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November Is Native American Heritage Month

Editor, Our Time Press
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December 5

6p: Conversations in Black Freedom Studies: Black Power TV. Join Black Power TV author Devorah Heitner as she discusses the rise of African-American public television: New York’s Inside Bedford-Stuyvesant and Boston’s Say Brother, as well as Black America’s Soul! and Black Journal. Her special guest will be Madeline Anderson. Schomburg. Call for hours. 515 Malcolm X. Blvd. @ 135th St. (212) 491-2200.

The fall 2013 semester is curated by professors Jeanne Theoharis (Brooklyn College/CUNY) and Komozi Woodard (Sarah Lawrence College).

December 7

7:30p: Camille A. Brown’s Mr. TOLERANCE, Kumble Theatre. DeKalb Ave. and Flatbush.  $15 Students, Seniors. Tickets: ( 718) 488-1624.

December 13

9a-3p: HATTIE CARTHAN COMMUNITY GARDEN: “CHRISTMAS DANCE” – 423 Nostrand Avenue.  Contact Greg Matthews: 347-932-7157.  Reggie: 347-285-9774. Melvin: 347-792-0898.

Ongoing:

Thru December 15, 2013. Housewarming: Notions of Home from the Center of the Universe at BRIC Arts | Media House. This inaugural exhibition will act as a celebratory “housewarming” of BRIC’s new 40,000-square-foot multidisciplinary arts and media complex located at 647 Fulton Street in the Downtown Brooklyn Cultural District. The exhibition explores the concept of “home” from a number of broad vantage points. Eight of the 12 artists featured in the exhibition will present works commissioned by BRIC. Njideka Akunyili, Esperanza Mayobre, Keisha Scarville and Rafael Vargas Suarez are among the featured artists in the exhibition curated by Elizabeth Ferrer, curator and BRIC’s Director of Contemporary Art. Call for hours. Admission to BRIC’s gallery is free.  Call for hours (718) 855-7882.

Thru January 3, 2014

Noisy in the Next Room, Danny Simmons’ solo exhibition of new work at Restoration’s Skylight Gallery speaks to the heart and soul of human existence, providing a dramatic and compelling bridge between the past and now, we are asked to imagine a future where hope and revival are commonplace. His paintings operate on multiple levels of perception, employing commonplace practices of repetition and erasure, urging you to abandon the notion of up and down. The exhibit kicks off the 2013-2014 season of The Skylight Gallery. Hours: Wednesday – Friday 11am- 6pm, Saturday 1pm – 6pm. For information, call 718-636-6949.

Thru January 4, 2014

Schomburg Collects WPA Artists 1935 – 1943 highlights the work of visual, literary and performing black artists. It presents founder Arturo Schomburg’s commitment to establish and preserve a black art collection as well as the artists’ responses to America’s racial climate.  Schomburg Collects will feature works by Hale Woodruff, Augusta Savage, Beauford Delaney, James Van Der Zee, Richard Wright, Bob Blackburn, Addison Scurlock, Zora Neal Hurston, Paul Robeson, Billie Holiday and Dorothy West.

Thru January 11, 2014.

The Games We Played, a nostalgic revisit through art to the street and board games played by young people and families back in the day, is an art exhibition at House of Art. While some games occupied the entire sidewalk, other games took up the whole street. There were also classic games played indoors when households still had family game night. This exhibition will showcase a diverse group of emerging-to-established artists with a multitude of genres featuring Guy Stanley Philoche, Jamel Shabazz, Dan Ericson, Charlotta Janssen, Leroy Campbell and others. 408 Marcus Garvey Blvd.

 

Leaving It All Behind

Editor, Our Time Press
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A briefing on the importance  of estate planning

By Saira Toppin

2014 is steadfastly approaching. Why not make a New Year’s resolution that you need to keep? Create a living will, begin to put your life after death in order. Do not place your family in a stress-induced situation if you do not survive the next season. Start your estate planning now.

Begin by meeting with your family lawyer. If you do not have one, look for one. Ask family and friends for recommendations. If you fall short, you can search for a lawyer by contacting your local bar association. Estate planning involves creating a will, trusts, beneficiaries, executors, power of attorney, property ownership, gifting, medical practices and more.

One of the biggest components to estate planning is your will. If you pass without a will, the New York State Surrogate Courts will distribute your assets. The rules governing intestate succession are as follows: If you are married with children, your spouse gets the first $50,000 and half of the remainder and the other half to your children. Children and no spouse, the children get it all. No children and spouse, the spouse gets it all. If no spouse or no children, the parents get it all. If no parents, no children and no spouse, the siblings get it all. If no parents, no children, no spouse and no siblings, the grandparents get it all. It goes on a few more rounds until at least one living kin is identified. YOU decide where your money goes, not the courts.

With the presumption of regularity, you have a leg up when it comes to the distribution of your assets. However, even with a will, a spouse, child, etc. can contest, e.g., if a will dictates that monetary assets go to a charity, the children can object the will. They may not win, but they have the right to objection. Beneficiary designations are outside of the surrogate’s court, e.g., life insurance or Roth IRA. Make sure you leave these dividends to someone trustworthy.

Get started with this important life (or death) matter. Educate yourself, start your wealth-building and prepare for your future.  For more information visit: www.EmersonAtkinsRealty.com or e-mail  sairatoppin@gmail.com.

Elite Stars (and Stripes) of 256

Editor, Our Time Press
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Elite Stars (and Stripes) of 256: Administrators and Faculty at P.S. 256 turned the recent Student Council election into a school-wide learning experience and transformed the school’s auditorium into a red-white-and-blue Campaign Arena. The students learned about democracy, the importance of voting, and the components of a political campaign, principal Sharyn Hemphill, far right, told the media. From left to right are: Student Council advisor Lenice Gray, an architect of the project; 5th grade teacher Bridgette Williams, Samantha Mebane, newly elected Student Council President, District Leader Renee Collymore, Ashley Lee, Student Council Vice President and Ms. Hemphill. (Photo courtesy of P.S. 256.)

On Monday, November 18, 2013 Ms. L. Gray welcomed everyone to the 7th Annual Student Council Assembly. “Are you ready? Let’s get started,” she said. She turned the reigns over to Ms. R. Meekins (Mistress of Ceremony). The crowd was going wild with enthusiasm, waving their state’s banners, yelling their state’s names and blowing the horns. Ms.Meekins pumped up the students even higher by piping in the song “Fireworks”.  The auditorium was decorated with red, white and blue everywhere. I felt very patriotic. There were posters and pictures of the candidates everywhere. Samantha Mebane and Ashley Lee were Team Williams and Tamia Cannon and Melodey Gomez were Team Courtney. The candidates were ready to go head-to-head for the win. They were all dressed with magnificent, new, crisp blue blouses and blue bottoms, the school’s uniform. The expression on their faces told me they were READY! It was time for the candidates to say their speech. Team Williams stepped up to the podium with a lot of excitement. Ashley, Samantha’s vice president and running mate, delivered a very powerful speech to her fellow students about bullying, conflict resolution and bringing peace through sportsmanship. She said, “If elected, I promise to create many different sports like volleyball, soccer and tennis”. Samantha, her running mate, reiterated a similar speech and the crowd was excited and cheered even louder. Next, Melodey from Team Courtney stepped up to the podium. “If I am elected, I will take it up a notch through creating clubs such as reading, mathematic, cheerleading and hula hoop.  Finally, Tamia stepped to the podium and reinforced all the exciting campaign promises of her running mate. She said, “I won the P. S. 256 Talent Show last year and I will start the hula hoop team this year if I am elected School President today”. Once again, the crowd roared with excitement.  Next, Ms. Meekins asked our special guest Ms. Renee Collymore, the 57th District Leader of the District to come on stage for words of encouragement for the candidates. Then she got the crowd hyped up: “Are you ready to vote,” she yelled to everyone. The delegates started to cast their electoral votes and Team Courtney received the first 47 electoral votes from the East region. Then Team Williams roared back with 71 electoral votes from the remaining eastern states. Team Courtney received 26 votes from the West. This went back and forth until California voted. With 55 electoral votes for Team Williams, Ashley and Samantha felt a sigh of relief knowing this may have been the one that may have catapulted them to victory.

After the votes were calculated and  District Leader Ms. Renee Collymore announced the winners as Team Williams, Samantha Mebane, Ashley Lee and the auditorium was filled with cheers and applause. The winning team said their victory speech while the runner-up team gave their concession speech.

 

Written by

Ashley Lee-class 5-207

Lateef Akeredolu- Education Assistant

A Kwanzaa Project

Aminisha Black
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If we accept as valid the proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child”, and if we cannot identify the village, do we resign ourselves to being unable to raise our children or do we re-create the village? The saying was quite popular a few years back but is not heard as much, if at all, today.  The phrase elicited thoughts of traditional African villages; the way the social organization facilitated the nurturing and training of the young to assume their role in the survival of the village.   It strikes me as odd since our children are in dire need of  the  village given the off-the-charts statistics on our youth falling prey to gun violence, imprisonment,  unemployment and other  social and economic ills.  It’s becoming obvious that we, parents of African descent, must revive the ownership of the highest-held value as cited by Edwin Nichols – relationships.  We owe it to future generations. We owe it to humanity.

The proverb takes on added significance when we look at the varied plights of our youth today.   More and more people complain of not having the time for family and friends.  “Studies reveal that more and more parents are not spending time with their children.  The economy flourishes when individuals are isolated as industries sell more ‘stuff’.  However, the village, which gave birth to the proverb, becomes extinct because relationship and sharing lay at its core.”

If we accept the validity of the proverb and if we cannot identify the village, do we resign ourselves to being unable to raise our children or do we re-create the village.  We waste valuable time debating each other and/or merely reacting to external forces (which are wreaking havoc on our families).   A proactive stance is needed to involve youth in activities which promote critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity.  I am continually amazed by the acceptance and respect that young folk have for adults they’ve tested and found to be genuine.  The investment yields incredible returns.  Rather than finding fault with what others are doing or not doing, we need to make sure that there is a model that we can work with even if we have to create the model.  And it’s important that individuals know that our children need programs that are designed to unleash their innate intelligences, increasing their sense of self-esteem   and liberating them from the shackles often imposed by an educational system that labels intelligence by test results.

So I hereby propose that as an Asante Sana (thank you) to Maulana Karenga, adults should create or participate in an activity that provides youth in their neighborhood opportunities to discover, grow and share their intelligences. It’s a way of putting the principles to practice and making some much-needed changes in the statistics of our children.   It’s time to “Unleash the Genius of Our Children” while creating opportunities for youth that are generated by their neighbors.

An example:  The work has begun on revising and resuming a family/block-sponsored event held for three years in Crispus Attucks Park at Classon Avenue and Fulton Street.  The Moses-Groce Memorial Basketball Tournament was born out of the tragic death of Dennis Groce, 81, who was shot and killed by NYC Transit Police in 1986 as he entered his apartment building, and the death of Keith “Pamoja” Fruster, called “Moses” on the basketball court who was planning a memorial tournament for Mr. Groce at the time of his death in 1989.  Both were residents of Lefferts Place.    The idea resurfaced with the transition of Jitu Weusi who was a Lefferts Place resident for a number of years and the event

will return as  the  “GMW Classics”,  listing other deceased residents who contributed to the community and featuring basketball, SCRABBLE and other competitions continuing its original focus of engaging African-American youth in competitions, promoting intergenerational relationships, civic participation and community pride.  Stay tuned as the committee insists that “It isn’t just basketball, we’re building community”.

Some points in creating community –

1. Accept differences – The focus should be on what the person can contribute to the goal and the purpose and goals must be stated, not merely assumed.

2. Every adult should be an advocate for one or more youth.

3. Develop stress-free ways of supporting parents and children.

4. Parents of adult offspring are valuable resources.

5. Parents, don’t let your child think s/he cannot be corrected by another adult.

Shares/comments welcomed at parentsnotebook@yahoo.com

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A New York Meltdown

Eddie Castro
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By Eddie Castro

TIn this week’s Thanksgiving edition of Ed’s Sports, I’ve decided to be the voice of many New York sports fans when I say,WHAT IS GOING ON??!! The year 2013 has not been kind to the major sports in New York. For only the second time in the last 15 years, the Yankees did not make the playoffs this October and the Mets missed the postseason for the seventh straight season. Now the Yankees may just be in the midst of losing their best player in Robinson Cano to free agency and we all know what’s been happening with the ongoing saga with Alex Rodriguez. As far as the Mets go, who knows? The team will have some $ to spend with a few expiring contracts coming off the books. The question is what will they do with it? A few years back, the team signed pitcher Johan Santana to a 7-year/ $135 million dollar contract. Due to a rotator cuff injury, Santana hasn’t picked up a baseball in about 2 years.

Let’s get on to some sports that are current at the moment. In the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks have to be the most disappointing teams through the first month of the regular season. The Nets have been decimated with injuries to Deron Williams (ankle), Brook Lopez (ankle), Andrei Kirilenko (back) and Jason Terry (knee), but a record of 3-10 is unacceptable. It really looks like head coach Jason Kidd does not know what he is doing out there. He’s looking like a rookie. One problem with the team this year is their abysmal performances in the third quarter. Last Sunday, the Nets were again outscored by the Pistons in the third 34-15. The team is 0-10 this season when losing the third quarter, and in those 10 third quarter losses, they have been outscored by 96 points. Brooklyn has lost 5 straight games and 8 of their last 9.

The Knicks are in an early-season tailspin themselves. They, too have lost 5 in a row and 6 of their last 7. What’s mind-boggling about this losing streak is that the team has lost 6 straight games at home. Just like the Nets, the injury curse has hit them too with the loss of their defensive playmaker Tyson Chandler. Still, there is no excuse for either team to be this awful. I really don’t know how Kidd and Woodson can help their respective teams get it together. This is New York and with this wonderful city comes a proud and prestigious history of New York sports. It is an honor to wear uniforms symbolizing New York that Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, Bernard King and Willis Reed once wore. If those names alone don’t give any current New York player motivation to perform on a consistent basis, maybe they should not be playing in our borough, let alone New York period. It has been a sorry time in the world of New York sports so far and I think I may just tune into soccer, or see what the local high school teams are doing.

Sports Notes: (Football) You can add the Jets and Giants to the list of disappointing teams in New York. The Jets lost to the Baltimore Ravens in a game that saw Geno Smith bring his turnovers to 18 this season as the Jets fall to 5-6. The team has a very big game coming up at home against the Miami Dolphins. Just when you thought Eli Manning and the Giants were going to have a Cinderella-like story going into Thanksgiving, they looked like a turkey and got “stuffed” by the Cowboys in a game they had to have. The team must win their remaining games in the schedule in order to even be  in the playoff conversation.

On behalf of myself and everyone here at Our Time Press, I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Comments on the column? E-mail me a castroeddie714@Gmail.com.

 

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