Volume 10 • Number 22 The Michigan Banner November 16, 2013 First Great Lakes Bay Regional Newspaper Leading in Diversity “Empowering Communities and Changing Lives” JudGe oF The YeaR PaGe 3 Ms. MichiGaN BaNNeR PaGe 31 ediToRiaL PoLiTico PaGe L 1 MeMoRies PaGe 19 NaTioNaL seRVice exceLLeNce PaGe 4 *No additional discounts available 5 p.m. Sunday, December 8 Temple Theatre, Downtown Saginaw The Michigan Jazz Trail presents a special night with internationally acclaimed jazz musician, composer, bandleader and educator Wynton Marsalis. Get in the holiday swing as Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra present fresh arrangements of timeless seasonal classics. The evening will kick off with a guest appearance by the Michigan Jazz Trail Big Band. Buy Tickets Today Tickets start at $35. Tickets at $75 include a meet-and-greet with the musical artists. Students can enjoy $20 discounted tickets using code: wyntonstudent. Family discounts of 10%* are available with the purchase of four or more tickets. Order tickets by phone at (877) 754-SHOW or online at www.templetheatre.com. Platinum Level AHP Garber Morley Companies Nexteer HORIZONS Conference Center TriStar Gold Level MMR of Saginaw Covenant Healthcare Spence Brothers Roth Cleaners Foundation Support Gerstacker Foundation Saginaw Community Foundation Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
Leading in Diversity “Empowering Communities and Changing Lives”
JudGeoFTheYeaRPaGe3
Ms.MichiGaNBaNNeRPaGe31
ediToRiaLPoLiTicoPaGeL1
MeMoRies PaGe19
NaTioNaLseRViceexceLLeNcePaGe4
*No additional discounts available
5 p.m. Sunday, December 8 Temple Theatre, Downtown Saginaw
The Michigan Jazz Trail presents a special night with internationally acclaimed jazz musician, composer, bandleader and educator Wynton Marsalis. Get in the holiday swing as Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra present fresh arrangements of timeless seasonal classics. The evening will kick off with a guest appearance by the Michigan Jazz Trail Big Band.
Buy Tickets TodayTickets start at $35. Tickets at $75 include a meet-and-greet with the musical artists. Students can enjoy $20 discounted tickets using code: wyntonstudent. Family discounts of 10%* are available with the purchase of four or more tickets. Order tickets by phone at (877) 754-SHOW or online at www.templetheatre.com.
Platinum Level AHPGarberMorley Companies Nexteer HORIZONS Conference Center TriStar
Gold Level MMR of Saginaw Covenant HealthcareSpence Brothers Roth Cleaners
Foundation Support Gerstacker Foundation Saginaw Community Foundation
The Honorable Faye M. Har-rison, who presides over Saginaw County’s Family Court, recently received the Judge of the Year award from Michigan CASA (Court Appointed Special Advo-cates) on Saturday, November 9. The award was presented during
the Michigan CASA annual conference. The award honors Judge Harrison’s exemplary
work to create a voice of hope for children who are in the Saginaw County court system due to abuse or neglect. Suzanne Greenberg, President/CEO of CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region nominated Judge Harrison for the prestigious award. Greenberg says, “Throughout our county, region and state, Judge Faye M. Harrison is known as a passionate and cou-rageous jurist, and we feel blessed to have her in our court advocating for Saginaw’s children.”
Judge Harrison was instrumental in the develop-ment of a CASA program for Saginaw County a de-cade ago. CASA of Saginaw County provides highly trained volunteers to serve as the voice for children in the system due to abuse or neglect.
In This Issue Community .................................................................................................Page 4 The Latino Banner .....................................................................................LB 1 - LB 4 Business ....................................................................................................Page 9 Praise Connections ....................................................................................Page 18
serves as a print and online media venuecommitted to educating, informing andenlightening our readership regarding
events and news that directly and indirectlyaffect the communities regionally and globally.
Furthermore, to serve as a catalyst and a link for cultivating young adults as entrepreneurial and
business leaders for the future.Disclaimer:
The Michigan Banner and its staff are not responsible and will not be held liable for
any mistakes, error, misspellings and false advertisements in part or whole that may be
placed within its publication. Articles, information or comments printed in the newspaper are not
necessarily the views or beliefs of The Michigan Banner newspaper. The Michigan Banner
reserves the right to edit, change, or delete any information, or refuse to print any information, article or advertisement which is believed to be inconsistent with or conflicts with the mission of
the newspaper.Deadlines:
2 weeks before each publication date of the1st and 16th of each month
State Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes, D-Saginaw, recently unveiled her new campaign office located in Saginaw, on Friday, October 4, during an Open House at 2811 E. Genesee Avenue.
stateRep.stacyerwinoakesopenscampaignoffice
L-R - State Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes, Minister Chestermae Hayes, Word of Faith International Ministries of Saginaw, Reverend Dr. Roosevelt Austin, Sr., Attorney Michael L. Oakes
Underground Railroad Inc., a non-profit emergency shelter and service center for
victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking would like to announce receipt of $500 made possible in part by a grant from Catholic Federal Credit Union.
Valerie Hoffman, CEO of Underground Railroad, Inc. said, “A high rate of reported domestic assault in Saginaw County makes the continuation of our programs more important than ever. Support from Catholic Federal Credit
Union will help us maintain services at their current levels.”
Catholic Federal’s Community Relations Committee recognizes Underground Railroad’s dedication to the community. The shared philosophy of “People Helping People” ensures the doors will always be open for survivors seeking safe shelter and reiterates the philosophy that all victims should be provided safety and must be treated with dignity and respect.
The Zeta Amicae Auxiliary of Saginaw of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (Zeta Omega Zeta, sponsoring chapter) recently hosted their annual “Legacy of Service” program on November 9, at the Trillium Banquet Center in Saginaw. The event honors individuals for their commitment and dedication of service to the Saginaw community, with proceeds of the event directed to the Auxiliary’s scholarships for single-parent households. The 2013 scholarship recipients were Maneka A. Poole and Denese M. Vaughn of Saginaw. They are
both continuing their education at Delta College. The 2013 honorees were Earleen Smithers, and Lee and Betty Williams.
Earleen Smithers, a retiree of AT&T, was honored as the 2013Friendofdistinction. She moved to Saginaw with her parents, Roberta Franklin and the late Johnnie Franklin and siblings in 1950, graduating from Saginaw High in 1963. Smithers was employed at Michigan Bell Telephone Company, and received several promotions before retiring after 30 years. She returned six months after retirement as a contract trainer until 2007.
Her volunteer activities included creating the Starmate Program mentoring fifth graders at Houghton Elementary School, the Houghton-Jones Community Center, and the Altrusa International, Inc. of Saginaw where she continued to volunteer for over 25 years. She has also assisted several local events, and serves on several boards including the executive board of the United Sisters in Christ, and Child and Family Services of Saginaw.
As a member of Bethesda Baptist Church, Smithers has served 60 years, and presently is the Adult Sunday School teacher, and president and instructor of the Mission #2 Society. Smithers achieved her Associates Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix., and joined the Saginaw/ Oakland Literacy Project as Project Coordinator. She then obtained the full-time position with Oakland University until August 2012. Married to Nolan P. Smithers for 49 years, they are the parents of two children, Yolande (Edward) and Nolan Jr., and have two grandchildren, Dominique and Dominic.
The 2013 community serviceaward recipients were Lee and BettyWilliams, owners of The Magic Kitchen. Lee and Betty Williams have lived in Saginaw County for over forty years. Professionally, Betty was a teacher in the Bay City Public Schools from which she retired. Lee retired from General Motors. Together they formed Magic Corporation of Saginaw in 1987, and have been in business since then, operating Magic
Kitchen & Catering, Magic Wash ‘N’ Dry, Magic Car Wash, and Magic Cuts & Curl all in one location in Saginaw.
After 40 years of dedicated service to our nation, Major General (retired) Adolph McQueen, Jr., recently retired from military service on October 1, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. His culminating duty was serving as the Deputy Commanding General for Support of United States Army North (Fifth Army) from June 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013. He previously served as the Deputy Commanding General for Detention Operations and as the Provost Marshal General for United States Forces – Iraq. In this role, he oversaw thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Civilians, with overall responsibility for all detainee
operations to include the care of detainees, lawful interrogations, judicial review/release boards, the prosecution of detainees in the Central Criminal Court of Iraq, detainee release/transportation, and coordination with the Government of Iraq, the United States Embassy, United Nations Mission – Iraq, the United Nations High Council on Refugees, the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the Department of Justice, and various other agencies.
Major General (retired) McQueen also served as the commander of the 200th Military Police Command at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, with a comprised of approximately 14,700 Soldiers/Civilians and accounted for more than 97 percent of all United States Army Reserve Military Police, to include two Criminal Investigative Battalions dispersed over 43 states. During this time, he simultaneously served as the Commander of Regional Joint Task Force – Alpha under the Defense Support of Civil Authority, Fifth Army, and also as the Joint Security Area Coordinator for Eighth U.S. Army Korea.
The MG McQueen’s additional assignments included: Commander, 11th Military Police Brigade, Ashley, Pennsylvania; Commander, 654th Area Support Group, Southfield, Michigan; Deputy Commander, 300th Military Police Brigade, Inkster, Michigan; Commander, Joint Detention Operation Group, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he oversaw the development and implementation of the first Military Standard Operation Procedures used to operate the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility; Provost Marshal, Eighth United States Army, Southfield, Michigan; Commander, 3rd Military Police Battalion, Inkster, Michigan; and Commander, 5089th United States Army Reception Battalion, Saginaw, Michigan.
In all of his years of service and in all of the detention facilities he oversaw, Major General McQueen had zero escapes and zero detainee deaths under his command.
His awards and decorations received include the Army Distinguished Service Medal (with one Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with four Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Services Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with one Oak Leaf Cluster), and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
SEE P10, Major General Adolph McQueen Retires
MajorGeneraladolphMcQueen,Jr.Retires
Major General (retired) Adolph McQueen, Jr.
Court stacking schemes are inherently undemocratic and do not sit well with the electorate.
Despite this fact, SB 652, a bill to move the state’s Court of Claims from the Ingham County Circuit Court to the Court of Ap-
peals was passed recently by the state legislature in Lansing on a party line vote. The bill was in-troduced by State Senator Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) and was rushed through the committee process at a speed which is reserved for only the most controversial and less desirable legislation.
In addition to removing the Court of Claims from Ingham County Circuit Court, the bill will move pending and future lawsuits against the state to one of four Michigan Court of Appeals judges selected by the Republican-led Michigan Supreme Court.
Unfortunately, this bill is indicative of a po-litical power grab and will serve to ensure that the Republicans who control both chambers of the Legislature and the Governor’s office will be able to perpetually stack the deck in their favor.
During the one day of testimony on SB 652, a retired 30-year veteran of the House Republi-can Policy Office testified that the bill is clearly a “tampering of the court system,” and is likely unconstitutional.
While attorneys, the State Bar Association, and even the Attorney General often appear be-fore House and Senate committees, it is exceed-ingly rare to hear from the workhorse members of our judiciary. Nevertheless, Ingham County Cir-cuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina spoke to the bill, along with several of her colleagues, stating that she believes the bill to be unconstitutional and indicated so in the strongest of terms: “It’s making the Constitution small brained, dumbed down; it is a violation of separation of powers, it’s a violation of the people’s right to a trial, it’s a violation of access to the court, it’s a violation of due process.”
Over all, the consensus of the legal and ju-dicial community was that this was poor public policy and the process alone in which the bill was fast-tracked through the legislature was enough to raise concern. Nevertheless, the bill has been sent to the Governor’s office where it awaits his signature.
Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) and House Minority Leader Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) have sent the Governor a letter urging his veto of the bill, stat-ing that it would make it more difficult for resi-dents to sue the government and file Freedom of Information Act requests on the state.
Some suspect that Governor Snyder and his legislative allies are trying to strip the present Court of Claims of a case which is seeking the names of the contributors to his former non-profit NERD Fund, which was used to pay for certain state expenses. On the other hand, Republicans argue that it is unfair for Ingham County voters to determine the make-up of the state Court of Claims.
Judge Aquilina summed the situation up suc-cinctly: “This makes Swiss cheese out the state of Michigan’s Constitution. This really is putting the Constitution on meth.”
I couldn’t have said it better, your honor.Follow-up:ThesB652billwassignedby
CA. - To stress the need for immediate action by Congress on immigra-tion reform, Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Con-ference (NHCLC), the nation’s largest Christian
Hispanic organization representing more than 40,000 churches, began a 40-day fast on Mon-day, November 4, that will last through one of the most indulgent national holidays, Thanksgiving.
“In the spirit of Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and other leaders who have acted on the moral imperative to do justice, as well as our ul-timate example found in Jesus, I likewise sense an urgent conviction to engage in the spiritual exercise that in my faith narrative produces great results,” said Rodriguez. “Starting today, I will
be engaging in a personal fast and call others to join me as we pray for the vital importance of im-migration reform now.”
Rodriguez has committed to fast for 40 days but is willing to extend it until immigration re-form is passed.
Believing immigration reform is as much a religious issue as it is a policy, Rodriguez and NHCLC leaders have been actively rallying sup-port from the Evangelical Christian community, which was once hesitant to embrace reform but now believes it is necessary to heal communities, usher in peace and promote righteousness and justice.
NHCLC supports reform focused on three main elements that puts an end to all illegal im-migration. First, increasing border protection, including using infrared, satellite, and other tech-nologies in addition to border patrols. Second, creating a market-driven guest-worker program
that provides clear avenues by which millions of undocumented families can obtain legal status in a manner that reflects the Judeo-Christian value system on which this nation was founded. And finally, developing standards for undocumented residents without a criminal record who are earn-ing citizenship status to go to the back of the citizenship line and receive a financial penalty, while acquiring civic and language proficiency and serving the local community.
Individuals interested in joining Rodriguez in the 40-day fast can email him at [email protected] or message him on Twitter (@nhclc, Instagram (@pastorsamuelrodriguez) or Facebook (http://bit.ly/RevSamuelRodriguez ) using the hashtag #Fast4Reform.
Source: National Hispanic Christian Lead-ership Conference
On November 20, and November 21, in a summit organized by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, history will be made when internet CEOs and immigrants–known as DREAMers, are brought together. The immigrants are called DREAMers after a measure called the DREAM Act – are scheduled to meet with Zuckerberg, as
well as a co-founder of Groupon and the founder of Dropbox at the headquarters of LinkedIn in Mountain View, Calif., .
The summit, which is being described as a “DREAMer hack-a-thon,” will aim to team up the immigrants – many of whom were brought to the United States illegally when they were chil-
dren and grew up here – with some of the world’s most successful coders to discuss ways to use technology and social media to help improve U.S. immigration policy
To Meet the DREAMer Hackathon Partici-pants visit http://www.fwd.us/dreamer_hack-athon_participants.
Internet y Tecnologia~Internet & TechnologyFacebook’sMarkZuckerbergBringsTogetherinternetceosanddReaMers
Diabetes is an urgent health problem in the Latino community. The rates of diabetes are al-most double those of non-Latino.
Getting information to the community about the seriousness of diabetes, its risk factors and those who may be at risk, and ways to help man-age the disease is essential.
Materials targeting the Latino community, available in English and Spanish, are an integral part of our outreach efforts to help improve the quality of life for Latinos with diabetes.
From books to brochures, our publications will give you information on topics ranging from cooking with a Latin flair, to being more physi-cally active, to maintaining a healthy weight.
To request your free copy of our Latin Flavor in the Kitchen Recipe Sampler and to receive a free guide on type 2 diabetes (request ADA Chan-nel number 2), call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383). Bilingual representatives are available to take your call.
diabetesscreeningsThe Legacy Civic Fund, St. Mary’s of Michigan, Saginaw County CAC and First Ward are partnering to hold health fairs with free diabetes screenings and services for residents in conjunction with American Diabetes Awareness month on Friday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at First Ward, 1410 N. 12th St., in Saginaw, and Monday, Nov. 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Saginaw County CAC, 2824 Perkins St., in Saginaw.
Community State Bank’s Board of Di-rectors has appointed Douglas J. Kelley President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, replacing Robert Wolak who re-signed in October.
“We are very pleased to appoint Doug to this posi-
tion,” said Community State Bank Chairman of the Board Ronald Fields. “Doug has over 20 years of banking experience with over 15 of those years in executive management positions at four different financial institutions. He is well qualified for this job.”
Kelley has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Community State Bank since joining the bank in February 2012. He oversaw the Accounting, Operations, and Infor-
mation Technology Departments of the Bank. He has led several successful projects in implement-ing new controls, guidelines, and procedures in these Departments – all with a strategic focus on the success of the Bank and the experience of the customer. Kelley has also served as the Chairper-son of the Asset Liability Committee, as well as a member of all loan committees and part of the strategic planning process.
Before joining Community State Bank, Kel-ley served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Fentura Financial, Inc., for nine years from 2003 to 2012. Fentura Financial, Inc., is the holding company for The State Bank in Fenton, Mich., which also has the Regional Community Banking Division under the Liv-ingston Community Bank name, headquartered in Brighton, Mich.
Furthermore, Kelley served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The State Bank from 2002 to 2012. Through this time, Kelley also served as Chief Financial Officer for
West Michigan Community Bank. Prior to this, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Davison State Bank from 2002 to 2004. West Michigan Community Bank and Davison State Bank which were part of the Fentura Financial holding com-pany at one time. Kelley assisted in the purchases and sale of these banks for the holding company. During his time with Fentura Financial, he was also in charge of all governmental reporting, shareholder relations and assisted in the strategic planning process.
Community State Bank is a locally owned and operated full service financial institution. Headquartered in St. Charles, the Bank has eight neighboring branches – St. Charles, Thomas Township, Birch Run, Chesaning, Montrose, Flushing, Albee and New Lothrop, and a Loan Center in the city of Saginaw. Community State Bank has been serving the community for over 70 years. For more information, please visit gotocsb.com or call the Bank at 989-865-9945.
Knowing what your business is worth and implementing a well-crafted and funded buy-sell agreement is the foundation of a healthy business. On November 19, 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., at the Kalamazoo Club, located at 1609 Whites Road, in Kalamazoo, the Kalamazoo SCORE chapter will present the What’s My Business Worth Event. The event fee is $35. Materials, continental breakfast, and refresh-ments are included.
The guest speakers are Paul C. Spelstra CFP®, the president and founder of Milestone Wealth Management, and Brett Cummings, an associate of Willis Law, will provide information about:• The key elements of establishing a market value for your business• Key ingredients to create or perfect your buy-sell agreement; and, • Many additional elements of a well-crafted business succession plan• Succession plan
For additional information, call 269-381-5382, or visit the Ka-lamazoo SCORE website, www. kalamazoo.score.org.
KalamazooscoRechapterhostsBusinessValuationWorkshop “Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.”
FROM P4, Major General Adolph McQueen RetiresMG McQueen is an active member of Bethel
African Methodist Episcopal church, and regardless of his military commitments, he faithfully serves on its Security Committee, Men of Bethel and Courtesy Ministry. He has received numerous awards and citations throughout the years. Most recently, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity national recognition for men in the military at the centennial celebration in 2011.His mentors are Brigadier General David M. Hall, and Major General Robert Smith, III.
After 30 years of service, he also retired from the civilian law enforcement sector to include most recently serving as the Special Agent Supervisor with the Michigan Department of the Attorney General.
He is married to Dr. Roslyn E. McQueen, and has one daughter, Myeisha T. McQueen.
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TEL: 754-7088 • FAX: 754-7099Stop in today and try one of our homemade specialities
The Great Lakes Bay Region is on its way to becoming the solar leader in the state. You have an opportunity to help your region achieve this while taking advantage of special cost savings, diversifying your energy sources and bringing recognition to your business.
Through the Great Lakes Bay Region Solar Program, Clean Energy Coalition, in partnership with Great Lake Bay Region 5, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is offering a free solar site assess-ment and a cost-effective way to purchase solar for commercial properties. The solar site assessment will help you determine the viability of solar energy at your location and whether or not you would like to join others in the bulk purchasing opportunity.
The bulk purchasing opportunity offers a tiered pricing structure, which means the more solar installed, the more money customers will save. For example, if a total of 80kW worth of solar were installed the price per W would drop from $3.39 to $3.25. However, if we are able to install more than 200kW of solar during the project period the price per watt would be $3.08! In other words, the more solar panel systems that are installed the more reasonable the price of the system will be. All the participants will share in the savings making solar energy more affordable for everyone.
A local company, Midland Solar Applications, has been selected as the contractor for the program and will be providing the free solar assessments for properties in the region (Limit to the first 20 customers).
If you are interested in receiving a free solar site assessment for your property from Midland Solar, or would like more information on the pro-gram or learning about the benefits of solar, email [email protected] or visit the website- http://cec-mi.org/communities/programs/joinglbrsolar/.
issolarRightForYourcommercialProperty?Receive a free solar site assessment!
Network @ Noon events are a great opportunity to enhance your personal and professional development skills, learn about local op-portunities available to young professionals and grab a bite to eat- all on your lunch hour!
Join us from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. at Horizons Conference Center, located at 6200 State Street, in Saginaw, on November 19. The cost is $15 per person which can be paid for via online registration before the event, or by cash, or check at the door. Pre-registration is required to attend the event.
Past topics have included: Career Advocacy, Influencing Change, Things to See & Do in the Saginaw Valley, Saginaw’s Economic Fu-ture, Get to Know a CEO, Solar Energy, Community Capacity Build-ing, Board Leadership, Leading an Intentional Life, Generations in the Workplace, Hot Topics in the Great Lakes Bay Region, How to Succeed When Opportunity Knocks.
For more information on Network @ Noon events contact the YPN at [email protected] or (989) 752-7161.
YPNNetwork@Noon
The Saginaw County Chamber is currently accepting applications to join the Ambassador Team.
The Ambassadors are member volunteers who actively perform a variety of services for the Chamber including public relations, members retention, new member support and event hosting. They are the goodwill; public relations arm of the Chamber and facilitate communications between the Chamber Board of Directors, staff and the members.
For more information on how you can support the chamber and grow your network, contact Susan Moody at 989.757.2112, or [email protected].
ambassadorTeamopenings
FROM P 4, Legacy of ServiceFor twenty years the Williams and the Magic Kitchen staff have served
Thanksgiving Dinner to homeless citizens on Thanksgiving Day along with countless volunteers. Betty is a graduate of the Chambers Leadership program and 1000 Leaders of Saginaw County. Presently, her community
involvement includes; Pride of Downtown Saginaw Board of Directors, Advisory Committee for Saginaw Career Complex Culinary Arts program, The Bishop’s Community Action Committee, and in the past served six years on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. They are the parents of two adult children who are graduates of the University of Michigan.
Mark Twain once advised people to “Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream, Discover.”
Grand Rapids - Americans today have taken that advice to heart, and are visiting
places around the globe–often for vacations, and sometimes to relocate in another country. If you are one of these people and receive Social Secu-rity benefits, we offer a special website: “Social Security Payments Outside the United States.” Here you can find answers to such questions as “will my Social Security payments be affected? Do I have to let Social Security know I’m out of the country? When should I do it? What happens
if I need to contact Social Security while I am out of the country?”
You can find answers to all of these ques-tions and others at www.socialsecurity.gov/inter-national/payments.html. The website features a “Payments Abroad Screening Tool”, which asks you a few short questions to determine if your payments can continue.
The page also offers links to publications, such as Your Payments While You Are Outside The United States, which explains how your ben-efits may be affected and other important infor-mation you need to know about receiving Social Security benefits while outside the country.
If you receive Social Security benefits as a dependent or survivor, there are additional Unit-ed States residency requirements that may affect your benefit payments while you are outside the
United States. It also is important to note that there are dif-
ferent provisions for anyone receiving Supple-mental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Once you have been outside the United States for 30 or more days in a row, your SSI cannot start again until you have been back in the country for at least 30 consecutive days. There are special rules for dependent children of military personnel who leave the United States and exceptions for stu-dents studying abroad.
Vonda VanTil is the public affairs specialist for West Michigan. You can write her c/o So-cial Security Administration, 3045 Knapp St NE, Grand Rapids MI 49525 or via email at [email protected]
checkinWithsocialsecuritybeforeTravelingabroadBy Vonda VanTil, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist
Amigo Mobility International will celebrate its 45th year in business this November. Though it has been 45 years since Al Thieme invented the first Amigo in a small garage in Bridgeport, Mich., the goal of Improving Lives Through Mo-bility® remains the same.
“The reason for starting Amigo Mobility was to ‘find a better way’ for a family member to stay active,” Thieme said. From the yellow Amigo Classic Front Drive to the Amigo TravelMate, Amigo’s focus has been to provide each custom-er with the best product for their needs.
As founder, Al has the longest tenure with Amigo at 45 years, but there are many employees who have spent much of their lives as part of the Amigo family. Nine members of the current team have been with Amigo for more than 20 years.
With the customer in mind, Amigo products have always been held to high standards of qual-ity. No one knows this better than Production Manager Mike Henris.
“The impact the Amigo has on a person’s life makes it imperative that we produce the high-
est quality product possible,” Henris said. “Our team appreciates the value of the products we build – we are dedicated to quality and truly care about the products we create and the customers we build them for.”
Some well-known Amigo owners through-out the years are Colonel Sanders, Itzhak Perl-man, Joe Lewis, Mary Kay Ash, Ray Kroc and Totie Fields.
Research & Development Manager Al Bus-singer (a 30 year team member) has witnessed much of Amigo’s product evolution. “Amigo is an R&D driven company where innovation is our passion,” Bussinger said. “As an Amigo engineer for many years, I am pleased to be part of such a great mission.”
The diverse Amigo product line now includes motorized shopping carts and products for out-door facilities like zoos and amusement parks. In 2005, the Amigo Shabbat was introduced for the use of Orthodox Jews with walking limitations.
Amigo Mobility is still headquartered in Bridgeport, Mich., though it has grown quite a
bit since starting in the garage across the street – the facility now covers 55,000 square feet, with another expansion coming in 2014. Since 1968, more than 222,000 Amigos have been manufac-tured in Bridgeport, and shipped to more than 30 countries across the globe.
A company that was created with family in mind, Amigo Mobility has remained family-owned since the beginning, and has had doz-ens of family members involved in the business throughout the years.
“Our Amigo customers have become friends and family – I’m honored that Amigo has been part of their lives and I really enjoy keeping in touch with them,” Thieme said. “When someone tells me they couldn’t start their day, go to work or travel with their family without their Amigo, it means so much to me that we were able to help them.”
To learn more about Amigo Mobility’s 45 years in business, visit www.myamigo.com.
At AT&T, we bring you the innovative communications services you need, right when you need them. It’s our commitment to keeping you in touch with family, friends, entertainment and the world. It’s what you need for how you live. Now.
With an estimated ten percent of the work-force employed in the nonprofit sector, retire-ment benefits can be a factor that impacts indi-vidual employees as well as the nonprofits they work for. For example, do older employees de-lay retirement because they don’t have enough money to fund their retirement? Does this im-pact the ability of a nonprofit to promote talent from within, or to attract new talent from outside the organization? Do younger and mid-career employees evaluate employment opportunities based on retirement benefits?
Earlier this year the TIAA-CREF Institute and Independent Sector issued a report on a joint study they conducted on retirement and the nonprofit sector, a topic of interest to both. The TIAA-CREF Institute helps advance the ways individuals and institutions plan for financial security and organizational effectiveness, and Independent Sector is a nonprofit, nonpartisan network of approximately 600 nonprofits, foun-dations and corporate philanthropy programs.
Key findings of the study included the fol-lowing: 45% of nonprofit employees are not confident about their ability to retire from their
employment; almost one-half of nonprofit em-ployees are not satisfied with their ability to prepare financially for retirement; and more than 40% do not feel that they are accumulat-ing sufficient financial resources to ensure their long-term financial security. Over three-quarters reported access to an employer-sponsored retire-ment plan or plans; almost one-third have access to a defined benefit pension plan, and more than two-thirds to a defined contribution plan, such as a 403(b) plan. While 76% are currently saving for retirement, less than 20% of these savers are extremely or very confident that they are saving the right amount.
What is hidden within these numbers is the difference – if there is one – between those who work for large nonprofits such as hospitals, col-leges and universities, and those who work for small to mid-sized nonprofits. Could it be that these employees may find that they won’t have enough to fund their retirement, and may in time have to depend on nonprofits for assistance?
Related to this, here are a few more findings: one third of sector employees have received re-tirement planning advice within the past three
years; two-thirds have not tried to determine how much money they will need to accumulate so that they can live comfortably in retirement; and among savers who are confident that they are saving the right amount, one-third have not at-tempted such a calculation.
These issues are by no means the sole con-cern of nonprofits. But, given that many non-profits are mission-driven, it is important to consider how this sector can address issues that face their employees. This is something for board members to consider and discuss. For example, when reviewing and approving budgets, is there a discussion about employee benefits including retirement?
What actions can your nonprofit take to help employees prepare for retirement?
Mel and Pearl Shaw are the authors of “Pre-requisites for Fundraising Success.” They posi-tion nonprofits for fundraising success. Visit them at www.saadandshaw.com.
Copyright 2013 – Mel and Pearl Shaw
FUNdraising Good Times
areyoureadytoretire?By Mel and Pearl Shaw
Venturestart-startingaBusinessThe Michigan Small Business & Technol-
ogy Development Center Great Lakes Bay will present a Venture Start – Starting a Business seminar at the Hoyt Library at 505 Janes Ave-nue in Saginaw on February 20, from 6 to 9 p.m.
This seminar, formerly titled Fundamen-tals of Starting a Business, is designed for in-dividuals who are considering self-employment and those who may be at the beginning stages
of starting a business. Delivered in a workshop format, this introductory session helps aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company, as well as evaluate market and sales potential for their products/services. Start-up costs, financing options, and business planning are introduced, along with other nec-essary steps to getting started.
For more information about MI-SBTDC
business education workshops and to register online, go to www.misbtdc.org/training or call 989.686.9597. Pre-registration is required.
Seminar sponsors are Public Libraries of Saginaw, Saginaw Future, Saginaw County Clerk and the Michigan Small Business & Tech-nology Development Center Great Lakes Bay hosted by Delta College Corporate Services.
divulgeyourtrueageForget the vanity of knocking a few years off your birth date. When you travel, broadcast
your real age every chance you get and claim those senior discounts.For more information visit www.bankrate.com
A special thanks to all of my customers. I appreciate each one of you.
Have a happy and prosperous Thanksgiving!
With Michigan’s rich tradition of fall hunting getting under way, conservation officers at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have offered their top 10 tips for a safe outdoor experience.
“Hunting in Michigan is a time-honored activity, rich in tradition, when families and friends come together to enjoy our great outdoors,” said Lt. Andrew Turner, who leads the DNR’s Recreation, Safety and Enforcement Section for the Law Enforcement Division. “Making your hunt a safe and responsible experience is key to having an enjoy-able and memorable time. By following these safety tips, hunters can help us all have a good season.”
Turner said the top 10 safety tips for hunters to remember are: • Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.• Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.• Be certain of your target, and what’s beyond it, before firing.
Know the identifying features of the game you hunt. Make sure you have an adequate backstop; don’t shoot at a flat, hard surface or water.
• Keep your finger outside the trigger guard and off the trigger until ready to shoot.
• Don’t run, jump or climb with a loaded firearm. Unload a fire-arm before you climb a fence or tree, or jump a ditch. Pull a firearm toward you by the butt, not the muzzle.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages before or during hunting. Also avoid mind- or behavior-altering medicines or drugs.
• All firearm deer hunters on any land during daylight hunting hours must wear a hat, cap, vest, jacket, rainwear or other outer gar-ment of “hunter orange” visible from all sides. All hunters, including archers, must comply during gun season.
• Camouflage hunter orange is legal, provided 50 percent of the surface area is solid hunter orange. (Exceptions: waterfowl, crow and wild turkey hunters, and bow hunters for deer during bow season).
• Always let someone know where you are hunting and when you plan on returning. This information helps conservation officers and others locate you if you get lost.
• Carry your cellphone into the woods. Remember to turn your ringer off or set your phone to vibrate rather than ring. Your cellphone emits a signal that can help rescuers locate you when you are lost. If you have a smart phone, go to the settings and enable your GPS to help searchers find you if you get lost. Make sure before you leave for the woods each day that your phone is fully charged. If you have a smart phone, download a compass and flashlight app – there are many ver-sions of these apps that are free to download in the iPhone App Store or on Google Play for Android.
“These simple, common sense tips can prevent hunting accidents and save lives,” said Turner. “We encourage all sportsmen and women to follow these guidelines when enjoying the great outdoors in our state.”
The first day of Michigan’s regular deer firearm season was Nov. 15. For more information about hunting in Michigan, visit the DNR website www.michigan.gov/hunting.
AttorneysThe Law Offices of Alan A. Crawford PLLCAlan A. Crawford, Attorney At Law615 Griswold Ste. 1215, Detroit, MI 48226803 Court Street, Saginaw, MI 48602313.559.7881313.556.2487 (Fax)www.acrawfordlaw.com
AuthorsW. James Richardson 1356 Woodside Street Saginaw, MI 48601 988-753-0233 www.wjamesrichardson.com
Auto2 Fresh DetailKenny Jackson 300 N. Niagara StreetSaginaw, MI 48602989-239-7012
Labadie Olds 711 S. EuclidBay City, MI 48706Terry ReedSales Professional989-667-2000 Ext. 341Direct 989-460-0341Fax 989-667-0103E-mail [email protected] www.labadieauto.com
McDonald Pontiac-GMC, Inc. 5155 State Street Saginaw, MI 48603 Leon V. Washington Sales & Leasing Professional989-790-5155 [email protected]
BakeriesLighthouse Bakery 285 S. Outer Drive Saginaw, MI 48601 989-754-7088 Fax – 989-754-7099
Banquet FacilitiesRowan - West Facility1400 W. Genesee Saginaw, Michigan 48602989-753-3475
BeautyIllusions Beauty SalonValerie KingOwner/Operator1400 W. Genesee StreetSaginaw, MI 48602989.755.2666/989.755.3883
Reflection of U TooLouise McKinnie, Owner2103 Sheridan Ave.Saginaw, Michigan 48601989.753.4600
Sports Barbershop1400 W. GeneseeSaginaw, Michigan 48602989-992-2600
Advertisers Are Talking 24/7 Around The Great Lakes Bay Region And Beyond @ www.themichiganbanner.com! To Join The Conversation Contact The Sales Staff at 989.753.3475, or [email protected].
“I took great delight...” Song of Solomon 2:3The Song of Solomon captures the sacred love of
two people whose love “many waters could not quench”--a description of a love we all want. So as we peek into the pages of their “love notes” one of the very simple and obvious aspects of their love was that they told each other! If we want the love in our marriages to flourish, we have to water it with our words.
Eric and I tell each other we love each other every day. But every now and then I wish I could tell him just how much I adore him, admire him, am thankful for him... but the words feel so corny in my mind that too often they don’t make it out of my mouth. Worse yet, some days (weeks...months) are so busy with responsibility that my love for him gets less words than all our to-do items.
So, does your honeyman think you utterly adore him? Does your wife know she still makes your heart skip a beat? Does your husband know the character qualities and physical traits of his that you “take great delight in”? Yes, it’s an almost too-simple of a concept, but the reality is that many marriages suffer for lack of verbal affirmation and support. If your beloved left for their day this morning and missed hearing an affectionate, admiring word from you, I hope tonight, they’ll get an extra dose! Pray about how you might add more words into your life to make sure your spouse is bathed in your affection.
One idea if you miss those face-to-face moments to share your heart is to write it. We have a picture frame with scrapbook paper behind it and we use a white board marker to write love notes to one another on the glass. It’s fun! We’ll send text messages while we’re out and about. My husband always walks me to the door if he’s home when I run errands and sends me off with a kiss and “I love you.” Both of us have lost people without getting to say “I love you” one last time. So we feel the depth of that reality.
You might be a spouse in a struggling relationship and you’re thinking “I don’t adore him/her!” If so, I’m sorry for the heartache and am praying for your marriage right now! If you are in that place, I encourage you to start a journal and write one thing every day that you are thankful for about your spouse. And write a prayer of blessing over them too. It might feel too difficult to do this at first, but I’ve seen this simple assignment bless mar-riages and rekindle fires the couple thought were too far gone.
Sometimes we have relationships where the horizontal (person to per-son) dynamic of joy and safety that we wish for is missing. But we can have fruitful, positive, vertical (us to God) relationship. Our words of thanks and blessing might not find a welcome home with the individual, but they will with God. If you are struggling in your marriage I pray renewal for the two of you, and for your relationship with God to be strengthened during this season.
Whether you’re struggling to feel the words of admiration for your SEE P 19, An Adoring Love
anadoringLoveBy April Motl
The Ezekiel Project will be holding their 1st Ever Car Raffle fundraiser on Friday, November 22, 2013, at 6 p.m. at St. Andrew Parish Activity Center, located at 405 Hayes, on the corner of Hayes and Hamilton. We are planning for a great event, which will start at 4:30 p.m. with the winning ticket being drawn at 6 p.m. The raffle tickets are $100 each and only 1,000 will be sold, making for favorable odds of winning a new 2013 Chevy Malibu!
Get your ticket today! Contact Willie Haynes, President of Ezekiel Project at 989-755-1620 or one of the community partners, Kathy Ball, Marketing Manager at Draper Auto at 989-393-9222.
FROM P 18, An Adoring Lovespouse or just struggle to find the ways to commu-nicate them, your unique place as the other half of your spouse makes you especially influential. You can be a conduit of encouragement like no one else in your spouse’s life.
When the Lord created Eve to be a “help-mate” for Adam, the Hebrew word there is rather
unusual. It’s used in a couple contexts, but one context is the way the Holy Spirit comes along side an individual to empower them. As spouses we have a privileged and special role to love on and encourage our husbands/wives. And lavish-ing that love on them with our words is one im-portant ingredient to having a love that the waters of this world can’t wash away!
April Motl is a pastor’s wife and a gradu-ate from Southern California Seminary (MRS,) and has written for Just Between Us Magazine, Dayspring’s (In) courage, and The Secret Place and also writes regularly for crosswalk.com. For more information, visit Motl Ministries at: www.MotlMinistries.com
ObituariesPastorcharlesBraddock
Charles Edward Braddock went to be with his Lord and Savior Tuesday November 5, 2013. Rev. Braddock was born November 5, 1958 in Saginaw, Michigan to Grace Alexander Braddock and the late George
Braddock Jr. Charles committed his life to the Lord at an early age at the St. Luke C.M.E. Church; where in 2010 he was appointed Pastor until his transition. Charles was a 1976 graduate of Saginaw High School. He received his Associates degree from Delta College and BA degree in Criminal Justice from SVSU. He graduated from the Michigan Law Enforcement Academy.
Charles was a master gardener. He loved and nurtured his flowers as he did his family and com-munity. Throughout his life he focused on cultivat-ing seeds of hope, passing on to future generations a legacy with strong values and integrity. Many were inspired by his care for at-risk youth and those less fortunate. He was a man who believed in second chances, made evident by his love of people from all walks of life. Charles was an avid reader proud of his extensive library. During his lifetime he positively affected the lives of many, not just in Saginaw but throughout Michigan.
His mantra of “if you don’t use your brain now, you will use your back later,” is what led him to leave his work at Saginaw Steering Gear to pursue his education in Law Enforcement studies; a life changing move that would spark his fierce passion for advocacy and education.
Formerly an instructor at Delta College Po-
lice Academy and training officer for new police recruits, he was an ardent believer in empowering people to change the direction of communities.
Charles served the City of Saginaw in numer-ous capacities as Director of the Summer Food Program, Finance Specialist, Research Analyst, and Law Enforcement Officer. He was a passion-ate advocate for the disenfranchised and at risk populations in Saginaw serving as the Execu-tive Director of First Ward Community Servic-es. Charles answered the call to serve his state when he was appointed by Gov. John Engler to the Michigan Department of Corrections Parole Board Commission.
Charles served on the Workforce Develop-ment Board, MPRI Community Advisory Board, SVSU Board of Fellows, Delta College Interna-tional Centre Leadership Board, Saginaw County Infant Mortality Coalition, Black Police Officers Association, Central Middle School Booster Club, and the Saginaw Chapter Frontiers International Organizational.
He received the Delta College Distinguished Alumni Award, the Community Relations Life Award Whitney M. Young Boys Scouts, Saginaw Police Dept. Meritorious Service Award, and the Women Progressive Club Hazel Wright Award. In 1990 he was named “Top Cop” in the state of Michigan by Gov. James Blanchard.
During the course of his tenure in law en-forcement, he was noted for being fair, competent and having great insight. As a patrolman he op-erated the department’s first community policing mini-station, implementing anti-crime and drug prevention seminars. Later, as a Detective he in-vestigated gang related activities, homicides, and drive-by shootings. Charles began each day quot-ing his favorite scripture, Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto
your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowl-edge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
Charles’ greatest legacy is that he wanted to leave this earth a better place than how he found it. He strived for everyone to experience what he himself enjoyed in life- the love of wonderful fam-ily and friends, the sharing of joy and laughter, and the infinite beauty found in nature, music, lit-erature, and art.
Charles leaves to cherish his memory his loving mother Grace Braddock, two beautiful daughters Kinesha (Willie) Mason, of Saginaw, Candice Marie Braddock, of Lansing, Michigan, his devoted son Derek D. Riley Sr., Saginaw, three adorable granddaughters Alexxandria, Willow and Winter Alyse, who affectionately called him “Papa”, his very special grandson Derek Riley Jr. of Reedley, CA., and the mother of his children Sheilda D. Braddock. He also leaves four sisters, Brenda Thomas, Georgette (Ron) Frierson, Ruby Jones and Rev. M. Joyce Redfearn all of Saginaw Michigan, three brothers, Norman C. Braddock, Stanley Braddock of Saginaw and Rev. Frederick Lee (Sheila) Braddock of Atlanta, GA.
In addition he leaves behind a cherished nephew and niece Marcel Thomas and Serina Jones, two special God-sons Bobby Meredith and Kye Simmons, his friend of over 25 years Chet Al-len, and loving family and friends.
The family wishes to thank LaWanda Nelums, Pastor and Mrs. Vincent McMillon, Pastor Hur-ley Coleman, the Neurology staff of Covenant Cooper, Mathews Car Care, St. Luke and Dozier CME Church families, and First Ward Commu-nity Services.
The Service was held on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at the Wolverine State Baptist Headquar-ters, 615 S. Jefferson Ave. Bishop Paul A.G. Stewart officiated.
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“So while it’s true that Thanksgiving only comes but once a year, we should actually celebrate thanks each and ev-ery day. It’s just a matter of learning to live with a spirit of gratitude.”
- Unknown
Bethel AME ChurchPastor P. David Saunders535 Cathay St.Saginaw, MI 48601(989) 755-7011
Bethlehem Baptist ChurchPastor Ernest W. Bothuel3309 Bundy StreetSaginaw, MI 48601989-752-5866
Bread of Life Harvest CenterSenior Pastor Rodney J. McTaggart 3726 Fortune Blvd. Saginaw, MI 48603(989) 790-7933
Christ Disciples BaptistPastor Eddie Benson3317 Lapeer StreetSaginaw, MI 48601(989) 754-2444
Christ Fellowship MBCPastor Robert Davis818 N. Washington Ave. Saginaw, MI 48601(989) 754-4435
Corinthian Baptist ChurchPastor Roy L. Manning104 S. 10th St.Saginaw, MI 48601(989) 754-1820
Faith Harvest ChurchBishop Ronald E. ChippFaith Harvest Church 1734 N. MasonSaginaw, MI 48602(989) 799-4200Website: www.faithharvestministry.orgE-mail: [email protected] Freewill Missionary
Greater Williams TempleBishop H.J. Williams608 Remington Saginaw, MI 48601(989) 755-5291
Saginaw
Jacob’s LadderPastor Dempsey Allen1926 Fairfield StreetSaginaw, MI 48602989-799-6601
Life In Christ MinistriesPastor Dennis Cotton, Sr.2915 S. Washington Ave.Saginaw, MI [email protected]
Messiah Missionary Baptist Church2615 Williamson RoadSaginaw, MI 48601Pastor Otis Washington Phone: 989-777-2636Fax: 989-777-2640Email: [email protected]: www.Messiahsag.org
Mt. Olive Baptist ChurchPastor Marvin T. Smith1114 N. 6th StreetSaginaw, MI 48601(989) 752-8064
New Beginning Christian ChurchReverend Dr. Willie F. Casey1016 Sherman Road Saginaw, MI 48604 989-754-2963
New Beginnings Life Changing MinistriesPastor Otis Dickens2312 S. Washington Ave.Saginaw, MI 48601(989) 755-3650
New Birth Missionary BaptistPastor Larry D. Camel1418 S. WarrenSaginaw, MI 48601(989) 755-6604
New Covenant Christian CenterPastor Ron Frierson 523 Hayden Saginaw, MI 752-8485
New Hope Missionary Baptist ChurchPastor Floyd A. Logan1721 Tuscola StreetSaginaw, MI 48601(989) 753-7600Email: [email protected]
New Life Baptist ChurchPastor Rufus Bradley1401 Janes St. Saginaw, MI 48601(989) 753-1151
New Mt. Calvary BaptistPastor Robert Donald3610 Russell StreetSaginaw, MI 48601(989) 754-0801
Ninth Street Community Church Pastor William L. Scott, Jr. Assistant Pastor Rex Jones 1118 N. 9th Street Saginaw, MI 48601 989-752-7366
Prince of Peace Baptist Church 825 North 24th StreetSaginaw, MI 48601989.754.2841Pastor Robert B. Corley, Jr.
Resurrection Life Ministries ChurchPastor Carolyn L. Wilkins 2320 Sheridan Avenue Saginaw, MI 48601989.754.9466
St. Paul Baptist Pastor Vincent D. McMillon120 N. 15th St. Saginaw, MI 48601(989) 752-5023
Saginaw Valley Community Pastor Richard Sayad3660 HermansauSaginaw, MI 48603(989) 752-4769
St. Lukes CME Church1121 Tuscola Saginaw, MI 48607(989) 755-0351
Transforming Life Ministries Pastor William Brown3024 South Washington AvenueSaginaw, MI 48601-4353(989) 754-9573
Truevine Baptist Church Pastor Paul E. Broaddus 2930 Janes StreetSaginaw, MI 48601989-752-0751
Victorious Believers Ministries Church Rev. Christopher V. Pryor624 S. Outer Dr. Saginaw, MI (989) 755-7692
Wolverine Baptist State Convention615 S. Jefferson Ave.Saginaw, MI 48607
World Outreach Campus of Greater Coleman Temple MinistriesSupt. H.J. Coleman Jr.2405 Bay Rd. Saginaw, MI 48602(989) 752-7957
Zion Missionary Baptist ChurchPastor Rodrick Smith721 JohnsonSaginaw, MI 48607(989) 754-9621
World AIDS Day is held on December 1, each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the stigma associated with the disease. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and the first one was held in 1988.We pledge to show support for peo-ple living with HIV and to commemorate those who have died.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Health Delivery Inc. in conjunction with the Saginaw HIV/AIDS Taskforce will commemorate World AIDS Day 2013 with vari-ous free community events:
• Wewillbedisplayinga14footredaidsRibbonfromNovem-ber25,untildecember2, at the Saginaw County Courthouse, 111 S Mich-igan Ave.
• a“calltoaction”programwillbeonMonday,November25,2013 at noon at the Saginaw County Courthouse on Michigan Ave. We will have community speakers and community HIV related resources. The rib-bon display will represent the impact of HIV/AIDS in our city, and repre-sent our city’s support in decreasing HIV rates and stigma, and increasing care and education of the disease.
• Unique Cuts, 1502 Court Street, in Saginaw • Wednesday,November27,2013.12:30pm-1:30pm• Shea Galleria, Galleria Building Number 2, 1520 E. Genesee, in
Saginaw• Wednesday,November27,2013.1:30p-2:30pm• NaacPwillhostacommunityconversationfocusingonhiV: Bethel A.M.E. Church Multipurpose Hall, 535 Cathay, in Saginaw
candlelightVigil Anderson Enrichment Center, 120 Ezra Rust Drive, in Saginaw Monday,december2,2013,at6pm *RefreshmentswillbeservedAll residents of Saginaw and surrounding areas are invited to the FRee
programs to better equip residents with an understanding of HIV/AIDS, and how they can combat this disease at a local level. For more information contact Deidre Verdun at the Hearth Home at 989-753-9011, or email at [email protected].
itisTimetounitefortheFight!
elderabuseWorkshopZeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Omega Zeta graduate chapter in Saginaw, on November 21, will host a free “Caring and Surviving” workshop at the Saginaw Hoyt Library, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
A D e d i c a t e d N o n - M e d i c a l H o m e C a r e A g e n c y
The ComForcare MissionTo improve the quality of life and
level of independence for every client and family receiving our services.
We focus on four initiatives that are critical to the well-being of seniors: • Fall Prevention
• Medication Adherence
• Chronic Disease Management
• Transition of Care
Local Nonprofits, Health Professionals, Partner for Diabetes Awareness Month
The Legacy Civic Fund, St. Mary’s of Michigan, Saginaw County CAC and First Ward are partnering to hold health fairs with free diabetes screenings and services for residents in conjunction with American Diabetes Awareness month.
The health fairs will be held Friday, November 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at First Ward, 1410 N. 12th St., in Saginaw, and Monday, November 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Saginaw County CAC, 2824 Per-kins St., in Saginaw.
The following services will be provided to residents free of charge at each health fair: foot exams, blood pressure checks, cholesterol screenings, blood sugar testing, and eye exams.
Health care providers, dieticians, pharmacists, and wellness instructors will also be on hand to answer questions and educate those in attendance about the disease and what they can do to live a long and healthy life.
Zleta Vanburen, a mother who suddenly lost her daughter to diabetes in August of last year, said she is very glad to see comprehensive efforts to raise awareness and provide residents with screenings in the region.
“My daughter, Mi’ Angel, was a perfectly healthy and active 10-year-old who loved dance, cheerleading, karate, and was a wonderful and bright student,” said Vanburen.
“She received regular checkups and physical exams and her physicians never expressed a concern. Mi’ Angel became very ill after returning to Michigan in August of last year and we lost her in a matter of days as she suddenly entered into a diabetic coma and her heart failed as she was being airlifted to Detroit.”
Vanburen said the experience changed the course of her life and inspired her to pursue a career in the medical field. She is currently completing an externship in patient tech care and studying toward her Associates in Health Science with the hope of working in pediatrics one day.
Her message is simple: educate yourself and get regular screenings to ensure you’re able to live a long and healthy life.
Diabetes is a disease, if left unchecked, which can damage every part of the body. It can cause heart disease, kidney disease, loss of vision and blindness, amputations, depression, gum disease, digestive disorders, hear-ing loss, and other health complications.
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 24 million chil-dren and adults in the United States are living with diabetes; another 57 mil-lion people are at risk of developing the disease.
Stacy Erwin Oakes, founder of the Civic Legacy Fund, said she discov-ered she was borderline diabetic herself in 2011 after experiencing symp-toms that she originally believed were related to pregnancy.
“With the help of my OBGYN and through the diligence of my primary care provider I discover I was borderline diabetic and was able to utilize that information to ensure I’m able to live a long and health life,” said Oakes. “If my care provider had not taken specific precautions this could have easily
Obesity is a national crisis. Last year 28% of Head Start children were overweight or obese when they enrolled. Addressing this crisis has been a priority in Head Start for years, but we have not moved the needle on the scale as much as we need to.
We all know this is a multi-layered challenge which cannot be addressed with a single approach. That is why NHSA has teamed up with the National Center on Health and more than a dozen national organizations and universities to present the first Health Institute on Weight and Wellness. Each of the presenters, panelists, and exhibitors brings a unique approach to the challenge of moving from obesity to wellness. For additional information visit www.nhsa.org/events
sabrinaBeeman-JacksonSaginaw ISD Head Start/Early Head Start Program Director
openingsessionKeynote
closingsessionKeynote
Ashley Merryman
Please join us on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 for our Opening Session featuring Ashley Merryman, award winning author, reporter, and advocate for America’s families. In this session, Ms. Merryman will share new thinking about children. Including hidden factors in a child’s development that support their success in school and in life.
Luis A. HernandezEducator
Please join us on Thursday, December 12, 2013 for our Closing Session featuring Luis A. Hernandez, Educator, Author and source of inspiration! This energizing session’s theme will be We Are Family! Drawing from his extensive work with our families, agencies and all who advocate for children, Luis will close the conference with a challenge to all of us to reach higher.
Yvette Sanches Fuentes DirectorOffice of Head Start
As Director of the Office of Head Start, Yvette Sanchez Fuentes brings exten-sive experience in providing services to young children from low-income fami-lies at the local, regional, and national levels. In her role as Director, Ms. San-chez Fuentes will help lead ACF’s criti-cally important mission of enriching the quality of early childhood development for our nation’s most vulnerable chil-dren.
specialGuest
If you are interested in volunteering, email Nardos Abebe, [email protected]
Contact Wardene Talley
989-754-2288
A child with Severe Emotional Disturbance gets support from many places. But that support only helps that child if each provider works as part of a well coordinated team. We maximize teamwork — by making sure every step the team takes is focused on the betterment of that child.
A.Philip Randolph InstitutePOB 1107Saginaw, MI 48606American Red Cross1232 N. MichiganSaginaw, MI 48602989-754-8181Antique Toy & Firehouse Museum3456 Patterson Rd. Bay City, MI 487061-888-888-1270 Boys & Girls Club of Bay County300 Lafayette Ave.Bay City, MI 48706989-892-6723CAN Council Saginaw County1311 N. Michigan AvenueSaginaw, MI 48602(989) 752-7226 / fax (989) 752-2777www.cancouncil.orgCastle Museum of Saginaw County History500 Federal Ave.Saginaw, MI 48607 Circle of Love 1809 Durand Ave.Saginaw, MI 48602989-754-2377
Emmaus House of Saginaw733 S. 15th StreetSaginaw, MI 48601989-755-7538THE EZEKIEL [email protected]. Box 3470Saginaw, MI. 48605-3470Phone: 989.755.1620 Fax: 989.755.4038First Ward Community Center1410 N. 12th StreetSaginaw, MI 48601989-753-0411Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan5470 Davis Rd.Saginaw, MI 48604989-799-9565Good Neighbors Mission1318 Cherry StreetSaginaw, MI 48601989-399-9918Health Delivery, Inc. 501 Lapeer Ave.Saginaw, MI 48607989.759.6400
Houghton-Jones Task Force1708 Johnson StreetSaginaw, MI989-752-1660Michigan Banner Outreach 1400 W. GeneseeSaginaw, MI 48602989-714-2240Nathan Weidner Children’s Advocacy Ctr.715 N. EuclidBay City, MI989-671-1345Operation Reach 119 S. Jefferson Avenue Saginaw, MI 989-754-4444
Pit and Balcony Theatre805 N. HamiltonSaginaw, MI 48602www.pitandbalconytheatre.com989. [email protected]
Public Libraries of SaginawButman-Fish, Claytor, Hoyt, Wickes & Zauel Libraries505 Janes AvenueSaginaw, MI 48607989-755-0904www.saginawlibrary.orgRestoration Community Outreach1205 Norman Saginaw, MI 48601(989) 753-1886 / fax (989) 753-2880Email: [email protected] Saginaw County Community Action Agency, Inc. (CAC)2824 Perkins StreetSaginaw, MI 48601989.753.7741The Saginaw Community Foundation1 Tuscola, Suite 100 Saginaw, MI 48607989-755-0545
NON PROFIT DIRECTORY
FROM P 23, Legacy Civic Fundbeen overlooked. The symptoms of diabetes align very closely with those of a pregnancy.”
According to the American Diabetes Asso-ciation, symptoms of diabetes include:
• Urinating often• Feeling very thirsty• Feeling very hungry, even though you are
eating• Extreme fatigue• Blurred vision• Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal• Weight loss, even though you are eating
more (Type 1)• Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands
and/or feet (Type 2)Oakes said the Legacy Civic Fund will be
airing Public Service Announcements and do-ing community outreach during the month of November to help raise awareness and ensure residents throughout the region are aware of the health fairs.
“Diabetes is a very serious health risk that
takes the lives of children and adults when un-treated,” said Oakes. “We’re working to raise awareness and offer free screenings and health care services to residents in an effort to ensure those living with the disease, and those who are at risk of developing the disease, are able to identify it early and take the proper precautions to live a full and healthy life.”
St. Mary’s of Michigan said they strongly en-courage residents to attend the fairs and have a screening done.
“We’re thrilled to help raise awareness and ensure preventive care and treatment options are available to residents in the region,” said Che-rie Sammis, Vice President of Mission Integra-tion. “It is important for residents to know the signs and symptoms of diabetes and get screened so they can take steps to prevent serious health risks.”
The Saginaw County CAC and First Ward expressed their excitement for the initiative and said they’re honored to host the health fairs.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for residents
throughout the region to come out and receive free preventive care,” said Lillie Williams with the Saginaw County CAC. “We’re very excited to do our part.”
Michelle McGregor with the First Ward said they hope residents will take advantage of this opportunity to receive free care, educate them-selves, and take action to preserve their health and wellness.
NextMedia Group will also be on hand to do a live remote for both health fairs.
There will also be hourly raffle prizes at each fair. Prizes will include Thanksgiving turkeys and other items to assist residents during the holiday season. Everyone who attends will be entered into the drawing and have an opportunity to win free prizes to celebrate the holiday with their fam-ily and friends.
Registration is not required to attend the health fairs, they are open and free to the public and screenings will occur on a first come, first served basis.
To volunteer your services or to donate goods in the community, call Henrietta Watson at the United Way of Saginaw County, 755-0505, Ext. 216, [email protected]. Or check out the web-based volunteer program at www.GOvolunteerNOW.org.
Are you or someone you know having child behavior problems?
The CAN Council, through Project LAUNCH funding, offers FREE parenting classes. The program is called Incredible Years and is an evidence based curricula targeting parents with 3 to 6 year old children. The parent training program is designed to work jointly to promote emotional and social competence and to prevent, reduce, and treat behavioral and emotional problems in young children. There have been 40 parents and caregivers who participated in 3 series of 20 sessions each.
Is IY helpful?
National studies have shown promising results:
Increased positive and nurturing parenting
Decreased harsh coercive negative parenting
Reduction in children’s home and school behavior problems
Increased positive behaviors at home and school
Increased parent-child bonding
For more information about Incredible Years, please contact Vera, CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region CAPE Director and Incredible Years Group Leader, at [email protected] or 989-752-7226.
Project LAUNCH stands for Linking Actions for Unmet Needs for Children’s Health. The Michigan Department of Community Health was awarded a grant from the federal government and they chose Saginaw as the area to provide services. If you want to learn more about Project LAUNCH contact Pamela at (989) 202-1485 extension 102 or [email protected].
S A G I N A W
I N C R E D I B L E Y E A R S Incredible Years We began our third Incredible Years class series in October 2012. On the first day of classes we do paperwork and introductions. During the first class, my co-group leader and I began introductions by saying what our jobs are and what our background is. Then it was the parents’ turns to share. This group went way above and beyond the typical name and brief background (number of children, gender and ages) that most parents give when they first meet each other. These parents voluntarily opened up and shared difficulties they were having with each child including the troubles and barriers their families were facing. Several of the parents cried when they shared. Each parent spent a good ten minutes or more telling their story and what had led them to be in the class. They chose not to hold back! We believe this story shows just how vital the Project Launch-funded Incredible Years is to the community. The parents in our current session had these feelings and concerns bottled up just waiting for someone to listen to them. Just waiting for someone who had support to offer them. When adults who have never met are willing to open up to strengthen their families, you know the services being provided are exactly what they were hoping for! ~ Danelle Elliott Incredible Years Group Leader CAN Council Great Lakes Bay
A special collaboration with choirs of Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy and White Pine Middle School will be presented on December 14, at 3 pm, at the Temple Theatre, 203 N. Washington Ave., in Saginaw. Glen Thomas Rideout, Artistic Director.
From Santa’s visit on The Night Before Christmas and The Nutcracker’s world of living toys, to The Reluctant Dragon’s fiery winter adventures, we open a world of wonder & story for the whole family to love.
Join the SCS family for an afternoon of
enchantment for all ages. Sing along with us as we visit our most loved carols. Hear the stories of Christmas come to life before your very ears!
For more information visit www.saginawchoralsociety.com
ThesaginawchoralsocietyPresents“christmasTales”
ThanksgivingcranberryPineapplePunchingredients
• Two 1-quart bottles chilled cranberry juice cocktail• A 1-quart 14-ounce can chilled unsweetened pineapple juice• 2 cups chilled ginger ale• 2 cups chilled seltzer water
Preparation
In a large punch bowl, combine the cranberry juice cocktail, the pineapple juice, the ginger ale, and the seltzer water, add an ice block, and enjoy!Makes about 20 cups
Source: Internet
silentNightsing-along atBronner’sJoin Bob Spletzer and a guest guitarist in the Silent Night Chapel as they lead everyone in singing “Silent Night” on December 24, 3 pm to 3:15 p.m., at 25 Christmas Lane, in Frankenmuth. This is a rare opportunity to enter the inner Chapel.
Each year The Michigan Banner proudly salutes our future generational movers who are passionate about the success of their generation, as well as, our nation. This year, we proudly designate the title of the first Ms. Michigan Banner to Imani Coney.
Imani is a passionate young woman whose chosen path will serve the global community.
Coney, formerly of Saginaw, was recently selected to participate in the Miss Black and Gold Pageant sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Eta Gamma and Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapters. Although she was not crowned Miss
Black and Gold, she left the audience in awe.Imani is the daughter of Lisa and Norris
Coney, and is a proud product of Saginaw Public Schools. She matriculated from Handley Elementary to Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy completing her high school years as a half day student at SASA and Arthur Hill High School where she graduated number three within the class of 2012.
She is now a sophomore at Prairie View A & M University in Prairie View, TX majoring in Mechanical Engineering aspiring to become an Astrophysicist. She excelled academically while in high school and continues to excel at Prairie View where she obtained a full-ride scholarship along with numerous local community scholarships to pay for college expenses.
Coney has been very active at Prairie View participating in the PV Dance Ensemble, Honors Program, National Society of Collegiate Scholars and The National Society of Black
Engineers. Academically, she is on the Dean’s List and University’s Honor Roll. This summer she was selected to attend a STEM internship at North Dakota State University and was featured on their website.
Imani is an outstanding representation of Saginaw pride!
Coney would like to extend a special thank you to the following organizations and people for supporting her participation in the Black and Gold Pageant: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Eta Upsilon Omega Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Iota Chi Lambda Chapter, The Michigan Banner, Ivylette Advisors: Ms. Mary McDonald, Ms. Ceylon Bettis, Mrs. Bridget Hall and Ms. Lisa Coney, Family and Friends: Mr. & Mrs. Raymond and Lynn Presley, Mr. Charles Taylor, Mr. Ralph Martin, Ms. Veronica Hamilton, Aunt Liz, Uncle John, Andrea and Jameson.
Great Lakes Bay Region Society
RepresentingsaginawPrideinstyle!By The Michigan Banner Staff
The Cornette Ball is one of the grandest annual black-tie galas in the Great Lakes Bay region. The festive evening held on November 23, 2013, 6 to 11 p.m., at Horizon’s Conference Center in Saginaw, includes a decadent cocktail hour, a magnificent five-course gourmet meal, fantastic live music and dancing.
Each year, the St. Mary’s of Michigan Spirit of St. Vincent Award is presented at the Cornette Ball to at least one highly respected physician who has rendered long and noteworthy service to the Saginaw community and surrounding counties.
If you are interested in attending the event, please call St. Mary’s of Michigan Foundation, 907-8300, for ticket information.
cornetteBall
Stefano Fontanini of the famous Fontanini Heirloom Nativities family will appear at Bronner’s in Frankenmuth on November 23, 1 p.m. The House of Fontanini operates from the village of Bagni di Lucca in Italy where it originated in 1908. For additional information call 989.652.9931.
FontaniniitalianNativitiessigningatBronner’s
The 21st Annual Hollyday Art Fair, will be held Wednesday, December 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Andersen Enrichment Center, 120 Ezra Rust Drive (across from Ojibway Island) in Saginaw. The admission to the Hollyday Art Fair is free.
A lunch will be served in the Garden Room from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will include homemade soup, sandwich and dessert. The cost for the lunch is $6.00. Tickets can now be purchased and are available at the Andersen Enrichment Center.
The Hollyday Fair will feature a fresh holly sale as well as distinctive gifts in the gift gallery. Michigan artists at booths will offer jewelry, ornaments, folk art, fibers, clothing and accessories, original artwork, soft-sculpture, soaps, books and a variety of holiday crafts. Superb sweets for holiday entertaining will be available at the Hollyday Bake Shoppe.
A Silent Auction will run from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and will offer gift certificates, concert tickets and merchandise donated by area businesses.
For further information regarding Hollyday Fair, please call (989)759-1363, ext. 223.
The Hollyday Art Fair is presented by Catholic Federal Credit Union and sponsored by The BAY 104 FM/1400 AM, Letitia Little, Suzanne and Ed Skerlunas, Audrey and David Lewis, James M. Braun DDS, Alice Baldwin and the Tim and Lori Hausbeck Family; media support by WSGW Newsradio 790.
More often than not this generation is encouraged to go to a four-year univer-sity to obtain a de-gree, or maybe even to pursue a master’s degree or PhD, and then join the corpo-rate world. The cor-porate world usually offers great oppor-tunities for college graduates, but it also depends on the flow of the economy and
the number of jobs available. Also, the likelihood of a college graduate walking into a corporate job that is above entry level after graduation is very slim.
However, a college degree can be a step-ping-stone into the corporate world, and with an essential plan B in this economy, I think the African American youth can reach economic equality--if they explore entrepreneurship. The millennial generation must realize that their eco-nomic time is running out, that is why 21- year- old Veronica-Sierra Gibson, of Detroit, decided
to beat the stereotypes and offer more within her community.
Gibson, a senior at Western Michigan Uni-versity, is studying Textile and Apparel: Product and Development Emphasis. She started on her road to entrepreneurship with two colleagues, DeMario and Kadeem, both 23, with the Beau-bian clothing line named after a street in De-troit’s Greektown historic commercial and en-tertainment district. The business is a LLC and started as a simple T-shirt design. In just three short months, they launched a website with cus-tom hats, t-shirts, and tanks.
“The basis of the company is to bring some-thing different to the table in the small business world, and shed light on the positive aspects of Detroit through our original designs,” Gibson said.
The vision of the young, motivated and be-ginning entrepreneurs, to use Beaubian’s apparel and art to educate the community is pretty sweet and simple with hope that it will bring success back to such a broken city, Gibson says. “At the end of the day, people start clothing lines all the time, but what separates Beaubian from the rest is our REASON behind it and not just about making the money, “she said.”
In addition, Gibson understands the lack
of jobs, and economic equality young African American’s face. “I believe that it is very im-portant to have something that you can build on, and starting something that makes you happy and breaks cultural norms.”
Gibson doesn’t want to look back and regret not chasing her dreams while helping others ac-complish theirs. It is that kind of bold vision that will push these young entrepreneurs beyond the barriers of the job market. “Discovering entre-preneurship is definitely a foot into corporate America just using a different approach,” she said. “The process may be a little longer, but it will spark interest, and in reality corporate institutions are attracted to things that are new, and groundbreaking. In my opinion, anyone can reach those pinnacles if they choose to put the work in. Discovering entrepreneurship in the Af-rican American community creates opportunity and break down barriers no matter the age. Black businesses are in a state of evolution and slowly starting to change how others view us in the cor-porate world.”
Beabuian’s bold, unique and creative designs can be purchased at www.beabuianclothing.big-cartel.com.
Millennial EntrepreneurshipTheimportanceofentrepreneurshipintheafricanamericancommunity:FromtheFemalePerspectiveBy Lauren Little The Michigan Banner Media Intern
Central Michigan Uni-versity is introducing a doc-toral program that will offer students the opportunity to
discuss and analyze educational policy. The new Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership program will incorporate critical thinking, re-search and policy analysis to prepare students for
careers in research, lobbying, policymaking, and school and college administration.
Frim Ampaw, the program director, says the new program will evaluate national educational policies with an emphasis on social justice and change, incorporating theoretical research.“Our students will be studying policies such as No Child Left Behind,” Ampaw said. “We’ll look
at what these policies intended to do, how they have worked and how they could be better.”
Applications are being accepted through April 1, 2014. Classes are scheduled to begin in August 2014. To read the entire article and to ac-cess the application, visit www.cmich.edu.
November Nov. 22 Spring Arbor 7:00 PM Nov. 26 Grace Bible (Mich.) 7:00 PM
December Dec. 5 Ohio Dominican* 8:00 PM Dec. 7 Tiffin * 3:00 PM Dec. 16 at Ashland * 7:30 PM Dec. 18 at Lake Erie * 8:00 PM
2013 SVSU Men’s Basketball Schedule
This year, the NFL holiday triple-header begins with an early Thanksgiving Day game beginning Thursday, November 28, 2013 at 12:30 PM ET on CBS that pits the Detroit Lions against the Green Bay Packers.
Later that afternoon, stay tuned at 4:30 PM ET when FOX airs the Dallas Cowboys doing battle with the Oakland Raiders, followed by the prime-time game on Thanksgiving night as the Pittsburgh Steelers meet the Baltimore Ravens beginning at 8:30 PM ET on NBC.
ThanksgivingdayNFLKickoffTime
“For some reason the football coach of a major college program is seen as one of the leaders of the campus. And some way we have to let our young people know that that leader can look like anyone.”Tony Dungy
