minority reporter week of june 17 - 23, 2013

7/28/2019 Minority Reporter Week of June 17 - 23, 2013

1/16

1 www.minorityreporter.net|june 17 - 23|2013

MINORITYREPORTERfrom information to understanding

www.minorityreporter.netvol. 6 no. 25 june 17 - 23 2013

ALSO INSIDE...School Hours Amusement Park TripsOfficially Cancelled for RCSD ... pg 4

GO GET MONEY!YOUR


2/16

2 www.minorityreporter.net|june 17 - 23|2013MinorityReporterOfe Ae:

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EdItOrIAL stAFFLisa DumasDelani Weaver

EdItOrIAL AssIstAntClaribel Oliveras

AdvErtIsIngDave McCleary

Yahya Abdullah

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PHOtOgrAPHyTemple Boggs, Jr.

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cOLuMnIstsGloria Winston Al-Sarag

C. Michael Tillman

Rev. Michael Vaughn

Vincent FelderDiane Watkins

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Ayesha Kreutz

Minority Reporter, Inc. is a family of publicationsand other media formats committed to fostering selfawareness, building community and empoweringpeople of color to reach their greatest potential. Fur-ther, Minority Reporter, Inc. seeks to present a bal-anced view of relevant issues, utilizing its resourcesto build bridges among diverse populations; takingthem from information to understanding.

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In This Issue:

{COVER Pg 8

Go Get Your Money!

{LOCAL Pg 3-7

Local Wheelchair Bound WomanBeing Sued NY Marijuana Arrets Show RacialInequalities Take Back the Land Joins withLocal Family to Fight Bank EvictionOrder Vargas no Amusement Park Rulenot so Well Received by Students Rochester Womens Giving Circle

Awards $132,000 in Grants James Madison High School

Alumni Planning Red CarpetCelebration

{STATE Pg 7

NY Attorney General Sues HSBCOver Foreclosures

{NATIONAL Pg 12 - 13

Jury Selection to Begin forZimmermans Trial First Lady Gets face to Face withHeckler

{COLUMNS: Pg 14-15

Ernest Flagler : The HardestWorking Man in Show Biz

By Gloria winston al-saraG

On Fathers Day: These SuperDads Defy the Statistics

By hazel trice edny

The Future is Before You

By c. michael vauGhn

1 www.minorityreporter.net | june17 -23| 2013

MINORITYREPORTERfrom information to understanding

www.minorityreporter.netvol. 6 no. 25 june 17 -23 2013

ALSO INSIDE...SchoolHours AmusementPark TripsOfficially Cancelledfor RCSD...pg 4

GO GET

MONEY!YOUR

to include your event on this calendar email us at

[email protected]

CALENDAR

june

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FEEDBACK

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21

Xerox Rochester International JazzFestivalTime: 5:00pm-11:00pmLocation: Downtown RochesterCelebrate the 12th edition of the XeroxRochester International Jazz Festival,featuring musicians gathered fromaround the world to perform in morethan 250 concerts!

21Rec on the Move at El Camino Trail

AnniversaryTime: 3:30-pm 6:30pmOn board these mobile receationcenters, youll nd: healthy snacks,homework help, outdoor games andsports, information on health and

nutrition, activities and crafts and dailygive aways.

26Food Truck RodeoTime 5:00pm-9:00pmLocation: Rochester Public MarketFood Truck Rodeo brings ourcommunitys eclectic array of mobilefood stands together at the RochesterPublic Market. The 2013 rodeo willrun on the nal Wednesday of eachmonth. Its fun on four wheels with over23 vendors serving up their uniquecuisine on paper plate.Just abouteverything and anything that is servedfrom the back of a truck will be featuredfrom food vendors including La Petit

Poutine, The Sammich Guy, Cheese& Confused, Potatoes to Go ... andmany more! Beer will be provided byRohrbach Brewing Company, as well!In addition, enjoy some local tunesfrom local talent each Rodeo night.

July

4July 4th Celebration and Fireworks7:30pm-10:00pmCelebrate Independence Day with yourfamily and friends at the Citys July 4thCelebration,on the Main St. Bridge.Fabulous reworks over the downtownskies at 10 p.m.!7:30 p.m. - Jimmie Highsmith

Experience with vocalist Fatima

9:00 p.m. - Rochester PhilharmonicOrchestra10:00 p.m. - FireworksRecommended reworks viewingareas: Main St. Bridge, BroadSt. Bridge, Chestnut St. near theWashington Square Garage andstreets surrounding those areas.

Attendees are encouraged to bringchairs or blankets for more comfortableviewing of the reworks show andconcert and to refrain from bringingpets for everyones safety.

7GOING FOR BAROQUETime: 1:00pm & 3:00pmLocation: MAG, Fountain Court

Aaron James, a graduate student atthe Eastman School of Music, givesa 25-minute presentation and mini-recital onthe Italian Baroque organ. Included inGallery admission.

11MAX AT THE GALLERY TAPAS NIGHTTime: 5:008:00 pmLocation: At The MAG, Vanden BrulPavilionEvery Thursday night, youre invited tovisit the Gallery (half price admissionfrom 5 to 9 pm), listen to live music,and enjoy wine, beer and tapasplates for purchase. No reservationnecessary!

11MAG HIGHLIGHTS TOURTime: 6:30pm,Location: At The MAG, meet at

Admission DeskThis docent-led tour of the collectionsis included in Gallery admission.

12Rochester SummerFestTime: 7:30pm-10:00pmLocation: Auditorium TheatreRochester SummerFest features aweekend of City-sponsored musicalentertainment paired with a basketballtournament and social events!

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When you text a driver, youtake their eyes o the road

or as long as it takes to drive

the length o a ootball feld

at 55 mph; F.Y.I. thats

SECONDS*

Visit URthatDistracting.orgto see how you can help end distracted driving.

*SOURCE: DSRCON.OV

LOCAL

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

PhotographySPECIALIZING IN:FUNDRAISING

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SPECIAL EVENTS

585.313.1725

BY TEMPLE BOGGS, JR

Local Wheel ChairBound Woman Being Sued by

Pennsylvania Dog OrganizationA Pennsylvania service dog organizaonhas sued an upstate New York womanto reclaim one of its animals, sayingshe hasnt lived up to an agreementmeant to protect the dog s welfare.

Claire Wimbush is an Episcopal ministerin Rochester who has cerebral palsyand uses a motorized wheelchair. Shesaid she had trouble because of illnessin 2007 caring for Willa, a 10-year-oldyellow Labrador retriever. She saysshes been doing the required trainingand reporng since then.

The nonprot Canine Partners for Lifesays in court papers that Wimbushfailed to abide by a contract meantto ensure her well-being and that ofWilla.

The organizaon says a dog is pairedwith a parcular person, trained fortwo years and then monitored for life,an eort it says costs $27,000.

NY Marijuana ArrestsShow Racial InequalitiesBlack people are almost 10 mes morelikely to be arrested for marijuanapossession than white people inBrooklyn and Manhaan, and thereare similar racial disparies aroundupstate New Yorks largest cies.

The analysis of low-level arrestsThursday from the New York CivilLiberes Union comes two days aer

the American Civil Liberes Unionreported that blacks naonwide facemarijuana arrests more than whiteseven though marijuana use by bothraces is similar.

The New York report was based ongovernment crime data and lookedat arrest rates by county. Blacks weremore than four mes more likely thanwhites to be arrested for marijuana ineach of the ve boroughs of New York

City and statewide.

NYCLU execuve director DonnaLieberman says police statewide aretargeng people of color.

www.MINORITYREPORTER.net


4/16

4 www.minorityreporter.net|june 17 - 23|2013LOCAL

Vargas no Amusement Park Rule not so Well Received by StudentsUsually the last few days of school arelled with celebraons, light schoolwork and an end of the year eld trip

to amusement parks such as DarienLake and Seabreeze. Its the me ofthe school year students want to relaxand prepare for the summer.

Well Superintendent Bolgen Vargaswants to make sure that the RochesterCity School District (RCSD) uses everyday of the school year strictly foreducaonal instrucon and not leisureacvies by forbidding amusementpark eld trips that would usually takeplace on a school day.

Vargas sent a leer, last week toparents of RCSD explaining his decisionto band amusement park eld trips.End-of-year celebraons of hard

work by our students and teachers area great thing, as long as they do notrob us of instruconal me.

Vargas said that amusement park aregreat place to have fun and celebrate.However, not during school hoursbut aer school, on the weekends orduring summer break.

My posion against visingamusement parks during instruconalme took eect June 12, 2012. Thatwas the rst day of last years Regentsexams and I discovered that one daybefore these crical tests, most ofour high-school seniors were enjoyingan end-of-year celebraon at Darien

Lake, instead of geng advice andinstrucon to help them do their best,the leer said.

Its not fair, Ericka Burt, local high

school student said. We work hard allyear geng good grades. We deserveto have a fun trip at the end of the

year. Its the end of the year, nothingsgoing on. I dont understand what theproblem is. Shouldnt we get a rewardfor being good students?

A report from the school district showsthat there is a substanal dierencebetween the amount of instruconalhours taking place in RCSD comparedwith those of suburban schools andcharter schools.

I do understand and agree withDr. Vargas point of view about theRCSD students receiving the leastinstruconal me of any children inMonroe County but I dont think thatby cancelling trips to amusement

parks is going to make a dierence,local high school student NathaliaRosado said. My opinion is that if hestarts with sta, teachers and all thatare involved with the school system tobe on the same page and really use theme more producve in the classroomwhen we are in school and really, Imean really use the me to teach usinstead of having some teachers notcare about their students and are notthere just for a paycheck, for somestudents like me that work hard allyear to get good grades and do whatwe are supposed to do in school. Welook forward going to this kind oftrips like Darien Lake at the end ofthe school year because for some, we

look forward to spend this me withour classmates and friend before theend of the school year is over, some ofour friends will be graduang, movingand for some this will be the last me

we get to spend some good mestogether.

According to the report, at secondarygrade levels, suburban students have46 more hours in school than districtchildren; charter school studentsaverage 245 hours more. At theelementary level, suburban students,get 80 hours more instruconal methan Rochester students. Thats theequivalent of nearly three weeks ofschool. Charter school elementarystudents receive 762 hours more ofinstrucon, the equivalent of nearly28 weeks of school.

I cannot in good conscience permitthese trips. Rochester students receivethe least instruconal me of anychildren in Monroe County, but they

need and deserve the most, the leersaid.

Educaonal eld trips however, aresll allowed Vargas said.

I am a rm believer in exposingstudents to places and experiencesthat enhance their understanding andadvance instruconal goals, the leersaid.

The leer further explained thatthough this direcve was given lastyear, Vargas realizes that it failed to beimplemented throughout the districtand apologizes to the parents, studentsand teachers who had previous plans

for amusement park trips. He oers hissupport to reschedule trips, as long astheyre not during school hours.

We are implemenng plans to expand

the school day and improve studentachievement. But unl those plans area success, we must view instruconalme as the precious commodity it is.We must have compelling reasons touse school me for any purpose thatdoes not advance learning, the leersaid.

Vargas said he understands that someparents, students and teachers maybe upset with his decision but he willstand rmly behind it.

Trips to amusement parks, howeverwell intended or passionately desired,do not meet that standard. I knowthat my view is not popular, but Icannot change it. Simply put, I feelpassionately that our students have nome to lose.

Superintendent Bolgen Vargas

Take Back the Land Joins with Local Family To Fight Bank Eviction OrderLocal resident Renee Madison, TakeBack the Land Rochester and othercommunity supporters rallied Mondayat Madisons home to demand thatFannie Mae withdraws the evicon ofRenee Madison and her family fromtheir bank foreclosed residence.

Madison and her family have lived ather home on Brooks Avenue for 17years and are looking to buy the houseback from Federal Naonal MortgageAssociaon, Fannie Mae, who boughtthe home at aucon. However, thetwo have not worked out a selement.

Madison said Fannie Mae sent theRochester City Marshal to her homeand delivered a 72 hour eviconnoce on June 3. Madison sent a leerto Fannie Mae requesng more meto pay o the home. Madison said sheisnt leaving her home.

We have no plans to leave our

longme home, Madison said.Fannie Mae doesnt need anotherhome.

In the leer she explains that hermother was the original owner of thehome and took out a mortgage withGMAC Mortgage in 2006.

Without our knowledge GMACtransferred the mortgage to MERS

and then my understanding is that themortgage was illegally robo-signedover to NaonStar. Despite this,NaonStar took over the mortgageand fraudulently foreclosed on myfamily, the leer said.

Aer the passing of her mother in 2007,Madison said the family fell behind onthe payments and she subsequentlywas diagnosed with Graves disease,lupus and episcleris.

Madison said her family is requesngthat Fannie Mae immediately stay theevicon and so her family has me tobuy the house back.

NaonStar aggressively foreclosedon my family. In the foreclosure theywere represented by the disgracedforeclosure mill Steven J. Baum.

Because Baums unethical foreclosurepracces, the rm was shut down.Yet the foreclosure connued eventhough I never got a noce who thenew lawyers for the bank were. Thenext thing I knew my house was goingup for aucon in September 2012.

When I got that noce I contacted thebank and they said it was too late tonegoate and Fannie Mae bought myhouse at the aucon, the leer said.

Steven J. Baum PC was the largestforeclosure law rm in New York Stateunl it was shut down last year by thestate, over mishandlings in its legalwork. They seled with the state for$4 million.

Madison said that Fannie Mae wasbailed out of their money troublesby government funds and have notrepaid all the funds given. She said sheisnt asking to be bailed out, she askingfor me.

Madison said her 12 year old daughteranswered the phone when thenmarshal delivered the evicon noce

and now her daughter is terried thatshe may be kicked out of her home.

No child should have to be putthrough this. There is no need to rushthe evicon and displace my familyand leave another home vacant in

my neighborhood. We have no placeto go. Weve seen what youve doneto my neighborhood. It never shouldhave goen this far in the rst place.

By Delani Weaver

By Delani Weaver


5/16



6/16

6 www.minorityreporter.net|june 17 - 23|2013LOCAL

Rochester Womens Giving CircleAwards $132,000 in Grants to Support Women and Girls

The Rochester Womens Giving Circle,an advised fund of Rochester AreaCommunity Foundaon, is awarding$132,000 in grants to 11 local nonprotorganizaons and programs thatsupport women and girls ThursdayJune 13th at the Staybridge Suite.This event is formal and includes acelebraon breakfast.

Grant amounts range from $5,000 to$22,000 for a variety of programs thatpromote economic independence forwomen. The Giving Circles mission isto help women and girls who may havebeen through crises, such as substance

abuse or domesc violence, but arenot presently in crisis.

Being able to grant more than$463,352 in six years has been anexcing journey for our members andfor the women and girls supportedby our grants, said Paula Carter andShirley King, co-chairs of the GivingCircle and two of its ve founders.

In addion to awarding grants, theGiving Circle also provides other

benets to members.

A big part of the appeal is that weare a learning community, providingmembers with opportunies to aendeducaonal sessions with communityleaders to learn more about thebarriers facing those we seek to help,says Emily Neece, co-chair of thegroups Educaon Commiee. Webecome beer stewards of our fundsand are able to target organizaonsthat have the greatest impact onremoving those obstacles.

The Giving Circle was formed in June

2007 by King, Carter, Ellen Bevan, AmyIrish and Alyce Van Paen and nowhas more than 100 members. Everymember makes an annual donaon ofat least $1,000 and has the opportunityto parcipate in the grant-makingprocess. The dollar-in/dollar-outphilosophy of the Giving Circle meansthat donaons made in any one yearare available for distribuon that yearvia grants.

The following agencies will receive

Giving Circle grants:

$8,500 to the American Associaon ofUniversity Womens Women HelpingGirls Envision Experience Program.This mentoring program for high-riskgirls beginning in 7th grade, encouragesgirls to make posive choices, nishhigh school, and connue educaonor enter the workforce.

$5,000 to the Borinquen DanceTheatre, who helps at-risk youngpeople to complete high school andpursue further educaon. It helpsparcipants build the desire to succeed

through the discipline of dance andaer school programs.

$10,000 to the Catholic Family CentersHealthy Sisters Soup and Bean Workswho provides basic job skills andsupporve work experience to womento improve their work readinessthrough a nonprot business, whichproduces, markets and distributeshand packed bean, soup and ricemixes.

$15,000 to the Empire Jusce CentersCreang Assets, Savings and HopeProgram (CASH). This program providesnancial literacy training and coachingfor 30 low-income working women in

Monroe County. The women set theirown goals, change day-to-day nancialhabits, aend nancial presentaonsand peer meengs, and take nancialtests.

$20,000 to the Judicial ProcessCommissions Womens Legal AconProject and Support Services programwho works with 85 ex-oenders whohave stabilized their lives to help themovercome barriers to employment.Clients parcipate in a weekly supportgroup and are referred to mentoringand vocaonal training services.

$5,000 to the Safe Journeys SurvivorTransion Program. It serves vicms

of domesc violence primarily fromthe suburbs who are oen not eligiblefor public services and have beennancially dependent on their abuserA counselor works with clients todevelop and manage a budget, restoreand maintain good credit, and setappropriate nancial goals. A qualiedvolunteer mentor works with eachparcipant as they connue on thepath to nancial independence.

$10,000 to the St. JosephsNeighborhood Centers Women on the

Move Program: This program helps up

to 15 women improve their economicand personal self-suciency throughan intense nine-month programof educaon, individual and groupcoaching, and weekly group support.Each parcipant is the head of ahousehold, has a high school diplomaor GED, is employed at one or morejobs paying below living wage, or is inschool. The program includes weeklyworkshops and community acvies.

$5,000 to the Sisters TogetherAchieving Results. STAR workswith high school age girls with bi-weekly group meengs, mentoring,community service acvies andpreparaon for an annual collion.

$19,000 to the Society for theProtecon and Care of Childrens TeenAge Parents Support Services: TAPSScombines individual case managementand counseling for 15 pregnant and/or parenng young women ages 14to 21. It focuses on job/employmentreadiness training, educaonaladvocacy, job mentoring, subsidizedwork experiences, job coaching, andparenng educaon.

$11,500 to the Sojourner House atPathStone Corporaons HenrieaHammond Instute for Life Skills. Itprovides women educaon and trainingon nances, employment, responsible

parenng, healthy pracces, andposive peer relaonships.

$20,000 to the YWCA School AgeParents Programs College ReadinessProgram: This program will providededicated case manager support for75 pregnant and parenng youngmothers to focus on preparing for highschool graduaon, college entrance,vocaonal training, or employment.It includes support for 10 mothers onsite at Monroe Community College.

By Delani Weaver


7/16


www.MINORITYREPORTER.net

Facebook:search Minority reporter

*Answers on page 13

ADOPTBirth Date: April, 1996

Mavalyo, beer known as Marv, isa posive, quiet young man. He has been facedwith many challenges in his life and is currentlyworking to overcome these obstacles. Marv is aquiet and introverted child, but is very loving andaims to please. He enjoys listening and dancingto music. He is not a big sports fan, but enjoysthe arts. In 9th grade, he also likes wring. Marvsdream for the future is to become a producve, contribung cizen. Mar-valyon idenes as gay and would prefer a same sex couple. He is open toadopon and needs a family who will make a posive connecon with him

unl he is ready to transion into their home.

If youre interested in learning more about Marvalyon orother waiting children, visit:

www.childeAwaiiPae.o o all 585-232-5110.

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New Yorks aorney general is suingHSBC Bank USA and HSBC Mortgage

Corp. claiming theyre failing toset mely foreclosure selementconferences required by state law.

The law says mortgage lenderswho sue to foreclose on residenalhomeowners will request court-supervised intervenon and aenda selement conference on possibleloan modicaons within 60 days.

Aorney General Eric Schneidermansays about 25,000 foreclosure casesstatewide have languished for monthsbecause lenders have delayed ling

the papers to trigger a conferencewhile connuing to assess interest,

fees and penales.

The suit would require HSBC to waivethose later charges.

Schneiderman says lenders arebrazenly ignoring state law, cingnearly 300 HSBC cases in four counes.

He says hell also sue other lenders.

HSBC did not inially respond torequests for comment Tuesday.

NY Attorney General SuesHSBC Over Foreclosures

The alumni of James Madison HighSchool in Rochester has decided its

me to remember their high school.There have been smaller reunionsfor a parcular year, but the JamesMadison High School Family Reunioncommiee says they plan to bring thereunion to another level.

The purpose of this event is to bringtogether everyone that ever aendedor graduated from Madison. Wewant to show that our school is notforgoen, even though it was torndown. Instead of meeng at a funeralor when something bad happens, wegeng together for a good thing, saidAnita Swi Meyers, Madison graduateand facilitator for the reunion.

The alumni will walk down the redcarpet to celebrate their heritage forthe James Madison High School FamilyReunion celebraon on July 5th thru6th at the downtown Radisson Hoteland the Rochester Convenon Center.

The commiee wants to bringeveryone together for one commoncause, showing that the success ofMadisonians sll holds in theirhearts a dedicaon and loyalty to thealma mater that was so successful inproducing who they are. From lawyersto social workers, stockbrokers topublishers, professional athletes tomovie actors, they are the products ofJames Madison High School and very

proud of it.

Generaons of families have aended

James Madison high school but thealumni wants to bring everyone

together to reminisce on the greatmes, the dicult mes and the messpent determining their l ifes course asthey prepared to move on to the nextphase of their lives. Unfortunatelyfor them, Madison High school waseventually torn down and so thegeneraons who were aendingceased.

Consisng of business owners, socialworkers, corporate managers, policalaliates, and blue collar workers, thecommiees goal is to have the largesthigh school family reunion Rochesterhas ever known.

James Madison High School was torn

down in 1981. Rochester Early CollegeInternaonal High School, also knownas Lile Wilson, stands in its placenow.

James Madison High school AlumniPlanning Red Carpet Celebration

LOCAL

James Madison High School

By Delani Weaver


8/16

8 www.minorityreporter.net|june 17 - 23|2013COVER STORY

Prom and

graduation

are important

events in

the lives of

young people.

National Councilon Alcoholism and

Drug Dependence

Rochester AreaDEPAUL

Underage Drinking

is not a minor problem

For more information

visit our

website at

Hosting parties for teens where alcohol is available can be costly for

everyone involved. It is illegal, unsafe, and unhealthy for anyone

under age 21 to drink alcohol. Parents Who Host, Lose the Most:

Dont be a party to teenage drinking.

www.ncadd-ra.org/parentswhohost

or call(585) 719-3489

GO GETMONEY!YOUR

Over $41 Million inUnclaimed Funds inRochester May Be Yours

Have you ever quit a job and neverwent back to get your last paycheck?Or moved without geng your ulitydeposit refund? When things like thishappen, your money will be turnedover to the state.

New York State Comptroller ThomasDiNapoli, is seeking to return $12billion in unclaimed money to residentsacross New York State.

Reports show that Rochester has over$41 million in unclaimed money inover 108,556 accounts.

There is $12 billion in unclaimedfunds that needs to be returned toits righul owners, said New YorkState Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.Residents from across the stateshould check our website to see if they

have any unclaimed money waingfor them. Every dollar maers in thiseconomy.

Unclaimed Funds is lostor forgotten moneythat is turned over tothe state comptroller.The money can comefrom old bank accounts,insurance checks andmore.

Banks, ulies, insurance companiesand other businesses are required bylaw to turn inacve stock dividends,savings accounts, unclaimed insurance

and other inacve holdings over to thestate.

Before the money is turned over tothe state, these companies must tryto nofy you by mail and are requiredto publish newspaper lisngs ofnames and addresses. If aer a certainamount of me, usually between twoand ve years, an account is inacve,the money is considered abandonedor unclaimed.

New York State holds unclaimed fundswith the state comptroller who actsas a guardian for the money unl

it is claimed by the owner or thebeneciary. New York State neverclaims ownership of the money. It isheld for you unl you claim it.

Based on the researched pulled bythe comptrollers oce, there are 22zip codes in Rochester with unclaimedfunds ranging from $117,088.98 toover $3.4 million.

The top ve area zip codes forunclaimed accounts are:

14609: $3,486,195.6314618: $3,145,790.08

14621: $2,863,562.6414620: $2,728,566.5514610: $2,409,352.39

By Delani Weaver


9/16

9 www.minorityreporter.net|june 17 - 23|2013COVER STORY

SUBSCRIBE TO MINORITY REPORTERFOR ONLY

OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE:www.minorityreporter.net/SUBSCRIBE

CALL US @585.301.4199

The oce of unclaimed fundsfrequently partners with legislators,sends representaves to publicevents, and works with membershiporganizaons to help spread the wordabout unclaimed funds.

DiNapoli has priorized reuning NewYorkers with their lost money and as aresult the oce returns, on average,$1 million each day.

There is no me limit to claim anyfunds you may be owed. Meaning,you can prove the money is yours atany me and have it returned to youwithout any fees or charges.

However, outside of the statecomptroller, some companies cancharge you up to 15 percent. New YorkState returns, on average, $1 million aday.

The comptrollers oce said theirrecords date back to the 1943. As longas someone can prove ownership,whether direct ownership or throughfamily relaons, such as a deceased

relave, the money can be returned.

Last year, approximately $314 millionwas returned, almost half were claimsfrom banks. In 2008, over $4 millionwas returned to one individual. There

is $1.7 million for one person that issll unclaimed.

There are dierent types ofrequirements for claims based uponthe ownership status and the type ofaccount.

You can claim online or by mail. To seeif you have unclaimed money, you cango to the state comptrollers website.

It can take up to 3 months or morebefore you receive any funds.

Currently, there are more than 25million open accounts for individualsas well as municipalies and non-prots across the state.

The comptrollers oce said thismoney is owed to the righul ownersand should be returned.


10/16



11/16


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George Zimmermans aorney doubtshe will be able to nd jurors whohavent heard about the Trayvon

Marn fatal shoong. He just wants topick people who havent already madeup their mind about the case.

Jury selecon begins Monday in theOrlando suburb of Sanford, Fla., thescene of massive protests by peoplewho were angered that police waited44 days before charging Zimmermanwith second-degree murder. Otherdemonstraons were held around thecountry, and the case drew worldwideaenon as it fanned a debate aboutrace, equal jusce under the law andgun control.

There is no dispute Zimmermanshot an unarmed Marn, 17, duringa ght on a rainy night in February2012. Prosecutors will try to show theneighborhood watch volunteer raciallyproled the black teenager, whileZimmermans aorney must convincejurors Zimmerman pulled his 9 mmhandgun and red a bullet into thehigh school students chest because hefeared for his life.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder. He says he shotMarn in self-defense. If convicted,

Zimmerman, who idenes himself asHispanic, could get a life sentence.

Under Florida law, Zimmerman, 29,could shoot Marn in self-defense ifit was necessary to prevent death orgreat bodily harm.

His lead aorney, Mark OMara, hasto be careful how he characterizesMarn, said Randy McClean, anOrlando-area defense aorney.

Mr. OMaras challenge is toshow Trayvon wasnt proled, thatZimmerman either saw somethingthat looked suspicious or somethingelse that caused him to make contactwith Trayvon.

McClean and another Orlandodefense aorney, David Hill, predictedprosecutors will aack Zimmerman asa frustrated, would-be police ocerwho had a chip on his shoulder.Zimmerman was employed at amortgage risk management rm.He had studied criminal jusceat a community college and hadvolunteered to run his communitysneighborhood watch program.

The states narrave is going tobe ... Zimmerman was a powerful

neighborhood watchman, a wannabeocer who liked to use his authority,McClean said.

The Feb. 26, 2012, confrontaonbegan when Zimmerman spoedMarn, whom he did not recognize,walking in the Retreat at Twin Lakes,the gated townhome communitywhere Zimmerman lived and theancee of Marns father also resided.There had been a rash of recent break-ins at the Retreat, and Zimmermanwas wary of strangers walking throughthe complex. He was well-knownto police dispatchers for his regularcalls reporng suspicious people andevents.

Marn was walking back from aconvenience store aer buying ice teaand Skiles. It was raining, and he waswearing a hoodie.

Zimmerman called 911, got out of hisvehicle and followed Marn behindthe townhomes despite being told notto by a police dispatcher. These a------s, they always get away, Zimmermansaid on the call. Zimmerman, who hada concealed weapons permit, wasarmed.

The two then got into a struggle.Zimmerman told police he had lostsight of Marn, and that Marn circledback and aacked him as he walkedback to his truck. Prosecutors say hetracked down Marn and started theght.

Zimmerman told police Marnpunched him in the nose, knockinghim down, and then got on top ofhim and began banging Zimmermanshead on the sidewalk. Photos takenaer the ght show Zimmerman witha broken nose, bruises and bloodycuts on the back of his head. He saidthat when Marn spoed his gunholstered around his waist under hisclothes, he said, You are going to dietonight. Zimmerman said he grabbedthe gun rst and red. Marn died atthe scene.

Given the low visibility on the dark,rainy night of the shoong, fewresidents of the Retreat at Twin Lakeswere able to give invesgators a gooddescripon of what happened, andseveral oered conicng accounts ofwho was on top of whom during thestruggle.

But 911 calls made by neighborscaptured cries for help during theght and then the gunshot. Marnsparents say the cries for help werefrom their son, while Zimmermansfather has tesed they were from hisson. Voice-recognion experts couldplay an important role in helping jurorsdecide who was screaming, providedthey are allowed to tesfy. OMara hadraised quesons about whether suchprosecuon experts would misleadjurors and Circuit Judge Debra Nelsonhas yet to rule.

The shoong received lile inialaenon, but that changed aerMarns parents hired BenjaminCrump, a prominent civil rightsaorney. He began complaining to thenews media, accusing the police andprosecutors of leng the murderer ofa black child go free, and contacngother civil rights leaders, including theRevs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton,to get their support.

Gov. Rick Sco appointed StateAorney Angela B. Corey from thenearby Jacksonville district to re-examine the case. She decided tocharge Zimmerman.

For the past year, Zimmerman hasbeen free on $1 million bond and livingin seclusion.

OMara earlier decided not to invoke astand your ground hearing in whicha judge alone would decide whether todismiss the case or allow it to proceedto trial.

Its not clear whether Zimmermanwill take the stand, but he has alreadytesed in pretrial hearings.

Another crucial witness will be aMiami-area female friend of Marnswho was talking to the teen bycellphone as he was walking through

the Retreat at Twin Lakes followedby Zimmerman. She says Marn toldher during that conversaon thatsomeone was following him andthat she also heard a brief exchangebetween him and someone before thephone was cut o. Marn was shotshortly aerward. But OMara alreadyhas called into queson her credibility,accusing her of lying about missingMarns funeral because she was inthe hospital.

Prosecutors have refused to commentabout the case outside the courtroom.Areas near the courthouse have beendesignated for expected protests.

We want to make sure this trial istried in a courtroom and not outside acourtroom, lead prosecutor Bernie dela Rionda said.

Jury selection to begin for Zimmermans trial

George Zimmerman, right, and aorney DonWest

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13 www.minorityreporter.net|june 17 - 23|2013NATIONAL

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First Lady Gets Face to Face With HecklerMichelle Obama was in rare form ata Democrac fund-raiser on Tuesdayevening. Approximately halfway

through her remarks at a home inNorthwest Washington, she wasinterrupted by a woman who was atthe front of the crowd shoung forgay rights, was escorted out by partysupporters.

A crowd of 200 people heard thiswoman shoung for President Obamato issue an execuve order barringfederal contractors from discriminangagainst employees based on sexualorientaon or gender identy. UsuallyPresident Obama waits in place forthe protester to stop and perhapsacknowledges the complaint dueto him being accustomed to abruptinterrupon, Mrs. Obama, chose an

alternate route; direct confrontaon.

One of the things I dont do well isthis, she said as she le the lecternand moved toward the heckler. Thecrowd began a loud applause. She saidthe protester could listen to me, oryou can take the mic, but Im leaving.You all decide. You have one choice.

One woman nearby was heard telling

the protester, You need to go! asthe crowd yelled for Mrs. Obama tostay. Aendees escorted the protester

out as she connued her rant andidenfying herself as a lesbian lookingfor federal equality before I die.

Ellen Sturtz was idened as theheckler by Heather Cronk, a co-directorof GetEqual, a group that advocates forgay, lesbian, bisexual and transgenderindividuals.

So let me make the point that I wasmaking before, Mrs. Obama saidaer Ms. Sturtz was led out. Sheconnued with remarks in supportof government policies benecial tochildren, and urged the donors tostay polically engaged even in yearswithout a presidenal elecon.

We cannot wait for the nextpresidenal elecon to get red upand ready to go, she said. We cannotwait. Right now, today, we have anobligaon to stand up for those kids.Mrs. Obama acons at this eventmade it clear that she will not standfor interrupons or disrespect.

First Lady Michelle Obama

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14 www.minorityreporter.net|june 17 - 23|2013Theviewsexpressedonouropinionpagesarethose

oftheauthoranddonotnecessarilyrepresentthepositionorviewpointofMinorityReporter.OPINION/EDITORIAL

The late James Brown may havebeen the hardest working manin show biz but Ernest Flagler,

candidate for Rochester CitySchool District School BoardCommissioner, out-works thebest of them.

If he does not win this me out,it wont be because folks dontknow who he is. Some people

believe elecons are won withslick T.V. ads and literature, but

a few elecons are won the old-fashioned way, byknocking on doors and geng in potenal votersfaces.

Ernest Flagler is a mans man, a fathers father.Hes also a loving husband and grandpa. He and hisbeauful wife, Keia, are parents to eight children, allof whom are aending or have aended the RCSD.

If having eight children doesnt give an indicaonof the vested interest he has in the RCSD as aparent, then what does? He clearly understands theimportance of a good educaon. As stated in hiscampaign literature, When an emergency arisesand the bell rings, you can be sure that Ernest willbe there. With the crisis in our schools and theuncertainty of our educaonal system, you can trustthat he will take swi acon to ensure a brighterfuture for our children.

Ernest is also a 15-year-veteran of the RochesterFire Department, and has major concerns about thenine percent graduaon rate among local AfricanAmerican males and the 11 percent graduaon ratefor Hispanic males. As a result, he plans to introducea three-track system for our teens.

Track one will feature a curriculum that will helpensure our teens are college-bound when theycomplete their requirements for high schoolgraduaon. Track two will focus on skill-based

learning for those who choose not to go to college,but sll recognize the need for employable skills.Track three will focus on preparing students who are

interested in becoming entrepreneurs, and thosewith a desire to start their own businesses and/orwork for themselves.

In addion, Ernest is concerned with the mental-health issues aecng our children and familiestoday. He also recognizes that the mental health ofsta needs to be a consideraon at mes. And thatconcern, from where I sit, is one that the powersat be like to sweep under the rug and act like itdoesnt exist.

Ernest does not believe it will take 50 years to x ourbroken school system, as others have suggested. Heknows our children will not have a future if we dontstand together now and elect people who have aclear vested interest in the oce to which they areelected. I doubt any of his children will aend a

private school paid for with money he earns as anRCSD commissioner.

Ernest Flagler, as I indicated the last me he ran,is a spiritually-grounded, God-fearing man whoseme has denitely come. And his wife, Keia Flagler,comes closer to being Michelle Obama than mostpolical wives. She is not only out there poundingthe pavement and knocking on doors like herhusband, her sh and chicken dinners are a staplefor raising much-needed funds. (Lawd, have mercy,that woman can fry some chicken.) It seems thatErnest Flagler and his wife have not only a religiousunion; they both have a much-needed passion foreducaon.

Hes also a visionary and a reformer. As far as Imconcerned, I dont know if it is intenonal or not; but

he is smart to run a campaign free of alignment andslates. His candidacy and agenda stand alone. To me,that is more than a smart move. Who would believehe is a reformer if he is aligned with the mistakes ofthe past?

Personally, I refuse to support any incumbents thisyear. I have lots of reasons. Mainly, I see them all

as part of the problem, and contributors to theconsistent failures in our school district. They allneed to be replaced with fresh, new ideas andenergy that just might put the RCSD back on track.So, since we have not succeeded in dismantling theschool board like it should be, then fresh is what Isee; and Im lending my support not only to Ernestbut to Donald Hardaway and Candice Lucas as well.

I dont know when the RCSD contracts are up, but itis my hope that another contract will not be signed.What the superintendent did last week was morethan two-faced to me because he clearly forgotwhere his support to become supervisor came fromwhen his detractors had him by his throat. How doyou spell disloyalty? Bolgen Vargas, thats how!!

Hopefully you are paying aenon and reading my

words with interest, as you contemplate exactly whoyou are going to vote for this me around. There arethree RCSD commissioner seats open. Make sureErnest Flagler is seated in one of them.

If you arent red and think the current school boardcommissioners are on task, then you are hardlyseeking the answers needed to reform a dire system.But, if you are seriously red of the status quo andwatching people connue to get paid for failing ourchildren, then a vote for Ernest Flagler would be theright thing to do.

He is working hard for our support and we needhis honest approach to the problems in the RCSD.Ernest Flagler: The hardest working man in show bizdeserves your vote. Lets do this!!

Ernest Flagler : The Hardest Working Man in Show BizstrAIgHtNO CHASER

GLORIA WINSTON AL-SARAG

----------------------------------

Gloria Winston Al-Sarag is a Community Acvist, Writer,Communicator, Polical Acvist. She is a nave Rochesterianand has been involved with numerous communityorgainzaons in Rochester. Contact Gloria at: [email protected]

By Hazel Trice Edney

(TriceEdneyWire.com) We hear the stascsall too oen. Currently, only 28 percent of Blackyouth have their fathers in the home. In 1920, itwas 90 percent and in 1960 it was 80 percent.

Those are the stats recently quoted by Dr.Jawanza Kunjufu, a foremost expert on the

rearing of African-American children; especiallyboys. He boldly asserts: I believe one of thegreatest problems facing the Black community isfatherlessness.

Plenty of other naonal experts back him up,poinng to mulple social ills as evidence of thedire need for fathers in the home. Even PresidentObama has focused on this issue when speaking toBlack audiences. But, thats not what this story isabout.

On Fathers Day, June 16, 2013, millions of Blackfathers, stepfathers, uncles, mentors, big brothers,relaves and father gures will be celebrated andappreciated because of their powerful and posiveinuence on their children every day. Some willeven be given, well, super dad status.

Meet Marn Smith, a wealth planner andinvestment advisor who resides in Bowie, Md. Hegives his view on the most important aspect offatherhood:

I think legacy and having the privilege and thehonor to raise children and to have them developinto who God has called them uniquely to be, hesays. All of them are totally dierent from oneanother. And so it really stretches you to see howyou have to nurture them.

Smith should know. He and his wife, Walida, have

seven children - six girls ages 18, 16, 11, 9, 8, and 5and one boy, 13.

In my case seven dierent personalies, hechuckles, speaking from a cell phone as the enrefamily enjoys a road trip from Bowie to the SanDiego, California area to visit family and tourcolleges. Were trying to get them exposed now,start them thinking about it early.

Along the way, they had stopped in to visit long-me friends, Marlon and Rosalind Brooks ofHouston, Texas. The Brooks also have a large family ve children - including four boys ages 14, 10, 8,and 4, and one girl, 12.

Marlon Brooks tells his strategy for fatherhood:

Its hard to give them equal aenon, but youhave to give them aenon as if you were wanngaenon yourself, he says. Youve got to managethe kids, youve got to manage me with your wife;youve got to manage taking care of the house,

youve got to manage making sure that youre goingto provide for them and somemes in the midst ofall of that you just dont want to be bothered, hechuckled. But, even then, Ive got to make surethat Im a good steward over the emoons of all ofthe kids.

The owners of a 4-year-old food service operaon,Brooks Family Barbecue, the Brooks are about to

take on yet another venture in Houston. They areopening a full service restaurant in July. Thatscoupled with Mrs. Brooks full me job as an ROTCinstructor.

They say balancing their careers and caring for thechildren can only be done as a team.

Even on a daily basis we prey much divideeverything up, she said, with a special emphasis ontheir educaon. He and I spend equal me at theschool. They know him just like they know me as faras the teachers and the administrators.

When it comes to discipline, the rered U. S. NavyCommander says she is the strict one. Im kind ofhard-nosed when it comes to certain things. Sherecalls how the children think, Mom says we cant

do this, but Dad might nd a way for us to be ableto work it out. I think when God called us together,he just knew these dierent temperaments we had.And were just a good balance.

On Fathers Day: These Super Dads Defy the Statistics


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15 www.minorityreporter.net|june 17 - 23|2013Theviewsexpressedonouropinionpagesarethose

oftheauthoranddonotnecessarilyrepresentthepositionorviewpointofMinorityReporter.OPINION/EDITORIAL

The Future is Before You

C. MICHAEL VAUGHN

sOMEtHIng TO THINK ABOUT

As I write this arcle this weekthe ending of another schoolyear is upon us. Young folksare moving from one gradeto another, while others aremoving from high school tocollege and others are movingfrom college to life.

This is an excing me forall involved and as a parent Ican say that it is enjoyable tosee the children compleng

another year of learning and growing.

In our ministry we have been dealing with purposeand that is what I want to share with you this week.

It is my belief, from what I read in scripture and whatI know about God, that everybody is created withpurpose and is full of potenal.

The sad thing is because of what may have happenedin a persons life they may never realize that purpose.

God has created you to have impact in yourgeneraon and I know that with all of the negavetalk that goes on around our country that it seems asthough there is no hope.

However, that is very far from the truth. There are alot of possibilies in this country of ours, the UnitedStates of America. I am concerned about the moraldecay, the scal ineptness of our naonal leaders,

the aack on social instuons, such as the familyand the church.

However, this is sll the greatest naon on earth.And I believe that with God on the throne and withat least a remnant of people praying and livingaccording to the principles of the bible, this naonwill always have the blessing of God upon it.

In this me of excitement for our young people weneed to encourage them to be all that they wereintended to be, to discover and walk out theirpurpose in their lives.

They need to realize that the sky is the limit and thatthey can accomplish anything they are purposed todo and will put their mind to. We should encouragethem to surpass our achievements. Give them a highbar to shoot for and li and support them to reachthat bar.

We do not want to be selsh and scared andtherefore hold them back. Whether or not they areo to pursue their career, start college or just movefrom one grade to another, they need to know thateven in the midst of the ills that our society faces,they can do even beer than we have done.

We do not want to dim their light or squash theirexcitement. We need to sr the gi of God on theinside of them and challenge them to become allthat they were put in the earths realm to be.

They should not look to the government to take careof them, they should not be focused on having thecutest boyfriend or girlfriend, they should not belooking to have the latest, most expensive wardrobe,and they do not need to be the best texter or instant-messager on the planet.

We need to encourage them to be who God hasmade them and that if they work hard towards thatgoal, they will be the beer for it and society willbenet. They are not dened by society but by theircreator and he says they are wonderful.

We can get caught up in the issues of the dayand forget that there is so much good going on inthis naon. We have to make sure that we showour young folks a brighter future. When they arepresented with possibilies, opons and challenge,they will arise and achieve what is on the inside ofthem. We have to deal with the issues of the day butthey do not need to consume us to the point whereissues and problems are all we talk about. Lets painta picture of possibility for our young people, pointthem to it and challenge them to make it a reality.Then root for them to achieve above and beyond ourwildest expectaons.

All for one, and one for allWalida Smith, a working mother of seven children,says she admires her husbands commitment totheir spiritual growth above anything else. Thatslike the rst and foremost concern, she said.

In that regard, Marn Smith says one of hisfavorite family group acvies is Bible Study. Hehas temporarily set aside his pursuit of a Master ofDivinity degree while compleng a Masters of RealEstate Finance at Georgetown University, whichhe says will enhance his services at Wealth CareFinancial Group Inc. of which he is owner, presidentand chief execuve ocer.

Despite their jam-packed schedules, both couplessay nding me for each other and nurturing theirown relaonships are keys to good parenng.

You make me, says Mrs. Smith, who worksas director of Publicaons and Resources forthe Skinner Leadership Instute based in TracysLanding, Md. We have teenagers. The older onesare taught how to take care of the younger ones sothat [we] are able to do that. And then we live nearfamily and have family available so that makes adierence.

The main ingredient is sacricing for each othereven if it s a constant struggle, says Marlon Brooks.

We date. Thats very important. We spend meas husband and wife, but somemes we needto spend me together as friends. And when wespend me together as friends we kind of talkabout the needs of the kids and each othersneeds, he says. Every me we do that for eachother I feel like the Lord meets our needs.

On Fathers Day...from previous paGe


16/16


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