A ROUNDUP OF LOCAL SPORTS

See PAge 7

East Central Florida’s Black VoiceFEBRUARY 7 - FEBRUARY 13, 2013 www.daytonatimes.comYEAR 38 NO. 6

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PEOPLESPEAK

EERFMARIAN WRIgHT eDeLMAN: Preventing gun

deaths in U.S. requires more action Page 4

Center a resourcefor migrant workers

See page 5

Please see TOURISM, Page 2

Marketing study shows generic branding of area won’t cut it

BY JAMES HARPERDAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

Volusia County’s adver-tising authorities should do more research to attract African-Americans tour-ists, says a marketing ex-pert hired to analyze the ef-fectiveness of tourism mar-

keting in the area.An independent analy-

sis of the marketing done by local advertising au-thorities found their efforts mainly attracts Whites with a small number of Asians and African-Americans to the county’s hotels.

The three advertising au-thorities – Halifax Area Ad-vertising Authority, South-east Volusia Advertising Authority and West Volusia Tourism Advertising Au-thority – were established by a Volusia County ordi-nance and Florida law to

bring visitors to the area.

Workshop in MarchThe Volusia Coun-

ty Council hosted a pre-sentation of the county-wide study on Jan. 28 at the Ocean Center.

Dan Fenton of Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) out of Duluth, Ga., the firm the county selected in Novem-ber 2011 to do the study, provided an overview of preliminary outcomes.

A public workshop is planned March 8 at the

Ocean Center to take all of the recommendations from the study and review them in a working session with the Volusia County Council.

Fenton said the purpose of the workshop will be to work with the county’s leaders to transform how they approach tourism in the future – “how you grow new markets and cultivate markets that don’t exist to-day.”

150 people interviewed

Fenton said strategical-ly growing a market “grows job creation and increases spending by tourists.”

He conducted interviews

with more than 150 people and received communica-tions from many others.

In an interview with the Daytona Times this week, Fenton said that if a plan is developed to attract Afri-can-Americans, “it can’t be done generically.’’

Fenton said the advertis-ing authorities should re-search where the opportu-nities are and then create specific messages and con-tent that would be of inter-est to groups such as Afri-

Dan Fenton

Joshua Wagner

Tourism expert tells how to attract Blacks

Johnsonready tolead Demsin VolusiaBY JAMES HARPERDAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

About 80 Volusia County Dem-ocrats were present last week as Vonzelle Johnson conducted his first meeting as chairman.

Johnson is the first Black to be elected to lead the county’s Dem-ocratic Party. He told the Dayto-na Times this week that sever-al people him approached him about running for the position.

“Each conversation entailed that organizational members were in search for a strong leader who could motivate the base. Ul-timately, the decision was made because with each conversa-tion and each second spent an-alyzing the cur-rent state of the local party, I un-derstood my next assignment was to lead and pro-vide more struc-ture to our local party,” said Johnson, who also is a DeLand city commissioner.

Two Blacks in top positions

Some of the priorities of John-son’s administration include es-tablishing a permanent head-quarters, constructing an effec-tive voter outreach strategy and database, constructing an effec-tive donor strategy and database, and placing a higher value on committee work.

Johnson said the fact that he and his vice chair Emma Brinkley are African-American speaks vol-umes about the area’s Democrat-ic Party.

“Organizational members vot-ed in a leadership slate which they felt would most effective-ly advance the organization. Re-

Vonzelle Johnson

BY JAMES HARPERDAYTONA TIMESharperjames59@yahoo.com

Many in Daytona Beach know the Rev. Carl Brinkley as the long-

time executive director of the Daytona Beach Housing Au-thority.

Brinkley was born in 1925 and grew up in New-ark, N.J., where he was one of few Black students at-tending the integrat-ed Central Avenue El-ementa-ry and Ju-nior High schools.

In 1942, shortly af-ter Japan bombed

Pearl Harbor, a 16-year-old Brinkley lied about his age and enlisted in the United States Marines.

“I believed our enemy was Japan, and I was only another American that wanted to serve my country,” Brinkley said about why he enlisted.

“Their (Whites) problems were my problems. My (White) friends were going,” added Brinkley about enlisting.

From Marines to ministry

In 1948, he arrived in Dayto-na Beach at age 23 to help his ailing grandparents.

After his arrival, he got his “call” to be a preacher. “It was 3 o’clock in the morning,” Brin-kley said in an interview with

the Daytona Times. “The spirit said ‘Go preach my gospel.’”

Brinkley’s grandparents were well off compared to most Blacks and many White resi-dents in Daytona Beach.

His grandmother, Liza Brin-kley-Williams, according to Brinkley, was the only Black woman in town, other than her friend, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of Bethune-Cookman University, who owned her own car.

Professional boxerBrinkley’s first wife was Wil-

lie Lee Gant, the owner of the Gypsy Tea Room, a popular

restaurant patronized by many well-to-do Black residents as well as celebrities like boxing great Joe Louis.

She died during the mar-riage and Brinkley married Emma Jones in October 1987.

Brinkley also has been a pro-fessional boxer.

He said he was on the card for the last boxing exhibition featuring Louis that took place in Daytona Beach at Memorial Stadium.

Brinkley would eventually become good friends with Al-bert Bethune, the grandson and adopted son of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.

“She (Dr. Bethune) asked

me, ‘How would you like to be a deputy? I am tired of the ha-rassment my girls are getting going downtown,’” Brinkley re-called.

Pioneer Volusia deputyIn 1952, Brinkley would be-

come the first full-time Black deputy sheriff in Volusia Coun-ty under Sheriff James Tucker.

Brinkley said Tucker was not re-elected to a second four-year term because he hired Brinkley and other Black depu-ties.

Brinkley recalled an edito-rial in the local daily newspa-

Please see BRINKLEY, Page 2 Please see JOHNSON, Page 2

Editor’s note: During Black History Month, the Daytona Times shares the stories of some area residents who have made great strides locally and nationally.

BLACKHISTORYin Daytona Beach

Rev. Carl Brinkley’s local legacy includes position as pastor, deputy, housing CEO

The Rev. Carl Brinkley poses with his wife, Emma, whom he married in 1987.

BY JAMES HARPERDAYTONA TIMES harperjames59@yahoo.com

The Daytona Beach City Commission voted 5-2 Wednesday night to rename the athletic fields at Derby-shire Park & Sports Complex, the “Harold V. Lucas, Jr. Ath-letic Fields.’’

Mayor Derrick Henry and

Zone 5 City Commissioner Patrick Henry, who represents the area where Derbyshire Park is located, voted against the item.

Commissioner Henry said before the vote that there is controversy surrounding the renaming. “I’ve gotten calls on both sides,” he said.

The commissioner said residents who have contact-

ed him don’t want their park named after anyone or say it should be named after the late Mayor Yvonne Scarlett Gold-en, who was a Zone 5 com-missioner before being elect-ed mayor.

‘Sensitive issue’Zone 6 Commissioner Pau-

la Reed said her only concern

over the renaming of the ath-letic fields after Lucas is it might overshadow the Cul-tural and Educational Cen-ter, which is expected to open next month.

Mayor Henry said many people spoke to him private-ly against the renaming. The mayor, who also has repre-sented Zone 5 as a commis-sioner, called the item “a sen-

sitive issue.’He also disagreed with At-

torney Reginald Moore, who spoke on behalf of renaming the athletic fields after Lucas.

Moore said he is glad the city was considering naming the fields after someone who is living and can enjoy it.

“I am surprised there is any controversy at all. I am here to

City approves renaming Derbyshire athletic fields after Lucas

Please see LUCAS, Page 2

Harold Lucas

M A Y O RDECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006 72 FEBRUARY 7 – FEBRUARY 13, 2013FOCUS

per when he was a depu-ty that said “if he arrested White people, he would be fired.”

This upset Bethune who called for a meeting with Tucker. He assured her it was not true.

Brinkley said Bethune was told by Tucker he could arrest anyone who violates the law.

Being a pallbearer at Bethune’s funeral in 1955 was an honor he will al-ways cherish. Brinkley al-so says he is the only one still living who was a pall-bearer at her service.

Longtime CEO, pastor

After quitting the sher-iff’s department, having reached the rank of ser-geant, Brinkley would start his career with the Daytona Beach Housing Authority in the mainte-nance department. That was in 1958.

He would retire 40 years later as the agency’s CEO and executive director.

Since being ordained a minister in 1948, Brinkley has pastored at several African Methodist Epis-copal churches in Port Orange, Bunnell, San-

ford, Merritt Island and Altamonte Springs.

His longest stint as a pastor would be at New Bethel AME Church in Ormond Beach from 1982 until he retired from preaching in 1995.

Brinkley was called out of retirement in February 1999 to preach at Mt. Zi-on AME in DeLand for a few years.

He says the reason he was called to so many churches is because he was known as a rebuilder and left all his churches in good standing.

“I don’t feel one would not have me back,” Brin-kley remarked.

His home is filled with more than 200 certifi-cates, plaques and other honors.

Although he has been recognized by many groups and organizations - both locally and nation-ally - Brinkley said he is most proud of the work he does as a minister.

“This is my most grati-fying position,” he added. “I am still able to help my people by spreading the Word.’’

gardless of ethnic back-ground, organizational members want forward progress and results,” Johnson said.

During last week’s meeting, Johnson em-phasized the importance of having a permanent place to conduct the busi-ness of the organization.

Treasurer Kevin Win-chell revealed a plan to fundraise for the space and naming the space the Dr. T. Wayne Bailey Volu-sia County Democrat-

ic Executive Committee Headquarters.

The new officers in-clude Danielle Neetz, secretary; Joan Lane, state committeewoman; and Dr. T. Wayne Bailey, state committeeman.

The next general body meeting will take place on Monday, Feb. 25. Meet-ings start at 7 p.m. and are located on the Dayto-na Beach campus of Day-tona State College, UCF Auditorium, Room 150.

JOHNSONfrom Page 1

BriNkleyfrom Page 1

can-Americans.Marketing campaigns

should be research-driven, said Fenton.

“It may be more effective to do research and under-stand the need and inter-est of the African-American market,” he noted.

Fenton said Blacks want to know there is active sup-port for the African-Ameri-can community before they come to an area.

“They want to under-stand what are the dynam-ics of the community – that there is a welcoming envi-ronment for them,” Fenton continued.

More than generic ads needed

Of the 150 people he talk-ed to, Fenton didn’t think there were any negative reasons why there has been a lack of research on how to attract more African-Amer-icans effectively.

Generic advertising may not resonate with certain segments of the population the county wants to attract.

“You just don’t send an ad out that says just come to the beach. What we are suggesting is understand what they (tourists) are looking for, not just the beach. Any family has to

have something presented to them that say we are go-ing to have fun,” Fenton ex-plained.

Wagner: Include B-CU, trail

During SAG’s interviews, there was a wide range of opinions of who the “tar-get customer” is for Volusia County.

Volusia County Council-man Joshua Wagner said in an interview Tuesday that he has noticed local adver-tising has done a better job at promoting diversity.

“Our brand needs to in-clude and celebrate diver-sity. Our marketing should reflect who we are as a community and not just a cookie cutter version of the 1960s,” Wagner said.

“Bethune-Cookman Uni-versity, the Daytona Beach Black History Trail, as well as many other minority cultural assets are amazing community gems that need to be included in all con-versations regarding tour-ism,” Wagner explained.

Conclusions of study

Jeffrey Hentz is the CEO/president of the Daytona Beach Convention and Vis-itor’s Bureau (CVB), which is funded by the Halifax Ar-ea Advertising Authority.

“Our destination attracts visitors from all market seg-ments of the mass market and the CVB will contin-

ue to strive to incorporate and integrate the diversity of the mass market into our present and future market-ing efforts,” Hentz told the Daytona Times this week.

The study by Fenton’s group concluded that:

• Marketing efforts need focus.

• There is lack of re-search.

• Marketing decisions are opinion, not research-based.

• There is a lack of func-tional support for smaller authorities.

• There is a lack of lever-age – collaboration with partners.

• Economic develop-ment efforts aren’t focused on tourism.

• An underperforming, poorly functioning group sales effort exists.

• There is an underper-forming sports sales effort.

• There’s a declining tourism product.

Promoting the ‘beach experience’

The study recommend-ed there are strategic ad-vantages to promoting all of Volusia County in a manner that maximizes the considerable and ongoing investment in the “Dayto-na” brand and its proximity to the Orlando region, the world’s No. 1 tourist desti-nation.

It also was noted that the beaches of Volusia County

are very popular tourist at-tractions and there should be a continuous strong fo-cus on improving the qual-ity of the “beach experi-ence.”

Another strength that can differentiate Volusia County as a destination is the opportunity that exists to enhance a visitor’s ex-perience. This includes cy-cling, fishing, birding, eco-tourism and special events.

No unified countywide plan

SAG reviewed the mar-keting plans of the three advertising authorities and met with internal staff members.

“There is no unified countywide plan to sup-port the improvement of the tourism product, nota-bly the beachside of Day-tona Beach. There needs to be a concerted effort in-volving county, city, and business leadership to up-grade the beachside of Day-tona Beach. This is a signif-icant weakness in remain-ing competitive as a desti-nation,” the study noted.

The study also pointed out that promoting South-east Volusia, and especially West Volusia, with existing advertising resources is, at best, a formidable market-ing challenge.

A declining level of visi-tors in a slowly improving economy, coupled with a tourism experience that

needs investment, was the impetus that led the Volu-sia County Council to com-mission this project.

It will take a concert-ed effort and political and civic leadership to make some of the changes rec-ommended in this report, according to the study.

Regional thinkingThe structure of three in-

dependent advertising au-thorities was reviewed in this study. SAG met with the executive directors and staffs of each to under-stand their operations. The concept of a singular tour-ism marketing organiza-tion warrants ongoing con-sideration.

The current structure of three tourism authorities promotes regional think-

ing as opposed to maxi-mizing the county’s overall tourism strengths.

The stakeholders ex-pressed concern over the current condition of the tourism “product,” notably the beach side of Daytona Beach.

The analysis indicates that Volusia County is fund-ed at a level that is below comparable key competi-tors.

The review of available marketing funds indicates an opportunity to deter-mine alternate funding op-portunities and the need to direct more overall bed tax revenue to tourism mar-keting.

The advertising authori-ties are funded by a bed tax paid by tourists who stay in the county’s hotels.

TOUriSMfrom Page 1

Above: Rev. Carl Brinkley is shown standing next to Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.

GOSPel HAllelUJAH WOrlD WiDe rADiO MiNiSTrieS

Hosted by: Bro. Harold Ford and Prophetess Deborah Ford

LISTEN TO WPUL 1590Saturdays 10 am -noon

Sundays 5am- 7am & 1pm-3pm

Listen online at: www.wpul1590.com

website: www.gospelhallelujah.com

Come let the Holy Ghost Get ya!

The Rev. Dr. L. Ronald Durham, pastor of Greater Friendship Bap-

tist Church in Daytona Beach,

has been chosen to deliver the

prayer for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 24, for the 55th running of

the race. This will be Durham’s

second time praying at the

Daytona 500. He also delivered

the prayer prior to the start of the 2011 race

(shown right).

FILE PHOTO

Durham to pray at Speedway again

encourage this commission to hon-or one of our own while they are alive while they can appreciate it,” he commented.

Mayor Henry remarked that he disagreed with naming sites for “peo-ple who are living. I disagree with Mr. Moore. This is a sensitive issue.”

Upset with process Before voting, Commissioner

Robert Gilliland asked if a criminal background check was conducted and was told nothing came up on Lucas.

Gilliland said he was upset with the process being used to rename

city facilities and properties.“We really need to come up with

a more objective way – maybe not Planning Board. We have fixed prop-erties we can name,” he said.

City Manager Jim Chisholm said Daytona is revising the policy and is not accepting any applicants for re-naming until it is revised.

If an individual after whom any city-owned land or facility has been named is convicted of a felony or otherwise comes into discredit, the use of the name may be discontin-ued by action of city commission, according to city ordinance.

Retired educator, coachLucas is a Daytona Beach native

who for the last seven decades has served the Daytona Beach com-munity as an assistant principal and coach at Campbell Junior High

and Mainland High School. He al-so worked at Daytona State College and Bethune-Cookman University.

Lucas has been described as a mentor and philanthropist. He al-so is an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church.

The Derbyshire sports complex is the site of multiple athletic events and includes soccer fields, lighted basketball courts, baseball fields, and lighted tennis courts.

The original request by Lucas’ daughter, D’lorah Hyacinth, was to rename the entire Derbyshire Park & Sports Complex the “Harold V. Lu-cas, Jr. Park & Sports Complex.”

After reviewing the request with city staff, Hyacinth amended her ap-plication to request only the renam-ing of the existing athletic fields af-ter her dad.

lUCASfrom Page 1

B-CU student to appear Saturday on game showBY JAMES HARPERDAYTONA TIMESharperjames59@yahoo.com

This Saturday, Bethune-Cookman University stu-dent Ketrina Childs will be featured on the seventh annual “Ford Black Col-lege Quiz Game Show.’’

The show, a program that focuses on high-er learning and African-American history, is now in local syndication. It will be airing in the Daytona Beach area on WRDQ on

Feb. 9 at 1 p.m.Childs is one of 12 stu-

dents from historically Black colleges and univer-sities (HBCUs) across the country who were select-ed to display their knowl-edge and skills of African-American History.

Childs came to B-CU from Inkster, Mich., to pursue a double major in Social Science Education and Theater Arts Perfor-mance.

‘Exciting experience’

During her time at B-CU, Childs has been ac-tive in TRA-CO-DRAM, B-CU’s theater organization and Kappa Delta Pi, an in-ternational honor society in education.

Upon graduation, Childs will pursue a career in sec-ondary education.

“Being on the ‘Black

College Quiz’ was a really exciting experience,” said Childs.

“Though it was a com-petition, I enjoyed meet-ing students from other HBCUs. I am proud to be a Wildcat, and I am looking forward to sending my fu-

ture students to B-CU.”Four first-place win-

ners, one from each show, earns a prize of $5,000, $1,000. In addition, $500 in scholarship money is awarded to second- and third-place contestants in each half-hour episode.

Ketrina Childs is one of 12 students from HBCUs to participate in the “Ford Black College Quiz Game Show.’’

M A Y O RDECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006 7COMMUNITY NEWSFEBRUARY 7 – FEBRUARY 13, 2013 3

BRIEFS

AIDS conference to be held in March

The Minority AIDS Net-work of Volusia/Flagler is hosting the “I Am My Broth-er/Sister’s Keeper” Confer-ence from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. March 30. The conference will take place at Bethune-Cookman University’s L. Gale Lemerand School of Nursing, 739 W. Interna-tional Speedway Blvd., in Daytona Beach.

The keynote speaker is HIV/AIDS activist and Jacksonville native Renee’ LadyByrd Burgess. The mother of three became an HIV/AIDS activist in 2008, months after being diag-nosed as HIV positive. Her inspirational story is one that she enjoys sharing in an effort to educate others about how to prevent the spread of HIV. Burgess will share her shocking expe-rience of hearing that she was infected while being in a married relationship with a partner who had know-ingly infected her without telling her of his status. “It can happen to you as easily as it happened to me,” said LadyByrd Burgess.

Burgess is also the host of what has been described as one of the hottest online ra-dio shows on Blog Talk Ra-dio. She is currently a ju-nior at the Florida Institute of Technology majoring in computer information sys-tems.

“We are delighted to have Ms. Burgess as one of our conference speakers,” said Dr. Bonnie J. Sorensen, di-rector of the Volusia Coun-ty Health Department. “The purpose of this con-ference is to provide impor-tant information so people

can make informed deci-sions about living healthy lifestyles, sex, stigma and faith.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African-Amer-icans face the most severe burden of HIV of all racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Despite represent-ing only 14 percent of the U.S. population in 2009, Af-rican-Americans account-ed for 44 percent of all new HIV infections in that year. Compared with members of other races and ethnici-ties, African-Americans ac-count for a higher propor-tion of HIV infections at all stages of disease-from new infections to deaths.

The conference is free to the public. Registration in-cludes continental break-fast, lunch, door prizes, in-formation and more. To register for the “I Am My Brother/Sister’s Keeper” Conference, call 386-274-0500 ext.0571.

Beach passes on saleVolusia County beach

passes went on sale at all tollbooths this week. The passes, which are good for the entire year, are $20 for Volusia County residents and $40 for people who live outside the county. Daily passes are $5.

The beach is always open and free to pedestrians and bicyclists depending on tides and access ramps be-ing opened.

Tolls are collected from February through Novem-ber every year along the 17 drivable miles of Volu-sia County’s 50-mile coast. Last year, beach passes brought in more than $2.6 million, which was used to offset the cost of beach safety, improvements and maintenance.

The Volusia County Beach Patrol urges resi-dents and visitors to ob-serve the 10 mph speed limit and watch for pedes-trians and wildlife.

To enhance beach safety, the Volusia County Coun-cil passed several new rules last year:

• Beach drivers must have one front window down and headlights on at all times.

• Texting while driving is prohibited, and cell phone use is discouraged.

• One-way-only traf-fic areas were established from Seabreeze Boulevard north to University Boule-vard in Daytona Beach and from International Speed-way Boulevard south to Sil-ver Beach Avenue in Dayto-na Beach.

• Parking is prohibited in front of Ormond Beach’s Andy Romano Beachfront Park, Sun Splash Park in Daytona Beach, Frank Ren-don Park in Daytona Beach Shores, and Flagler Ave-nue Park in New Smyrna Beach.

The county also offers five traffic-free zones and more than 3,000 off-beach parking spaces.

For more information about Volusia County’s beaches, visit www.volusia.org/beach.

Free family-strengthening workshop to be offered at Daytona State College

The Center for Women and Men at Daytona State College, in partnership with the Early Learning Co-alition of Flagler & Volusia and Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare, will host a free four-hour workshop to help parents strengthen their families from the inside out. Partic-ipants will learn about the protective factors that need to be present in a family in order to keep it strong and healthy.

The Strengthening Fami-lies workshop is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 22, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Dayto-na State’s Daytona Beach Campus, Bergengren Hall

(Bldg. 110), Room 112. Par-ticipation is free and open to the public.

“The Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program pro-vides access to affordable child-care services to eligi-ble students who wouldn’t otherwise be able to pur-sue post-secondary educa-tion,” commented Anthony Deobil, workshop coordi-nator and CCAMPIS proj-ect director. “The aim of the Strengthening Families workshop is to educate par-ents about the importance of protective factors such as parental resilience, social connections, knowledge of parenting and child devel-opment, concrete support in times of need as well as social and emotional com-petence of children.”

CCAMPIS is a federal funded grant through the U.S. Department of Educa-tion.

To register or for more information call, 386-506-4218. The workshop will be offered again on April 12.

Rural communities of Spuds, Elkton and Arm-strong are at the heart of the SEA Community Help Resource Center’s support to farm and migrant work-ers in St. Johns County.

The mission began more than 10 years ago as an outreach at the First Bap-tist Church of Armstrong. It has evolved as the SEA Community Help Resource Center and classifies as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit orga-nization. The center is sit-uated on the campus of First Baptist Church, where the Rev. Alphonso Harvey is the pastor, and retired Palm Coast High School science teacher Ada Har-vey is the first lady.

Farm and migrant work-ers have been working hard, making contributions to society – planting, gath-ering, packaging and load-ing potatoes and cabbage for area stores. The work-ers earn little and some-times struggle with no wages, rental arrears, hous-ing, and health care. Yet, the area inhabits teachers, preachers, and other pro-

fessionals, whose forbears were migrant workers.

Migrant workers have earned support of Execu-tive Director Malinda Pee-ples and President Marga-ret Murray for food, cloth-ing, housing assistance, and referrals to other agencies. The St. Vincent Mobile Unit provides monthly medical attention,

The center also assists in procuring food stamps, toys, books, school sup-plies, and backpacks. Oth-er provisions include after-school programs, summer recreation and lunch, a computer lab, and college online classes.

How to helpKathy Bravo partners

with SEA Community Help Resource Center. She helps

monthly organizing groups like the Ponte Vedra Rota-ry Club for bringing aware-ness to migrant workers, hosting dinners, and ad-dressing other issues to se-cure blankets and electric heaters, including cooking utensils, appliances, and personal hygiene items. Bravo heads Julington Creek Plantation Commu-nity, Active Residents En-gaged in Service.

All things have worked together in lovingkind-ness from a world seeking to help migrant and farm workers. If you’d like to do-nate men’s work clothes or a financial contribution, call the SEA Community Help Resource Center at 904-692-2307, or follow the center on Facebook.

•••

Sybil Dodson-Lucas, Ways and Means Com-mittee chair of the African American Cultural Soci-ety (AACS), is compiling the members’ recipes for a cookbook. Dodson-Lucas is also first vice president of the organization.

If you are a member, please provide Dodson-Lucas with your recipe, a brief recipe history, and your picture emailed to africanameric955@bell-

south.net.Dodson-Lucas says that

everyone has an old family recipe, or one that begs to be shared with grandchil-dren and children, or with folks who just like learning to cook. She says the tar-get date for “going to press” with the cookbook is April, which is just in time for Easter.

As always, remember our prayers for the sick, af-flicted and bereaved.

By Jeroline D. Mccarthy | Daytona Times

Palm Coast Community news

Birthday wishes to: Margaret Young, Feb. 7; Randolph Greene, Feb. 9; Lillian Gaddis, Feb. 12. Happy belated birth-day to: Loretta Bryant, Fred Fowler, and Eleanor McCray Francis, Jan. 31.

Birthday wishes to:

Happy Birthday to You!

Church-based center helps migrant workers

At the far left is First Lady Ada Harvey of First Baptist Church of Armstrong; Kathy Bravo sits in the center, and Malinda Peeples stands at the far right among migrant workers, volunteers, and church members.

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Operations center ribbon-cuttingThe Emergency Operations and Sheriff’s Communications Center ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Feb. 27 at 2 p.m., 3825 Tiger Bay Road. The 43,000 square-foot, $21 mil-lion-dollar facility will house the county’s emergency operations and sheriff’s communications activities, including countrywide 9-1-1 dispatch functions.

Fresh Start Revival at Mt. BethelThe Mt. Bethel Baptist Insti-tutional Church announces its 2013 Fresh Start Revival Feb. 7 and 8 at 7 p.m. nightly. The guest evangelist will be the Rev. Victor Gooden, pastor of New Life Church Ministries, Holly Hill. The church is on the corner of Martin Luther King and South Street.

SCORE plansemail seminarSponsored by the Small Busi-ness Development Center at Daytona State College and SCORE, a free two-part seminar demonstrates how organiza-tions can make the most of an email marketing strategy by using Constant Contact. The seminar will be held at Daytona State College Feb. 12 from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Registration required. More information and registration: 386-506-4723 or e-mail sbdc@DaytonaState.edu.

Church to honorMother ButtsButts Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ of East Central Florida, invites the public to join in the celebration of Mother Willie Butts’ 52nd year of ministry through Feb. 8 at Butts Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, 636 Hawk St. A special guest and choirs will minister nightly at 7 p.m. More information: 386-252-8565 or www.bmtcogic.org.

Combo to perform at library The Stetson University Jazz Combo will perform Feb. 9 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the auditorium of the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island. The student musicians will perform jazz standards and songs from the Great American Songbook. The free event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Heritage festivalin New SmyrnaThe 22nd Annual Black Heritage Festival “Sharing yesterday, preserving today, shaping tomorrow” will be held Feb. 8-10 at the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum, 314 N. Duss St. and Pettis Park in New Smyrna Beach. Live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, food and vendors will be on site and a Gospel Fest will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. More information: Jimmy Harrell 386-478-1934.

To list your community event FREE, e-mail us at news@daytonatimes.com. No phone calls or faxes, please. Events are listed on a space-avail-able basis, and in the sole discretion of the Daytona Times staff. Effective immediately, paid events will no longer be listed in the Daytona Times Community Calendar. You can advertise local events for as little as $35 per week. Call 813-319-0961 or email sales@daytona-times for more information.

Community Calendar

Compiled by the Daytona Times

Sorority, community volunteers help to spruce up Espanola youth center

SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES

The Chi Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Al-pha Sorority and community volunteers commem-orated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a day of service revitalizing the St. Paul’s Youth Center (formerly known as the All Kids Are First Old Schoolhouse) in Espanola.

Sorority members and volunteers from Jackson-ville to Orlando assisted with interior and exterior painting, cleaning, sorting and arranging of donat-ed books, planting of flowers and the planting of a vegetable garden.

Assistant Director Mark Noel and the Rev. Frank Giddens of Espanola’s St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church welcomed the volunteers as local youth reveled with excitement while assisting with the renovation.

Town landmarkThe youth center serves as a historic landmark for

the small town of Espanola as it was the first Black schoolhouse in Flagler County erected in 1950.

During the time when segregation was rampant, the schoolhouse allowed Espanola’s Black students the opportunity to achieve an education. Giddens played a pivotal role with re-establishing the old schoolhouse and reopening the doors to the neigh-borhood youth ages 8 to 17 to establish camarade-rie and positive reinforcement.

Today, the facility serves as a learning facility for area youth. Homework, reading, writing and so-cialization skills are just a few of the initiatives ad-ministered at the St Paul’s Youth Center.

Volunteers break during exterior painting.

M A Y O RDECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006 7 FEBRUARY 7 – FEBRUARY 13, 20134 EDITORIAL

Preventing gun deaths requires action

This is an important conversa-tion for our children, for our com-munities, for Democrats and Re-publicans. Speaking is difficult but I need to say something im-portant. Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying. Too many children. We must do some-thing. It will be hard. But the time is now. You must act. Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are count-ing on you.

Statement of former Rep. Gabri-elle Giffords to the Senate Judicia-ry Committee on Jan. 30.

At the Jan. 30 Senate Judicia-ry Committee hearing on gun vi-olence, Giffords, the survivor of a gunshot to the head, gave us our marching orders. The United States stands alone in the world in our tolerance of gun violence but in the wake of the devastating Newtown, Conn. murders, a pow-erful outcry of ordinary Ameri-cans across the country is saying no more.

This time we want our collec-tive heartbreak and outrage to be followed by real change. How have people in other countries re-sponded after a gun massacre or mass shooting?

Australia and Great Britain pro-vide two examples. In 1996, 35 people were killed and 23 others were wounded by a gunman at the Port Arthur tourist site in Tasma-nia, Australia, in one of the larg-est massacres ever committed by a single shooter.

Within 12 days of the shoot-

ing, spurred by strong public sup-port, the Australian federal and state governments agreed to the historic National Firearms Agree-ment (NFA), which banned semi-automatic and pump action rifles and shotguns and required regis-tration of all firearms, strict stan-dards for gun licenses, and a per-mit for each gun purchase subject to a 28-day waiting period.

The NFA also prohibited pri-vate sales, regulated ammuni-tion sales, and required licensees to receive firearm safety training and to store firearms safely. To get banned rifles and shotguns off the streets, the federal government bought back or accepted turn-ins of more than 1 million guns which were then destroyed.

Public outcryJust weeks before the Port Ar-

thur massacre in Australia, 16 5- and 6-year-olds and their teacher were killed in a devastating school shooting in Dunblane, Scotland.

After those murders the public outcry in Great Britain was very similar to the one we are seeing in the U.S. right now. The shoot-er owned his guns legally and the outrage over his crime started a

public campaign for tighter gun control culminating in a petition being handed to the government with more than 700,000 signa-tures.

A 1987 mass shooting by a man who killed 16 people and wound-ed 15 others had already led Great Britain to ban semi-automatic and pump action rifles and shotguns. This time, 11 months after the Dunblane murders, Great Britain passed the Firearm (Amendment) Act of 1997 instituting tighter con-trols over handguns.

Soon after, the country went a step further and prohibited all handguns in civilian hands. The government also instituted fire-arm amnesties across the country resulting in the surrender of thou-sands of firearms and rounds of ammunition.

In 2009, nearly 67 percent of U.S. homicides were committed with guns while in Great Britain the number was only 6.6 percent.

In 2010, 27 people were killed by gun homicide in the United King-dom, which includes both Great Britain and Northern Ireland and has a population of more than 62 million people.

In California and Texas, with a similar combined population of 62 million people, there were 2,255 gun homicides. What a dif-ference guns make.

Citizens stand upIn both Australia and Great

Britain extraordinary tragedies

pushed a groundswell of citizens to stand up and say no more and elected officials to follow through with significant action.

If Americans had said no more after Columbine, there may nev-er have been a Virginia Tech. If we had said no more after Virginia Tech, there may never have been a Tucson. If we had said no more af-ter Tucson, there may never have been an Aurora.

If we had said no more after Au-rora, there may never have been a Newtown, and maybe some of the more than 31,000 other American gun deaths that occur each year could have been prevented.

President Obama was cor-rect when he said at the inter-faith prayer vigil at Newtown High School that “no single law – no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world, or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society.

Obligation to tryBut that can’t be an excuse for

inaction. Surely, we can do bet-ter than this. If there is even one step we can take to save another child, or another parent, or an-other town, from the grief that has visited Tucson, and Aurora, and Oak Creek, and Newtown, and communities from Columbine to Blacksburg before that – then sure-ly we have an obligation to try.”

Let’s heed Gabby Giffords’ mov-ing testimony to be bold, to be courageous, and to act now for our children’s sake.

Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s De-fense Fund. For more informa-tion go to www.childrensde-fense.org. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: PRESIDENT SKEET SHOOTER

DAviD Fitzsimmons, thE ARizonA stAR

Blacks moved to the back of the line – againMany of us have heard the say-

ing, “If you’re White you’re all right; if you’re Yellow you’re fine and mellow; if you’re Brown, stick around; but if you’re Black get the h— on back.”

Well, as Claud Anderson has said for years, “If Black folks didn’t get anything when we were in sec-ond place, what makes anyone think we will get anything when we move into third place?” All of his predictions and warnings have come to fruition as they pertain to immigration and its impact on Black people in this country.

Once again, we have been moved to the back of the line, even behind those illegal immigrants who are told they must go to the end of the line in order to become legal. When the Obama admin-istration touted its No. 1 agen-da item shortly after the inaugu-ration, it became immediately clear that Black people, along with whatever “agenda” we might have, would be pushed further down on the presidential “to do” list.

Hispanics are the minority group du jour pushed ahead of

Black folks that have been waiting in line for 400 years.

Immigration reformThe No. 1 political priority is

now immigration reform, not Black unemployment, Black in-carceration, Black economic in-clusion, or Black anything. The gay people have had their turn at the front; the Jewish people have had their turn; the “mainstream” Hispanic folks are now getting their second turn; and now illegal immigrants have their turn at the head of the line.

In street vernacular, “Where da Black folks at?” Oh, I see them; they’re waaaay back there at the end of the line – again. Here, use my binoculars; you’ll be able to see them back there.

Individuals and organizations are lining up and complaining about the lack of attention be-ing given to Black people by the Obama administration, especial-ly since Black voters overwhelm-ingly supported the President’s reelection. Hispanics gave 71 per-cent of their support, while Blacks gave around 95 percent of theirs. So why is illegal immigration, which is an issue of great concern to Hispanic people, the No. 1 pri-ority?

Blacks worse offBen Jealous, president of the

NAACP, said on Meet the Press, Black Americans “…are doing far worse” than when President Obama first took office. “The coun-try’s back to pretty much where it was when this president started. White people in this country are doing a bit better. Black people are doing far worse.”

U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings [D-Fla.], reflecting on the president’s nearly all-White inner circle and his second term appointees thus

far, says President Obama has dis-respected Black folks by failing to choose not even 1 of the 61 names recommended for administration positions by the Congressional Black Caucus.

We pointed out a similar situa-tion during the last two Supreme Court appointments in a 2010 ar-ticle titled, “How about getting a Black person on the Supreme Court?” Maybe the next time folks like Deval Patrick and Charles Ogletree will be considered – no, nominated.

Subordinate positionsAnyway, here’s the deal. We

are at the back of the line when it comes to issues that directly im-pact Black people in this coun-try. Somehow we cannot get it through our heads that we are still relegated to a subordinate posi-tion, politically and economical-ly, and will remain that way until we change our behavior, as Amos Wilson advised in his book, Blue-print for Black Power.

There is no reason or need for

anyone to change the way they treat us if we continue to accept mistreatment from them. And this goes well beyond mere skin color, folks. After all, who is more “colored” than Clarence Thomas?

Malcolm said it best: “Any time you throw your weight behind a political party that controls two-thirds of the government, and that party can’t keep the promise that it made to you during election time, and you are dumb enough to walk around continuing to identi-fy yourself with that party, you’re not only a chump, you’re a traitor to your race.”

Jim Clingman, founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Com-merce, is the nation’s most pro-lific writer on economic empow-erment for Black people. He is an adjunct professor at the Uni-versity of Cincinnati and can be reached through his web-site, blackonomics.com. Click on this story at www.daytona-times.com to write your own re-sponse.

NNPA COLUMNIST

JAMES CLINGMAN

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SUBMISSIONS POLICYSEND ALL SUBMISSIONS TO NEWS@DAYTONATIMES.COM. Deadline for submitting news and pictures is 5 p.m. the Monday before the Thursday publication date. You may submit articles at any time. However, current events received prior to deadline will be considered before any informa-tion that is submitted, without the Publisher’s prior approval, after the deadline. Press releases, letters to the editor, and guest commentaries must be e-mailed to be considered for publication. The Daytona Times reserves the right to edit any submission, and crop any photograph, for style and clarity. Materials will not be returned.

When W-2 forms begin arriv-ing in the mail, it’s a sure sign that tax season has again returned. This year, however, there will be a slight delay for tax filers. Due to the lateness of tax law changes made by Congress, IRS will begin processing returns on January 30. This date will apply regardless of whether tax returns are e-filed or on paper.

The consumer benefit from this brief delay means tax filers have more time to identify and include every available credit. Depending upon family income, size and fil-ing status, several tax credits can boost refunds – especially among low- and moderate- income households. Applying every eli-gible tax credit will maximize re-funds.

For example, although four out of five workers are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), IRS advises that one out of four fails to claim the credit for one of two reasons. Either they failed to file a tax return at all, or filed one, but failed to claim what they were due.

Apply for EITC In 2011, 27 million eligible

workers received a total of $62 bil-lion in EITCs, making it the largest tax program for working families, according to the Office of the Con-troller of the Currency (OCC).

This year, workers earning $50,270 or less can apply for EI-TC. The exact amount of EITC eli-gibility will vary by income, family

size and filing status. Even so, last year the average EITC credit was $2,200, according to IRS.

This year, IRS expects that workers, the self-employed and farmers that qualify for this cred-it could receive even higher re-funds.

Another key tax credit is the American Opportunity Credit, designed to financially assist par-ents and students to pay for col-lege expenses. Either individu-al filers with modified adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less, or married filers with a joint return earning $160,000 or less are eligi-ble to apply.

The maximum amount of the annual credit is $2,500 per stu-dent, not per family. Eligibility for this tax credit can cover up to four years of post-secondary educa-tion.

Help for college studentsFor consumers of any age pur-

suing post-secondary education, a Lifetime Learning Credit can help for that cost. Up to $2,000 in qualified, paid educational ex-penses can be claimed when en-rolled in an eligible educational institution.

There is an important caveat to claiming this credit: filers can claim either the Lifetime Learn-ing Credit or the American Op-portunity Credit; but never both.

Additionally, the Lifetime Learning Credit has no limit on the number of years it can be claimed for each student.

With so many consumers strug-gling with student loan debt, tax season also offers a tax deduction on paid student loan interest. If a filer’s modified adjusted gross in-come is less than $75,000 or less than $150,000 for joint returns, a special deduction is allowed for voluntary and required interest payments.

IRS advises that this tax deduc-tion can reduce the amount of income subject to taxation by as much as $2,500.

Assistance availableHere’s one last cost-saving tip

for tax season: Utilize the free tax assistance services in your area. In many instances, there is no

reason for consumers to pay the high-cost fees charged by tax ser-vices.

IRS Volunteer Income Tax As-sistance (VITA) available to any worker making $51,000 or less. These IRS-certified volunteers can help filers to determine all el-igible credits and/or deductions. Interested consumers are asked to phone 1-800-906-9887 to de-termine the closest local assis-tance center.

AARP Foundation Tax Aid of-fers free assistance through more

than 6,000 locations nation-wide to consumers aged 60 or over. To locate a nearby service center, visit: http://www.aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/searchTaxAideLocations.action.

Charlene Crowell is a com-munications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

Claim all of your credits, deductions this tax season

Opinions expressed on this editorial page are those of the writers, and do not

necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the newspaper or the publisher.

THE CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESSThe Black Press believes that Americans can best lead the world away from racism and

national antagonism when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person. The Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief...that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.

NNPA FINANCIAL WRITER

ChARLENE CROwELL

NNPA COLUMNIST

MARIAN wRIGhT EDELMAN

M A Y O RDECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006 7TECHNOLOGYFEBRUARY 7 – FEBRUARY 13, 2013 5

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BY JOHNNY DIAZSUN SENTINEL (MCT)

FORT LAUDERDALE — At times during her day, Dale-tha Brown feels like any typical 23-year-old.

She catches the bus to Broward College for class. She calls or sends texts on her smart phone. She boots up her laptop to log into Facebook where her profile page states that she lives in “Hol-lywood, Florida.”

But many of her 173 online friends probably don’t know she’s homeless.

“People are shocked when I tell them,” Brown said from the Homeless Voice shelter in Holly-wood where she collected some bottles of shampoo and soap recently. “I don’t tell them un-til I know I can trust them. They are shocked at first because you don’t normally see a homeless person going to college.”

Or posting on social media.Whether they’re in shelters

or on the streets, some of South Florida’s homeless say they’ve found a cyber home and a sense of belonging and community through social media.

They log into their accounts so their friends and family can keep track of their whereabouts. They share information on where to find shelter and a shower.

On Facebook, TwitterMostly though, these homeless

folks find they can escape and temporarily forget that they’re homeless through Facebook, Twitter and other online social networks.

“They are still trying to main-tain certain parts of their life,” said Mike Long, chief develop-ment officer at the Broward Part-nership for the Homeless in Fort Lauderdale, which has a comput-er lab with 30 monitors.

The proliferation of cell phones and smart phones also has made it easier for the homeless to stay plugged in. The devices help them

look for jobs and social services while allowing them to stay con-nected to friends and loved ones.

“Having a cell phone can give them at least a little bit of access of what we consider social media or social norms,” Long said. “I do believe the cell phones are im-portant, social media as a whole is important especially if they are teenagers … They do their best to avoid getting in a conversa-tion of where-do-you-live-kind-of-thing.”

Chris McNeil lives with her 16-year-old son at The Lord’s Place family shelter in West Palm Beach, where she is training to become a chef. Her son encour-aged her to create a Facebook ac-count as a social outlet.

A self-described recovering opiate, cocaine and alcohol ad-dict, she uses Facebook to con-nect with other recovering home-less people and to share home-less-related news from her native Washington, D.C.

“You don’t know what some-body is going to say to help you get through the day,” she said of the 38 friends on her page. “I have friends that I am talk-ing to that kind of disowned me 20 years ago because of my life choices. Now we are friends be-cause of Facebook. It’s a motivat-ing thing.”

Sense of normalcyMark Targett, co-director at

Homeless Voice in Hollywood, agreed, adding that social media can help bring a sense of normal-cy to transient lives.

“It may be the only time they feel a part of society without be-ing looked at differently because of their living situation. It’s a way of escape,” said Targett, who sees clients arrive with laptops and Android smart phones. On Fa-cebook, he has friended some of the 182 clients in this crowd-ed and dank two-story facility off North Federal Highway.

As he scrolls down his own iP-hone, Targett rattles off some of

their recent updates: how they answer quizzes on the New Eng-land Patriots, play Farmville or wish one another Happy New Year.

“Just normal stuff that you would kind of see on anyone’s account, just like we do,” Targett added.

Websites also have emerged to help people become social media savvy. One, called WeAreVisible.com, provides tutorials on how to use Facebook and Twitter.

Yet some people may ask: How can a homeless person af-ford cellphones or even smart phones? Where do they find In-ternet connections?

“The stigma of carrying a smart phone or cell phone when you’re homeless pisses the public off a great deal,” said Sean Cononie, who runs Homeless Voice. “They use the cellphone for safety. It’s

also a good way to look for a job.”

Free cell phonesSome qualify for a free cell

phone and up to 250 minutes a month through the government’s Lifeline Wireless program, which is associated with TracFone’s Safelink Wireless and Virgin Mo-bile’s Assurance Wireless.

Others carry phones they owned prior to plunging into poverty. A friend or relative may pay the service.

For free Internet access, they visit McDonald’s, Starbuck’s, Dunkin’ Donuts or a library.

For power, they recharge at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood In-ternational Airport, 7-Eleven stores and electric outlets found on lampposts along the New Riv-er. And of course, there are the homeless shelters themselves.

Merritt Thomas shares a Dell laptop with a friend at the Home-less Voice. During the day, he helps gather clothing donations. But he’s also checking his Face-book for updates from his 254 friends, some from his native Jacksonville.

“I get to keep in touch with a lot of people from home,” said Thomas, 52, who has been home-less since 2004 since moving to South Florida. He said he re-ceives monthly disability checks for chronic back issues.

On Facebook, he also enjoys reading posts from gay politi-cal organizations and President Barack Obama. And, “I also get updates from the Kardashians. They are bourgeois,” he said with a grin.

Homeless stay connected in virtual community

MIKE STOCKER/SUN SENTINEL MCT

Merritt Thomas, 52, left, is a client at the Homeless Voice shelter where he helps accept clothing donations. He uses a laptop in Hollywood, Fla., from one of the other clients to check his Face-book account where he keeps in touch with friends from his native Jacksonville.

M A Y O RDECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006 7 FEBRUARY 7 – FEBRUARY 13, 20136 CLASSIFIEDS

AdvertiseFor all local sales for The Daytona

Times & WPUL AM 1590 News Progressive Talk, Sports & Inspiration call Deborah E. Ford at 386-492-2908

Ext. 12

Florida Health Care Plans

www.fhcp.comEOE/AA

A Drug Free – Smoke Free Work Place

EvEry timE.I t ’ s t h e r a c e o f a l I f e t I m e .

February 24

1 - 8 0 0 - P I t s h o P w w w. D aY t o N a 5 0 0 . c o m #DaYtoNa500

1 9 7 9

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On February 24th, the DaytOna 500 will prOve Once again why this is the race OF a liFetime. every time.

Like in 1998, when a 20-year quest ended with one of racing history’s most timeless moments – Dale Earnhardt celebrating in Gatorade Victory Lane. And when Dale Earnhardt Jr. carried on that family legacy in 2004. Or in 2011, when a 20-year-old underdog shocked the world.

Witness the next chapter of The Great American Race, with the 55th running of the DAYTONA 500. Great seats can still be yours and kids 12 and under are half-off all Backstretch seats while supplies last.

Toni Braxton encourages you to learn the signs of autism at autismspeaks.org

Early diagnosis can make a lifetime of difference.

© 2012 Autism Speaks Inc. “Autism Speaks” and “It’s time to listen” & design are trademarks owned by Autism Speaks Inc.All rights reserved. Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment.

Odds of having a child diagnosed with autism

1/ 88

Odds of having 3 multi-platinum albums

1/ 1,650,000

M A Y O RDECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006 7SPORTSFEBRUARY 7 – FEBRUARY 13, 2013 7

COMPILED BY ANDREAS BUTLERDAYTONA TIMESbutleramj@yahoo.com

Destiny Woodard scored 28 points and Ronni Wil-liams had 19 points with 10 rebounds to lead Atlan-tic High School past Orlan-do Lake Highland Prep 64-50 for the district 7-4A ti-tle. The Sharks beat Orlan-do Jones High 50-44 in the semifinal.

Williams had 21 points with 11 rebounds and two blocks while Woodard scored 23 points. Atlantic was to host Cocoa Beach in the first round of the play-offs on Feb. 7.

Father Lopez handled Oviedo Master’s Acade-my 67-43 to win the dis-trict 4-3A title. Shannon Crenshaw had 28 points to lead Lopez. Ashley Folsom added 12 points and Si-mone Brown points 11 for the Green Wave. Lopez al-so dominated Warner 69-22 in the semifinals. Cren-shaw tallied 15 points and

Brown 14 for the Wave. Lo-pez will host Gainesville Oak Hall to open the play-offs.

Deltona Trinity Christian Academy won the district 4-2A championship with a 61-51 win over Winter Park Geneva. Salena Lewis had 23 points while Ashley Sauri added 13 points with 10 rebounds and Megan Hagly had 11 points with 10 boards and two blocks for the Eagles.

Trinity defeated Winter Park International Com-munity 58-53 in the semifi-nal. Lewis scored 19 points and Brittany Sylvester 16 for the Eagles. Trinity will host Ocala St. John Luther-an in the first round of the playoffs.

Seabreeze, DeLand, Smyrna make postseason

Orlando Edgewater rip-ped Seabreeze 62-18 to win

the district 8-6A champi-onship. Shakaria Scantling led the Sandcrabs with 10 points. Scantling also had 19 points to lead Seabreeze to a 59-27 win over Deltona in the semifinal to clinch a playoff berth. Seabreeze will play at Palm Bay Heri-tage to start the playoffs.

New Smyrna was de-feated by Viera 65-22 in the district 3-7A title game. New Smyrna did make the playoffs by beating Univer-sity 62-58 in the semifinal round.

In that game, Ashley Schofield had 19 points and Jasmine Hall 12 for the Barracudas. Grizel Ri-vera had 24 points, Mikeia Pooler 13 and Bria Culpep-per 10 for the Titans. New Smyrna travels to Orlando Evans to open the playoffs.

DeLand fell to Lake Mary 59-28 in the district 2-8A championship game. The Bulldogs did top Altamonte

Springs Lake Brantley 63-52 in the semifinal round to advance to the postsea-son. DeLand plays at Jack-sonville Mandarin for the first round of the playoffs.

Regional playoff dates are Feb. 7 for quarterfinals, Feb. 12 for semifinals and Feb. 16 for finals.

Boy’s tourneys slated Feb. 6-9

The district champion and runner-up earn state playoff bids so making it to the title game is a must.

Most likely to make the playoffs: Father Lopez, New Smyrna, Mainland.

True playoff contenders: DeLand, Calvary.

Possible sneak-ins: Spruce Creek, Trinity, Uni-versity.

2-8A: DeLand, Spruce Creek, Lyman Longwood, Oviedo Hagarty, Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley, Sanford Seminole. Top-seeded Hagarty is the favorite, but this is a district where any-body can beat anybody.

Creek will have to fight to get to the title game and make post season.

3-7A: New Smyrna Beach, University, Mel-bourne Veira. New Smyrna already is in the playoffs as the top seed in the three-team district. University must beat Viera to make ti-tle game and postseason.

8-6A: Mainland, Sea-breeze, Pine Ridge, Del-tona, Orlando Edgewater. Second-seeded Mainland should meet top-seeded Edgewater in champion-ship game and make the playoffs.

7-4A: Atlantic, Orlando Jones, Orlando Lake High-land Prep, Bishop Moore. Atlantic has a tall task to make title game and post season.

4-3A: Father Lopez, War-ner, Lake Mary Prep, Ovie-do Master’s Academy. Top-seeded Father Lopez ex-pected to run away with district title.

3-2A: Calvary, Halifax, Trinity and Winter Park Geneva. Top-seeded Cal-vary is the favorite. Trini-ty and Halifax look to play spoiler.

Other gamesFlagler Palm Coast plays

in district 1-8A with Jack-sonville teams Sandalwood and Mandarin. Palm Coast Matanzas plays in district 4-5A with St. Augustine Menendez, Ponte Verde, Ponte Verde Nease.

Prep Sports Seven basketball rankings

Girls: 1. *Father Lopez (22-5), 2. *Atlantic (19-6), 3. DeLand (25-2), 4. Flagler Palm Coast (18-7), 5. *Trin-ity (19-7), 6. *Seabreeze (13-12), tie 7., *New Smyr-na (8-16), Warner (8-9). * denotes playoff team.

Boys: 1. Father Lopez (22-2), 2. DeLand (18-7), 3. New Smyrna (20-3), 4. Mainland (15-10), 5. Cal-vary (17-6), 6. Flagler Palm Coast (11-11), tie 7. Spruce Creek (10-12), Halifax (10-7).

Baseball Pre-Season 1. Spruce Creek, 2. Trin-

ity, 3. New Smyrna, 4. De-Land, 5. Seabreeze, 6. Fla-gler Palm Coast, 7. Delto-na.

VOLUSIA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS REVIEW

Exciting high school hoops postseason

Johnson lifts Wildcats past Rattlers in overtime BY ANDREAS BUTLERDAYTONA TIMES butleramj@yahoo.com

Ricky Johnson’s basket with one second remaining lifted Bethune-Cookman past Florida A&M 67-65 in overtime at Moore Gymna-sium last week.

“We ran that play the last game. I saw an open-ing and was able to get the ball in the hoop. Coach has been telling me to be more aggressive,” remarked Johnson.

Added Gravelle Craig, B-CU’s head basketball coach, “We just spaced the floor on a high ball screen and let him make a deci-sion. He is our best free throw shooter as well.’’

Johnson finished with a career-high 25 points to lead the Wildcats.

On Monday he was named MEAC Player of the Week. He also made the game-winning free throw in a 58-57 win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Jan. 28.

FAMU had one final chance but De’Andre Bul-lard’s desperation three pointer from half court hit the front of the rim as time expired.

Critical turnoverThe Rattlers dominated

the first half and held a 31-20 advantage at halftime.

“They started with the big guard lineup. FAMU also shot the ball well. We just had to stay the course,” added Craig.

FAMU held a 13-point advantage at 27-14 when Reggie Lewis hit a three with 5:38 to play in the first half. They also led 39-26 with 15:46 to play after a three by Jamie Adams.

B-CU took its first lead since the first score at 42-41 on a put back by Javoris Bryant with 8:42 to play.

The Wildcats led 56-51 with 37 seconds remain-ing but missed free throws and had a critical turnover, which allowed the Rattlers to tie the game.

Lewis finished with 17 points (four threes) to lead the Rattlers but scored just six points after halftime.

B-CU held the advan-tage in points in the paint, bench points and second-chance points but was on-ly 16-for-28 from the free throw line.

“We are a work in prog-ress. We have to shoot free throws better,” added Craig.

FAMU held a slight ad-vantage in rebounding 38-37, knocked down eight three pointers (five in the first half) but also on-ly converted 11-of-18 free throws.

Adrien Coleman add-ed 16 points and Bryant 11 points with eight rebounds and two blocks for B-CU.

“My jump shot was work-ing today. I had been told to let it come to me and I did that today,” said Bryant.

Bullard added 11 points and Trey Kellum had 10 points with 10 boards for FAMU.

Women’s hoops: Ladies beat Rattlers too

In the women’s game, the Lady Wildcats defeated the Lady Rattlers 59-49.

B-CU capped a 14-4 run on a three pointer from Chastity Rene Taylor to take a 39-25 lead with 15:47 to play.

FAMU got within 48-42 on Andreya Lacy’s three pointer with 7:29 left.

The Lady Wildcats would then pull away, rebuilding their lead to 13 again.

B-CU held the advantage in points in the paint (32-18), points off turnovers (27-7) and bench points (26-3).

“We took care of the bas-ketball and we were able to play well defensively scor-ing off their turnovers; 27 points off turnovers were huge,” responded Vanessa Blair, head coach of the La-dy Wildcats.

Taylor finished with 19 points to lead the Wildcats.

“It’s a great feeling get-ting a win over FAMU, I don’t know how to describe it,” responded Taylor.

Noted Blair, “She didn’t play the first time we played them and it was difficult for her, but she really shot the ball well for us tonight.’’

Jasmine Grice led FAMU with a game-high 21 points and nine rebounds.

Shakeyia Colyer had 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while Amanda Hairston add-ed 10 points with nine re-bounds for B-CU.

Jamie Forman added 13 points with 10 rebounds and Patrice Collie six points with 10 boards for the Rat-tlers.

Track and field: Brown wins half mile

B e t hu n e - C o o k ma n ’s Ricky Brown (1:53:51) won the 800-meter dash at the Armory Invitational last week in Brooklyn, New York.

The event is formerly known as the New Balance Invitational, which is one

of the largest indoor track meets in the nation with 100 schools competing.

Brown’s win was big for the Wildcats program. B-CU also had four top 10 fin-ishes.

“It was a solid meet. We got a lot of national expo-sure. We are healthy and confident. I like where we are, but we must contin-ue to work and execute,”

said B-CU Coach Donald Brown.

Keron Stoute (2.04 m/6 feet-8.25 inches) fin-ished fifth in the pole vault and La’Quan Howard (14.60m/47feet-11 inch-es) was seventh in the tri-ple jump for the men’s pro-gram.

On the women’s side, Kadian Dunkley (17:32:06) finished 10th in the

5,000-meter run. Dunk-ley’s time was her best this season and the second best recorded in the MEAC this season.

B-CU will next compete in the MEAC Indoor Track and Field Championships Feb. 15-18 in Landover, Md.

Bowling and tennisThe 19th-ranked Lady

Wildcats women’s bowling team recently went 2-11 at the Prairie View A&M Uni-versity Invitational in Ar-lington, Texas.

B-CU’s two wins came over ranked opponents Ste-phen F. Austin (No. 13) and Alabama State (No. 20).

Felicia Baker, Rachel Moore and Staci Hilliard stood out during the week-end for the Wildcats.

The Lady Wildcats’ ten-nis team picked up wins over Florida State College of Jacksonville 6-1, Palm Beach Atlantic 5-2 and Coastal Georgia 6-1 at City Island in Daytona Beach last week.

Maria Dimitrova and Sher-een Peterson-Paul each went 3-0 in singles play while Ga-by Chinchilla and Chinatsu Kijawara went 3-0 in doubles play.

B-CU SPORTS INFORMATION

B-CU’s Adrien Coleman goes up for a basket against a Florida A&M defender.

B-CU ROUNDUP

Gravelle Craig, B-CU’s head basketball coach, looks on from the benchduring a game against FAMU.

M A Y O RDECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006 7FEBRUARY 7 – FEBRUARY 13, 20138

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