Glenn Hines 4th Annual Global Gala

By Chuck Stewart, Jr.

(New Windsor) - In 1946, Mr. Glenn E. Hines recognized that disadvantaged youth in the City of Newburgh needed ongoing relationships with caring adults; life enhancing programs; character development; hope and opportunity. While times have changed, Hines vision of a place where youth could reach their full potential hasn’t. It has grown into the Glenn E Hines Memorial Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh (BGCN).

To celebrate “10 Years of Hope and Opportunity,” Glenn Hines BGCN honored those who have made a difference in the lives of children and families at the 4th Annual Global Celebration and Awards Gala. The evening’s Master of Ceremonies, James Steed, keep things moving with the help of event organizer Kitt Potter and chairperson Kathleen Parisi. Chief Professional Officer Rev. Nelson McAllister in welcoming everyone said, “Tonight we honor four individuals with the Glenn E. Hines Memorial Service Award for 2006. These individuals’ accomplishments in life cannot be measured by this award, however, from our heart to yours we are pleased to say that they are deserving of this honor.” “Power Couple” Greer and Clarence Cooper were honored for Community Service and Education, respectively. Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner John Johnson and New York State Assemblyman Thomas Kirwan were honored for Human Service and Government, respectively.

This year’s gala marked the first instillation into the Glenn Hines Alumni Hall of Fame. It was created to recognize the accomplishments of former Club members who have gone on to make major contributions in their field with thanks for the positive influence they extend toward current Club members. “We are extremely proud to announce the inauguration of the Glenn E Hines Memorial Boys & Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame, and congratulate the first four inductees,” Rev. McAllister said. The inductees were Warren Boyd, Harvey Burger, Audrey Carey and Runston “Pop” Lewis.

The Club however is about providing the youth with “Hope and opportunity.” That was the topic 7th grader Shabrina Lyons chose for her keynote speech. With wisdom beyond her years, she said, “I hope that I can become a better person than what I am. For my friends? I hope that they can succeed in life too. For my teachers? That they can be good role models for me. That they can teach me all I need to know, so I can have a good life when I grow up. For my country? World piece.” On the topic of opportunity, she simply thanked everyone for the opportunity given to her. “I am going to show you that your hard work hasn’t been in vain. I’m going to make you proud of me. Because all of you are working to keep me safe from harm, I’m going to make you proud of me,” Lyons said. She concluded, “For securing my future, teaching me to be there for someone else, I’m going to make you proud of me,” to which the audience responded with thunderous applause. Youth, like Lyons, will carry out the vision of the Club into the 21st Century: To be a catalyst for transforming generations of young people into positive, responsible, caring and compassionate citizens who will in turn transform the world.

Pictured Above: Glenn Hines Boys & Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame inductees Warren Boyd, Harvey Burger, Runston Lewis, and Chief Professional Officer Rev. Nelson McAllister.

Hinchey Co-Introduces Polling Bill

As part of an effort to ensure that every vote cast in the upcoming election is recorded and properly counted, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) recently co-introduced a bill that would help ensure paper ballots are on hand at polling places for any voter who prefer such a ballot over electronic or other types of voting machines. The Confidence In Voting Act of 2006, which Hinchey sponsored with Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ), would encourage all voting jurisdictions to have paper ballots on hand by covering the expense associated with using them.
“Voting is one of the most important individual rights we hold as citizens of the United States, which is why we must do everything possible to ensure that this right is never compromised,” Hinchey said. “Many states and counties rushed to purchase electronic touch screen voting machines in order to prevent the confusion and disenfranchisement that occurred in November 2000. Since then, many of these machines have proven to be susceptible to malfunctions. In order to eliminate these problems, voting machines must have paper verification systems. In the meantime, it is essential that we pass The Confidence in Voting Act so that paper ballots can be made available across the country to anyone who wants one in lieu of using an electronic voting machine or if technical problems arise with electronic voting machines on Election Day.”
The Confidence in Voting Act would have the federal government cover the cost of paper ballots and other related costs up to 75 cents per ballot for jurisdictions that use a voting system other than an optical scan or other paper ballot voting system. In order to receive federal funding, a voting jurisdiction must: allow all voters who request a paper ballot to be granted one; prominently post a sign at each polling place to let voters know that paper ballots are available upon request; and treat and count each paper ballot just like all other types of ballots available at a particular polling place.
A National Research Council bipartisan study conducted by former Ohio Governor Richard Celeste and former Pennsylvania Governor and U.S. Attorney General, concluded that, “it will be essential this year that jurisdictions have backup and contingency plans that anticipate a wide range of possible failures in their electronic voting systems,” and that contingency paper ballots provide a sufficient backup plan for the failure of such systems.
An estimated 40 percent of voters are expected to use electronic touch-screen machines this November. Many problems were reported with those types of machines when they were used during primaries earlier this year. Furthering concerns, is the fact that most touch-screen machines do not have a paper trail that could be used to verify votes.
If passed, The Confidence in Voting Act would amend the Help American Vote Act of 2002.

New appointment to House of Delegates

(Goshen) - Carl Kelly, senior vice president of operations for the Elant non-profit long-term care network, has been elected to serve as a member of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) House of Delegates.

The 200-member House of Delegates is AAHSA’s governing body and is made up of leaders in the long-term care and aging services field. Delegates elect the members of the AAHSA board of directors and its officers, and also assist the AAHSA board of directors in clarifying association policy, long-range planning and governance of the association. Kelly will serve a three year term.

“Kelly is a valuable addition to our organization’s House of Delegates, said Dr. William L. Minnix, AAHSA’s president and CEO. “His hard work and expertise will help ensure that America’s older adults receive the services they need, when they need them, in the place they call home.”

Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Services Management from SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome and a master’s degree in Public Administration/Health Care Administration from Long Island University.
He resides in the Sullivan County community of Highland Lake with his wife and children.

Pictured above is Carl Kelly.

Congress Is Urged For Action In Darfur

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently and urged her to push the Bush Administration to take immediate action to end the genocide and humanitarian crisis in Darfur, and to help bring peace and stability to the region.

The group met with Secretary Rice on Capitol Hill to also discuss applying additional pressure to get United Nations’ forces into Sudan as a means of advancing CBC-initiated policies for the region.

“The Caucus had a substantive discussion with Secretary Rice to let her know of our concerns regarding the ongoing genocide and human rights violations in Sudan,” noted U.S. Representative Melvin L. Watt (D-NC), Chair of the CBC. “We also warned her that the situation is rapidly approaching the magnitude of what occurred in Rwanda and that the United States and the world pledged never to allow that to happen again.”

Immediately after the meeting with the Secretary, CBC members held a press conference to brief the media on the Rice discussion and to give an update on Hurricane Katrina next steps and the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African American community.
Chairman Watt reported that Caucus members were recently tested for the virus to highlight the importance of getting tested and the importance of leaders terminating a “state of denial” about the devastation in our communities. He also noted that the growing rate of AIDS infection is in the African American community, particularly Black females who now represent over 70 percent of the new AIDS cases. “Since the beginning of the epidemic, HIV/AIDS has had and continues to have a disproportionate impact on the African American community” noted Congresswoman Donna Christensen (D-VI). “Not only are African Americans more likely than any other population group to be infected with HIV, but African Americans are disproportionately over-represented among people with new AIDS diagnoses and are more likely to die from AIDS-related conditions.”

Rep. Maxine Waters noted that the CBC will be taking more aggressive positions, including supporting mandatory testing of prisoners and including HIV testing as part of regular medical examination protocols.

Turning to Hurricane Katrina, Chairman Watt noted that the face of poverty that the American people saw after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast was primarily African American. In keeping with the CBC’s mission of closing the disparities gap for African Americans, the group introduced legislation to help restore the Gulf Coast and asked that President Bush present a plan to eradicate poverty in the United States within 10 years. To date, the Bush Administration has not responded.

In addition to recent meetings with Secretary Rice, the Caucus recently met with Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong, whose country has a significant financial investment in the Sudan, to ask that the Chinese Government use its influence with the Sudanese Government to end the killing. Caucus members will also be meeting with Arab leaders to press them for help and assistance. Previously, Members of the CBC have protested and been arrested in front of the Sudanese Embassy to dramatize the urgency of the crisis.

“The international community needs to speak with one voice in calling on the Khartoum government to end their campaign of genocide in Darfur,” said U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA). “Given China’s investments in the region, I hope that they will be a part of the solution, and not part of the problem.”

U.S. Representative Donald Payne noted: “China’s growing influence in Africa must be a positive force to help us in our efforts to encourage transparency and good governance on the continent. That means Beijing must impress upon Khartoum that they allow the UN force to come in, allow unfettered humanitarian access, and bring an immediate end to the violence.”

Senior Programs Provide Options

Question:
You’ve written about changes in the law that make it less likely that the government will be helping seniors. Is there anything that we can do in our own communities?

Answer:

It is true that the government does appear to be trying to balance the budget on the backs of seniors, turning a blind eye to this most needy, yet extremely powerful voting block. Past columns have discussed the greater need for advanced elder law planning as well as utilizing senior power to inspire our local representatives to modify the harsh laws they so callously passed. But there is more that we can do to take care of our own.

All over the country, although not nearly enough, individuals, charitable organizations, and local governments are joining together to provide services to seniors to enable them to stay in their homes rather than having to move on to assisted living or nursing homes. You can find these programs in cities such as Boston, Atlanta, Portland, and Albany. They vary in how they work and the type of services provided, but the goal is the same. It is called “aging in place”.

What about here in the Mid-Hudson Valley? There are certainly some excellent organizations such as R.S.V.P. of Orange County Office for the Aging and Faith in Action, which pair volunteers with seniors. Unfortunately, they have not yet been able to reach many seniors who are in need, especially outside of our cities. But the Town of Montgomery is trying to change this trend. If it works here, the hope is that it will spread throughout the region.

When approached with examples of how other localities are helping their older populations, Montgomery Town Supervisor, Susan Cockburn, responded with enthusiasm. Local senior clubs were visited for input on what type of services were needed most. A committee was formed which ultimately became the Town of Montgomery Seniors Independence Project.

Still a work in progress, the Project has drawn support from all over the County - Office for the Aging, Faith in Action, Adult Protective Services, Walden Sunshine Society, to name a few, and a host of concerned individuals. As the plan crystalized, using the best parts of programs from around the country, the Project is now poised to partner with groups such as R.S.V.P. and Faith in Action to help provide seniors with the services they need through the use of volunteers and reliable local vendors to help them remain at home longer.
What kind of services will be provided? First on the list are the ones that the seniors said they need most - transportation and “chore services” in their homes.

The primary step is gathering volunteers, both individual and through service oriented organizations. Dependable vendors who are willing to give senior discounts and be there when promised are also sought. The initial response has been extremely strong, but many more are needed for the project to work. Anyone or any group interested in supporting this extremely worthwhile movement has been asked to call the Montgomery Town Clerk, Molly Miller, at 457-2660, or senior liaison and Orange County’s Senior of the Year, Ruth Gardner at 427-2930. With enough response, this may well be the first step in taking care of our own.

Sanford R. Altman is an Elder Law Attorney with a firm, in Orange, Dutchess and Sullivan Counties, a member attorney of the AARP Legal Services Network and frequently writes on Elder Law issues for local publications. He may be reached at (845) 778-2121 or sra@jacobwitz.com Please note that while this column is intended to give general legal information, everyone’s circumstances differ. This column is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice directly from an attorney which will address your particular circumstances.

Pictured Above: Sandy Altman

School Scholars Have Been Recognized For Their Achievements

New York State’s Upstate Hispanic Heritage Month Committee (HHMC) announces that 15 Latino recent high school graduates from upstate counties are this year’s recipients of scholarships based on demonstrated academic excellence, leadership skills and community involvement. The students, who are enrolled at various colleges this fall, were honored at an award ceremony Thursday, Sept. 28, at the New York State Museum, as part of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.
The HHMC has celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month since 1997, granting over $75,000 to 99 talented youth to encourage high school students to pursue higher education, become productive members of society, and give back to the community. Private contributions and the participation of various state agencies with in-kind donations, under the leadership of Governor George E. Pataki, have made recognition of these students possible.

Acknowledging the growing population and influence of Latinos in the United States, Congress expanded Hispanic Heritage Week in 1989 to a month-long celebration from Sep. 15 through Oct. 15. The HHMC honors this observance each year with a culturally relevant kickoff event in mid-September at the Empire State Plaza and a special awards ceremony in late September at the state museum, where students and also outstanding community leaders are recognized. This year’s keynote speaker, Essex County District Attorney Julie Garcia, addressed the awardees and related her remarks to the 2006 theme of “Hispanics: Cultivating Tomorrow’s Leaders Today”.
This year’s honored students represent the following counties: Albany, Dutchess, Erie, Monroe, Montgomery, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange, Schenectady, Sullivan and Ulster.

List of awardees are below:

2006 Hispanic Heritage Month Scholars

Albany County-Danielle Rovito;

Dutchess County-Anthony Millan;

Erie County-Jorge, Mecias-Frias, and Crystal M. Collado;

Monroe County-Brianna Diaz, Eliud Mendez and Amanda Vargas;

Montgomery County-Stephanie Viquez;

Oneida County-Nicole Pena;

Onondaga County-Caroline Taromino;

Orange County-Raquel Rodriguez and Juan Canales;

Schenectady County-Katerina Gross;

Sullivan County-Edeliz Flores and

Ulster County-Claudia Quintanilla.

SUNY Orange chooses Key Bank Site

(Middletown) - SUNY Orange officials are preparing to move into the concept and archiectural design phase for their planned Newburgh campus following the Orange County Legislature's decision last Thurday to place the branch campus in the city's Lower Broadway region, at the intersection of Broadway and Colden St., current home of the college's Newburgh Extenion Center.

Before moving foward with plans to expand its presence in Newburgh, the college needed the legislature to select and approve a suitable site, a requirement the county's governing body completed during last Thursday's session. now that a site has been selected, SUNY Orange Presiden Dr. William Richards is eager to continue the process as it moves into the concept and architectural design stages.

"We would have been happy settling into any of the sites that were considered, but now that the Lower Broadway property has been chosen, we are prepared to move further into the details of designing a campus in Newburgh," Richards said, " All along, we told the members of the Orange County Legislature, ' You find us a site and we'll build the greater Newburgh community the best branch campus we can."

Additionally, the college has begun the necessary application process, working the State University of New York and the State Education Department staffs, to earn "branch campus " certification for the future Newburgh campus. That distinction will allow the Newburgh branch campus of SUNY Orange to be a degree-granting institution in its own right.

"That means students will be able to start and finish their studies right there in Newburgh. They won't have to come to the Middletown campus, unless they wish to," Richards explained. "We think it is very important for our students to have a degree-granting campus in Newburgh, and we expect to have the certification process completed before the doorsto the new branch are open."

Richards stressed his desire for the concept and architectural design phase (considered Phase 2 of the project) to be completed quickly, but added no timetable has been established.

Women's wellness Ob/Gym Opens

(New Windsor) - Women in our region now have increased options for quality health care, with the opening of Athena Women’s Wellness Obstetrics & Gynecology at Devitt’s Medical Center on Route 32 in New Windsor. The practice, led by Mridasim Aguwa, M.D., David Menges, D.O., and Stephanie Zeszutek, D.O., offers compassionate, progressive health care to women of all ages. The physicians also treat patients at SLCH’s new facility in New Paltz.

Athena’s newest location offers comprehensive obstetric and gynecologic services in a comfortable and welcoming environment. State-of-the-art facilities ensure women have access to advanced care, including 2D and 3D ultrasound. A revolutionary electronic medical records system enhances care by facilitating communication between the Athena physicians and St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, or other doctors on the patient’s medical team. The practice also offers aesthetic services, including the noninvasive Titan skin-tightening procedure.

“We’re delighted to bring much-needed women’s-health services to our community,” said Dr. Aguwa. “Drs. Menges, Zeszutek, and I look forward to developing relationships with our patients, and caring for them through all stages of life. We share a commitment to treating the whole woman, and work together with our patients and their other physicians to enhance overall well-being through a continuum of care.”
Dr. Aguwa added, “Our expectant patients can take comfort in knowing our care is complemented by the outstanding women’s wellness services available at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, which offers a state-of-the-art Birthing Center, as well as a neonatal intensive care unit for newborns requiring specialized care.”
The new facility offers easy scheduling, ample parking, and a Community Education Room in which Athena will offer Lamaze and other classes dedicated to women’s health issues. The Women’s Wellness Obstetrics & Gynecology grand opening celebration was attended by Athena Women’s Wellness physicians and staff, SLCH administration, elected officials, community leaders, and area residents.

Pictured Above: Mridasim Aguwa, M.D., Stephanie Zeszutek, D.O., David Menges, D.O., and Ana Cintron, P.A., celebrate the grand opening of Athena Women’s Wellness Obstetrics & Gynecology in New Windsor.

Taking Advantages Of Early Detection

Since National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and, as a result, breast cancer deaths have declined. While this is good news, there are still women who do not take advantage of early detection at all and others who do not get screening mammograms and clinical breast exams at regular intervals. The purpose of this nationwide campaign is, therefore, to increase awareness about the importance of the early detection of breast cancer.
The Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) believes that regular physical examinations, mammography (an x-ray picture of the breast) and knowledge about breast cancer are imperative to protecting health. MSSNY is, therefore, joining the NBCAM organization in passing along the following information.

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in America. Scientists have found that the most common risk factors include:
*Age - The risk of breast cancer increases as a woman grows older.
*Personal history & family medical history - Women who have had breast cancer and women with a history of breast disease (not just cancer, but a condition that may predispose them to cancer) may develop it again. The risk of getting breast cancer increases for a woman whose mother, sister, daughter, or two or more close relatives have had the disease.
*Genetic alterations - Some individuals, both women and men, may be born with an “alteration” (or change) in one of two genes that are important for regulating breast cell growth. Scientists estimate that only about 5-10 percent of all breast cancers are due to genetic changes. One out of two women with these changes will likely develop breast cancer. People with a family history of breast cancer are encouraged to undergo genetic testing.
*Reproductive history - Starting menses at an early age and/or having a first pregnancy after age 25 to 35 or having no children.
*Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) - Based on the Women’s Health Initiative Study (2002), women appear to have an increased risk of breast cancer while they are on HRT and a short time thereafter, compared to those who have never used postmenopausal HRT. This is based on a study of 16,000 healthy postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 who were taking estrogen plus progestin as HRT or a placebo (an inactive pill).
*Certain lifestyle choices - Common to everyone are daily lifestyle decisions that may affect breast cancer risk. These day-to-day choices involve factors such as poor diet, insufficient physical activity, alcohol use and smoking. Besides possibly reducing breast cancer risk, lifestyle improvements represent smart steps for a healthier life, since they can help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and many other chronic, life-threatening conditions.

Barriers to Testing
Studies have identified a number of barriers to mammography screening. Some can be overcome with health education; others require programs to make mammography more accessible for women. The top four barriers are: waiting for a physician recommendation rather than being proactive and asking for one, not thinking about the importance of mammography and early detection of breast cancer, assuming mammography is not needed if no breast problems exist, and simply not prioritizing and making the time.
Other barriers include: fear of experiencing pain from the procedure; fear of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis; concerns about screening costs and the financial burden of diagnostic procedures and treatment, if needed; not having had a recent clinical breast exam or Pap test; not having a routine source of healthcare; not having the time to take off from work to be screened; and living a far distance from the screening site.
Importance of Early Detection
When breast cancer is detected early and treated promptly, suffering and, ultimately, the loss of life can be significantly reduced. Women - and men at high risk for breast cancer - are encouraged to ask their physicians and other health care providers about mammography screening. Mammography is the single most effective method to detect breast changes that may be due to cancer, long before physical symptoms can be seen or felt, For most women, high quality mammography screening should begin at age 40. As risk factors vary, everyone should discuss the plan that is right for them with their physician. If breast cancer is detected in its early stages, there are more treatment options, treatment can be less disfiguring and less toxic, and survival is improved.

Breast Cancer Treatment
When breast cancer is detected at an early stage of development, a number of effective treatment options are available. A woman and her physician will choose the treatment that is right for her, based on the location and extent of the cancer, her age and preferences, and the risks and benefits of each treatment. The basic treatment choices for breast cancer are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy. Local treatments - such as breast surgery and radiation therapy - are focused on the breast itself to remove or destroy the cancer cells confined to the breast. Systemic treatments - such as chemotherapy and hormonal therapy - aim to destroy the cancer cells that may have spread throughout the body.
This information is provided by the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY).

Don't Ignore The Power Of Black Media

By George Curry

For good reasons, the editorial and business sides of news operations are kept separate. They call it the separation between Church and State. Readers must know that the integrity of what they’re reading has not been compromised by the purchase of an ad or other economic considerations. That’s the basic hallmark of good journalism.

Therefore, listening to a Congressional Black Caucus panel discussion on advertising last week was unfamiliar territory for me. Even so, it quickly became obvious that the issue of economic reciprocity - companies and ad agencies take billions of dollars from us each year, yet doggedly refuse to advertise with media outlets that have the most credibility with African-Americans - is part of a larger issue.
Whether it’s the refusal of some companies to advertise in Black newspapers, employ Black ad agencies or adopt a we-know-it-all attitude, African-Americans are getting shafted. And it affects African-Americans in so many ways.

Carol H. Williams, for example, spoke of the personal indignities.
“I look at the papers and see the things that are written about a lot of counterparts and CEOs and presidents of agencies that I hired - I hired them,” she recounted. “There are four presidents and two CEOs now in mass marketing that I hired when I was in mass marketing. They get more press than I do.”

Clearly pained, she continued, “These people have put nothing on the air or their commercials are from [advertising] campaigns that I created. Yet, they sit on top. And I have to walk into meetings and listen to them dictate to me about the stuff they don’t even know and will never understand.”
Eugene Morris also knows about personal affronts.

“A client came to us and suggested that they were having some budget problems - they didn’t have enough money to share the production,” he recalls. “So they wanted a general market agency to produce the African-American commercial but they wanted us to consult with them to make sure it was culturally relevant. I did not say what I wanted to say.”

According to Morris, he said enough to make his point: “I was like, ‘Hell, no. You gotta be crazy. Why would we do that?’”

Adonis Hoffman, senior vice president for the American Association of Advertising Agencies, said it is a fact that some advertisers can reach Blacks without going through Black media. While that is technically correct, it ignores some important considerations. First, numerous surveys show that African-Americans give more credibility to ads that appear in Black publications. Second, a company that advertises in a White-owned publication could be speaking to anyone. However, when they advertise in Black outlets, they are demonstrating that they value Black consumers and are making a specific appeal to them.

Even though they are more trusted by African-American readers, Black newspapers are relegated to the back of the advertising bus. And some publishers are fighting back.

In Florida, a coalition of Black-owned newspapers and TV and radio stations has decried politicians - both Democrats and Republicans - ignoring them. Blacks make up 11 percent of the Florida electorate, according to the Media Audit, a Houston research company. However, according to the Washington-based Center for Responsible Politics, of $11 million spent in 2004 on Florida congressional races, only $22,000 went to the Black Press.

So far this year, less than 1 percent of money spent on congressional races in Florida has gone to Black-owned media.

“If they want to have a conversation with Black Florida, the place to do it is in the Black-owned media,” said Charles W. Cherry II, a member of the Florida Black-Owned Media Coalition, told the Miami Herald. “We are the ones who consistently reach the majority of likely voters - whether they are Republicans, Democrats or Independents.”

In New York City, advertising agencies are slowly signing settlement agreements with the New York City Human Rights Commission.

Appearing on the CBC panel, Patricia Gatling, chair of the Commission, said her agency’s investigation of the industry found that in 16 New York advertising agencies, Black employees represented only 2 percent of the workforce. Among the 22 percent earning more than $100,000 a year, only 2.5 percent were Black.
This summer, NAACP President and CEO Bruce Gordon disclosed that Target department store officials were so arrogant that they refused to complete an NAACP questionnaire about their Black employees and the use of Black vendors.

Blacks need to confront these economic terrorists. For my money, I would start with Target. If enough of us returned their credit cards, stayed out of their stores and told them why, it wouldn’t be long before they would be begging for another chance to advertise with the Black media and complete the NAACP survey. I am not stepping foot into another Target store until they change their tune. Are you willing to join me?

George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the NNPA News Service and BlackPressUSA.com.

Marist Rated One Of Top Business Schools

(Poughkeepsie) - For the third year in a row, the School of Management at Marist College is one of the nation’s outstanding business schools, according to The Princeton Review. The school is featured in the latest edition of its ratings guide, Best 282 Business Schools, 2007 Edition, which hit bookstores recently. The School of Management at Marist, which offers the first online MBA to be accredited by the New York State Education Department, is also one of only 300 business schools in the country to have its undergraduate and graduate business programs fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The Princeton Review also selected Marist as one of the “Best 361 Colleges” for a guidebook published in August, placing Marist in the top 10 percent of all colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. “We chose schools for this book based on our high regard for their academic programs and offerings, institutional data we collect from the schools, and the candid opinions of students attending them who rate and report on their campus experiences at the schools,” said Robert Franek, vice president for publishing at The Princeton Review. “We are pleased to recommend the School of Management at Marist College to readers of our book and users of our Web site as one of the best institutions they could attend to earn an MBA.” “What makes this honor special for Marist is the fact that we get high marks for the program from our students,” said Dr. Andr? Fortino, dean of the School of Management. “They told The Princeton Review that a Marist MBA is a ‘solidly designed degree that provides a broad-based coverage of business to a student body that has a wide range of backgrounds and levels of managerial experience.’” They also praised our “excellent online program, which allows students to go to school anytime, anywhere,” and added, “Marist is definitely technologically advanced. That tells us we are preparing future leaders who will take their values-based education from Marist and apply it to whatever field they choose in business, government, education, and the nonprofit sector.”

“The fact that Marist has been chosen for this distinction for the third year in a row gives our entire college community great satisfaction,” said Marist President Dennis J. Murray. “Our students told The Princeton Review Marist offers ‘cutting-edge classes,’ students are happy with their Marist experience, and they receive ‘solid preparation in marketing, teamwork, quantitative skills, computer skills,’ and ‘doing business in a global economy.’ In particular, I salute our faculty for providing our students with learning experiences in and out of the classroom that give them an advantage in what is an increasingly competitive global marketplace.”

The Princeton Review’s 80-question survey asked students about themselves, their career plans, and their schools’ academics, student body, and campus life. The resulting responses determined a school’s eligibility for inclusion in the guidebook and were used in writing the narrative of each selected program. The Princeton Review does not rank the schools in the book on a single hierarchical list from 1 to 282 or name one business school best overall.

County Plans To Save Millions In 2007

Ulster County Legislature Chairman David B. Donaldson announced recently that the County will save a total of $2.5 million in 2007 by increasing medical and prescription drug co-payments for all active employees. The County’s 358 Medicare-eligible retirees will be required to use Medicare as the primary insurance and the County’s insurance as a supplement. Chairman Donaldson said, “This change structures the process the way it was designed to run and saves $800,000 without reducing the quality of the retirees’ health care. This marks the first time the County has reduced overall health costs.”

He said a hardship fund will be established for union members who cannot afford the added expense. “Employees who contribute 15 percent toward their health insurance will see a savings in their contribution because the increases will lower the overall cost of the plans,” said the Chairman.
Health insurance cost the County $18.5 million this year and was estimated to rise to more than $20 million in 2007. With the changes the County is looking at an overall cost of $17 million next year.
Continuing the effort of efficiency and reform, Chairman Donaldson formed a new Task Force on Employee Health Care Insurance to assure further cost saving measures. “We took a giant first step in saving $2.5 million, but we must continue to look for ways to contain employee healthcare cost,” Donaldson said recently announcing the formation of the Task Force.

The Chairman of the new Task Force, Majority Leader Jeanette Provenzano said she was hopeful that the Task Force would be successful in finding other ways to save money without affecting the quality of health-care coverage for County employees. “I think we’ve discovered with a little creative thinking that we can come up with innovative solutions which will benefit everyone, taxpayers and employees alike,” Provenzano said. Provenzano stressed that the County does not plan to take health-care benefits away from its employees.

Both Democratic and Republican Legislators along with County Union Officials have been appointed to the Task Force. Besides Majority Leader Jeanette Provenzano, D-Kingston, as Chairman, others appointed to the Task Force are Legislators Peter Loughran, D-Kingston, Chairman of the Personnel Committee; Peter Kraft, D-Glenford, Chairman of the Human Development Committee and a member of the Personnel Committee; Dean Fabiano, R-Saugerties and Robert Aiello, R-Saugerties. County Union Presidents or designees have volunteered to serve on the Task Force which will work directly with County Administrator Michael P. Hein.

Former Dean of Student Recognized

(Middletown) - George Shepard was instrumental in the creation of Orange County Community College, where he spent 32 years as the Dean of Students, and current college officials assured his name will be forever linked with SUNY Orange Friday evening when they officially dedicated the former College Commons in his honor, renaming the building the George F. Shepard Student Center.

Fittingly, the hub of student activity on the SUNY Orange campus now bears Shepard’s name, as he was widely recognized as the students’ number one advocate throughout his long tenure at the college. Additionally, Shepard has been active in a variety of social and civic organizations throughout his life.

A brief dedication ceremony featured remarks from Dr. William Richards, SUNY Orange president; New York State Senator John Bonacic, New York State Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt; and John J. “Jack” McMahon, a long-time employee and former chairman of the college’s Board of Trustees. Approximately 125 people attended the event, which was held on the front steps of the newly named Shepard Center on a crisp autumn evening. Afterward, attendees were invited to a reception in the Fireside Lounge, located inside the Shepard Student Center .

“How fitting that this building should carry George Shepard’s name. He meant so much to generations of students here, and now we can preserve his legacy,” Bonacic said. “Now, when future students look up there and see his name, and they ask, ‘Who was George Shepard?’ We can tell them all about him.”

“I can think of only one person who would not have thought this was a good idea,” McMahon added as recounted several stories of Shepard’s unwavering commitment to his students, “and that is George.”

Shepard, who strived to improve Orange County by championing “quality of life” issues, was among those who rallied local support for the creation of the college, serving on the Committee on Higher Education and promoting the college on his radio program. The college was established on June 9, 1950, and the doors opened for Semester One on Sept. 21 of that same year. By Semester Two, Shepard was on the faculty. A year later, he was the college’s director of student activities.
For 32 years he served as the dean of students, offering unmatched perspective, compassion, motivation and support for count-less students, many of whom hailed him as their “conscience, confidante, inspiration and, most of all, friend.”
Shepard’s legacy at the college is long and illustrious, and his resume is overflowing with creative, common-sense initiatives that remain at the heart of the college’s operation today. He created the History and Heritage Collection, to preserve local and college materials; administered the early stages of Orange County Community College’s scholarship program; authored the college’s policy on campus rights; established a college-approved rental housing program; served as a founding director of the College Association and supervised Commencement.

In addition to his longtime devotion to his students, Shepard lent his considerable support to The Orange County Citizens Foundation, the Arts Council of Orange County and to many parks and historic site initiatives. He was also active in local Boy Scouts of America chapters, the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Young Republicans.
The George F. Shepard Student Center houses the college bookstore; the advising and counseling center; the offices of financial aid, career services, student support services, disability services, admissions, records and registration, student activities, bursar, and health services: and the office of the vice president for student development. In addition, student lounge space and a 750-seat cafeteria are located within the facility.

Pictured Above: SUNY Orange President Dr. William Richards announces the proclamation, approved by the college’s Board of Trustees, renaming the former College Commons as the

Trestle Mural Project Fall Update

(Newburgh) - “We’re very grateful to our Brick Walkway donors,” said Kiki Hayden, President of the Board of Directors of Trestle Inc. “A large crowd of enthusiastic friends of the Waterfront Mural turned out for breakfast on September 9th, which Torches Restaurant provided gratis, before the third fund-raising walkway was unveiled.”

The $100 embossed bricks have raised $37,000 for the costs of the 220’ mural titled Arches, presently being painted on the wall between Third and Fourth Streets along restaurant row on Front Street, Newburgh. Present and former Newburgh neighbors, families, and friends have gathered here to read the sentiments written on the sidewalk in front of the early sketches of the giant mural.

Kay Burke, chair of the Brick Donations, said that the people were so pleased to see the project going forward after overcoming obstacles of insurance, permits, and weather. “Everyone was excited at the preliminary sketches of Washington’s Headquarters,” she said, “and they especially liked the inclusion of figures in the landscape.” Burke added that the figures have always been planned from the first mock-up of the painting.
Garin Baker, the muralist chosen by the Board, has seen the need for another undercoat product to further prepare and protect the wall. That process began recently. He is confident that his team will be able to finish three of the five arches by the end of November with good weather. Each arch will portray a historic scene from the city: Washington’s Headquarters, View from Broadway, The Crawford House, Downing Park and the Dutch Reform Church. The final two paintings will be completed in the early spring 2007.

Members of the Board announced that the funding of the artist and his team has begun, paying out moneys from the New York State Coastal Resources Grant of $75,000 and the $10,000 Orange Arts Grant from County Executive Ed Diana and Orange Tourism Director Susan Cayea and the Legislature. While it is believed that another $20,000 will finish the fund raising. Trestle Inc. has received approximately $180,000 from personal, corporate, institutional benefactors as well as the Brick Walkway donors and their generosity. Newburgh Mayor Nick Valentine, City Manager Jean-Anne McGrane, the City Council and the Newburgh City Hall Staff have been extremely cooperative, facilitating many aspects of this complicated transaction between CSX Railroad and Newburgh.