Home Blog Page 798

BP ADAMS UNVEILS MILLIONS IN CAPITAL FUNDING FOR ARTS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

Editor, Our Time Press
-
727
BP ADAMS UNVEILS MILLIONS IN CAPITAL FUNDING FOR ARTS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

A Special Thanksgiving to the Arts

Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams unveiled the details of his arts and cultural institutions capital budget for Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17), an investment of more than $7.9 million in facilities across Brooklyn.

He made the announcement in Bedford-Stuyvesant at the Billie Holiday Theatre, a 45-year-old performing arts space at Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza that was built to expose the community to the arts and employ local talent. The theater, which has been home to world-renowned artists such as Debbie Allen and Samuel L. Jackson, will benefit from $200,000 in funding to support its first-ever major renovation. Standing beside theater artifacts that have been discovered during the ongoing restoration work, Borough President Adams spoke about how his capital allocations are focused on preserving the “unique flavor” of Brooklyn, in addition to fostering the creative spirit that is inspiring cutting-edge cultural expression.

“Brooklyn is home to everyone from everywhere, and our arts scene reflects that,” said Borough President Adams. “Our popularity comes from being a melting pot of so many diverse forms of expression, and that generates millions of dollars for our borough. Our first-class cultural institutions genuinely care about the people of this borough and the people of this city. They have brought a new signature to arts and culture and made it applicable to today’s life. Now more than ever, as people adjust to the national climate, they are going to need these outlets. We need to figure out how to use these cultural spaces as safe spaces where people can express themselves on both sides of an issue.”

“I have tremendous admiration for Borough President Adams,” said Colvin W. Grannum, Esq., president of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. “I’m thinking about the political and cultural environment that we are in, and I deeply feel we’re going to need [his] courage, the experience [he’s] gleaned.”

Other recipients of capital funding include: The Brooklyn Center for Sustainable Gardening at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden; The Society for the Preservation of Weeksville and Bedford-Stuyvesant History, which will go toward the preservation of the historic Hunterfly Road Houses; Brooklyn Children’s Museum; Dancewave Center; The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music; and Spoke the Hub Dancing, among others.

Standing beside theater artifacts, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna presented honorary checks to capital budget recipients benefitting from his arts and cultural institutions capital budget for FY17, an investment of more than $7.9 million in facilities across Brooklyn; he made the announcement in Bedford-Stuyvesant at the Billie Holiday Theatre, a 45-year-old performing arts space at Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza that will benefit from $200,000 in funding to support its first-ever major renovation.

Insufficient Sun Exposure Called Emerging Public Health Problem by World-renowned Researchers

Editor, Our Time Press
-
45

Public health advice to avoid sun exposure may be contributing to more than 300,000 deaths annually.

GrassrootsHealth applauds research from Medical University of South Carolina, Boston University, University of New Mexico and Leiden University (Netherlands) that calls for U.S. public health officials to encourage moderate nonburning UV exposure.

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A landmark study published Friday in the Journal Dermato-Endocrinology has world-renowned researchers calling insufficient sun exposure an emerging health problem in the United States. In their paper, The Risks and Benefits of Sun Exposure 2016, the authors reference major papers in the past five years in concluding that Americans are not getting enough sun exposure and that public health advice needs to be retooled to embrace moderate sun while focusing on sunburn prevention.

“The message of sun avoidance advocated by our government, and some within the medical community, should be changed immediately to a recommendation of regular nonburning sun exposure for most Americans,” said lead author Dr. David Hoel, a member of the National Academy of Medicine and Distinguished University Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina. “The sun is essential for life and should be diligently pursued in moderation, not avoided.”

The new study cites more than 100 studies demonstrating the benefits of nonburning sun exposure. Many benefits are related to vitamin D – produced naturally in the skin when exposed to UVB in sunlight. But new data shows many benefits from sun are independent of vitamin D and may be related to other substances produced in sun-exposed skin. Just as important: new data suggest the significant risks associated with sun exposure are only related to sunburn or excessively large lifetime exposure, the study reports.

While recent public health guidance has encouraged people to avoid the sun out of concern that exposure will increase risk of skin cancer, the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in the United States – linked primarily to sun avoidance – is 70%. The study cites recent estimates that about 13% of all U.S. deaths (330,000 deaths per year) could be attributable to vitamin D insufficiency. Corresponding estimates for deaths linked to tobacco are about 20% (450,000 deaths).

The paper documents evidence that the health benefits of sun exposure are not limited to vitamin D, with nitric oxide and other sun-induced mediators identified with respect to reduced hypertension and other favorable health outcomes. Vitamin D supplements have not been shown to be an adequate substitute for sun exposure. Risks of insufficient sun exposure include increased risk of many types of cancer: cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease/dementia, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, myopia and macular degeneration.

The paper’s conclusions and calls for a change in public policy are significant given the strong and diverse qualifications of its multidisciplinary authors:

  • Dr. David Hoel, recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on the health effects of radiation, served on the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) panel of experts which in 2009 classified ultraviolet radiation (UVR) as a carcinogen. Dr. Hoel has since called this classification widely misunderstood, noting that UVR is associated with skin cancer only if it results in sunburn or if it is in very large lifetime amounts.
  • Dr. Marianne Berwick is the distinguished professor of dermatology and internal medicine at the University of New Mexico and is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on melanoma epidemiology.
  • Dr. Frank de Gruijl, associate professor of dermatology at Leiden University in the Netherlands, considered one of the world’s leading pigment cell/melanogenesis researchers.
  • Dr. Michael Holick is professor of medicine, physiology and biophysics at Boston University and perhaps the world’s most recognized vitamin D researcher. Dr. Holick was on the research team that first discovered the active form of vitamin D in 1969.

“Sunlight provides vitamin D, but it provides so much more. The UV from sunlight has other health benefits,” Dr. Holick said. “Most public health agencies have ignored the indisputable evidence that sensible sun is good for you in moderation.”

The authors are clear: sunscreen should be used as a tool to prevent sunburn, but the public should know that overuse of the product may have unintended consequences. They are calling for sunscreen labels to contain a statement explaining that sunscreen blocks vitamin D production in the skin. Labeling should also acknowledge that sunscreens have not been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of melanoma.

About GrassrootsHealth

GrassrootsHealth is a nonprofit public health research organization dedicated to moving public health messages regarding vitamin D from science into practice. It has a panel of 48 senior vitamin D researchers from around the world contributing to its operations. That team published Sunlight and Vitamin D: Necessary for Public Health in 2015, showing that healthy vitamin D levels are consistent with outdoor living and regular sun exposure, concluding, “The current policy of sun avoidance is creating harm for the general population”.   SOURCE: GrassrootsHealth (GRH)

On the Path to Improved Financial Health – Step 2: Planning and Budgeting

Editor, Our Time Press
-
6

By Wayne J. Vaughan

After you have determined where you are (Step 1), you need to figure out where you want to get to; you should establish a plan. You need to determine what you need to focus on for the coming year. There are several questions you need to ask yourself. Do you have debts that need to be paid off? Are you saving enough to achieve your retirement goals? Have you saved up enough in an emergency fund? Are there funds that need to be set aside for children or other family members? What are the targets you need to reach regarding these items?

To establish your plan, you must set some priorities. Before you consider what you can spend your funds on, you should take a look at how much money your household brings home (the net pay, not your gross pay). Look at all the sources of your family’s income. For most, this is primarily take-home pay from employment. If you are blessed to have other income sources such as rental income, business income, investment income, etc., include that income in your calculation of your total expected annual income. Once you have determined the total income that is expected to be available to your family, then you can begin to allocate this income to the various types of expenses you will face. As I shared last week, I like to categorize expenses in several ways.

Must haves are items that you cannot avoid having in your budget. These expenses are vital to your family’s health, safety and shelter. Some examples are groceries (you must eat and choose your food wisely), rent or mortgage payment (unless you are living with a parent, you will need to allocate funds for this), utility bills (gas, electric, oil, etc., if you don’t do this then you will soon be cold and in the dark), clothing (include the cost of purchasing new clothes as well as cleaning clothes), health aids (i.e., toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, cologne, vitamins, soap, mouthwash, and for women feminine hygiene products are some examples). Also, there are 2 items that I consider “must haves” to include in your budget if you are a homeowner: that’s real estate taxes and water bills. If you don’t budget for these, you can eventually lose what is usually your greatest physical asset.

Should haves are items that although are not required, they would cause you considerable problems if you do not budget for them. Some examples are health insurance (if you do not have it, a serious illness could devastate the finances of you and your family), medications (if you have some health issues, you need to know how much you need to spend to maintain or improve your health), and household purchases and repairs (things do have to be replaced periodically). Additionally, there are 2 types of insurance that would be “should haves” depending on your situation. The first is life insurance; you would need to budget for the annual premiums if there is someone that depends upon your income for their support. The second is car insurance (if you own a car you should have this; without it, an accident could not only destroy your asset [the car], but have other financial repercussions).

Better life haves are items that help you to have a more enjoyable life. Some examples are vacations (please budget for at least one a year), entertainment (include a reasonable figure based upon what you can afford; don’t go overboard but don’t eliminate either), mobile phones (you need to keep connected), savings (when people have this they can have funds to place in an emergency fund and can have reduced stress due to peace of mind), Internet access (most of us like to communicate online as well), car (even though many do not have one due to good public transportation options, it is nice to be able to drive where you want when you want).

Helping others’ lives haves are items you budget for to help others in need or to advance causes you believe in. Some examples are charitable contributions (churches, other nonprofit organizations, educational organizations), gifts (birthday, anniversary, just because, etc.), loans to others (family and friends may be in need, if you can help without putting yourself in financial jeopardy, do so).

Debt obligations are payments that you may have if you have purchased any items using credit. Common examples are car loans, student loans, personal loans, home equity loans and credit card payments. These items should be budgeted for or else you could have a future filled with stress, bad credit and obstacles on your journey to improved financial health.

There may be more items for you to consider since everyone’s financial situation is different. However, without budgeting for all the items discussed you could have unexpected surprises. Have a clear understanding of how your money is being spent. As l shared in Part 1, track your spending daily, not weekly or monthly or else you will not get a true picture of your spending. This concludes Part 2 of a 5-Part Series. I pray that this week’s article will help you to get a better handle on your finances and that you will continue toward financial success.

 

 

 

 

WHAT’S GOING ON By Victoria Horsford

Victoria Horsford
-
41

PRESIDENT ELECT DONALD TRUMP

President elect Donald Trump will not take the USA in a new direction. He will veer of course towards a more Eurocentric course, much more sinister, more hawkish , much less diverse and inclusive, America’s greatest strength and asset.   He wants to eradicate if not erode the Obama legacy, something easier said than done.   Most of his post election activities are beyond my ken. Trump’s insider circle and cabinet hopefuls and vetting is more consistent with a reality show or a theater or film audition.  Naming Steven Bannon, alleged white nationalist, as his chief strategist speaks volumes to an electorate waiting to watch Trump be President of all of the people.   In a Hollywood Reporter interview Bannon said that he “is in the company of Dick Cheney, George Bush (43) VP, Darth Vader of Star Wars and even the devil himself.”  He added.“ Darkness is great.” Bannon’s title would suggest that he is the Valerie Jarrett of the Trump Administration. Jarrett was never as menacingly dark and evil.

Then there are Trump loyalists like Rudy Giuliani and NJ Governor Chris Christie, who have been pushed to the media sidelines. An inexperienced  Giuliani seemed hungry for the Secretary of State post more than a week ago.   Now, you hear names like Mitt Romney, former UN Ambassador John Bolton,   SC Governor Nikki Haley as Secretary of State contenders.  Haley, like Giuliani, has no international affairs experience. However, she is a person of color. I never understood Christie’s place in the Trump’s inner sanctum because he was the federal prosecutor responsible for putting Ivanka Trump Kushner’s father in-law behind bars. Her husband Jared, a trusted Donald Trump adviser, no doubt sought revenge. Cannot see Christie getting any special appointment during the Trump era.

Perhaps, the most revelatory statement last week was Dr. Ben Carson declining any Cabinet positions like Secretary of Education or Healthand Human Services. Dr. Carson said that he did not feel qualified to head a federal bureaucracy.   Last year, he was running for the US presidency, a far more challenging endeavor.   His remarks would apply to the chosen few who auditioned for President elect Trump last week.  What does that Trump White House hold f hold for Amorosa, who was in charge of Black affairs during the campaign season?   Will there be kitchen cabinet positions for Trump’s early Black loyalists like Mike Tyson or Don King”.

Kanye West, 39, has been hospitalized for temporary psychosis, according to his doctor. It is a euphemistic term for a breakdown.   After Hurricane Katrina and its accompanying devastation, HipHop titan Kanye said in 2005 that “President George Bush did not care about Black people, which was an interesting conclusion.   Last week, he told a concert audience that he passed on the 11/8 election adding that if he did vote, it would have been for Trump. He cautioned the audience about Americans obsession with race.   Does he know Trump and how little he cares for Black folk?  On 11/20, in Los Angeles, West descended into full meltdown mode, advising a concert audience that he was terminating the show and his tour.   A few hours later, his doctor had him admitted to an LA hospital for temporary psychosis, a euphemism for a nervous breakdown. Is Kanye’s condition a metaphor for contemporary America?   Are we existing in a state if temporary psychosis since 11/8.

On 11/22 , President elect Trump speaks to the media through you-tube!

Since this begins our holiday season, I thought that I would write WGO Lite!

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Michael Adams

Some Democrats working in Albany are coveting NYC City Council openings. Those elected who prefer working closer to home and for a better salary include Brooklyn Assemblyman Peter Abate, Harlem Senator Bill Perkins, and Bronx Senator Ruben Diaz. The City Council vacancies result from exiting Councilpersons Vincent Gentile, Annabel Palma, Inez Dickens, respectively. Her councilmanic continues to be the Harlem hot seat that so many want to occupy. I just learned that Harlem historian/preservationist Michael Adams will run for the coveted seat   as the Anti Gentrification Save Harlem Candidate only if Cordell Cleare, Senator Perkins’ former chief of staff, does not run.

ARTS /POLITICS

Michelle Obama dons the cover of December VOGUE magazine. The story, Michelle Obama: The First Lady The World Fell In Love With and the photo essay is a must read and acquired for home libraries of the Obama era..

Americans fared well at the National Book Awards this year.. Not surprisingly Colson Whitehead won best fiction prize for his novel THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. Dr. Ibram X Kendi, PhD, won nonfiction prize for his STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING: The Definitive History Of Racist Ideas. Congressman John Lewis won the in Young Peoples Literature for his graphic memoir, MARCH: BOOK THREE, the last of a trilogy about the American civil rights movements. Cave Canem, a writers group, which promotes works by Black poets, won the prize for the Literarian Award for outstanding service to literature.

The June Kelly Gallery’s next exhibition is Victor Kord’s Anonymous Collaborations New Paintings, which runs from December 1 through January 17. Kord is New York based artist best known for his abstract imagery.  The opening reception will be held on December 2, from 6-8 pm. The June Kelly Gallery is located at 166 Mercer Street, Soho, Manhattan. Call 212.226.1660.

 

NEWSMAKERS

Kamala Harris

Congrats to California Attorney General Kamala Harris , who will be sworn in as  California’s US Senator in January. Attorney Harris is a graduate of the Howard University Law School. Her recent victory brings the total number of Black US Senators to 3. She joins Democratic Senator Cory Booker of NJ and GOP Senator Tim Scott of S.C.

Congratulations to the 21 Presidential Medal Of Freedom 2016 honorees, particularly Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Cicely Tyson, Michael Jordan, and Diana Ross, The award is the nation’s highest civilian honor which is given to people who have made exceptional contributions to the national interest, to world peace and to culture.   The Ceremony, the last during the President Obama’s watch, aired on November 22

 

Sagittarian birthday greetings to Tyra Banks, Tyson Beckford,  Copper Cunningham, Darryl Downing, DMX, George Faison, Jamie Foxx,  Berry Gordy, Karlen Grant, Kwaku Horsford,   Lily Horsford, Robert Horsford, Samuel Jackson, Jay-Z, Tom Joyner, Nicky Minaj, Monique,   Robin Roberts, Trey Songz, Raven Symone, Tina Turner, Cicely Tyson, Dionne Warwick,

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING. ENJOY THE FAMILY AND THE FEAST!

A Harlem-based entrepreneur, Victoria Horsford can be reached at victoria.horsford@gmail.com

Coming Together in the Trump Era

David Mark Greaves
-
17
Coming Together in the Trump Era

The only good news on the election of Donald Trump is the wall of opposition forming as the extent of the poisoning of everything decent about America is becoming clear. Each new presidential appointment brings new fears of changes of such magnitude and permanence that they qualify as a takeover of the country by the worst of human nature, and as we’ve seen in Slavery, Reconstruction and the Holocaust, the worst of human nature has no depth it will not explore.   These are those nascent times, and who will be needed to fight in these coming years will be committed community activists such as Charles C. Pinn, who, because of his work as a community organizer, had his name made immortal last Saturday at the Charles C. Pinn Triangle at Lewis Avenue and Fulton Street.

When white nationalist groups feel emboldened to shout “Heil Victory” with a Nazi salute in the nation’s capital to celebrate President-elect Donald Trump, there is not much more you need to know about the importance of the time we’re entering. And even with the wonders of technology, it through the work of the community organizer that the grassroots constituency finds its voice and ability to effect change. Attending meetings making the calls, doing the work Charles Pinn and a young Barack Obama once did, they are the point of contact between policy and people. They are the ones who will help save the community and reset the course the nation has been put on.

They will not only have to face a daunting future, they’ll have to remember the past previously cited and include in their studies the Counterintelligence Program(COINTELPRO) of the 1960’s as a guide to what to expect in the coming years.   And with the double-edged sword of the Internet, easier for the government to keep track of the opposition, but also, as the Black Lives Matter Movement and the white nationalist movements have shown, easier to unite and have a voice in the national dialogue.

As hope continues to fade that the election of Donald Trump won’t be as bad as we think, we are being given the opportunity for the many groups who make up this country to come together in fierce and joyful opposition against a common foe. We will march in support of groups other than our own. We will reaffirm the America we believe in.

1...797798799...1,292Page 798 of 1,292