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Winston-Salem Greensboro High Point
Vol.XXVI No. 44
2201 275
S DEPARIMENT
38 DAVIS LIBRARY
APEIi HILL
HILL NC 27514-8890
one exposure
lid be a
1th hazard
The Choice for African American News
THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2
[.I .INS
CLE
syth County Environmental Affairs Depart-
Code Red forecasts for Monday and Tues-
2 and 13, but ozone levels didn’t quite get
"orsyth County had five Code Orange days in
e 9-13) as of presstime. What do the color
Q? And how does the ozone rating system
leral?
is a colorless, odorless gas consisting of three
ims linked together. Ozone is not emitted
D the air, but instead it is the product of vari-
;al reactions. Ozone occurs naturally in the
sphere.
breaks apart oxygen molecules and freed
ms attach to other oxygen molecules forming
ne is also produced in the lower atmosphere
gen oxides and volatile organic compounds
oxygen in the presence of sunlight. The heat
un causes a chemical reaction, which forms
ozone occurs naturally in the stratosphere
5 miles above the ground). The stratospheric
protects the surface of the Earth from harm-
let radiation and acts to protect plants, ani-
umans from cancers, eye damage and crop
See Summit on A4
Survivor’s tale
Cancer was
no match for
local woman
BYT. KEVIN WALKER
THE CHRONICLE
Photo Kevin Walker
Cancer survivor Ava Lee Vinson, center, credits love and support from her family with helping her bat
tle the disease. Above, she is surrounded by her husband, James; her adopted daughter, Tomeka
Roseboro, right; her granddaughter, Hope Vinson; and her grandson, Roderick.
Ava Lee Vinson’s trip to paradise was anything
but.
Her husband, James, had planned the Bahamian
cruise for more than a year. It was to be the vacation
of a lifetime for a couple that had successfully raised
six children and witnessed the births of more than a
dozen grandchildren.
But the way Vinson felt on the cruise starkly con
tradicted with the beauty of the occasion and
scenery.
“I just felt so bad,” Vinson said. “I was cold and
sweating....My husband had to pile blankets on top
of me. I was trying to do things with him, but I did
not have the energy to do anything.”
When the couple returned home, Vinson went to
several doctors and through a battery of tests. Her
diagnosis was surprising. Vinson had cancer.
“My husband started crying when the doctor
said ‘cancer’ and then I started crying and when we
got home all the kids started crying,” Vinson said.
“When they say ‘you have cancer’ the first thing you
think is ‘I’m going to die.’”
Vinson’s diagnosis came five years ago. Last
See Survivor on A9
Roundtable reflects on years of success
BY T. KEVIN WALKER
THE CHRONICLE
Photo courtesy of Khalid Griggs
lid Griggs, left, and State Rep. Larry Womble present Princeville Mayor Delia
ith money to help rebuild her flood-ravaged town late last year.
When the Black Leadership
Roundtable speaks, people listen and
change occurs. That’s the way it has
been over the group’s three-year histo
ry. It’s a trend that BLR members say
they want to continue as they raise
awareness and address concerns in the
years to come.
The Roundtable will celebrate its
anniversary this weekend with food,
music, fellowship and a special appear
ance by Delia Perkins, the mayor of
Princeville. Reflection will also play a
major part in the celebration.
The Roundtable raised about
$7,000 for the town after it was ravaged
by flood waters. Iman Khalid Griggs,
co-convener of the group, said BLR
made Princeville a top'concern.
“We wanted to show grassroots
support for the efforts in Princeville
because of its historical significance to
the state and the nation,” Griggs said.
Perkins will be the latest high pro
file guest to be featured at a BLR
anniversary. U.S. Rep. Mel Watt was
the guest of honor at the first anniver-
say, and Rachel Gbenyon-Diggs,
Liberian ambassador to the U.S., held
court at last year’s festivities.
Griggs said the group has been able
to attract such names because of its
growing reputation of success.
“We have been blessed to establish
a credible track record,” he said.
Over the years, the group has gone
to the mat over several controversial
issues, most of which have worked out
in BLR’s favor.
The group’s most recent victory
came earlier this year when the city
manager overturned the demotions of
three African American police officers
who were disciplined by Chief Linda
Davis after a rap concert last August.
The officers, who provided security for
the concert, were demoted because the
event was marred by several fights and
an alleged on-stage sex act.
The Roundtable held a press con
ference soon after the demotions,
demanding that City Manager Bill Stu
art restore the officers’ ranks. The
group met with Stuart immediately
after the press conference to push the
point further.
“It was blatantly clear that we had
to do something immediately,” said
See BLR on B5
HAWS may look for ways to save pool
BY T. KEVIN WALKER
THE CHRONICLE
The Housing Authority of Win
ston-Salem may begin to explore
ways to save the Happy Hill swim
ming pool, the city owned facility
that has struggled to make a profit
over the years.
HAWS Commissioner Ernie Pitt,
publisher and co-founder of The
Chronicle, asked that the HAWS
staff look for ways to help the fledg
ling pool - which still could face the
possibility of closing if it does not
attract more business this season -
at Tuesday’s commissioners’ meet
ing.
Pitt asked HAWS grant writer
Evelyn Terry about the possibility of
the agency writing a grant to offer
scholarships for children in the
neighborhood who cannot afford the
$1.50 entrance fee.
Terry, who has been involved in
writing a whopping $50 million in
grants for the agency, said she’ll do
“the best she can” to help the pool.
She added that another possibili
ty would be for her to act as a liaison
between local individuals and orga
nizations who want to provide schol
arships for the pool. It’s a capacity
that she has already been serving in.
Terry said she has received several
calls from people who want to con
tribute money to help the pool.
J. Reid Lawrence, HAWS execu
tive director, said he had informally
discussed ways o help the pool with
&£HAWS on aw
Ehoto ty E^ul Collins
Hunt shares a laugh with Sudie Anderson
er delivering her a hot meal - the 2 mil-
al delivered by Forsyth County Meals on
Senior Services Inc.
als on Wheels
ihes milestone
LLINS
ICLE
Wheeler is one of about 530 homebound
o receive meals daily through the Forsyth
eals on Wlieels program, which celebrated a
fiday when it delivered its 2 millionth meal,
trling, it (Meals on Wheels) means everything
leeler said in a telephone interview Tuesday,
ils on Wheels you can make it great. I hope
stop. I love them very much. I hope I can do
See Meals on A10
101-year-old woman
BY CHERIS HODGE.S
THE C'HRONICLE
For 42 years, members of the
25th Street Flower and Condo
lence Club have extended their
arms to the grieving families in
their neighborhood.
The group started out buying
fioral arrangements for the fami
lies. Today they serve food to the
families in their times of need.
At the club's 42nd anniver
sary celebration Tuesday, the
group honored a woman who has
been with the group from the
start and still contributes to the
group.
Her name is Maxwell Grier.
She is 101 years old. yet she still
thinks of others before she thinks
of herself She designed the
anniversary booklets that
adorned every tabic in the Mar
tin Luther King Community
Center.
She sat silently and smiled as
the program began.
Then Grier was pleasantly-
surprised when the group’s presi
dent, Martha Jones, presented
her with a plaque, recognizing
her contribution to the club.
“I want to make a special pre
sentation to a very special person
who has been with us through the
year,” .Tones said.
She added that Grier does
something special for every meet
ing. She held up a booklet and let
the group know who to thank for
it.
Jones walked over to Grier
and handed her the plaque. Grier
was overcome with emotions as
she received an embrace from
" Johes.:-)-:
“I am shedding tears, but
these are not tears of sadness,”
the matriarch said. Her tears, she
added, were tears of joy for the
number of years she spent with
the club.
“Thank you so much.” Grier
told the group. “This is a sur
prise.”
She then gave the group some
insight into one of the organiza
tion’s founders, Effie Drake.
“I know all about this,” Grier
said. “I was with Mrs. Effie
Drake when she came up with
See 101 -year-old on AAa
Maxy^ff Grier applauds as she is surprised with
a plaque of appreciation from the 2ith ^St^et
Flower and Condolence Club. Grier is 101 years
old. She was friends with one of the group's
founders.
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