Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for 70 new volunteer mentors to double the number of kids served in its program.

A recruitment event is being held Thursday, October 20, 2011, 5:30-6:30 p. m. at Cyrus Greene Recreation Center, 2101 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Those interested in attending should RSVP to Laura Saunders, (813) 769-3606 or  laura.saunders@bbbsfl.org.

About a year ago, Judges Ashley Moody and Lisa Campbell, made a plea to the community to step forward and become mentors for youths between the ages of 5 and 16. Their purpose was to make a difference in the lives of kids who had been arrested or are living in neighborhoods with a high level of juvenile delinquency.

With a 3-year grant from the Department of Juvenile Justice, Big Brothers Big Sisters launched the Mentoring Alternative Perspective Program (MAPP).

MAPP is now moving into its second year. Last year, 97% of the youth in the MAPP program were promoted to the next grade level and 94% stayed out of the juvenile justice system.
Thursday’s meeting is open to the public and male mentors are especially needed.

Those in attendance will hear from people directly involved in the MAPP program and Judge Campbell will talk about the important role mentors are playing in helping kids get back on a positive path.

An accident at 2:12 a.m. Thursday left one man with minor injuries and another dead.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, A vehicle driven by Harold Thomas, 31, was traveling west on U. S. Highway 92 near Falkenburg Road when Dedric Bynum, 21, reported walked into the intersection near the crosswalk.

Troopers said Bynum was hit by Thomas’ vehicle. Bynum was hospitalized, and later pronounced dead.

Troopers said the accident is under investigation and details are pending.

BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer

Tonge’ Coleman is the mother of 13-year-old twins, and noticed they would often forget to put on their belts before leaving for school.

“They would find rope or other things to hold their pants up once they got to where they were going.”

Ms. Coleman is the founder of a women’s group called “Sisters Influencing Success,” and along with the sisters in her chapter of the Eastern Stars, they came up with the idea of promoting a belt drive.

Ms. Coleman said she understands that the act of allowing your underwear to be seen is a fad, but she along with her group hopes young men will want to not just wear a belt, but pull their pants up and look more presentable.

This weekend from 10 a. m. until 2 p. m., Ms. Coleman will join members of the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association at the site of the proposed youth center at 602 East Palm Avenue.

BY TAMECA JOHNSON
Freelance Writer

We’re just days away from the official dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D. C. However, on Thursday, October 13th, a play depicting the final hours of the Civil Rights icon’s life will officially open on Broadway in New York City and everyone, from Tom Joyner to the ladies of The View is talking about it.

The fictional portrayal of King stars Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett and is directed by acclaimed actor Kenny Leon. Leon and Bassett are both products of the Tampa Bay area. (See Florida Sentinel October 7 issue).

Members of the Leon family in the Tampa Bay area are: Jackie Baker (sister), Tony Leon (brother), Annie Ruth Holtzclaw (mother), Johnnie Holtzclaw (father) and LaJuan Leon (sister-in-law).

Leon’s family still calls the Tampa area home and traveled to Manhattan yesterday for the play’s opening night.  His parents and siblings say they make their way to Broadway every time Leon debuts a play.

There is talk that Leon, who received a Tony Award nomination last year for his work on the play Fences, with Denzel Washington, will be nominated once again for his work on The Mountaintop. (Pictures Courtesy of Ishmon Johnson)

Pictured (right): Captured on Broadway a few days ago were, Kenny Leon, Director of The Mountaintop and Katori Hall, Writer of The Mountaintop.

Tampa Police report that on Sunday evening, Brian Downing, 20, and Jamar Moore, 24, were engaged in a verbal dispute at the Park 46 Apartments on Whiteway Drive.

According to police, someone not related to either Downing or Moore had their cell phone stolen. Downing and a group of his friends confronted Moore and a group of his friends about the stolen phone. During that time, the stolen cell phone had been returned to the owner by a person not with either group.

Jamar Moore

However, police said the dispute between the two groups escalated, and that’s when Downing was shot.

Moore reportedly shot Downing in the back, and fled the area. Downing was transported to a local hospital and is reported to be in critical condition.

Moore was arrested later by police and charged with attempted murder.

BY GWEN HAYES
Sentinel Editor

Chef Eric Holland loves what he does. Anyone who knows him and the business he is in, knows that he loves his career – cooking and catering.

There have been several occasions where Holland has had the opportunity to share his skills with students. He has taught cooking classes to several of the area’s schools and technical schools.

There is a different excitement now, however, when he talks about the students in his class from North Boulevard Homes.

Chef Eric, as he is known, received an extension on a grant that he received from the Tampa Housing Authority to provide cooking classes for qualified residents.

Currently, he has 10 students, who he says are very dedicated to the classes. They range in ages 18-61. Last Tuesday, October 4, 2011, classmates served their signature meal to invited guests.
Some of the community who stopped in were: County Commissioner and Mrs. Les (Gwen) Miller, Judge Perry Little, Hakim Aquil, Jarvis El-Amin, Rev. Willie Dixon, Dr. and Mrs. John (Molbert) Scrivens, Michael Reeves, Danny Green, Sol Davis, Sr., Sol Davis, Jr., Olivia Brown, Eddye Hankerson Gloria Andrews and Frank Crum.

Classes are held Tuesday through Friday at E. V. E.’s Catering, 3311 W. Cypress St., 8 a. m. until 2 p. m.

In addition to learning the basic cooking and food preparation skills, the class is also taught basic dining room skills. Elliott Burt has worked with Chef Holland for several years. He is a local Maître and provides 2 sessions during each 6-weeks session of classes.

Holland credits the cooperation of Mrs. Stephanie Brown-Gilmore, who is in charge of Program and Property Services of the Tampa Housing Authority, with helping him to get the program started for the residents.

After completing the classes, there is an opportunity for the students to become gainfully employed.

A Tampa native, Holland earned his high school diploma from Jefferson High School, while working at several restaurants along the way. He went to California for a period and studied under a French Chef. Holland also studied at Johnson & Wales University, taught at Tampa Bay Tech for 4 years, and worked in the prison system for 4 years.

Holland reopened his business, E. V. E.’s Catering in 2008. The restaurant currently offers an all-you-can-eat Sunday buffet, 11 a. m. – 4 p. m.  “We’re trying to teach these young people the importance of providing a comfortable atmosphere for their customers. We’re looking for support from the community, where our service is the utmost in a professional atmosphere.”

A member of Mt. Tabor M. B. Church, Holland quickly reminds that he doesn’t do it all alone. His 13-year-old daughter, Erica helps with much of the technical equipment. His wife, Vandelon and his mother, Jean Tim also assist in the business.

After a two-day hearing, a former City of Tampa employee learned that she won’t be reinstated. She was fired last year after being accused of not coming forward with information during a police investigation involving her nephew.

Last year, Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor suspended Mrs. Carolyn Riggins, a 10-year employee with the Tampa Police Department during an Internal Affairs investigation.  Based on the results of that investigaiton, Chief Castor terminated her.

According to City records, Mrs. Riggins was employed in February 2000. She has worked in several areas within the department with her most recent assignment being the Extra Duty Office.

Mrs. Riggins is the aunt of murder suspect, Dontae Morris, who surrendered July 2, 2010, after a massive nationwide manhunt. Morris was charged with killing Tampa Police Officers Jeff Kocab and Davis Curtis, on June 29, 2010. He has also been charged with the murders of  Derek Anderson, 21, on May 18th; Rodney Jones, 41, on May 31st; and Harold Wright, 25, on June 8th.

After two days of testimony, the Civil Service Board for the City of Tampa decided in favor of upholding the termination. The board decided that Mrs. Riggins should have told her superiors that her daughter, Alaina Riggins, had a close relationship with Morris and his brother, Dwayne Calloway.

Last year after the termination, Chief Castor said in a news release, “As our department was reeling from the loss of two fine officers, it was another devastating blow to discover a valued Tampa Police Department employee worked against our efforts to catch the hardened criminal.

“… Our investigation has revealed that Carolyn Riggins both withheld pertinent information that could have aided in the suspect’s apprehension and provided information to his associates that interfered with the department’s ability to track down the suspect.”

When contacted by the Sentinel, Mrs. Riggins said she did not want to comment.

Of the Civil Service ruling, Chief Castor said, “There is not joy in this verdict. Carolyn Riggins was a trusted member of our TPD family and she betrayed us in our darkest hour. We can all breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that this chapter is closed and we can now move forward.”

City Editor Iris B. Holton can be contacted at (813) 248-1921; or emailed at iholton@flsentinel.com.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

A Tampa minister said he is recovering after a vehicle struck him last week. He said the accident took place at the intersection of Orient Road and Delano around 7:40 p.m., Wednesday.

Pastor Clifford Tyson, a staff minister at Word Of His Grace Christian Fellowship Church, said he was attempting to cross the street in his motorized wheelchair when the accident took place. “I saw the car coming, but the wheelchair stalled out. I was waving my arms and trying to alert the driver.

“The driver tried to swerve to avoid the accident, but it was too late.  I was knocked out of the wheelchair and onto the street. I have a lot of bruises, but no broken bones. I credit God with saving my life, I should have been gone,” he said.

Pastor Tyson, 55, has been confined to the wheelchair for about two months. He is in need of hip replacement surgery. He said he was taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released.

“So many people have been concerned about me; I just wanted everyone to know that I am recovering at home.”

Pastor Tyson said the wheelchair and his cellular telephone were destroyed in the crash.

Ms. Bernice Jackson-Frazier said her granddaughter, Shenika Davis, was a sweet girl and always helped her out.

“We sat together a lot and she’d help me clean up. We were together Tuesday evening, and she stayed until I went to bed.”

That was the last time Ms. Jackson-Frazier saw her granddaughter.

According to Tampa Police, Shenika, 15, was walking to Middleton High School early Wednesday morning. At 6:35 a. m., she was crossing Hillsborough Avenue near the railroad tracks between 22nd Street and 30th Street when she was hit by a 1993 GMC Sierra truck driven by Tommy Murphy, 46. After being hit by Murphy, Shenika was allegedly dragged across the railroad tracks by a second vehicle.  She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Murphy told officials later he did not see Davis as she was wearing dark clothing. Police said Murphy will not be cited.

Ms. Jackson-Frazier said Shenika was looking forward to her Sweet 16 birthday next week, and was excited.

This was Davis’ first year at Middleton, after attending Sligh Junior High last year.

Ms. Jackson-Frazier said she’ll miss the visits from her granddaughter. “She came to my house a lot, and she loved just sitting and talking with me. We had a natural love for each other, and she was very caring. One of her teachers came by and is helping us set up a funeral home to accept donations for her service. She said so many great things about Shenika, and I started crying.”

Anyone interested in making a donation towards the services for Shenika Davis should contact Middleton High School at (813) 233-3360.