Death and Funeral Notices

A Good Sheperd's Funeral

Home & Cremation

Services Central

Casey Myers Love And

Grace Funeral And

Cremation Service


VIEW OBITUARIES ONLINE


Announcements:

*In Memoriam *Death Notices *Happy Birthdays

*Card of Thanks *Remembrances

(954) 525-1489

Elaine Frazier Funeral

service will be held January

3rd at Thomas Temple.

Vyayaleshmy Narayana

Iyer – 83 Viewing was

held on December 30th at

Family Residence.

Lillian Easy Miller – 73

Funeral service was held

December 27th at James C.

Boyd’s Memorial Chapel.

McWhite’s Funeral

Home

Leslie Washington Funeral

service was held December

24th at McWhite’s

Funeral Home .

Roy Mizell & Kurtz

Funeral Home

Funeral arrangements have been announced.

A musical tribute and public viewing will be held on Friday, Jan. 9, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the

Florida Memorial University campus. The musical tribute will take place inside the Wellness

Center, while the public viewing will be held at the Lou Rawls Performing Arts Center.

Homegoing services are scheduled for Saturday at 12 noon at Antioch Missionary Baptist

Church, with Pastor Arthur Jackson officiating. The church is located at 21311 NW 34th Avenue,

Miami Gardens, Florida 33056.

As tributes continue to pour in, Dr. Richard Beckford is being remembered not only as a

master musician and band director, but as a builder of people, programs, and purpose—whose

legacy will continue to march on.

Former Eatonville Mayor

Eddie Cole dies at age 67

By Danielle Prieur /Central Florida

Public Media

(Source: Florida Courier)

Former Eatonville mayor, Rollins College

basketball coach and civic leader Eddie Cole

has died. He was 67.

The town of Eatonville confirmed Cole’s

death. He was the mayor of Florida’s oldest

Black incorporated municipality from 2016 to

2022.

SERVICE ANNOUCEMENT

Linda D.

Christie

Funeral

Service

will be held

on Saturday,

January 3rd,

at 2 p.m.

at Mizell

Funeral

Home

Chapel

In a statement, the town said, “Cole’s legacy

of service, compassion, and commitment to

progress will forever be etched in the heart of

Eatonville. We honor his life, leadership, and

the indelible impact he made on generations

past, present, and future.” Cole was an

outspoken supporter for preserving the town’s

history, including at the site of the former

Hungerford School, the area’s first school for

Black students.

Ultimately, shortly before Cole’s death,

Cont'd on Page 10

Tracie Smith.

Carrie Lee Foreman – 76

Funeral service was held

December 20th at House

of God Church with Pastor

State Elder Jeffrey D. Haisley

officiating.

Eulasee “BUBBA” Parrish,

Sr. – 76 Funeral

service was held December

13th at James C. Boyd’s

Memorial Chapel with Rev.

Bernie Kemp officiating.

Lillie L. Roper – 85 Funeral

service will be held in

Guyton, GA.

Rosebud Jackson - 101

HAPPY

New Year 2026

You Crown The Year

With Your Goodness,

And Your Paths

Drip With

Abundance.

Psalm 65:11


Distinguished Alumni of Broward County

Public Schools Honored at Broward Education

Foundation’s 2025 Hall of Fame Award Breakfast

Education, Business and Community Leaders

Recognized for Exceptional Contributions

By Diana Hanford

FORT LAUDERDALE,

FLA. –Outstanding leaders

in education, business and

the community, all alumni

of Broward County Public

Schools, were honored at the

2025 Hall of Fame Award

Breakfast presented by Publix

Super Markets Charities. The

sold-out event was held at

First Baptist Fort Lauderdale

on Wednesday, December 10.

In addition to receiving

their awards at the breakfast,

the 2025 honorees were

commemorated with an

engraved granite star on

the BrightStar Credit Union

“Walk of Fame” plaza at

the Broward County Public

Schools district office and

recognized on the Wall of

Fame in the lobby of the

building. BrightStar Credit

Union is a longtime valued

partner of Broward Education

Foundation.

“Our honorees are

shining examples of the

education students receive

in Broward County Public

Schools, becoming leaders

in business, education and

in the community,” said

Dustin Jacobs, board chair

of Broward Education

Foundation and vice president

of marketing for BrightStar

Credit Union. “Through

our support of the Broward

Education Foundation, we

not only celebrate these

outstanding individuals, we

Month is planned, when

MLK Day is honored, when

Juneteenth is celebrated,

when Black Music Month

is amplified and when our

stories must be told with

dignity, context, and truth.

Black-owned media has

never just reported news;

we are the protectors of our

democracy. We preserve

memory. We connect

past sacrifice to present

responsibility and future

opportunity. Long before

hashtags and trending topics,

Black media kept the flame

burning.

But we were not created

to air dirty laundry, settle

vendettas, or sensationalize

pain for convenience. We

tell the truth because truth

strengthens a people.

Supporting Black media

means investment. Ads.

Sponsorships. Partnerships.

Not applause without

reciprocity. You cannot talk

about economic empowerment

while starving the institutions

that inform, educate, and

Amscot provides a wide variety of smart financial solutions for our customers

including check cashing, electronic bill payment, free money orders, and cash

advances. In addition, customers may also obtain and load an Azulos Prepaid

MasterCard ® , wire money, send a fax, make copies, buy stamps, and use a safe,

accessible ATM for often less than many banks or other establishments may

charge. And we do all this, from early in the morning to late at night, 365 days

a year with many branches open 24-hours!

Broward Education Foundation’s 2025 Hall of Fame

honorees Ryan Nash; Dr, Terri-Ann Bennett; Melissa

Holtz; Michael Lessne; Rosheika Rolle; Lisa Rhodes

Ryans and Jennifer Andreu

Lisa Rhodes Ryans, Vice President, Corporate Affairs

and Communication for AutoNation, Community

Achievement Award recipient Photo credit: Downtown

Photography


mobilize our communities.

Black media is not the

problem. Black media is part

of the solution and still even

in a nation wrestling with its

demons, light breaks through.

In Australia, amid terror

and tragedy, a man of a

different faith saw danger

and acted. He didn’t ask who

believed what. He didn’t

check ideology or labels. He

saw human beings and risked

his life to save them.

That act reminded us that hate

is learned, but compassion

is instinctive. That courage

belongs to humanity, not to

race, religion, or party. That

when it matters most, what

defines us is whether we stand

up for another life.

America does not need

better optics as the new year

begins. It needs moral clarity.

It needs memory. It needs

backbone.

The professionals didn’t

tell us to spray and pray.

They told us to uproot, wash,

remove, and replace the soil.

America must do the

Deeply Rooted

same. Uproot corrupt

leadership. Wash away lies

and misinformation.

Demand accountability

at every level. Restore

institutions meant to protect

democracy, not partisan

power.

When guests walk into a

house swarming with flies,

they don’t blame the flies.

They blame the homeowner.

America must decide what

kind of home it intends to be.

Because if this nation truly

wants deliverance, it must

face its demons, name them,

and cast them out — not just

from the headlines, but from

the roots.

History is holding the door.

It will not hold it forever.

Make this New Year free

from as many demons possible

and let’s replant in soil that is

fresh and free from any rotten

roots and fungus.

From The Westside Gazette

Management & Staff

HOROSCOPES JANUARY 2026

ARIES-Finding a way to do it better

than others is not going to be hard

this week. Share your wisdom with

other seekers. All who receive

your word will benefit this week.

Happiness rules. 36, 38, 55

TAURUS-Strong vibrations bring

a series of dramatic interactions

with others this week. Practice

your charm. Let it come from the

heart, and let your energy carry

you upwards to your best, highest

self. Keep emotions calm, 12, 29,

34

GEMINI-You’ll be energizing

and inspiring others this week as

you speak what’s on your mind

regarding spiritual matters and

masters. 20, 27, 31

CANCER-Rev up your engines.

This is a fine week for making

progress with projects that you’ve

got in the works. 52, 26, 39

LEO-Educate those around you in

the area of personal growth. Their

improvement will bring benefits to

you. Humor in communication is

the key. 16, 30, 39

VIRGO-This week romance is

begins to percolate. Enjoy your

feelings and let your brain relax.

Suspend all judgments of others.

Being stern won’t work for you this

week. 34, 6, 19

By Stacy M. Brown

Black Press USA Senior

National Correspondent

As questions mounted

over the heavily redacted

release of the Jeffrey Epstein

files and new material

placing President Donald

Trump closer to the late sex

trafficker than previously

acknowledged, the White

House shifted abruptly to a

familiar tactic. The president

turned outward, announcing

U.S. military strikes in

Nigeria and framing the

action as a defense of

Christianity, while critics

said the move functioned as a

political diversion that again

placed Black people and Black

nations in the crosshairs.

19

3

9 6

MIAMI RED

789

654

HOT

LEAD NUMBER

5

Pick 2

165/986

78

NUMBERS (2-DAY

RESULTS) Send Self

Addressed Envelope and

$10.00 to:

C.L.HENRY or S.H. ROBINSON

P.O.BOX 5304

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33310

For Entertainment

Purpose Only!

89832

JUNE

57

MAY

APRIL

36

58

23

37

59

MAR.

13

24

38

66

FEB.

06

14

25

39

67

PROFILES

27

02

07

15

26

44

68

JANUARY

00

03

08

16

27

45

69

04

09

17

28

46

05

11

18

29

47

49

JULY

12

AUG

19 22

17

33 34 35

SEPT.

48 49 55 56

77 78 79 88 89 99

CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES ARIES TAURUS GEMINI

FRUITS, FRUITS & FRUITS

SOFT SHELL SWEET & OIL PECANS $7 a bag

ALSO BEE HONEY -- $5 A PACK

AND THE BEST BOIL & ROASTED PEANUTS ON THE

PLANET, PERIOD! QUART BAGS $10.00.

I am sorry it had to come this No more FREE:

Onions, Bell Peppers, Tomatoes and Potatoes.

Prices increase as of Jan. 1, 2025

CALL FORD -- (954) 557-1203.

15

86

12

47-23-68 08-18-32 19-52-36 76-3238 15-28-04 72-26-35-

CANCER LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS

52-26-59 42-29-58 14-58-29 29-19-45 28-52-53 36-39-47-

WHAT HOTS? 67-54-15-32-89

LATEST LOTTERY RESULT as of Tuesday, January 1 at 5 p.m.

POWERBALL

11-19-34-48-53 21 2x

DP 05-09-38-62-64 4

15

43

Pick 3

3775/2086

LIBRA-Romance will find you this

week. Don’t be looking the other

way. Your “rap” is especially

strong. Make as many of those

important phone calls as possible.

People will respond. 11, 13, 20

SCORPIO-This week should bring

an opportunity to further your

education, don’t pass it up. Pay

special attention to details at

work. A friend needs your support.

26, 35, 43

SAGITTARIUS-You and your mate

should increase your saving for

the future this week. Future plans

should be spotlighted. 10, 30, 50

CAPRICORN-Don’t take any big

gambles this week, the time is not

right for a flight into the unknown.

A newfound harmony is in store

for you and your mate. Your mate

will understand your fears.

6, 48, 51

AQUARIUS-The air can be cleared

easily. Admit your need for help.

Seek understanding. You’ll help

another by seeking help from

them. Communication problems

will smooth themselves out.

33, 52, 54

PISCES-You and your partner are

on the same wavelength. If you

are presented with a contract this

week, it’s an ideal week to reach

an agreement. 4, 6, 33

The announcement arrived as Trump faced renewed

scrutiny over Epstein records that include photographs,

internal Justice Department emails, and flight data that

raise questions about the administration’s handling of

disclosures mandated by Congress./AI Image


54

68

JACKPOT Triple Play

03-05--9-22-32-35

Pick 4 Pick 5

22375/09816


Epstein Pressure Mounts As

Trump Turns To Nigeria Strikes

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The president turned outward, announcing

U.S. military strikes in Nigeria and framing the action as a defense of

Christianity, while critics said the move functioned as a political diversion

that again placed Black people and Black nations in the crosshairs.

JANUARY 1, 2026

463175/946286

FANTASY 5

Mid Dec. 30) 07-08-15-30-31

Evening. Dec. 29) 02-07-08-18-23

65

13

OCT.

NOV.

DEC.

45

97

96

CASH4LIFE

06-13-28-31-52 1

32

64

55

39

46

11

FLORIDA MEGA MILLION

09-19-31-63-64 7

41

Doublues

LOTTO

05-10-25-29-30-45

12-18-35-40-45-46

26


SPORTS

Nunnie on the Sideline

By Nunnie Robinson, WGS Sports Editor

Traditional NFL fans may experience

feelings of remorse as several playoff

contenders were eliminated including

the Kansas Chiefs and Detroit Lions,

while the Pittsburgh/Baltimore loser

will join that list. A similar scenario

unfolds in Tampa as the Carolina Panthers

face the Bucs for the second time

in three weeks with the NFC West

title on the line. Competitive balance

is on full display in 2025. The Denver

Broncos (13-3, 1st AFC West) have already

qualified for the postseason. A

win against the Los Angeles Chargers

at Mile High in Week 18 will earn Denver top seed status in

the AFC.

The Ravens/Steelers winner wiill determine the final AFC

playoff spot.

In addition, the New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars,

Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, and the Buffalo

Bills have clinched playoffs spots. In the NFC the Los

Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, San

Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks

are in. Carolina and Tampa Bay will battle for the

final playoff spot.,

Perhaps you’ve been wondering how the New England Patriots

have rebuilt their team so quickly and efficiently, while

our Dolphins remain in complete purgatory. I believe it can

be attributed to ownership, management, coaching, all leading

to poor drafting. A more detailed analysis, though unscientific,

will examine those factors in next week’s NOTS.

The CFP quarterfinals kickoff New Year’s Eve featuring

our Miami Hurricanes against the defending champions

and ‘25 perennial number one Ohio State Buckeyes. I believe,

if both teams play their best, OSU will prevail. I just

wonder how in the world Miami allowed Miami Gardens

native, Jeremiah Smith , arguably the best receiver in the

country, to get away and sign with Ohio State. Firmly convinced

that Notre Dame and conceivably Texas should have

in the playoffs, neither is the best in college football. So here

are my quarterfinal predictions: Ohio State over Miami, Indiana

over Alabama, Oregon over Texas Tech and Georgia

over Ole Miss. what say you?

Of note: Golfing phenom Tiger Woods turns 50 today,

which qualifies him for the Senior Circuit, but my trust and

belief tells me that he can win more majors if healthy and

break Jack Nicholas’ record. Basketball superstar LeBron

James is 41 today but plays as if has discovered the Fountain

of Youth.

FAMU signing Quinn Gray with such expediency and giving

him the resources to hire quality assistants positions

him for immediate success as is the case for other well

known HBCU coaches recently hired. In today’s climate, i.

e., NIL, transfer portal, revenue sharing, coaches who can

recruit and retain good players is of paramount importance.

Are you ready for some football?

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

Mayor, Rollins cont'd from Page 8

the Hungerford School was transferred to Dr. Phillips Charities.

It will be turned into, among other things, a history center.

In an interview with Orlando Memory, Cole said his fondest

memory of the town revolved around working with youth.

“I love this town. I will move no-where except the historic

town of Eatonville, if I had to do it over again. After being able

to go to three or four different states and cities to do work with

youth, I would choose this again,” Cole said.

Along with his role as mayor, Cole was a longtime assistant

basketball coach for the Rollins women’s basketball team. He

was elected to the Rollins Sports Hall of Fame.

Rollins also said in a statement Cole joined Glenn Wilkes

Jr.’s staff in the 1989 season.

“He spent more than three decades

on the sidelines alongside his friend.

The coaching combo is believed to

be one of the winningest duos in the

history of basketball with more than

700 wins accumulated over the last

37 years,” the statement read.

“Eddie was an incredible man

who left a lasting impact on countless

lives,” Associate Vice President for

Athletics Pennie Parker said in a

prepared statement. “His positive

energy radiated through everyone

he spoke to, and his impact on

Rollins basketball as well as the

Central Florida community cannot

be understated. This is a tremendous

loss for all those who knew him, and our thoughts are with his

family during this tough time.”

During the NBA season, Cole served as a chaplain for the

Orlando Magic basketball team.

Cole also was the executive director of Every Kid Outreach

Inc., working with middle and high school minority youth in

Eatonville, Winter Park, Maitland and Apopka.

Eddie Cole was a native of Canton, Ohio. He is survived by

his five children.

Read Full Stories on


*Hampton football new offensive play was paert

of Celebration Bowl champions.

*Michael Vick joked he may need channel his

inner Nick Saban at Norfolk State.

* A CIAA tean will visit the HBCU national champions

this fall.

Deeply Rooted

Eagles’ Jalen Hurts is the

first QB in 35 years to earn

this distinction in a win

By Geoffrey A Knox, Eagles Wire

(Source Yahoo!sports)

A tale of two halves. That’s what we call games like this,

the Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 17 trip to upstate New York.

This one will be remembered as the evening they survived a

scare from a Buffalo Bills team that wouldn’t go away.

A wintry mix was on the menu. That came later. The skies

were relatively calm during the pregame. The first two quarters

led to a Bills shutout and a 13-0 lead for the visitors.

Jalen Hurts started decently: 14 completions on 21 pass

attempts, 14 completions, one passing touchdown, one rush for

four yards, a 96.3 passer rating, and zero sacks. Philadelphia’s

defense hummed. They took a trip to the locker room, and when

they re-emerged, it was almost as if different guys were on the

field wearing the same white-on-black jersey combination.

Jalen Hurts does the unthinkable, wins anyway, and earns a

dubious distinction.

We hate to ask you to do this, but think back to the

frustrations of Week 4 and Philadelphia’s win over the Tampa

Bay Buccaneers. The Birds carried a 24-6 lead into halftime.

Jalen Hurts didn’t complete another pass for the remainder

of the contest, and once the defense ran out of gas, due to no

fault of their own, Philadelphia wound up surviving a late and

furious Buccaneers rally.

‘It’s no big deal, ‘ we said. A win is a win! It’s early. This

won’t happen again, we thought. Well, it happened again, 13

weeks later in Orchard Park. The Eagles’ defense was again

asked to battle fatigue, overcome a late rally, and lift the entire

team to victory after the offense offered nothing during the

third and fourth quarters.

Jalen Hurts failed to complete a second-half pass for the

second time this season. He earned a unique mention as a

result. He’s 2-0 when failing to complete a pass after halftime.

While Hurts would lament that he’s okay with that as long

as his team wins, you can understand why that would create

concern for everybody else. This isn’t what anyone wants to see

from their quarterback or offense with the playoffs kicking off

in two weeks.

We know what you are thinking and asking yourselves.

How on Planet Earth does something like this happen? Is this

Jalen Hurts’ fault? Is this Kevin Patullo’s fault? Is this Nick

Sirianni’s fault? Is this the result of Saquon Barkley’s drop-off?

Ladies and gentlemen. We’ve asked ourselves these same

questions all year. We’re seemingly no closer to finding any

answers, but we’re all certain of two things.

First, if what Hurts has done in these two games has

happened before, we don’t remember when it was. Second, we’d

rather not see stats like these postgame ever again.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Jalen Hurts

has won two games without completing a pass in 2nd half

HBCU football transfer

portal: These are best players

available on the market

By Kendrick Marshall

(Source: HBCY Sports)

Some of the biggest names in HBCU football are on the move

this winter, turning the transfer portal into a showcase of

star power that stretches from decorated quarterbacks to allconference

defenders.

For coaches at every level, the question is less whether to tap

into HBCU talent and more which of these proven playmakers

can change a program’s trajectory overnight when the portal

officially opens on Jan. 2.

HBCU headliners at quarterback

No position shapes the portal like quarterback, and HBCU

football has produced a true headliner in Alabama State star

Andrew Body. The Hornets signal-caller, fresh off a season that

earned him HBCU National Player of the Year, BOXTOROW

National Offensive Player of the Year, and SWAC Offensive

Player of the Year honors, has entered the portal after leading

Alabama State to a landmark 10-win campaign.

Body's résumé - national awards, all-conference recognition

- instantly makes him one of the most coveted quarterbacks

available at any level. With multiple seasons of high-efficiency

production, he is expected to draw interest from Power Four,

Group of Five, and top-tier FCS programs looking for an

experienced dual-threat who has already proven he can carry

a team.

Albany State’s Isaiah Knowles adds another intriguing name

to the quarterback pool after announcing his own portal entry

with one year of eligibility remaining. Knowles helped guide

Albany State to an SIAC championship and developed into

one of Division II HBCU football’s most productive passers,

providing suitors with a seasoned leader and a championship



Veteran Jamaican

Sports Journalist

Donald Oliver has died

ByJovani Davis

(Source: CNW)

Veteran sports journalist and broadcaster Donald Oliver has

died, according to a report from the Jamaica Gleaner.

Oliver reportedly passed away suddenly this morning after

suffering a medical emergency.

Widely regarded as one of Jamaica’s most respected voices in

sports media, Oliver built a distinguished career as a journalist,

commentator, television presenter, producer and writ-er.

Over more than two decades, Donald Oliver built an extensive

and influential career across Jamaica’s major broadcast

media houses, spanning radio, television, live commentary and

sports production.

Oliver most recently served as Senior Producer at SportsMax

Limited, a role he held from February 2016. Based in Kingston,

he worked as a senior editorial voice within the network,

contributing as a producer, journalist, presenter, writer and

media consultant, and helping to shape SportsMax’s football

and cricket coverage across the region.

Prior to joining SportsMax, Oliver spent just over seven

years at CVM Communications Group between 2008 and 2016.

During that period, he played a central role in CVM’s sports

output, writing, producing and presenting multiple flagship

programmes. These includ-ed Spotlight: CVM Sports Year in

Review in 2009, 2010 and 2012, as well as a major Olym-pics

feature produced for CVM’s 2012 advertising pitch.

At CVM, Oliver also co-founded and produced the popular

sports call-in pro-gramme Football GPS, delivered television

commentary for the schoolboy football season, and contributed

track and field commentary for events such as the Milo Western

Relays and Western Champs. He produced Road to Champs, a

weekly half-hour athletics feature, oversaw live coverage of the

Gibson Relays, and provided regional radio commentary during

the West Indies ODI tour of Bangladesh in 2012. In 2014,

he co-produced CVM Televi-sion’s coverage of the FIFA World

Cup, which included six live shows and nightly one-hour delayed

broadcasts.

In recognition of his journalistic work, Oliver received a Prime

Minister’s Youth Award for Ex-cellence in Journalism in 2009,

a milestone he often cited as pivotal in his career.


DeSean Jackson, Michael Vick provided

attendance boost as HBCU head coaches

By Kendrick Marshall

(Source: HBCU Sports)

Norfolk State and Delaware State both saw their football

crowds swell in 2025 under DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick.

But the Spartans’ surge under first-year head coach Vick

turned their home dates into some of the hottest tickets in

HBCU football.

From record-setting homecoming figures in Norfolk to a

primetime showcase in an NFL stadium for Delaware State, the

numbers tell the story of two MEAC programs riding a broader

wave of fan engagement.

Norfolk State’s attendance spike under Vick

Norfolk State’s 2025 home attendance exploded to 106,062

across five home games, more than the combined totals

of the 2023 and 2024 seasons and one of the largest season

figures in modern program history. That worked out to

an average crowd of roughly 21,212 per game, placing

the Spartans at No. 5 nationally in FCS attendance.

The centerpiece was homecoming, where 47,273 fans packed

Dick Price Stadium for a matchup with South Carolina

State, nearly doubling the 24,960 turnout for homecoming

two years earlier. Even with a 1–9 record heading into the

final home game against Morgan State, Norfolk State still

drew 7,294 fans, more than double the comparable lateseason

crowd in 2023, underscoring how Vick’s arrival and

an aggressive ticketing push reshaped baseline interest.

Delaware State’s steady rise and winning bump

Delaware State’s attendance picture in 2024 and 2025 wasn’t

as dramatic as Norfolk State but still showed signs of growth

and ambition. The Hornets’ 2025 schedule included a marquee

Thursday night clash against Norfolk State played in an NFL

stadium, a neutral-site showcase that drew a reported 47,266

fans and led all HBCU games in Week 10 attendance.

That neutral-site figure dwarfed typical Delaware State home

numbers, which averaged 3,389 fans in 2025, up from 3,333 a

year ago. However, attendance capacity increased from 46.3

percent in 2024 to 47 percent this past fall, according to the

most recent figures.


The Westside Gazette

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

Delete template?

Save as template ?