Volume 18, No.26“And Ye Shall Know The Truth...” October 27, 2010 In This Issue Guest commentary Kool Kidz BlackMarketPlace Pages 8-9 Page 14 Page 18 The Political Section: Book Review Classifieds Deltas and Habitat for The Truth’s Endorsements Page 15 Page 19 Numanity Pages 2-7, 12 Page 10 Minister on Movies Gibsons 50th Page 17 Page 20 Page 2 The Sojourner’s Truth October 27, 2010 ***Election Issue - The Truth’’’ s Endorsements***Election Issue - The Truth’’’ s Endorsements***Election Issue - The Truth’’’ s Endorsements*** Support Issue # 5 – Vote Community Calendar October 29 St. Paul MBC “Faith Friday:” 7:30 pm; Speaker Rev. Allen Smith FOR Toledo’s Children Harvest Celebration with the Isaiah Thomas Giving Foundation: Wayman Palmer YMCA; 5 to 7 pm; Fun, activities, music, food, games During the May primary election, the Toledo Public Schools placed a .75 percent earned Women of Virtue Ministries: “Receiving Our Inheritance Prophetic Prayer Summit;” income tax levy on the ballot in the hopes of raising a few million dollars to help close the 713 n. Reynolds; 6 pm; speaker Apostle Leroy Coleman of Dominion Christian Center: budget gap that was madly spinning out of control. 567-698-0323 That went over not at all well in the Glass City. A number of influential groups spoke Warren AME Harvest Party: 6:30 to 8:30 pm; Food, games and music: 419-243-2237 out against the levy and it eventually fell to defeat by about 11 percentage points. October 29-31 The reasoning of the groups that urged that defeat was that the Toledo Board of St. Paul AME Zion Women’s Day Weekend Celebration: “I Want to Be Healed;” Fri Education and the TPS administration had not engaged the public in appropriate dialogue, speaker Pastor Shirley Sparks of Walls AME Zion – 7 pm; Sat – Woman to Woman had not used past levies to ensure that funds were proportionately distributed within the fellowship luncheon at 11 am with speaker Rev. Mellody Bowen-Hall; Sun. service at 11 community and that the board and administration had failed as always to put forth a plan am with speaker TBA: 419-243-1063 to deal with the long-term systemic issues – financial, academic, decreasing student enrollment – facing the district October 30 In other words, let’s give the board and the administration and the unions a slap on the Friendly MBC Attic Treasures Silent Auction & Homemade Bake Sale: 11 am to 3 pm wrist to demonstrate the ill will their actions have engendered. Braden United Methodist church All Saints Day Celebration: Party for children from We got that. A slap on the wrist to a group of folks who have long had a bunker mentality 6 to 8 pm; Games, prizes, food and fun: 419-386-2700 and who have seemed more concerned with protecting their turf than in educating their Warren AME Harvest Party: 6:30 to 8:30 pm; Food, games, best costume contest students. Now comes TPS with another levy request and, yes, it’s a big one this time. It’s a big October 31 one because the looming deficit is huge and TPS in this economically-troubled time needs Toledo District Full Gospel Fellowship 5th Sunday Fellowship: Canaan Baptist some big money in order to keep educating our children. Church; 6 pm Again, this time around, there are groups and individuals out there who are urging Musical Appreciation for Maestro Brian Thomas: Christian Community Church; 6 voters to turn thumbs down on November 2. With a budget deficit that could be as high pm: 419-531-1859 or 419-471-9101 or 567-395-4819 as $44 million if the levy fails, that’s not a slap on the wrist for a few stubborn adults, that’s Ebenezer MBC Panel Discussion: “Battle of the Minds – Wilderness Mentality;” Jean a suggestion that we take a two-by-four and whack our children in their heads. Lark, Betty Long, Larry Jones and Jerome Johnson; 4 pm: 419-242-2581 Critics of the levy request will, even in these very pages as you read on, tell you not Warren AME Faith Out Loud Youth Ministries Open House: 1:30 pm: 419-243-2237 to fear the consequences until … there are consequences. The hue and cry during the summer when TPS announced that it would eliminate some athletic programs and free November 4 transportation for thousands of students was assailed by some of the same people who ProMedica Cancer Institute’s Free Prostate Screenings: Bay Park Community Hos- are now suggesting that we should not fear the consequences of a levy request that fails. pital; 9 to 11 am: 877-291-1441 Of course, students will still be taught if the levy fails. But, make no mistake, the consequences of a failed levy request are dire indeed. Flight from the troubled district will November 5 increase, more programs will be slashed, more teachers will be cut. Diabetes Youth Services Annual Fundraiser: “Sweet Success Gala;” Carranor Hunt No matter how we feel about the performance of this school board and this school and Polo Club in Perrysburg; 6:30 to 10 pm: 419-244-7766 or 419-351-2132 administration, we simply cannot afford to take such an enormous chance with our students’ education or with, as Mayor Mike Bell calls it, the city’s biggest economic November 6 engine. College Scholarship Seminar for High School Students and parents: UT Student Let’s be clear, we have never been impressed with how the district’s leaders have Union Rm 2592; 2 to 4 pm: 419-381-3280 or [email protected] responded to the issues the district faces. Nevertheless, we do at the moment see two signs Christian Community Church Women’s Seminar: Women’s Health; 3 pm; Facilitator that change may yet be in the air. Stan Scarbrough: 419-536-7852 First, the board has started to reach out to the community for help. It has not done so Jerusalem MBC: “A Tea of Elegance;” Noon to 3 pm; Indiana Avenue MBC; Style to the satisfaction of everyone in the community but it is a step forward. show, vendors, fun and fellowship Second, the district has secured a $10.8 million grant from the U.S. Department’s Race to the Top program. That program requires a plan that will address many of the concerns November 7 th of those in the community who are uneasy about the board’s lack of focus. End Time Christian Fellowship 19 Pastoral Anniversary: 10 am service; Speaker Rev. The Race to The Top grant will force the district to use national standards in assessing Pamela Phillips: 419-472-5993 Warren AME Faith Out Loud Open House: Learn what Warrens’ youth organizations student achievement, establish a data warehouse for student information, set up a way to have to offer: 419-243-2237 move the best teachers into the most challenging schools and identify other methods – Mt. Nebo 80th Church Anniversary: 11 am and 4 pm services; Guest for 4 pm is Pastor including community engagement – in turning around low achieving schools. D. Alexander Bullock of Detroit So while the district may not have come up with anything resembling an acceptable plan New Prospect Baptist Church 10th Pastoral anniversary: Pastor Glenn Burel; 4 pm for moving forward, it may well have been done for them by the federal government. Service with Second Baptist’s Rev. Jerry Boose As we have noted on previous recent occasions, there is a sense of energy and enthusiasm in the community and within a wide number of circles about our ability to make November 13 positive changes in the way our children are educated here in Toledo. Let’s not place West Toledo Bereavement Monthly Meeting; 10 am; Bethlehem Baptist: 567-249- another obstacle in our children’s path. 7470 The Truth asks its readers to Vote FOR Issue #5. The Sojourner’s Truth Toledo’s Truthful African-American Owned and Operated Newspaper Kevin McQueen Publisher Fletcher Word Publisher and Editor Becky McQueen Business Manager Brittany Jones Reporter Vickie Shurelds Reporter Sharon Guice Reporter James Fowler Reporter Artisha Lawson Reporter Jack Ford Political Columnist Michael J. Hayes Entertainment Critic Jason L. Lee Sr. Layout Designer Jennifer Retholtz Webmaster Pamela Anderson Sales Representative Kathy Sweeny Ad Creation A Certified MBE, 2009 The Sojourner’s Truth, 1811 Adams Street, Toledo, Ohio 43604 Phone 419-243-0007 • Fax 419-255-7700 [email protected] www.thetruthtoledo.com October 27, 2010 The Sojourner’s Truth Page 3 ***Election Issue - The Truth’’’ s Endorsements***Election Issue - The Truth’’’ s Endorsements***Election Issue - The Truth’’’ s Endorsements*** Vote For Ted Strickland for Governor The Republican line, as Strickland’s term and espe- loss has been attributed to tem and advocating for alter- expressed by John Kasich cially during the time that the policies of free trade and, native-energy policies. in his television commercials office of governor was filled specifically, NAFTA-related Understandably, Kasich and on his website, is that with Republicans. reasons. These are policies is using short-term memory Ohio has lost 400,000 jobs In fact, the U.S. Depart- that Kasich supported dur- to place the blame for the during Ted Strickland’s first ment of Labor reported sev- ing his time as a congress- worst recession since the term as governor. Such ma- eral years ago that from 2000 man. Great Depression on the nipulation of the data com- to 2007 (seven years of Re- We believe that Strickland shoulders of the Democrats. pletely ignores several per- publican rule and one of has done a commendable job That’s simply political rheto- tinent facts.