Non-profit Organization U. S. Postage 5344 Second Avenue PAID Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh, PA 15207 Permit No. 5333 Volume 2, No. 5 May, 2014 PUBLISHED BY HAZELWOOD INITIATIVE, INC. 5344 SECOND AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15207 Meet LaKiesha George - Propel Hazelwood’s Principal school system as an elementary classroom What is your educational philosophy, concrete solution to education through teacher (grades 1-5) and a dance coordi- and how does it fit with Propel’s mis- the arts and science that yields a vision nator/choreographer (grades K-5). Also, sion? for the future of teaching and learning. I have served teachers as a Grade Leader, Having the Hazelwood community and Grounded by the philosophy that all chil- Curriculum Developer. New Teacher Men- Propel Schools embrace me in breathing dren can learn and want to be motivated to tor and Instructional Coach. Additionally, life into this vision is an honor. achieve at high levels across all academic I have collaborated with leadership as a disciplines, I believe every child’s inter- School Leadership Team Member, UFT What would you like readers to est; every single child’s potential can be Delegate while serving the broader school know about Propel Hazelwood? developed into an exceptional academic community as Parent Committee Member, talent. My vision for Propel Hazelwood is Propel Hazelwood is a wonderful ad- School Wellness Co-Chair and advocated to create a high achieving learning envi- dition to the Hazelwood community. In for high-quality education for all children ronment where every scholar is known by 2014, education has a new face and a new at many different community venues in the his/her strength. At Propel Hazelwood, we meaning. Propel will prepare students to Bronx. I am a proud NYC Big Apple Award will create the future artistic zoologists, be lifelong learners and true global citi- Nominee and a humbled recipient of the scientific artists, musical geniuses, singing zens. For the Hazelwood community, a 2012 - 2013 Bronx Borough President Ru- scientists and dancing mathematicians … new school means revitalization; for the ben Diaz Jr. Educational Leadership Award, a truly unique breed of scholars. My edu- students it will be a place for all learners and the NYC 2012 - 2013 Gold Excellence cational philosophy fits with Propel’s mis- to achieve academic excellence and build Ms. LaKiesha George in Schools Wellness Award. sion because Propel is about catalyzing the strong character. Propel Hazelwood staff, I am honored to continue my commit- transformation of public education so that understands that their vocation to stu- Welcome, Ms. LaKiesha George, our ment to education in Hazelwood. I am all children have access to high performing dents is a lifestyle of teaching and learn- new Principal at Propel Hazelwood. looking forward to helping make Propel schools. That is exactly what you are going ing and a commitment to scholars. We are Please tell us a bit about yourself! Schools a premier school district offering to see at Propel Hazelwood … the transfor- excited to bring our promise of a high- a world-class education while significantly It is with great pleasure that I introduce my- mation of public education… through inno- quality education to all families. I am so changing the educational outcome of our self to you. I am very excited to be the found- vation. High expectations for all scholars excited to meet our Hazelwood students, scholars. ing principal of Propel Hazelwood. Prior to and staff, a relentless demand for excel- families and community partners as we joining Propel Schools, for the past decade, “Education is the most powerful weapon lence and high levels of achievement will prepare for the upcoming school year! I dedicated myself to children of the South which you can use to change the world.” permeate the halls as I believe there is no We will be ready to officially open the Bronx. I have taught within the NYC public - Nelson Mandela substitute for excellence and will deliver a doors to Propel Hazelwood in August! Happy 92nd, Herbert P. Douglas, Jr.! Hazelwood Man Created Jesse Owens International Athletic Trophy Banquet By Elliott Denman pic long jump bronze medalist, already 80 From this slight was created the fire years old in 2002, couldn’t keep on keeping inside Herb Douglas to make amends, to There had been “a pause,” they explained. on forever. Searching for a team of younger create an even more lustrous award, where It was an expression of understandable inex- guys he could pass the baton to, he ran into ancient bigotries would at last be set aside actitude that brought smiles to all in the full nothing but a series of false starts. and the most notable achievers of the sports house that was the grand ballroom of the Wal- And that’s why this gala, always a fea- world be properly recognized. dorf-Astoria Hotel Monday night. ture of the Big Apple’s athletic slate, would Thus, the first of these galas in 1981. This “pause” was 11 years, from the 23rd languish for over a decade. But, the very “Our father’s legacy is as inspirational edition of the International Athletic Associa- good news, finally-but-happily revealed, today as his record-setting achievements tion, Inc.’s Jesse Owens International Athlete was that the younger generations had actu- were in his time,” wrote the three Owens Trophy banquet at the Waldorf, in 2003, to the ally stood up, allowing Herb Douglas to at daughters - Marlene Owens Rankin, Bever- new and oh-so-fortunately re-energized 24th last sit back and relax. ly Owens Prather and Gloria Owens Hemp- edition, on this second Monday of the third A team led by Wesley E. Smith, the for- hill. month of 2014. mer Penn football player now chairman of “He was as much the champion on the Those first 23 had been masterpieces, cho- the International Athletic Association, got it playground in the poorest neigborhoods as reographed by Mr. Herbert P. Douglas Jr. into all done and put on a first-class performance he was on the oval of the Olympic Games. celebrations of Olympic sport, and honor- at the Waldorf. His extraordinary accomplishments include ing such celebrity-Olympians as speed skat- The banquet’s origins dated back to the receiving the Presidential Medal of Free- ing’s Eric Heiden (the first winner in 1981), day Jesse Owens told Herb Douglas of the dom and the Congressional Gold Medal. track and field’s Sebastian Coe (1982), div- slight he felt when, after all his four-gold He is the only Olympian to ever receive ing’s Greg Louganis (1987), cycling’s Greg medal, Hitler-defying, America-inspiring both honors, which recognized his historic LeMond (1991), gymnastics’ Vitaly Scherbo deeds at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, he athletic achievements and personal commit- (1993) and swimming’s Ian Thorpe (2002.) still wasn’t considered good enough to win ment to building a better society.” (Even the editions that later saw winners the James E. Sullivan Award as America’s Their dad left us on March 31, 1980. Ben Johnson, Marion Jones and Lance Arm- amateur athlete of the year. Not until Olym- A theme throughout: “If you can dream strong “disqualified” for drug-related offenses pic 800-meter champion Mal Whitfield won it, you can do it.” seemed masterful at the time.) it in 1954 did it go to an African-American But the maestro, the famed 1948 Olym- athlete. Continued on Page 2 Happy Birthday, Herb - NYC style! What’s Up? Community news ....................................Page 2 Greenfield Grapevine All the Greenfield news ...Page 10 What About Food? Safe food preparation ........... Page 5 Green Up For Spring What’s growing? .............. Page 16 Legislative News Government goings-on ...............Page 6 Gents+1/Confusions Hazelwood band reunites ..Page 18 31st Ward Wire Old and new news ..........................Page 8 Advertisers Support your community! .................... Various Page 2 THE HOMEPAGE May 2014 Herb Douglas, Jr. - Continued from Page 1 Bolt said of the festivities. “It was a great event, the organization was The co-masters of ceremonies: by sweet potato latkes and haricots very-very good.” famed TV interviewer and produc- verts, all with appropriate liba- Back home, Mr. Bolt is a small er Roy Firestone, and noted CNN tions, it was time to get on with the business owner, operating a gro- anchor (and proud Mal daughter) real business of the night. cery store in rural Trelawney. Fredericka Whitfield. And the winner of the Jesse Cricket was the name of the major ____________________________________________ Jim Clerkin, president and Owens International Athlete Tro- game for most of those local Tre- Hazelwood • Greenfield • 31st ward ____________________________________________ CEO of sponsoring Moet Hen- phy, as “the 2013 most outstanding lawney lads but Usain Bolt - the nessy USA, put it this way: “Now, athlete in the world” was....none “lightning bolt man himself” has The Homepage is published by the Hazelwood Initiative, more than ever our young people other than Usain St. Leo Bolt, the surely changed much of that cul- Inc., and is made possible by generous support from need a role model like Jesse Ow- pride of Trelawney, and all of Ja- ture. Councilman Corey O’Connor and State Representative ens.” maica, and the whole sports world, Just as the man the young Herb Harry Readshaw along with advertising from local Thus, the IAA is committed really. Douglas most wanted to emulate organizations and businesses. to helping individuals reach their Maximizing his natural gifts, was Jesse Owens, the man young fullest potential by “supporting Usain has earned six Olympic Jamaicans now most want to emu- Editor Emeritus scholarships through the Jesse gold medals, eight World Champi- late is Usain Bolt.