Volume 25, No. 4 “And Ye Shall Know The Truth...” November 13, 2013 D. Michael Collins Defeats Mayor Mike Bell
D. Michael Collins Mike Bell
“Will the new leaders and decision makers have the wisdom, spirituality and stability of “old souls” or will it be just another familiar instance of the “old guard” vigorously opposing progress in order to defend the stale perspectives of a bygone era?”
In This Issue...
Election Coverage Education Section Book Review Center of Hope Perryman and Word Page 13 Page 16 Pages 2-3 Education Gifts Cassie Gillespie of Notre Dame Page 6 Page 9 Phillips Temple
Best Gift Ever BlackMarketPlace CME Kevin McGruder Page 4 Tips for Social Media Page 14 Page 16 Page 6 Page 10
Zumbathon Intern in Ohio TSA and Japanese Art Classifieds Page 5 Page 7 Page 11 Page 15 Page 2 The Sojourner’s Truth November 13, 2013 The Good Ol’ Days By Rev. Donald L. Perryman, D.Min. The Truth Contributor
(We) ought to study the past not for the pleasure (we) find in so doing, but to derive lessons from it. — Chaikh Anta Diop
The results of last week’s local ers have the wisdom, spirituality was 25 years behind every city in resentative, trained to spot problem elections revealed the voters’ de- and stability of “old souls” or, will it Ohio because of ongoing discrimi- areas, is placed in every department. sire to return to the “good ol’ days.” be just another familiar instance of natory activity in human resources. This process ensures that each ap- Should Adam Martinez, awaiting the the “old guard” vigorously opposing The commission concluded that plicant possesses the required cre- counting of provisional ballots, not progress in order to defend the stale the Affirmative Action department dentials and qualifications of the maintain his precarious lead for the perspectives of a bygone era? should never be under Human Re- job. Affirmative Action must sign last City Council seat, 11 of the 12 While the diversity of Collins’ sources because “that’s where your off on every hire or appointment in city council reps will be aged 55 and cabinet is obviously a key distin- problems are,” it said. order to make sure that departments over. Council could possibly consist guishing feature, the community While affirmative action has ex- are not leaning toward certain indi- of a youthful Lindsay Webb and 11 should also closely monitor how the perienced a lot of recent contro- viduals to give them an upper hand. others who range from 55 to nearly mayor-elect handles the Affirmative versy, Toledo’s Affirmative Action A Position Control Committee, 77 years of age. Action department, the other major department is much needed given comprised of Affirmative Action, In addition, it is likely that the “discriminating mark” of character its history of discrimination. In the Deputy Mayor Shirley Green and most diverse executive cabinet in and perspective. past, directors of departments were the Human Resources Director also this city’s history – with blacks, During the campaign, Collins indi- given carte blanche to select their meet each Friday to evaluate those Hispanics and females currently cated that he “has little understand- own people, often working in con- scheduled to be promoted or hired positioned in every strategic part of ing of diversity and discrimination.” cert with Human Resources to shape to make sure that there are no holes the organization, will be restocked Therefore, I am concerned about his job descriptions in a way that gave in the process. Often, this commit- primarily with white males from potential hiring of someone without certain individuals an advantage. tee “catches flies in the ointment,” previous administrations. a sensitivity to African-Americans Today, however, affirmative-action including instances where directors The word from inside the Col- and others that have been histori- department-approved committees attempt to hire a “preferred” candi- lins’ camp is that “Bell lost because cally discriminated against. With perform the hiring. Each committee date by passing over several quali- African Americans stayed home, the office of Affirmative Action cur- must be well balanced and include fied people of color by adding di- so Collins doesn’t owe them any- rently inundated with complaints of minorities who have received train- mensions not relevant to the job or thing.” City Council, impressed at lack of fairness, there is a critical ing in civil rights and affirmative ac- evaluation process. an enlivened Jack Ford’s bullying need to have someone with strong tion. of a confused and conflicted black credentials in Equal Employment Also, an equal employment rep- ... continued on page 10 electorate, is now ready to march to Opportunity issues and who will not Ford’s orders and the muscle of an merely march to the mayor-elect’s invigorated Theresa Gabriel. Also, tune. I also think that this individual Carty Finkbeiner, the retouched for- should be selected by the commu- mer mayor and intimate on- again/ nity rather than Collins in order to Community Calendar off-again confidante of Ford and maintain administrative indepen- November 15 Gabriel, is back in the mix for yet dence and effectiveness. another date with destiny. It is rumored that Collins plans to Indiana Avenue MBC Men and Children Clothing giveaway: 4:40 to 7 pm My questions are: Did the election attempt to merge Affirmative Action “The Power in One Village:” 6 to 8:30 pm; Zablocki Senior Center; Bringing bequeath us something chic retro or with Human Resources ala Fink- past, present and future generations of the One Village community together: merely impart something that can be beiner’s previous controversial and 419-490-3895 termed “Oldmageddon?” Will may- costly move. or-elect Collins establish a classic/ Yet, in 1989, the City of Toledo November 16 timeless administration or instead, entered into a Conciliation Agree- Evangelical Church of God – Working Through Un-forgiveness Seminar: provide Toledo with a rehashed ver- ment and Consent Order with the sion akin to “Oldie McMoldy?” Will Civil Rights Commission, which 9:30 to 11:30 am: 419-297-3530 the new leaders and decision mak- determined that the City of Toledo Calvary Baptist Church Annual Cancer Awareness Luncheon: 10 am – agency resources; 11 am – programs; Noon – lunch; J.A. Dotson Fellowship Hall Indiana Avenue MBC Fish Dinner Sales: 9 to 11 am; Men’s fellowship break- The Sojourner’s Truth fast and door prizes; Wellness seminar by Rite Aid – 11:15 am to noon Toledo’s Truthful African American November 17 Owned and Operated Newspaper First MBC 74th Anniversary: Speaker Rev. Everett of Zion Hill; 4 pm Fletcher Word – Publisher and Editor Indiana Avenue MBC Men’s Day Service – 10:45 am to 1 pm; 5 pm – Men’s Becky McQueen – Business Manager Day Musical – “Old Ship of Zion” Folasade Oladokun – Office Manager United Church of God 3rd Pastoral Anniversary Celebration: Pastor Dewayne and Starlet Braxton; 11 am service with Min. Jackie Robinson; 4 pm service Artisha Lawson – Reporter Carla Leonard – Social Editor with Pastor David Lunn of Joseph Campau Church of God in Detroit Michael Hayes – Entertainment Critic Rev. D.L. Perryman – Columnist November 23 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc Diabetes Information Fair: Noon to 2 pm; Jennifer Retholtz – Webmaster Kathy Sweeny – Graphic Designer Prevention, management and overcoming diabetes; Pickett Academy
A Certified MBE November 24 The Sojourner’s Truth, 1811 Adams Street, Toledo, OH 43604 First MBC 74th Anniversary: Women in Red; Wanda Dorn speaker Phone 419-243-0007 * Fax 419-255-7700 [email protected] November 27 www.thetruthtoledo.com United Community Church Annual Thanksgiving Dinner: Noon to 2 pm November 13, 2013 The Sojourner’s Truth Page 3 Voters Stay Home and Ignore Off-Year General Election By Fletcher Word ponent Constantine Stamos. Bowman-Eng- ballots are tallied next week. down and out of the running for the general Sojourner’s Truth Editor lish received 65.8 percent of the vote. Although Martinez began the campaign election. Candidates Bob Vasquez (an incumbent), with labor and Democratic Party support, The Party has a lot of re-grouping to do. Most, not all, of this Polly Taylor Gerken and Chris Varwig won he lost the backing of both in the final days year’s general results are the three seats up for grabs for the Toledo of the campaign when he endorsed Bell for in and one thing is certain Board of Education. re-election. about voters and how By far the most interesting results, how- Big loser in this year’s election? The Lu- much they care about off- ever, came in the contest for Toledo City cas County Democratic Party, which hasn’t year elections. They care Council at-large seats – and it’s still inter- endorsed candidates before the primary for less and less. esting with hundreds of provisional ballots a number of years in order to avoid the inter- This year’s November still not to be counted for another week. necine strife so prevalent during Jack Ford’s 5 Election Day brought Incumbent Republican Rob Ludeman term in office, has managed to become vir- out only 26.13 percent finished atop the 12-candidate, former tually irrelevant. of registered voters com- Mayor Jack Ford, an unendorsed Demo- Bell, a former Democrat declined to run Jack Ford pared to 37.50 percent crat, claimed second place. Then came as such four years ago and again this year. of voters in the 2009 Sandy Spang, an independent and incum- Sykes and Ford did not request an endorse- campaign. Only 49,596 bent Democrat Steve Steel in fourth place. ment. Martinez laughed in the face of the voters cast ballots in this Then things get really interesting. Finish- Party and still might win re-election. year’s Toledo mayoral ing in fifth, sixth and seventh places, respec- The most significant part of this off-year race, compared to 68,845 tively, were Theresa Gabriel, an indepen- calamity for the Lucas County Democrats in 2009 and 79,012 in dent and former Republican; Democratic was the failure to cope with the Anita Lo- 2005. incumbent Adam Martinez and unendorsed pez/Joe McNamara face-off in the primary. As for the results, most Democrat Larry Sykes. Only 109 votes Toledo City Councilman McNamara re- political observers were separate the three candidates – with only six served his attacks almost exclusively for fel- predicting a close finish in at-large seats available one will finish out low Democrat Lucas County Auditor Lopez the mayoral race between of the money when the 400-500 provisional and, in the process, brought both Democrats Larry Sykes incumbent Mike Bell and Councilman D. Mi- chael Collins, both inde- pendents. Most political observers were wrong, very wrong, including this writer. Collins won in a landslide garnering 56.53 percent of the vote to Bell’s 43.47 percent. Despite being outspent by a margin of perhaps four-to-one; despite ac- cusations of racial insen- sitivity; despite a suppos- edly uphill battle against an incumbent who touted his accomplishments at putting Toledo on sound D. Michael Collins Theresa Gabriel Mike Bell Vallie Bowman-English financial footing – no small claim these days – Collins, an independent MY MOM IS BATTLING CANCER. I NEED TO WORK FULL TIME. I like his opponent, carried the day with his small ANT TO BE THERE EVERY DAY. HOW CAN I DO IT ALL? MY MOM IS band of volunteers and om is battling can “I could never have done it on my own his door-to-door strategy. needTTLING CANCER. to I NEEDwork TO WORK ful FULL TIME. I WANT TO BE THERE While Collins had few- want to be ther without Hospice of Northwest Ohio.” er funds at his disposal day.VERY DAY. HOWHow CAN I DOcan IT ALL? MYI d MOM IS BATTLING CANCER. “I wasn’t familiar with watching somebody you love pass away. than Bell, the challenger MY MOM IS BATTLING cancer. My mom is bat- I felt a weight had been lifted off my shoulders when Hospice of had some powerful forc- cancer. I need to es backing his candidacy. NEEDfull TO WORK time. FULL TIME. I I WANTwant TO BE THERE EVERY DAY. HOW Northwest Ohio got involved because I had no idea what I was Ohio labor unions and I FULL TIME. doing, and they explained everything to me.” AthereN I DOneed IT ALL? everyMY MOMto IS BATTLING workday. CANCER. I NEED TO WORK the Democratic Party can I do it all? My – April, daughter of a Hospice of Northwest Ohio patient came out for Collins be- s battling cancer cause Bell had backed We are the area’s largest and most experienced provider of hospice toLL TIME.I WANT work I WANT TO TO BEfull THERE EVERYtime DAY. HOW EVERY CAN I DAY.DO IT ALL? the Republican Party’s be there care, a nonprofit organization solely dedicated to providing the best efforts to decertify public to be there ever owY MOM IScan BATTLING I CANCER.do itI NEED all TO WORK FULL TIME. I WANT possible end-of-life experience for our patients and their families. unions several years agoom is battling can with Senate Bill 5. Bell, HOW CAN I Ask for us by name. The sooner you do, the more we can help. a former Democrat, was needO BE THERE EVERYto workDAY. HOWdo CAN ful I DOit IT ALL?all? MY MOM IS BAT- the only Ohio big city want to be ther mayor to do so and it cost day.LING CANCER. How I NEED TOcan WORK FULLI d TIME. I WANT TO BE THERE Answers for Living the Last Months of Life him dearly. My mom is bat- In other races, Toledo Vcancer.ERY DAY. HOW CAN I I needDO IT ALL? MYto MOM IS BATTLING CANCER. Municipal clerk of Court full time. I want there every day. Visit hospicenwo.org Vallie Bowman-English NEED TO WORK FULL TIME. I WANT TO BE THERE EVERY DAY. HOW 419-661-4001 (Ohio) / 734-568-6801 (Michigan) can I do it all? My © 2013 Hospice of Northwest Ohio soundly thumped her op- s battling cancer Page 4 The Sojourner’s Truth November 13, 2013 “Give the Best Gift Ever” to Children Helped By Lucas County Children Services Annual Holiday Gift Drive Benefits Abused and Neglected Children Special to The Truth
From dolls, to puzzles, to foot- Dunn, LCCS public information Corporation®; The Blade; Kroger; cations in Holland, Maumee, Ore- balls, Lucas County Children Ser- specialist and campaign coordina- Family Video; radio station WRVF gon, Sylvania, Toledo, and Temper- vices (LCCS) is once again asking tor. “Last year, people were incred- 101.5 The River; Woodcraft and the ance, Mich. area residents to “Give the Best Gift ibly generous to the children we Yark Automotive Group. · All Toledo-area Kroger stores in Ever” this holiday season! serve. But, 2013 has seen an in- Local residents are encouraged to Holland, Maumee, Oregon, Perrys- The agency is kicking off its annu- crease in the number of children af- drop a new, unwrapped toy in the burg, Swanton, Sylvania, Toledo, al Holiday Gift Drive, which is co- fected by abuse or neglect in Lucas collection boxes located around the and Sylvania. County, so we’re hoping the com- sponsored by the Friends of Lucas community: · Woodcraft, 5311 Airport High- munity can step up and make sure County Children Services (FLCCS) · Allshred Services, 3940 Technol- they have a happy holiday season,” way, Toledo. and several community partners. ogy Drive in Maumee (which is of- she adds. · All Yark Automotive Group loca- The community-based campaign is fering up to five bags or boxes of tions in Toledo and Whitehouse. expected to provide gifts to as many The gift drive provides toys for shredding free when you donate a toy children from birth to age 18. While The Barnes & Noble Booksellers as 1,500 children who are victims of or gift card at its offices November at 4940 Monroe Street in Toledo has abuse and neglect. they are seeking gifts for all age 25-27 or December 2-6). groups, the agency is in particular designated the LCCS Holiday Gift Gift collection begins November need of gifts for children of all eth- · All Banner Mattress & Furniture Drive as the recipient of its 2013 12 and runs through December 17, nic groups who are newborn to three locations in Bowling Green, Perrys- holiday book donation campaign, 2013. years old, and gift cards for teenag- burg, Oregon and Toledo. which encourages customers to pur- The drive provides gifts for chil- ers. · The Blade office at 541 North Su- chase books to be donated to the gift dren living with their families under Several generous community perior Street, Toledo. drive. LCCS supervision, or who are living partners are again stepping up to · All Toledo-area BURGER KING® Anyone can also support the gift with relatives in order to be safe. support the gift drive: Allshred restaurants in Holland, Maumee, Or- drive using their smartphone by tex- “The theme of ‘Give The Best Services; Banner Mattress & Fur- egon, Perrysburg, Toledo, and Lam- ting BESTGIFT to 41911 and mak- Gift Ever’ seems to resonate with niture; Bennett Management Corp., bertville, Mich. ing a $5, $10 or $50 donation (mes- our community,” explains Sherry a franchisee of BURGER KING · All Toledo-area Family Video lo- saging and air time charges apply). November 13, 2013 The Sojourner’s Truth Page 5 The Josh Project Hosts First Annual Zumbathon Fundraiser Artisha S Lawson Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
Over 150 supporters filled Robin- The Josh Project. son Elementary School on Friday, “I heard that they needed volun- November 8 in support of The Josh teers and signed up. The story about Project’s first annual Zumbathon The Josh Project is emotional and fundraiser. Dancing lights, up-beat stays with you. I hope that people music and high energy Zumba was will volunteer because they see us led by six volunteer instructors: volunteering, then they will see Tankeeya Butts, Liz Dirico, Mon- how great this organization is,” ex- ica Willarreal, Yuko Kitamura, plained student volunteer Melanie Malcolm Thompson and Amanda Corrigan. Smith. The fundraiser gave out door “I’ve been a Zumba fitness in- prizes to attendees, provided by structor for two and a half years, sponsors including: Massage Envy, and currently teach at LA Fitness Kroger’s, Five Guys and Barry Ba- and Bowling Green State Univer- gels. sity Recreation Center. This is for The Josh Project was founded in a good cause. The Josh Project memory of John-Joshua Butts who teaches kids an important lesson. never had a swimming lesson, could Excellent turn-out today,” said vol- not swim and drowned at the age of unteer Thompson. 16 on August 6, 2006. The organiza- In addition to the high-energy tion provides affordable swimming Zumba activity, University of To- lessons and water safety education ledo and Bowling Green State to prevent drowning. Information University students volunteered about current and upcoming com- and organized information tables munity swim lessons is available on Tankeeya Butts was one of the many who participated in the Zumbathan which focused on swim safety and the website www.joshproject.org. Fundraiser