Ivy K. Gillespie Moody Memorial Chapel

Ivy K. Gillespie Memorial Chapel, 1865 Eastern SE, is now known as Ivy K. Gillespie Moody Memorial Chapel. The change is notice that Mr. Sherman Gillespie and Pastor Nathaniel Moody have officially solidified their business union and are planning for the future. “We want a better vision from the birth of this business to its presence in the future. We would also like to encourage our children to see our vision for the future. We would like to open doors to others, just as doors were opened for us. God gets all the glory; he has truly blessed us,” said Pastor Moody.

Officials Postpone Opening Ellington Academy

The Grand Rapids Times
8-15-2008

Students To Get Rigorous After School Program With Performing Arts Emphasis

Grand Rapids – GRPS and GREAAT Schools Inc. officials have announced plans to postpone the opening of the Grand Rapids Ellington Academy of Arts and Technology for the 2008/2009 school year and to start transitioning enrolled students with a rigorous performing arts-based after school program.

The decision came after the conclusion of the final round of interviews where it was determined that given the unique demands of the GREAAT program, more work needed to be done to expand the candidate pool for teachers.

“Although we have met every milestone and necessary requirement of GRPS, there was one critical outstanding piece we could not overlook,” said Dr. MaLinda, will serve as the school’s principal.

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Congress Rescues Homeowners, Neighborhoods

The dream of homeownership has turned into a nightmare for many Americans who have seen the value of their investments homes drop significantly, while others are worried about losing the home they have worked so hard for.

The vitality of our nation’s neighborhoods and the billions of dollars of wealth Americans have invested in their homes are at stake.

Read more about it in this week’s print edition of The Grand Rapids Times.

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Team Tillman Sponsors 6th Annual Back To School Carnival, Backpack Giveaway

The Grand Rapids Times
8-15-2008

New backpacks and school supplies are on the way for 500 children in Grand Rapids.

Team Tillman announced today that it will sponsor the 6th Annual Back to School Carnival. The company created the event to help support school-aged children from families with limited resources.

“Educating our children is our highest priority. We want them to have strong backpacks so they can bring books home from school. We’re also trying to remove a potential barrier to their learning experience by providing them with school supplies,” said Team Tillman president, Roosevelt Tillman.

In addition to purchasing backpacks and school supplies, Team Tillman has booked carnival rides, planned games with prizes and ordered festive food to make the event enjoyable for community families.
“I want the event to feel like a celebration. Hopefully the carnival and new school supplies will create an excitement among the kids so they’ll look forward to going back to school,” said Tillman.

The 6th Annual Back to School Carnival will be Saturday, August 23, 2008 from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Madison Shopping Plaza, located at the corner of Madison and Hall SE.

Backpacks and school supplies will be given to school age children. The carnival is free and open to the community.

Veteran’s Canine Companion Program Open To Teens

It’s Dr. Turnera Croom, your Community Pet Doctor, with an opportunity for students aged 14 to 18 years to participate in the Veterans Canine Companion Program.

I created the program so that friendly, pre-certified companion dogs can visit our brave veterans at the Battle Creek VA (Veteran’s Administration) hospital.

As both an Army veteran and veterinarian, it was only natural to create this program, giving back to my fellow veterans.

As a parent, it’s also natural to want to get youth involved, especially those interested in Veterinary Medicine. My own 9–year-old daughter would give her weekly allowance to be able to go on these visits with me, but the VA’s volunteer age requirement is 14 years.

The only other requirement to participate in this program is to attend an important volunteer orientation at the VA hospital.

The one to one-half hour orientation is required for anyone (including myself) wanting to volunteer and interact with the veterans and is put on by the VA — not by me, Dr.Croom.

Responsibility for scheduling and attending the VA orientation will be entirely up to the students and their parent(s).

I know that students who truly have an interest in this program will take this opportunity to show initiative.
Once this step is taken, the student will be able to visit the veterans and learn about different aspects of the field of Veterinary Medicine with a hometown veterinarian they can relate to.

Students should expect to receive one-on-one time with Dr. Croom who will mentor them in preparation for college in general, and specifically veterinary school.

Students will have opportunities to handle companion dogs, which is an excellent confidence builder.

The kids will also feel the pride associated with volunteering and giving back to veterans.

All students who register with the program and attend visit(s) will receive certification as an ‘honorary companion dog handler’, which is a great addition to any student’s resume.

If you are 14 to 18 years old, or know a student who may be interested in this program, please take note of the following information:

1. Upcoming VA Orientation dates are August 18th, Sep. 15th, and Sep 29th. This orientation is put on by the VA hospital, not Dr. Croom.

2. Call the following VA number to pre-register for a date: (269) 223-5497

3. Once your student has registered, please contact me, Dr. Croom, at (269) 873-1311 for more information about the program and future dates of Veteran’s visits.

I look forward to accelerating this program with the energy and enthusiasm of young, science-oriented students.

The veterans, who have given so much, will thrive under the attentions of loveable dogs and your excited students.

Seidman Wildcats Win Championship

A Group of young basketball players from Seidman Center Boys / Girls Club can bear witness to the idea that a lot of regular practice pays off.

[To continue reading, click here to download page 9 from this week's edition of the GR Times]

GRAAHI, Churches, MOA Connect For Glaucoma Awareness

Grand Rapids Times
8-15-2008

The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute and the Michigan Optometric Association are holding a series of presentations on the topic of Glaucoma and its effect on the community.

Several area churches in Grand Rapids are participating in this effort.

The initiative is a partnership of GRAAHI and the Michigan Optometric Association, made possible through a grant from Vision Service Plan and the American Optometric Association.

In July, presentations were scheduled for True Light Baptist Church and Messiah Missionary Baptist Church.

The August schedule includes Renaissance Church of GodIn Christ on August 13, 2008, and New Hope Baptist Church on August 25, 2008.

Books: Suggested ’08 Summer/Fall Reading

It’s been awhile since I’ve done one of my Pointblank Booklists of top 10 choices of the most informative (in my humble opinion) reading.

Most of the entries are new to the list, there are 3 from the previous list that I feel still warrant urgent reading (9,4 & 1). 2 of the authors are psychiatrists and 1 is a psychologist (not that I’m implying anything).

You can save by ordering one or more of these books from my man Curtis at Moodmakers Books in Rochester; WNY’s only black owned bookstore.

Just call 585-271-7010 and tell him I referred you. If he doesn’t have it now he can order it for you.
Of course, if no answer leave a message.

#10. New-ObamaNation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality, by Jerome R. Corsi Ph.D: This guy hates Barack Obama, but his research will probably help inspire you to vote for him. His book and radio interviews show Obama may be blacker than many blacks believe he is. No doubt, written to scare whites; but buy it anyway.

#9. Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of medical experimentation on black Americans from colonial times to present-Harriet Washington: The book I refuse to allow you to miss. Meticulously researched account, 500-pages (glossary 50 pages-long) of tireless, devious, white experimentation on blacks since colonialism, to the modern health care disparities.

#8. Ass Backwards: A black police officer’s hatred for inner city criminals and their enablers, by Kodiak: The title is just a summary of the way this black undercover cop sees urban youth, racist co-workers and the people who protect both..

#7. Falling Through the Crack, by Betty Jean Grant- Best known in Upstate NY as a Buffalo politician and hands-on activist, Mrs. Grant’s poetry takes no prisoners on the state of Black America (especially Buffalo) and praises great black women from Harriet to Horne (Cariol) to those four little girls. Read “Southern Style BBQ,” “The Red Mud of Tennessee,” and “Afrika Town.”

#6. Black Inventors- Keith C. Holms History’s great black inventors from Africa to America.

#5. A Human Being Died That Night, by Pumla Gobodo Madikizela: A South African psychologist’s memoirs. She goes behind bars to interview a commander of a death squad who is serving a 212-year sentence for crimes committed during the Apartheid era.

#4. Classic - The Mis-Education of the Negroe-Carter G. Woodson: An ’06 reprint by H. Khalif Khalifah. Even back in 1933 our great educator on black history saw where we were heading: “It has been said the Negroes do not connect morals with religion. The historian would like to know what race or nation does such a thing.”

To see the top 3, check out page 10 from the Print Edition of the Grand Rapids Times.

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