Florida Sentinel Bulletin

On Monday, members of the community gathered at the intersection of N. 40th Street and E. Miller Avenue for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ceremony marked the completion of the N. 40th Street Enhancement Project. The $103 million project began 8 years ago during the first term of Mayor Pam Iorio’s administration. Mayor Iorio launched the project after receiving numerous complaints about the condition of the then two-lane roadway. The new project features a new four-lane roadway that covers the 4.2 miles from E. Hillsborough Avenue to E. Fowler Avenue. Among those joining Mayor Iorio were Gloria Smart, Moses Moore, Ruth Fleming, Rosanna McCullough, Pamela Bradford, Jerry L. Balloon, Bill Richardson, Ronnie Moorer, and Reverend Matthew James. (Photography by BRUNON).

As Mayor Pam Iorio makes her rounds throughout the city during her final days in office saying good-bye to the friends she has made, she visited with members of the Sentinel Editorial Board Wednesday afternoon to express gratitude for the paper’s support over the past 26 years while she was in public office. Board members expressed gratitude to her as well for not just visiting with the Board during election time. To show her gratitude, Mayor Iorio presented each member with a show plate of Tampa that she personalized for each. From left to right are: C. Blythe Andrews, III, Bishop James H. Howell, Gwen Hayes, Mayor Iorio, Kay Andrews, Rubin Padgett and Randolph Kinsey.  (Photography by BRUNSON)

Michael Vick, quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, was in Tampa this past weekend to help Abe Brown Ministries celebrate its founder’s 84th birthday. Reverend Abraham Brown would have been 84 years old on March 18th. The well-known quarterback, accompanied by retired championship coach Tony Dungy, made a visit to Avon Park Correctional Institute to talk with inmates Saturday morning. Vick and Peter King, Senior Writer for Sports Illustrated magazine, were the special dinner guests later in the evening at Higgins Hall. Family members shown with the special guests are from left: Vanessa Brown Bennett, Lauren Dungy, Tony Dungy, Rev. Brown’s widow, Altamese Brown, Michael Vick, Peter King, Robert Blount, Kim Brown Blount, Miles Bennett and in the front, Pierce Blount, IV. (Photo by Ishmon Johnson)

The Wilkes and McHugh 26th UNCF All Star High School 2011 Basketball Classic was held Friday, March 11, 2011 at Jefferson High School. The East Squad, coached by Dexter Bryant, Head Coach at Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School, won the game, 45-33. Senior players from the west side of the county went up against girls from the east side of the county. Members of the team and the schools they represented are: Shaunice Hobbs, Tampa Bay Tech; Caitlin Doone, Chamberlain; Taylor Broadnax, Durant, 3-point contest winner; Layla Johnson, East Bay; Keyann Powell, Brooks-DeBartolo; Raven Quarterman, Brooks-DeBartolo; Shamaria Engram, Strawberry Crest; Diana Mitchell, Wharton; Tashana Bludsaw, Hillsborough High; Liana Pugueno, Spoto, and Brianna Thomas, Spoto, East MVP. The winning girls’ squad is shown with coaches Bill Richardson, Brooks-DeBartolo assistant; Curtis Folsom, Middleton High girls’ coach; Dexter Bryant and George Kimbell, Brooks-DeBartolo assistant. (Photograph by Toby Scott)

Hillsborough Community College hosted the Black, Brown and College Bound Summit last month at the Renaissance Hotel. The theme for the conference was “Courageous Conversations: Taking it to the Next Level with African American and Latino Males.” The summit is designed to bring together national experts and practitioners to discuss programs and strategies to increase the academic achievement of underrepresented males. Among those in attendance were, from left: Dr. Joan Holmes, Tim King, Esquire, guest speaker and founder of an all-male school with 99% of the grads attending college; Dr. Ken Ray, Jr., and Dr. Sylvia Marion Carley. (Photo by BRUNSON)

The 4th Annual Black Diamond Awards event was held in the theater at Howard W. Blake High School on February 26, 2011. Awards were presented to the following winners: in front, Rev. Dr. C. P. Epps, Religious Leader of the Year; first row, left to right, Dr. Carolyn Collins, who accepted for the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP, Civic Organization of the Year; Ross Anderson, Humanitarian of the Year; Robert (Bob) Samuels, Citizen of the Year; Aminta, of WTMP’s Mid-Day Vibe, Mistress of Ceremony; Andre White, who accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award for his brother, Alton White, Sr.; Sherryl Cusseaux, who accepted for DSI Black Pages, Business of the Year; Quentin Williams, Amateur Male Athlete of the Year; and Jarvis El-Amin, Community Activist of the Year. On the back row, Jasmine Roberts, Student of the Year; Audrey Glymph and David Denson, both recipients of Chairman’s Special Award; Ralph Smith, Unsung Hero of the Year; and Deputy James Gallon, Law Official of the Year. Also receiving awards were Carolyn Hill, Educator of the Year and Amber Henson, Amateur Female Athlete of the Year. (Photo by Frederick Harris Photography)

‘A Night of Kings And Queens Community Awards Recognition: A Celebration of the African American Culture” was held Friday evening, February 25, 2011, at Pepin’s Hospitality Center. Several area businesses co-sponsored the event. Radio personalities Jomama Johnson and his wife, Prophetess B. Shepard were the Master and Mistress of ceremonies. Award recipients seated left to right: James Johnson accepted the Community Impact Merit Award for the Florida Sentinel; Pastor Moses Brown, Th.D., of Feed Our Children Ministries received the MLK Humanitarian Award; Rev. Thomas Scott, of the Tampa City Council, received the Adam Clayton Powell Award; Ms. Evangeline (Vann) Richardson Best, of the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership, was presented the Marcus Garvey Community Development Award and Sol Davis of Sol Davis Printing received the African American Business Merit Award. Standing, left to right, Thomas Huggins, Tameca Johnson, Julia Jackson, Henry “Shake” Washington, Sr., recipient of the Mary McLeod Bethune Distinguished African American Award; Jomama Johnson, Prophetess B. Shepard and Lawrence Hires, event planner. (Photo by Julia Jackson)

The Tampa Chapter of the Links, Inc. hosted its 5th African American Read-In on the last day of February at Sheehy Elementary. The Links, and their girls group at the school, the Royal Jewels welcomed 31 guest readers.  The majority of the readers were African American male professionals in the community. The Read-In is the organization’s national initiative that promotes the reading of African American authored books.
The Tampa Links donated 85 books to the school as well. On hand for the event were:  Mike Butler, Walter Niles, Charles Thybulle, Links, Dr. Jacentha Buggs, the event chair; Janice Carter Collier, chapter president; and Margarette Spears, chair of Services to Youth facet and the event sponsor; Kevin Bryant, Atty. Robert Morrison and Jerry Bell.

Family and friends of Mrs. Catherine R. Smith joined her recently at the Blaise Alfano Center to celebrate her 70th birthday. Guests were treated to a program honoring Mrs. Smith, great food and lots of conversation. Mrs. Smith is shown with her family: seated, Ben Smith, Jr., standing, Ruby A. Smith, Katrina A. Smith, Maya Dee Smith and the honoree, Mrs. Catherine Smith. (Photo by Lomax McIntyre)