April 3, 2014 final spirit news

April 3, 2014Volume 12, Number 9Benton Harbor, Michigan and South Bend, Indiana (Michiana Community)www.bentonspiritnews.com

Informing, Enhancing, Showcasing, Promoting and Educating Michiana -- Southwest Michigan and Northern IndianaComplimentary

History in the Making!

BH Tiger Basketball Team: First row (Cheerleaders), left to right: Venisha Upshaw, Eulaisha Ellis, Renisha Edison-Farmer, Tamia Frazier, (an unidenti-fied cheerleader, Kanniya Gathing, Sinnamon Shelby, and Courtney Davis.Second row, left to right: Dashawn Perry, John Robinson Jr., Willie Wilson Jr., Tywon Alexander, Darrell Moss, Edward Headspeth. Third row, left to right: Tim Reese, Steve Archibald, Kenny Jackson, Jr., Malik Hall, Demarcus Rainer, Idris Hill, Jaton Gunn, Roy Anderson Jr., Curtis Dawson, Freddy McGree, Corey Sterling, Benton Harbor Area Schools Superintendent Leonard Seawood. Fourth row, left to right: Marty Mason, Rodney Phillips, Cortez Moore, Davontae Jones, Curtis McFall, James Wright, Demetrius Frazier, Athletic Director Willie Wilson Sr.

Women...Continuing the Legacy

Lisa Harvey-Gondrezick (center) and Her Two Dynamic DaughtersPages 2 and 11

Fred Couples & Others Coming to Benton Harbor

It’s Tee Time Senior PGA in May

See Page 4

Notre Dame Sports Keeps

Batman BobbySmiling

Page 5

InterCare Recognizes National Minority Health Month

• Page 9

MARK YOUR CALENDAR25 APRIL

See 2

TIGER PRIDE!

“ThankYou for a Great

Season!”See Pages 6 & 7

www.bentonspiritnews.com

2 Benton-Michiana Spirit Newspaper • April 3, 2014Community

Editor’s Note: The Benton-Michiana Spirit Newspaper chose the Harvey-Gondrezick mother and daughers as their 2014 Womenn of the Month for Women’s History Month in March. Due to the BH Boy’s Basketball team advancing to the finals in the last edition, we delayed this article. .

By Ralph HeibutzkiSpirit Correspondent

Not many people get to write their own story as part of a family legacy

– but for Lisa Harvey-Gondrezick, the extraordinary comes with the territory. She first carved out a space for herself in peoples’ memories as a point guard for Benton Harbor High School’s bas-ketball team. When she graduated in 1985, she’d scored 1,645 points for the Lady Tigers – a record that would hold until Destiny Williams broke it, 25 years later – during a year that saw them finish as state championship runners-up. And, the coach for that champsionship team was Lisa’s father, Coach Lou Harvey.

Those achievements continued at Louisiana Tech University, where Harvey-Gondrezick played on a national champi-onship team during three of her four years there. In the process, Harvey-Gondrezick gained inspiration to follow her legendary father, Lou Harvey. As Harvey-Gondrezick recalls, taking that path seemed like a logi-

cal new extension of her passion – since it offered the chance to mentor people, on and off the court, like her father had done.

“I liked the way he would find a diamond in the rough,” Harvey-Gondrezick recalls, about her father’s influence. “He would find nothing, and turn it into something. People always want to take orchestrated or designed, and attach themselves to it – and so, I watched my parents wire, fire and inspire other kids and other families. I watched them feed and clothe kids – sometimes, even provide them shelter. So that’s where my spirit and my nature comes from.”

That’s not to say the ride’s been easy, but

Harvey-Gondrezick feels up to the chal-lenge of building on her family’s legacy. “I tell people: ‘I don’t apologize for being a strong African-American woman,’” she asserts. “However, do not get confused by the roles and the hats that I wear. My primary professional job is a mother, and that comes first. I cannot be afraid of the decisions that I make as a parent that they will disconnect from my role as a coach, a mentor, or an interventionist.”

“I Can’t Play For You”Striking that balance is especially

important when it comes to coaching her two daughters, Kalabrya and Kysre Gondrezick, who – like their mother – have become hotly recruited national prospects during their sophomore and junior years, respectively. For example,

Kalabrya is on the cusp of becoming Michigan’s first four-time First Team All-Stater – an honor that Kysre has also claimed, for two consecutive years.

To outsiders, both daughters appear destined for an easy ride across the red carpet – but Harvey-Gondrezick doesn’t see it that way. “I tell them, ‘I can’t play for you – you can’t play through my legacy. You have to establish your own,’” she said. “That’s being clarified through their performance. It cannot be classified or characterized through mine. I’m very intentional and deliberate in raising expectations for them, because so much is speculated around them.”

Of course, Kysre and Kalabrya are used to such speculation – having played since second and third grade, respectively. From Kalabrya’s perspective, the criti-cal moment came around sixth grade, when she met future Notre Dame stand-out, Skylar Diggins. Asked what made Diggins’s influence so crucial, Kysre

responds: “The way that she elevates the game by being a girl, but still being able to play like a boy – she’s always nice to people, giving them the time that she wishes, if she were in that space.”

Kalabrya endorses that sentiment. “She’s a pretty girl playing basketball – we were in an era when we saw a lot of girls that weren’t feminine. Now, (with) Skylar’s generation, and our generation, they’re showing it’s OK to let girls be girls, and play basketball. You don’t have to be a man to play basketball,” she said.

Both sisters cite one other influence in the man who started running them around cones on the driveway, at age

eight – their father, Grant Gondrezick, himself a former player and personal trainer. “I’d like to include my father, to let people know I was fortunate enough to have a father who spent so much time with me, and always thought about his kids first, rather than himself,” Kysre said.

Kalabrya goes one step further, saying, “I used to hate basket-ball – if it wasn’t for him, I’d never have touched a ball. Everybody thought he was crazy for putting us through that type of training, at our age – but now, they’re prob-ably wishing that they were in our posi-tion.” Since those times, however, they’ve likely gotten plenty of practice with their 10-year-old brother, Grant II – with whom

they spend a lot of time, as Harvey-Gondreizck notes. “He’s got that rough and tough side, too, and he’s just as com-petitive as they are,” she said, laughing.

“The Administrator Is Mom”Balancing those on- and off-court roles

is the stickiest part of the equation, as Harvey-Gondrezick acknowledges – citing a time that she yelled at Kalabrya from the sidelines. “When we were done, she was (saying), like, ‘You’re still angry with me,

from coaching, and I need you to be my mother.’ That’s been my greatest challenge as their coach – making sure I separate and distinguish the dual roles,” she said.

Naturally, Kalabrya has a different take. “At home, she’s still the coach,” she aid, laughing. “The administrator is mom,

Relentless Prowess: BH Coach Lisa Harvey-Gondrezick And Daughters Keep Building On Family Legacy

Kysre Gondrezick (left) posing with the basketball she received for scoring 1,000 points this season. Kalabrya (left)

poses with one of her passions, basketball.

Coach Lou Harvey, the pioneer of champions and excellence -- on

and off the court.

“I watched my parents wire, fire and inspire other kids and other families...that’s

where my spirit and my nature comes from.”--Coach Lisa Harvey-Gondrezick (right)

More on LEGACY, page 11


3Benton-Michiana Spirit Newspaper • April 3, 2014

The Benton - Michiana Spirit Community Newspaper is published on Thursday. The print version is published bi-weekly and on-line version is published daily with new information.

Deadline: The deadline for submission is the Thursday BEFORE each Thursday’s publication date. Exceptions are made for paid submittals.

The preferred method for submitting infor-mation is by e-mail to:

Michigan News:[email protected] Indiana News:[email protected]

Distribution:The Benton-Michiana Spirit Community Newspaper is distributed throughout the communities of Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana (Michiana) and growing.

Subscription: A copy of the Benton-Michiana Spirit will be mailed first-class to you for only $35 for 6 months or $70 for a year.

Freedom of Speech. Note: editorials and letters to the editor are not the opinion and/or view of the Benton Spirit, but the view-point of the author.

BENTON HARBOR OFFICE:P.O. Box 465

Benton Harbor, MI 49023Telephone: (269) 926-4241

Fax: 1-888-807-3010E-mail:

[email protected]

Publisher - Princella TobiasEditor - Desmond Murray, PhDAdvertising/Sales - Princella TobiasAdministrator - Patricia Plaut-PayneCommunity Liaison - Ralph Heibutzki, Candrice Williams, Richard Smith, James Summers, Pastor Hardie Blake, Tim Johnson, Stephan Tinsley, Elaine Osmun, Pastor Michael Carson, Darshonda Harper, Aspiring Young Journalist (AYJ) Team: Benton Harbor High School, Benton Harbor Public Library Teen Advisory Board, Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor, and I’m Saving Myself.

No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without permission from the publishers. All rights reserved world-wide.

SOUTH BEND OFFICE:815 Lincolnway West

South Bend, IN 46616Telephone: (888) 614-8881 Fax: (888) 807-3010

E-mail: [email protected]

EduCation/Community

Message from the Publisher

“When others win -- we all win!Congraduations to the

Benton Harbor Boys’ Basketball Family for making us winners!

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4 Benton-Michiana Spirit Newspaper • April 3, 2014 Community

Dr. Christopher Reed, who’s seen as the leading authority on Black Chicago, will discuss the unique history of African-American citizenship and voting rights in Chicago at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, IUSB Natatorium, 1040 W. Washington St., South Bend, IN. Reed has written several books on Chicago, which histo-rians often call “The Black Metropolis” – including: The Depression Comes to the South Side: Protest and Politics in the Black Metropolis, 1930-1933, and several others. His lecture is made pos-sible through the Citizenship Lecture Series fund of the CRHC, the College

of Liberal Arts and Sciences ( C L A S ) at Indiana U n i v e r s i t y South Bend, and the D e m o c r a c y Project at I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y South Bend.

Spring Fling Crafts and Vendors Event

Saturday, April 12, 2014,DANK, 2651 Pipestone Road

Nickerson/PipestoneBenotn Harbor, MI

Come and find great crafts and goodies at wonderful prices –

By local vendorsUnique crafts. Plus, AVON and

Tupperware. Designer purses, etc.

Want to become a vendor? Sure you do! Booths are reasonable and can

help market your product.

For more information, call Barb Orr at (269) 944-5859.

African-American VotingFocus of April 10 LectureAt Civil Rights Museum

Dr. Christopher Reed

It’s time to say “thank you” to the wonderful volunteers in our com-munity who are making an impact at local non-profit organizations, schools, and churches! Your help is needed to bring their accomplishments to light.

United Way of Southwest Michigan seeks to honor these dedicated volun-teers at the annual Volunteer Celebration and Recognition Event with volun-teer awards in three categories – The Margaret B. Upton Volunteer Leadership Award, LIVE UNITED Youth Award, and the Powerful Giving Awards.

Nominations are due by May 2nd, 2013. Full descriptions and nomi-nation forms can be found online at w w w. u w s m . o rg / n o m i n a t e c h o i c e and hard copies are available by request by calling 269-982-1700.

Margaret B. Upton Volunteer Leadership Award - This prestigious award honors a Berrien County resident with a lifetime record of volunteer ser-vice. Nominations should demonstrate

a candidate’s lifetime of exemplary ser-vice to the community through a range of diverse projects or services. The winner will receive $3,000 to direct to the non-profit organization of his or her choice.

LIVE UNITED Youth Award Scholarships – Each year United Way honors outstanding youth volunteers, one from Cass County and one from Berrien County. Along with the recognition at the event the winners receive a $500 scholarship. Applicants should show a commitment to volunteerism through innovation, time and dedication, and advocacy for community improvement.

Powerful Giving Awards – United Way will once again award the Powerful Giving Awards to volunteers from Berrien or Cass County who are mak-ing a difference within United Way’s goals in the areas of Education, Income, Health or Basic Needs. The winner in each category will have the oppor-tunity to direct $200 to the non-prof-it organization of his or her choice.

United Way to Celebrate Volunteerism

The Senior PGA Championship present-ed by KitchenAid features the strongest field in senior golf. The PGA of America has announced the current field for the 75th Senior PGA Championship pre-sented by KitchenAid, which takes place at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, MI, from May 20-25.

To date, 32 play-ers have confirmed their entries in this year’s Championship, which includes play-ers from Australia, England, Germany, Scotland and Spain. Recent additions to the field include such top players as Fred Couples,Brad Faxon, Jay Haas, Bernhard Langer,

Colin Montgomerie, Kenny Perry and Tom Watson (shown above). For more infor-mation on tickets, volunteer opportunities

and other details about this year’s tour-nament, visit www.pga.com/seniorpga/.

Field Announced For 75th Senior PGA Tournament in Benton Harbor - May 20-25

Applic ations may be completed at bmcc.edulinks/boa rd gear/board member application

ORYou may pic k up a n a pplication at the school

When completed, please print, sign and attach your resume

Deliver to the school offic e at:248 Ninth St., Benton Harbor, Ml 49022

no later than April 25, 2014.

*This is a volunteer position*

DREAM ACADE MY IS ACCEPTING BOARD MEMBER APPLICATIONS


5Benton-Michiana Spirit Newspaper • April 3, 2014Community

By Bill Russell,Spirit Correspondent

Everyone knows that South Bend, Indiana is home to

many fine institutions. One of these is Notre Dame University; another is South Bend Memorial Hospital. What most people may not be aware of is the special relationship that exists between them. The Fighting Irish Fight For Life program at Notre Dame partners its ath-letic department with the pedi-atric children’s oncology unit at Memorial Hospital, where col-lege athletes “adopt” a child bat-tling cancer to provide much-needed comfort and support.

One of these children is six-year-old Robert Russell, Jr., known as Bobby to friends and family. He is the son of Robert Russell, Sr., and Dawn Russell.

Bobby was diagnosed with cancer on St. Valentine’s Day, 2011, just a few weeks before his third birthday. He underwent a year of intensive treatment, and while the cancer appears to have been eradicated, he still requires a lot of medications and regu-lar check-ups and treatments. Even a mild rise in temperature means a trip to the hospital.

To the ND women’s lacrosse team that sponsors him, though, he is known as “Batman Bobby,” a nickname he received at a Notre Dame Christmas party

after having his face painted with a Batman mask by student athlete Julia Giorgio. (To dem-onstrate just how much love and attention Bobby receives, the lipstick kiss he had bestowed upon his cheek by a pediatric nurse prior to the party was still visible peeking out from the edge of the Batman mask.)

Perhaps the highlight of this special relationship was Bobby’s being honored at a

March 19 lacrosse match. He was assigned the number 25, sat on the bench with the athletes, introduced along with the start-ing lineup, and had his name displayed on the scoreboard. In addition the team has invited him to practices and games, gifted him and his family with passes to other ND sporting events such as basketball and hockey games, and presented him with items such as regula-tion lacrosse sticks, balls and gloves. Some of the athletes sit with him in the hospital dur-ing chemotherapy treatments and hang out with him at his home playing games and shar-ing pizza. A few of the women even attended his recent birth-day party at Chuck. E. Cheese.

This special and unique rela-tionship, however, is far from one-directional. It is, in fact, richly reciprocal. Not only does the support and attention of the girls on the team help buoy his spirits, but the women on the team have found that the time they spend with Bobby is emotionally and mental-ly uplifting as well, a much-needed break from the rigors of academics and the intensity of high-level varsity athletics.

Another of the athletes, Katherine McManus, has even told Bobby that she is his “girl-friend” and has assured him that she will always be a special part of his life. The women

look forward to their time together, and observing his bravery and breezy attitude helps to put their own prob-lems and issues into eye-open-ing perspective.

Fighting cancer is really all Bobby has known, since it has taken up liter-ally half his life. He knows no other way to be. But if he is still can-cer-free in May, the doctors will consider him to be “out of the woods.”

The love and encouragement he receives from the ND wom-en’s lacrosse team has been vital to his maintaining the strong spirit and emotional core that is essential to surviving cancer.

“We are so grateful to the Notre Dame athletic department and especially to the women’s lacrosse team. No words can sufficiently express what the support of the women’s lacrosse team has meant to Bobby and his recovery,” said his father, Robert, a sales executive at Gurley-Leep Subaru in Mishawaka.

Although his family’s insur-ance has covered much of his

medical costs, there is still a tremendous financial burden to Bobby’s family for medi-cal bills and expenses. A fund has been established to help defray these costs. If you would like to contribute, you can send a donation in any amount to:

Bobby Russell Cancer Fundc/o Grace United Methodist Church3012 S. Twyckenham DriveSouth Bend, IN 46614

The author is Bobby’s uncle, and a huge fan of the Notre Dame Women’s Lacrosse Team.

Notre Dame Sports Helps Childhood Cancer Fighters, Including “Batman Bobby”

Bobby Russell with his uncle, reporter Bill Russell, pic-tured several months into his initial treatment in 2011. All of the Russell men shaved their heads.

If one looks closely, the lipstick kiss of a Memorial Hospital nurse can be seen at the edge of a face-paint-ing done by a ND student athlete.

Bobby was honored at a recent ND women’s lacrosse match.

Bobby Russell was honored at a March 19 Notre Dame women’s lacrosse match as being introduced as a mem-ber of the team. Above is his name on the scoreboard.


6 Benton-Michiana Spirit Newspaper • April 3, 2014

Editor’s Note: The Benton-Michiana Spirit sent questionnaires to the Tiger basketball team after their epic run to the finals; her is what they had to say about their experiences and themselves.

Coach Corey Sterling

Parents: Zina Woodson and Glen Yarbrough and Don SterlingMost memorable experience: The playoff run to MSU and winning on MSU’s floor against Cadillac, and hold-ing the MHSAA State Finalist Trophy!Inspiration: My parents. They love BHHS basketball! My former coaches (high school and college). My mentors (Coach Ramsey Nichols and Marcus Muhammad.)Favorite player: Aaron Clayburn (TSU). Favorite team: Michigan St. UniversityWords to the community: Thanks for all your support this season and God bless. Also, please visit www.bhabc.org.

Edward L. Headspeth, Senior, Shooting guard

Parent: Lisa HowardMost memorable experience: Getting to the finalsInspiration: Watching my uncle playing growing up make wanna play basketballFavorite player: Ray AllenFavorite team: BullsAspiration after high school: Go college and play footballWords to the community: Thanks for the support.

Idris Hill, Senior, Forward

Parent: Lorine CaldwellMost memorable experience: Practicing as far as getting better, not only as a player, but preparing myself to become a better personInspiration: My uncles Faysal, Bilal and Stewart HillFavorite player: Kevin DurantFavorite team: OKC ThunderAspiration after high school: CollegeWords to the community: I really thank Coach for letting me on this team for my senior year of varsity basketball!!

Devontae Jones, Senior, Forward

Parent: Camilla JonesMost memorable experience: Making it to state. Inspiration: My friendsFavorite player: Ray AllenFavorite team: LakersAspiration after high school: To play in the NFLWords to the community: Thanks

Cortez Shun Moore, Senior, Guard/Power Forward

Parent: Evelyn BroylesMost memorable experience: Winning districts, regionals, quar-terfinals and going to the Breslin.Inspiration: My grandpa, because he liked to play and he was very good back in the day. He taught me a lot about basketball, and that’s why I’m good at it and love playing it.

Cortez Shun Moore (below)

Favorite player: Jabani ParkerFavorite team: Duke Aspiration after high school: College/overseas basketballWords to the community: Thanks to the BH fans for coming to support us from the beginning of the season and coming all the way to Lansing and being there.

Darrell Moss, Senior, Forward

Parent: Lisa MossMost memorable experience: Playing at the Breslin CenterInspiration: I developed a passion for the gameFavorite player: Kevin DurantFavorite team: Michigan StateAspiration after high school: Go to college for four yearsWords to the community: I was happy that we finally received positive feed-back from the community. I’m humbled from the experience and the community outreach. Alumni flew in, former vet-erans were at the Breslin at Lansing, MI. Meaningful touches amongst com-munity folk and citizens, those throughout our neighboring Twin Cities, as well as Berrien County and the state of Michigan.

Demarcus Deshon Rainer, Senior, Forward/Center

Parent: Iretha DavisMost memorable experience: That I developed on my basket-ball skills and us going to State.Inspiration: My cousin, Cortez Moore. He told me I’ll be a great player for this program.Favorite player: Lebron JamesFavorite team: Miami Heat/MichiganAspiration after high school: Go to college for footballWords to the community: Thank you for supporting us the whole way to the Breslin.

John Robinson Jr., Senior, Point guard

Parents: John and Raquel RobinsonMost memorable experience: Making a run to the state championshipInspiration: My father. I was inspired to play basketball since I was two years old. It has always been a longtime dream.Favorite player: Keith ApplingFavorite team: Michigan StateAspiration after high school: This whole experience has impelled me to go to col-lege and extend my basketball career.Words to the community: Thank you for all the support over these last four years.

“Eye of the Tiger”This page is sponsored by Benton Harbor High School (BHHS), via the Safe and Supportive Schools Grant (S3) from the Michigan Department of Education, and BEST (Building excellence in science and Technology)/Benton Spirit Newspaper’s Aspiring Young

Journalist (AYJ) Program. The article(s) are by Benton Harbor High School students.

By Kysre Gondrezick, Jr. Editor, Sophmore, Benton Harbor High, Spirit Aspiring Young Journalist

History looks queer when you’re standing close to it,

watching where it is coming from, and how it’s being made. A small

body of determined spirits, fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission, can alter the course of history. When everyone is mov-ing forward together, then success relentlessly takes care of itself.

This past winter season, his-tory generated the soul of Benton Harbor. A community was incor-

porated within the brotherhood of Benton Harbor’s very own varsity boys’ basketball team throughout their surprising playoff run dur-ing Michigan’s Calss B Baskeball Tournament. Meaningful touch-es amongst community-folk and citizens, those throughout our neighboring Twin Cities, as

well as Berrien County and the state of Michigan. Alumni flew in and former veterans returned to the “state championship cli-mate” held at the Breslin Center in Lansing, MI. Darrell Moss, one of nine graduating seniors, stated, “I was truly proud to have both seen and received such a positive

History... in the Making!

Thank You TIGERS!


7Benton-Michiana Spirit Newspaper • April 3, 2014

“Eye of the Tiger”This page is sponsored by Benton Harbor High School (BHHS), via the Safe and Supportive Schools Grant (S3) from the Michigan Department of Education, and BEST (Building excellence in science and Technology)/Benton Spirit Newspaper’s Aspiring Young

Journalist (AYJ) Program. The article(s) are by Benton Harbor High School students.

Dashawn Donnell Perry, Senior, Point guard

Parent: Zalisa YoungMost memorable experience: Visiting Michigan StateInspiration: My brothersFavorite player: Dwight HowardFavorite team: Michigan WolverinesAspiration after high school: Athletic trainerWords to the community: Thank you for your support.

Rodney Phillips, Senior, Center

Parent: Yolunda ThrashMost memorable experience: Working hard, having fun with the basketball, making it to the final four.Inspiration: My mom inspirated me to play basketball because in life, things are going to go bad, like in basket-ball. You win some, you lose some.Favorite player: Lebron JamesFavorite team: Miami Heat and MichiganAspiration after high school: Going to college for my business degree.Words to the community: I love all of the support and I love Benton Harbor.

Malik Hall, Junior, Center

(photo not available)

Parent: Sharon JonesMost memorable experience: Dunking at the Breslin – MSU.Inspiration: Freshman year. People told me I couldn’t make the team!Favorite player: Kobe BryantFavorite team: LA LakersAspiration after high school: Play col-lege ball.Words to the community: Thank the community for supporting us all the way.

Jaylin Lee, Junior, Guard, manager through varsity


Parents: Lucinda and James BetheaMost memorable experience: Being able to go with the team and experience what it feels like to be champs and go to state.Inspiration: Nobody, really, I just liked it.Favorite player: NBA: Kobe Bryant.Favorite team: Louisville.Aspiration after high school: To go to college and play basketball.Words to the community: We’re going to state next year and winning it all.

Willie Wilson Jr., Junior, Shooting Guard

Parents: Willie and Sylvia WilsonMost memorable experience: Playing at the Breslin Center for the first time.Inspiration: My parents and Wilson Chandler (NBA player from Benton harbor)Favorite player: Trey BurkFavorite team: Michigan

Aspiration after high school: Go to a four-year and play D-1 baseballWords to the community: Thanks for the support.

Curtis Dawson, Sophomore, Point guard

Parents: Teneka CohnMost memorable experience: Playing on the MSU floor! Beating the #1 ranked team, Godwin Heights, who went unde-feated; beating Lakeshore twiceInspiration: My mother and past coachesFavorite player: Derrick RoseFavorite team: Chicago BullsAspiration after high school: Play big-time college ball/NBAWords to the community): I want to thank my mom for being the team mom!

Jaton Gunn, Sophomore, Guard

Parent: Andrea GunnMost memorable experience: Playing on the varsity as a sophomore and going to the Final FourInspiration: My jump start coaches.Favorite player: Lebron JamesFavorite team: Miami HeatAspiration after high school: Play D-1 Basketball/NBAWords to the community: Please sup-port us the full season next year. Thanks!

Roy Anderson Freshman, Guard

Parents: Diata Johnson, Roy AndersonMost memorable experience: Districts and the MHSAA FinalsInspiration: To not let my talent go to waste.Favorite player: Lebron JamesFavorite team: HeatAspiration after high school: Go to col-lege and play basketballWords to the community: One love!

Kenneth Allen Jackson Jr., Freshman, Shooting guard


Parents: Kenneth and Koretta JacksonMost memorable experience: My most memorable moment was scoring my two 25-point gamesInspiration: I didn’t really have an inspi-ration. I just started when I was young.Favorite player: Lebron JamesFavorite team: Miami HeatAspiration after high school: To finish school and go to the NBAWords to the community: Thanks for your support

The Benton Spirit Newspaper congratu-lates all of the players, Coach Corey Sterling, staff, and volunteers for remind-ingus of the greatness of Benton Harbor. Also, a special thank you to Roni Rice in the Athletic Department at Benton Harbor High School for assisting us.

feedback and connection from our community throughout our deep run into the tournament.”

Senior point guard and cap-tain, John Robinson Jr., was moved and inspired by playing on the center stage of Michigan State’s basketball arena. He added, “This entire experience has inspired me to go to col-lege and to extend my basketball career in the making.” Playoff standout, senior and shooting guard, Cortez Moore agreed: “I LOVE playing basketball! I was

overwhelmed by the experience.”The team’s destination to the

Final Four was journeyed via vic-tories from Districts, Regionals, Quarterfinals, and Semi-Finals. Second year head varsity coach Corey Sterling conveyed, “I am very humbled from the experi-ence, my former coaches as well as mentors, and community out-reach of my city. The playoff run to MSU and WINNING upon their floor has truly been my most memorable experience of this past year. There’s nothing

like holding an MHSAA State Finalist Trophy amongst my team and to bring it back home for the community to share.”

The Tigers boy’s basketball team will return five varsity play-ers, two juniors, two sophomores, and one freshman. One of two sophomores, starting point guard, Curtis Dawson, had this to say: “We couldn’t have done the unex-pected without the commitment of not only ourselves, but our com-munity. I watch my mom on the sidelines screaming, dancing, and

cheering all in one,” he laughed, “but the energy she brought amongst our team was truly an impact. I can honestly say that she was the Tigers’ ‘Team Mom.’”

Starting shooting guard, and sophomore Jaton Gunn, request-ed, “I’d like to see all of our supporting cast cheering us along next year throughout not only the season, but the tournament as well.” John Robinson Jr. was heartfelt in expressing his experi-ence as a Tiger. “It’s been awe-some! I’ve been humbled. I’d like

to thank all those who supported me thus far these past four years and many more to come,” he said.

History transitions with time. It comes with action, it goes with destiny, yet remains seared in our minds and hearts. We, ultimately, are the historians that chronicle history. History hangs around the rim like a “rebound” wait-ing for its next “fast break,” and when it becomes legendary... The wisdom from our past “funda-mentally” reinforces our future.


8 Benton-Michiana Spirit Newspaper • April 3, 2014 HEaltH

Proudly servicing Bangor ~ Benton Harbor ~ Eau Claire

Holland ~ Pullman (855) 869-6900

April is National Minority Health Month During the month of April, celebrating National Minority Health Month helps up pay better attention to the health differences that exist among racial and ethnic minority groups. This means we are looking at health issues that may affect African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, Alaskan Natives and Native Hawaiians differently. Everyone should have the opportunity to be healthy, so this recognition month helps us create awareness and help all people become healthier. This year’s theme is Prevention is Power: Taking Action for Health Equity. Understanding various health issues is important. For example, research shows that glaucoma, which can cause blindness, is about five times for common in African-Americans than Caucasians. Because that fact is known, it is important that health care providers be sure to recommend glaucoma screening for their African-American patients. This simple eye test can help catch the disease early. Health issues that affect different populations at a higher rate are often caused by environmental factors as well. For example, lead poisoning in children is found more often in African-American homes in urban areas, where the homes may be older. To help

conquer this, health providers need to make a point of offering lead screenings for children who may be at risk. A simple blood test can identify the problem, and the provider and parents can then work together to make sure the child is healthy. Employment status can also create disparities in health. Those without jobs, or jobs that are not full time, often go without health insurance. This can create a barrier to receiving quality care when needed. Fortunately, InterCare not only offers care regardless of your ability to pay, but we can also help you sign up for programs that will help you get the insurance coverage you need. InterCare believes that all people have the right to equal access to quality health care. No matter who you are, you can receive care at any of InterCare’s locations. We offer a sliding fee scale for payment, so based on your income and family size your bill can be reduced to something that is affordable to you. Genetics, environment and socioeconomic status do not have to cause Americans to experience health risks. Together we can put an end to health disparities, and that’s a good thing for everyone.

Healthy Michigan Plan Begins

Enrollment for the Healthy Michigan Plan (Medicaid expansion) began April 1.

Call InterCare’s enrollment experts to find out if you are now eligible for

Medicaid coverage. (855) 405-0183


9Benton-Michiana Spirit Newspaper • April 3, 2014HEaltH

CLASSIFIEDS

SEEKING EDUCATOR FOR GIRLS ACADEMY

The Benton Harbor Girls Academy is seek-ing a Teacher / Academy Mistress for grades four through eight. The Academy is a non-graded, individualized learning environment, with a max-imum of fifteen girls per classroom. The Academy serves students of Benton Harbor, Michigan, an area challenged economically.

The teacher will have the professional skills and empathy to work with middle-school age girls needing a strong, sound, growth-focused learning environment for educa-tion to meet life’s chal-lenges with competence and dignity. In addition to teaching one classroom of girls, the candidate of choice will have the professional skill and

experience to also serve as Academy Mistress or Principal. The small school setting and dual responsibility are ideal for a creative, organized, and dedicated educator who wants to make a differ-ence in the lives of girls.

Interested individuals please send a resume, including education, experience, and refer-ences, to Dr. Patricia Ann Quattrin Ph.D., Executive Director, Benton Harbor Girls Academy, P. O. Box 840, Benton Harbor, MI 49023 or to [email protected] by 5:00pm on June 30, 2014.

BS/adv. April 3, 2014___________________

WANT TO MAKE A FEW DOLLARS – IN A FEW HOURS/WEEK?

It’s simple! It’s Community!

Volunteer by helping us spread the word about events in our community and receive a stipend for doing it.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: A computer/internet access, telephone, data entry experience, and 1-3 hours/week.

Only a few positions. Ccontact us at:

(269) 926-4241

or email [email protected]

for immediate consider-ation.

BS/adv. April 3, 2014__________________

Retail Merchandisers needed for store remodel in Benton Harbor. Reset & POG experience need-ed. This is an indepen-dent contractor position. Contact Patti 708-636-5912

BMS/adv.: April 3, 2014 _________________ TELEMARKETER, SALES REP. GRAPHIC DESIGNER, REPORTER, PROOFREADER, ADMINISTRATIVE and WEBSITE TEAM MEMBERS NEEDED AT SPIRIT NEWS.

Sales/Telemarketing Consultant Needed. Reliable, friendly, and can follow details.

Experienced reporter and researcher needed immediately to cover community stories. Some tasks can be done from remote/home locations. Please send previous articles/work for consid-

eration. Must be reliable, have excellent grammar, and able to follow details, and complete tasks in a timely manner.

Website Help Needed IMMEDIATELY. Do you love computers, have some website and Photoshop experience? Can be done from remote location. Send requested information and salary seeking to: [email protected].

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toring. For a limited time, get free equipment, no activation fees, no com-mitment, a 2nd water-proof alert button for free and more - only $29.95 per month. 800-816-2089

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BMS/adv. April 3, 2014

Employment

Classifieds Work!

Place yours today(PRINT & WEB)

classifieds@

bentonspiritnews.com

RETIRED? ON DISABILITY? NEED SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME?

Northern Star Transportation needs you to trans-port people to their medical appointments. We pay you .48 cents per mile driven. Mileage reimburse-ment does not count as income according to our

IRS non-profit ruling and you will not have to pay income tax. For further Information call Toll Free:

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Lakeland HealthCare Events Free Dental Services in South Bend

IUSB Dental Hygiene Program’s

“Access To Care” DaySet For Saturday, April 12SOUTH BEND – The Indiana University South Dental Hygiene Program will offer free basic dental services from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, at its new clinic on 1002 Esther St., South Bend, IN, in the Education and Arts Building (IU South Bend Campus).

Services will include cleanings, fillings, extractions, oral cancer screening and dental exams. More details will be announced as they become available. This event is open to all ages, and activities are planned for children, as well.

The clinic provides a learn-ing experience for students enrolled in the IUSB Dental Hygiene Program. The clinic is open from September through June, and closes during all IUSB semester breaks. Appointments are required. For more informa-tion about the April 12 event, call (574) 520-4156, or email: [email protected]. For more informa-tion about the clinic itself, visit online at: https://www.iusb.edu/dental/dentalhygieneclinic.php.

Throughout this spring and summer, the Berrien County Health Department (BCHD) will offer a series of free hearing and vision screenings for children who will be entering kindergarten or preschool in the fall of 2014. Michigan State Law requires that all children entering kinder-garten must have their hearing and vision tested before the first day of school.

Dawn Mitchell, a Hearing and Vision Technician for the BCHD, says “because children have nothing to compare their hearing and vision to, they can have prob-lems with their eyes or ears and never

even know it”. Children with undiagnosed hearing or vision problems will often have trouble learning, reading, or even follow-ing instructions. To avoid any problems, parents of children ages 3 ½ or older are encouraged to attend one of the free screenings in the spring or summer so that there will be enough time to receive treat-ment, if necessary, before school starts.

No appointments are necessary to attend the free hearing and vision screen-ings. Additional information regarding the Michigan hearing and vision screen-ing requirements and a full schedule

of preschool/kindergarten screening dates, are available at www.bchdmi.org.

The schedule is as follows: Lake Michigan Catholic SchoolSt. Joseph, MI Wednesday April, 9 • 1 - 2:30pm Countryside Academy - Millburg Early Learning CenterBenton Harbor, MI Thursday, April 24th 1:30 - 3:30pm

Free Nutrition Class - April 7(ST. JOSEPH) - Lakeland

HealthCare will offer “My Plate 101” on Monday, April 7, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Pharmacy Conference Room at the Center for Outpatient Services, St. Joseph, 3900 Hollywood Road.

The free class will help participants understand the importance of prop-er nutrition, how to read food labels, and how to avoid “portion distortion.” Preregistration is required by call-ing (269) 556-2808 or (866) 260-7544.

Ready to Quit Smoking?(NILES) - Lakeland HealthCare offers

free quarterly seminars and one-on-one support sessions to help and encourage smokers to quit. Schedule a consultation

with a tobacco treatment specialist and receive the tools needed to kick the habit for good. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call (269) 927-5403.

Tuesday, April 8, 6 to 7 p.m.Lakeland Community Hospital, NilesBuchanan Area Health Resource Library

Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is encouraged; walk-ins are welcome. For more information or to regis-ter, call (269) 556-2808 or (866) 260-7544.

Community Invited to Free Cancer Education Event - April 10

(NILES) - In honor of National Cancer Control Month, Lakeland HealthCare will hold a free Cancer Awareness, Resources,

and Education (CARE) Fair on Thursday, April 10, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA, 905 N. Front Street.

During this free educational fair, healthcare professionals and communi-ty partners will share information about local cancer-fighting resources, answer cancer-related questions, and conduct learning activities and free health screen-ings. Participants may enter for a chance to win a Fitbit(r) Flex, a six-month mem-bership at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA, and other fitness-themed door prizes.

Free screenings at the CARE Fair will include: Body Mass Index (BMI) evaluations, take-home colorectal cancer kits, and walk-in oral cancer screenings.

Free Hearing and Vision Screening in Berrien County


10 Benton-Michiana Spirit Newspaper • April 3, 2014 Community

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11Benton-Michiana Spirit Newspaper • April 3, 2014Community

because she’s always wear-ing her work hat. It’s a bless-ing, because some people don’t have their parents.”

Asked to recount this season’s proudest moments, Kalabrya and Kysre cite this year’s dis-trict championship victory as one example. “I didn’t realize how fortunate we are to have a great support system in our commu-nity – and I visually saw it, that night,” Kysre recalls. “For me, I was proud when I made the (state of Michigan’s) ‘Dream Team,’ as a freshman – that really touched me internally, because I didn’t realize what it meant to be a freshman on the Dream Team.”

This week, Kysre returned to All-State Dream Team for her second year, as a sophomore. She’s scored 1,300 in her career, and averaged 29.4 points per game, plus 12.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.9 steals, according to the Detroit Free Press. She’s also the only girl from Michigan, among 33 players, who was invited to try out with the U.S. Olympic Team’s U-17 squad.

Characteristically, though, both girls are much too mod-est to mention their other major achievement this season – of scoring 1,000 points, only one game apart. “The opportu-nity to share that moment as a sisterhood was meaningful for me,” Harvey-Gondrezick observers. “That’s what I like about them – the humility. “

Of course, basketball isn’t the sisters’ entire world – far from it. Kalabrya holds the distinction of being the only student representa-tive named to former Emergency Manager Tony Saunders II’s advisory council, while her sister served on the city’s Conservancy Board. They’re also in the top of their class at Benton Harbor High School – where Kalabrya and Kysre have held grade point averages of 4.5 and 4.6, respec-tively. “These are the things that I like people to know about them – because they’re so highly profiled as, ‘these basketball players,’” Harvey-Gondrezick said. “There’s a dif-ferent facet to who they are.”

Both sisters say that keeping their feet on the ground isn’t a problem, because they’ve already had so much practice. As Kalabrya recalls, she didn’t like all the attention that her playing attracted, at first, because she’s also experienced the other side. “The minute the ball isn’t going in the hoop, or you have bad game, or you get in a slump – you see who really is there to support you,” she said.

As far as Kalabrya is concerned, “I think of myself as a normal kid who plays basketball,” she

said. “I don’t look at myself as better than anybody, because, at the end of the day – you cut my skin, we all bleed red.” Kysre, on the other hand, admits that she had to hone her humility a bit.

“Not In My Household”From Harvey-Gondrezick’s

standpoint, an old-fashioned upbringing has gone a long way in keeping her daughters’ feet on the ground. “We’re not replacing the old-fashioned values with a computer – not in my household.”

Still, as heady as life has got-ten – Kysre’s college prospects include Baylor, Connecticut, Louisville, Michigan State,

Notre Dame, and Tennessee, while Kalabrya has committed to Michigan State – both sisters have to think about how life after basketball will look. Kalabrya plans to pursue a double major in fashion and communica-tions, with plans to design her own line of “girly girl” swim-suits and workout wear – for which she sketches designs

Kysre plans to focus on com-munications and broadcasting, and – just like her sister – work both sides of the camera. “I think they both (writing, broad-cast journalism) fit well together, and it can help me with my communication skills off the

court. I’m looking for a life outside of basketball.

As Harvey-Gondrezick notes, such possibilities have grown exponentially for women since her own era – when there weren’t so many working as analysts, coaches and commentators. “Back in the ‘80s, telecommu-nications didn’t expose us to the global setting of what was out-side the city limits,” she said.

No matter where life takes Harvey-Gondrezick or her daughters, she wants them – and those who follow them – to understand the possibilities that life has to offer. She only has to look at the example of her

mother, who served as Mercy-Memorial Medical Center’s first African-American director of patient accounts – and was also among eight sisters who gradu-ated from high school or college, “from a grandfather with a fourth grade education,” she notes.

“My mother never was a coach a day in her life, but I swear, she was the head coach of every team he coached, from being a part of it for so long,” Harvey-Gondrezick said. “My dad taught me humility, and how to give back. Failure is not a word that we know in our vocabulary. So it’s important to pass that legacy down, not just through

LEGACY, continued

Above: Kalabrya (right) and Kysre (left) , as seen on the basketball court -- going on the attack.Below: Kalabrya (left) shows off her feminine side, which she intends to express as a fashion designer when her basketball career ends and Kysre (right) is shown in swim wear.


12 Benton-Michiana Spirit Newspaper • April 3, 2014SCiEnCE pagE

All are invited to see local Southwest Michigan

high schoolstudents

present real cutting-edge

research.

Teachers: Bring your class

Educators: Come and be

Inspired!

Community: Support Students

and Science

For more information or to RSVP contact

Dr. Desmond Murray at:[email protected]

or call:(269) 757-1641

YOUARE

INVITED. . .

25 AprilAndrews universityBerrien Springs, MI

Come & ImagineDifferent...

It’s OurFuture!

To learn the benefits of sponsorship (corporate or otherwise) of this event, contact Dr. Desmond Murray as soon as possible at [email protected] and/or

call (269) 757-1641.

April 3, 2014 final spirit news

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