Hundreds of people from the Triad tame out to support the Juneteenth celebration and purchased cul
tural crafts from vendors.
Larry Loon Hamlin and hit wife, Sylvia
Sprinkle-Hamlin, from the North Carolina
Black Repertory Company, participated in
the Juneteenth festival last year.
Mambert of tho Rafakhi African Dancmr? porformod an
African wadding at tho Junotoonth Fostival.
YMCA
rom page AI
former Fourth Street location in
1957. Founded in 1891 by the
Society of Friends of New York,
William Penn became a public
school in 1923 and closed in
1968.
With a lease agreement with
Guilford County Schools and
$300,000 raised during a 1995
capital campaign, the YMCA
converted the historic William
Penn High School into a well
equipped, family-oriented facili
ty. The 50,000-square-foot
facility boasts a state-of-the-art
fitness center, gymnasium, walk
ing/jpgging track, dance studios,
a day cafe program, a lighted
parking lot and room to spare.
"We have more space to offer
community-based groups," says
Larry Jones, YMCA executive
director.
Since moving, the YMCA has
increased its community out
reach. In January, for example,
the agency began a tutorial fit
ness program for youth needing
to improve homework habits,
Besides enlisting volunteer
tutors, the YMCA sponsored
memberships for 30-45 Griffin
Middle School students, provid
ing wholesome activities to keep
adolescents off the streets. The
agency also provides weekly
meeting space for Upstream, a
Greensboro-based program that
represents a last chance for
teenage males who are under the
supervision of the judicial sys
tem.
The YMCA's welcome mat
has also brought the monthly
meetings of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority, North State Police
Officers, lodges and other groups
to the YMCA. In addition, local
consultants and community
agencies have held seminars on
health, fitness, money manage
ment and home ownership.
Buzzing with activity, the
YMCA is gearing up for summer
with a 10-week day camp. For
boys and girls ages two to 12, the
camp runs from 6:30 a.m. to 6
p.m. and provides campers with
breakfast, lanch and snacks. In
addition to daily activities at the
YMCA, campers will go roller
skating, swimming and to a
movie each week. In addition,
field trips wijl take the campers
to the zoo, Carowinds and
Emerald Pointe. Through sports,
Jones adds, the campers will also
learn lessons in character.
While campers learn to be
good sports, the YMCA's men's
basketball league will pit area
teams against each other. "It's
probably one of the Triad's most
competitive men's basketball
leagues," says Jones. The teams,
usually sponsored by local busi
nesses, attract professional, semi
professional and college
basketball players. The games
begin June 16 and will continue
on most Monday and Wednesday
evenings through Aug. 2.
While activities like the bas
ketball league and coed volley
ball offer heated competition, the
fitness center gives health-con
scious YMCA members a chance
to look and feel their personal
best. The fitness center, which is
open six days a week, is popular
among both men and women.
"The fitness center," says Jones,
"opened up an avenue for many
females who had not been associ
ated with Carl Chavis to come in
and use equipment that is not
intimidating."
In addition to Camstar equip
ment that builds muscular and
cardiovascular endurance, the
center also has a weightroom fea
turing free weights. Some mem
bers seek personalized fitness
consultations for programs suit
ed to their needs and goals.
While parents work out in the
fitness center, thejr children can
learn karate, dance or basketball.
"The coed karate class," says
Payne, "is one of our most excit
ing new additions.
The YMCA has also offered
adult programs in martial arts,
self-defense, aerobics and
lunchtime basketball.
During the school year, day
care and afterschool programs
serve an estimated 185 youth.
Those programs had been
stretched to the limit in the
YMCA's old 18,000-square-foot
facility on Fourth Street.
Last year's move, however, not
only added square footage but
merged two of the community's
most respected institutions into
one place. For local citizens who
remember Washington Drive's
heyday, the YMCA's move also
offers a glimmer of hope that the
once thriving corridor can be
revitalized.
UJAMAA
from page A1
co-founder of Ujamaa Merchants
United Inc., is looking forward to
even more participation this time
around. More and more vendors
and performers are signing up for
the program. Last year, some of
the performers were Toni
McLauren, gospel vocalist. Kuk
Sool Won Martial Arts, Larry
Leon Hamlin, Rafekhi African
Dancers, Little Bethlehem
Christian Youth Choir, Dudley
Basketball Team, Beryl's Love
Dance Company, Been Caught
Steeling Steel Drummers, Free
Expression Jazz Fusion and Artis
Hinson, nutritionist, herbalist and
natural healer.
Persons interested in perform
ing or vending should contact
Jackie at 297-7835, or Felecia at
334-7745, Ext. 2312 or 378-0467,
or Mark at 852-4836.
A voter registration drive, chil
dren's crafts, a health fair, chil
dren's recreation and a basketball
camp were also held. The
Community Crime Report and
Neighborhood Community
Builders sponsored a silent march
against violence in the community.
Tbey lined the perimeter of
Barber Park with placards con
taining the names, ages, race and
death date of people in the com
munity who suffered violent
deaths. It was a moving sight to
Observe as people slowed down to
read the placards as they drove
into the park.
Pat Fortune, treasurer of the
Ujamaa Merchants, saw her first
Juneteenth celebration when her
husband was in the service in
Texas. All of the African
Americans who participated
dressed up in red bandanas or
other red attire, some in cowboy
hats. They ate red food, symbolic
of the blood shed to acquire free
dom. She also attended one at
Bowie State in Maryland, where
they had cake walks, films, guest
speakers such as Kweisi Mfume,
music, and picnics. They served a
communion of cornbread and pot
liquor from their collard greens as
a symbol of slavery. At Barber
Park, vendors will be on hand sell
ing delicious food, and some fam
ilies will pack a picnic lunch to
enjoy during the festivities.
This year's celebration will be
held on Father's Day. "We want to
stress the father as a role model, as
a leader in the community," said
Fortune.
"Jun-Jun" has an interesting
history. On June 19, 1865, Union
(General (jordon Granger, part of
Federal occupation forces, issued
the Emancipation Proclamation in
Texas, belatedly freeing the slaves
of Texas. The Emancipation
Proclamation was delivered Jan. 1.
1863 only delivering the slaves in
the Confederate States. Lincoln
considered this declaration an act
of "military necessity" and invited
the former slaves to join the
Union's armed forces. On Feb. I,,
1865. President Lincoln signed the
Thirteenth Amendment, abolish
ing slavery throughout the United
States. The Civil War ended April
9, 1865, and the slaves in Texas
learned of their freedom in June of
that year.
Juneteenth became an official
state holiday in 1979 in Texas.
Therefore, on Juneteenth in Texas,
state offices are closed, along with
businesses, so that families and
friends, towns and cities may cele
brate. Lula Briggs Galloway, pres
ident of the National Association
of Juneteenth Lineage in Saginaw,
Mich., is leading an effort to have
Juneteenth declared a holiday, but
the organization has not yet been
successful.
Ujamaa Merchants United
(UMU) was founded on the prin
ciple of cooperative economics.
UMU and the community at large
have witnessed a dire need for the
return of strong values and civic
concern. Members of the group
include Curtis Neal, Jackie S.
Xanders, Pat Fortune, Mark
Lacey, Pricilla Williams, Felicia
Gatson, and Sandra Leath.
Members of UMU believe that
the celebration of Juneteenth on
Father's Day can serve a threefold
purpose: 1) to provide an opportu
nity for African Americans to
express pride in their heritage; 2)
to encourage strengthening of the
family structure; and 3) to rein
force the role of African
American fathers as the head of
their families and as leaders in the
community. UMU hopes to forge
a closer tie between "ourselves,
our creator, our ancestors and our
community by recognizing the
importance of the all but forgot
ten festival."
RECREATION
from page A1
between Old Salem and the
North Carolina School of the
Arts.
Over $1 million would be used
for renovating Bowman Gray
Stadium's field house; widening
concourses, adding handicap
seating, a new press box and
expanding restroom facilities.
The remaining $1.1 million
would be used to acquire and
develop a new multi-field soccer
and softball complex.
The Winston Lake Park group
is getting a jump on their project.
The project is split into two
phases, said SECCA's outreach
coordinator Mark Linga. First,
the group had to come up with a
solution to the park's entrance,
which is difficult to see from the
road. The small, plain sign that
marks the complex is also barely
visible.
"In developing the project, the
kids had an opportunity to work
with the Recreation
Department," said Linga. "They
learned the fundamentals of
design and looked at ways of
beautifying the area."
William Richmond, the city's
landscape architect, began draw
ing up the plans in April, around
the time the group formed. In
preparing for the project, "the
kids read up on symmetry, lines
and balance," said Richmond.
The group split into three
groups to work on designing a
new, eye-catching sign for the
park's entrance off Waterworks
Road. They first presented these
designs to their parents, who
played the role of an appearance
commission.
Then if got real. Nancy Day
and Kathy Helms of the city
county planning board came to
the Winston Lake YMCA to cri
tique the signs.
The first group to present sign
designs consisted of Tosin
Durotoue, Jessica Martin and
Jordan Hutchinson. The three
decided on yellow and brown, the
colors already used on other
Winston Lake Park signs.
The next set decided to match
the flowers that will be planted
around the sign, and employed a
tricolor scheme: blue sky and
green mountain separated by a
yellow sun. "If we had more time,
we would have done something
about that lake," said Cameron
Russell. Partner West
Hutchinson nodded in agree
ment, and said the lettering
design of the word "Lake" made
the sign too hard to read.
Group number three aban
doned their thumbnail sketches
at the last minute, said Chante'
Thompson. Instead, they
designed a sign with regatta ban
ners draped over a sun peeking
above the words "Winston Lake
Park Complex." Trees lined the
bottom of the sign, and the let
ters filled the space in between.
Helms liked that each of the
designs had an element of play
fulness. "I think parks should be
fun, and I don't see any reason
why park signage should be con
servative," she stated.
"I think they look good,"
began Day. She continued with
the critique, "You may need to
work on your letters." Day sug
gested ways in which the young
designers could make the letters
stand out more visibly.
In addition to the sign design,
the project includes planting
flowers, trees and bushes around
the park's entry. The goal of the
city and the group is to announce
the park complex from a variety
of approaches.
Most of the participants have
some goals of their own.
Durotoue, a freshman at Mount
Tabor, joined the group as prac
tice for her future career.
"It was real fun," said
Durotoue. "I want to be an archi
tect, so this was good." She
CHECKS
from page At
Crooks' immediate situation
Oxford wrote Crooks personally
in February 1996, saying, "We join
you in your sentiment that retail
ers should not be forced to provide
race and gender information on
checks presented for payment."
Oxford asked Crooks to "join us
in asking [the magistrates] for
change."
Simultaneously, Oxford initiat
ed an intense lobbying campaign
to change the law through his
company's trade group, the North
- Carolina Retail Merchants
- Association ? by way of its presi
dent, Fran Preston. State Rep.
- Henry M. "Mickey" Michaux, D
Durham, 23rd District, sponsored
HR Bill 790 in the North Carolina
? General Assembly.
Last week, Lowe's commitment
to work for the change paid off
when Gov. Jim Hunt signed into
k
law HR Bill 790. which buries the
longstanding practice. According
to the new law, "only the name
and mailing address of the check
passer ... and an acceptable form
of identification ... such as a valid
North Carolina drivers license,
will be needed." "The check
acceptor," under the provisions of
the bill, "shall not be required to
write or print the race or gender of
the check passer on the check or
draft."
However, individual retailers
may still choose to identify cus
tomers by race and gender nota
tions on checks. Municipalities,
beginning Oct. 1, 1997 ? when
HR 790 becomes effective ? will
be forbidden to require this prac
tice of retailers. In Florida, where
Lowe's has stores, retailers are still
required to designate check-writ
ing customers by race and gender.
Lowe's has stores in some 25
states.
?
GUILFORD
from page A1
County attorney Jonathan
Maxwell had conflicting interests
in the matter and could not rep
resent the board of commission
ers, he added. Attorney Ron
Ligon represented the commis
sioners in court.
Arnold served a term as the
commissioner liaison to the
Social Services board until
Dorsett replaced him in July
1995. He first charged Dorsett
and Barnett with mismanage
ment of the Department of
Social Services' finances.
Now commissioners are
changing their tune, said Barnett,
who has served on the board
since July 1996. He said some
commissioners have admitted
that they are trying to remove the
director of the department and
the Rev Michael King, chairman
I
of the Social Services board. J
Two of the five positions on
the board are appointed by the I
county commissioners, two I
appointments are filled by the [~
governor and the state office, and
the fifth is elected by a consensus
of the other four. If the four can
not come to an agreement, the
chief superior court selects the
fifth member.
Unlike other county entities,
the Social Services board is self
governing; the power of the com
missioners begins and ends with
appointments. *
The commissioners originally
charged Dorsett and Barnett
with insubordination. Several
months ago, the commissioners
passed a resolution asking the
social services board to postpone
hiring a director. The board con
tinued with their plans to offer
the position to interim director
loyce Lewis. <
"On the other hand, we had I
jeen criticized so many times for i
aking so long [to appoint a 1
director]," said Barnett. Lewis
tiad filled the interim position for
about a year before the board
hired her.
!
NOTE TO GREENSBORO
AND HIGH POINT READERS:
Welcome to the pages of The Chronicle.
While flipping through, you may notice that the
majority of our news comes from the
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Chronicle indeed becomes a community
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As we expand, we would like to invite
you in Greensboro and High Point to share
your news with us and be a part of the family.
Send community news submissions to:
The Chronicle
P.O. Bos 1636
Winston-Salem, NC 27102
Fas: 723-9173
Our deadline for receiving community
news is Monday at 3 p.m., so mail things in
plenty of time, or fas it. Please see
"Community News Guidelines" to help insure
that your news is included.
SUMBABR SCHOOL!
Register Now! Classes begin June 18th
9th, 10th, 11th & 12th Grades to be held at
TRIAD ACADEMY
? Economics / Legal ? Algebra e Biology
& Political Systems e Geometry ? English 1-4
? US History e Physical Science
Also accepting applications for the '97-'98 School Year
? Acceptance will be selective, ? Small class settings.
Call (910) 748-8888 for More Information
TRIAD ACADIMY
639 S. Green Street. Winston-Salem, NC 27101
. <