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http://www.thecharlottepost.com 6C C]f)arIotte $oslt THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2006 Chapter closes for Texas bookstore Competition, poor economic climate claims indy THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DALLAS - Black Images Book Bazaar, an anchor of the Dallas black community and considered to be Tfecas’ oldest black bookstore, is clos ing its doors. Owners of the 30-year-old business in the city's Oak cuff section said the store will close Saturday The store has suffered fiom competi tion with chain bookstores, Internet sales and a poor economy “Unfortunately it is a trav esty” said Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Piice. “It has been an oasis for those of us who have tried to drive the issue of con sciousness, accountabihty and responsibility in the com munity It has been one of the staples of the community” Paul Coates, publisher of Black Classic Press in Baltimore, said the Dallas store is one of fewer than 10 of its kind in the United States. The store’s clientele lament ed the loss of a community center that provided a unique platform for black authors and an intellectual r^ource on everything from rehgion to politics, finance, fiction and health. The store also carried children’s books and hosted events. “The coverage and the depth in what is contained in that store gives more of a bal anced pictm*e of who we are as author's and writers ... more so because we can con centrate on it,” said Jim Washington, publisher of The Dallas Weekly a black news paper. “We’i'e more than just a section in another book store.” Co-owner Emma Rodgers said the origin of the business was her finistration at having trouble finding books that porb'ayed blacks in a positive light. She wanted to give the books as party favors at her yoxmg son’s birthday Her seai-ch for 10 books took her to three stores. With co-owner Ashira Tbsihwe, she started a mail- ordei' business in 1977. That expanded into a tent at a weekend flea mai'ket in 1984, and tlien into a peimanent retail store two years later. ‘We wei'e just on a mission,” Tbsihwe said. The ownei*s said they plan to continue selling books on a smaller scale tlu'ough othei' outlets, possibly including the Internet. They hope to find a way to continue previding ejqx)sm'e for black authors. “I guess it’s going to have to be a grass-roots movement, kind of like we did before,” Rodgere said. ‘We are going bade to squai'e one.” O/i the Net: Black Images Book Bazaar, httpt/hewwNackimages.com BUSINESS PA. CONTRACTOR USED BLACK MAN AS FRONT Bogus claim of subcontractor brings prison sentence and fine THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DOYLESTOWN, Pa. - A Dojdestown-area contractor was sen tenced to 15 months in jail and fined $40,000 for falsely claiming to have a black subcontractor in order to land a contract with a transit agency Michael Tuho, who ran Tuho Landscaping, was convicted in July of three counts of mail fraud. He was also sentenced to two years of proba tion. Federal law requires agencies such as the Southeastern Pennsjlvania Tbansportation Authority to give at least 10 psirent of their work to biosi- nesses owned by minorities, women or other “sodally or economically dis advantaged” people. The jury foimd that instead of using a real minority subcontractor, Tulio paid a black man for the use of his name. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Chiui, who had asked for a sentence of 21 months and a fine of $204,000, called the sentence fair. Defense lawyer William DeStefano said Trilio wfll likely serve only seven months imder current sentencing guidehnes. He described the prosecution as overzealous and said he plans to appeal. I had to feel like I'm helping people. If I'm not helping people, I'm not living well. Fitness trainer Chantal Warrington, owner of Divine Body on 7th PHOTOAVAOE NASH Chantal Warrington (right) owner of Divine Body on 7th, helps Tameika Johnson (left) and Coretta Boone sculpt their bodies through exercise and healthy eating. “Being overweight is just a symptom of an underly ing issue,” Warrington says. Shape of things to come Quest for fitness turns into opportunity for entrepreneur By Erica Singleton FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST Chantal Wan'ington was ready for a change, professionally and person ally She made the decision to put herself first by changing her eating habits and body In the process, she switched careers “I was unhealthy,” said Warrington, owner and CEO of Divine Body on 7th. “After the birth of my child I couldn’t lose the wei^t; I didn’t know how. I learned how to eat and how to take weight off without killing myself” But the foimer New Yorker had trouble finding a personal trainer, which led her to become one. ‘T went to several personal train ers who could not contour my body” she said. “I hadn’t leai-ned what I needed to do, and I couldn’t find a trainer who could train me, so I started ti'aining part time. ” Warrington began taking nutri tion courses to become a nutritionist as well. ‘What inspired me was pail of the natiu'opathic plan,” said Wan'ington. ‘T couldn’t tell people about food imless I was certified in the state of Noilh Carolina.” As a pereonal ti'ainer, Wairington shares fitness and diet information with her all female clientele. “Part of my job is to tell folks how to rid thefr body of toxins and weight and get to the weight they want,” said Warrington. “Being overweight is just a symptom of an underlying issue.” They come in sayii^ they want to look like a celebrity, but they don’t understand it’s part of a celebrity’s job...they have access to trainers, and chefe.” Warrington says clients who come in for a quick fix wfll be in for a sur prise. ‘You can’t come in and buy a pack age of three sessions,” she said. “This is a kfestyie change. Most of the people with me have been here since the beginning. ” Many of Waiiington’s clients fall Divine Body on 7th the “Body Boutique”, because the space is dec orated in mostly pink and has a soft er feel about it. Yet, don’t let the relaxed surrounding fool you. Wanington is all business. ‘Teople come in...first they say they want to eat what they want to eat and exercise and look the way they want,” she said. “First thing they get is a reahty check. It does n’t work that way” Warrington’s next step is to imple ment a meal plan and nutritional plan, as well as discovering a client’s Ph balance. ‘T identify if you are an alkaline or add person...then we identify what foods you need to stay away from,” said Warrington, “What is realistic for this person’s body type and make up?” There are four typical body shapes: pear, square, hourglass, and spoon. Warrington said she bases each individual training routine on body type and shape. “Most Afiican-American women fall into an apple shape,” she said, “but theyTl end up being pears once they start working out.” Warrington found her niche, shap ing the bodies of others, as she first did for herself. ‘T had to feel like I was helping people. If I’m not helping people. I’m not living well,” she said. In addition to trainir^ and nutri tion, Warrington has plans to la'unch a dothing line in winter of 2007 that is geared towards women’s sportswear. “Workout wear is not made to fit us well” said Wanington. “They are made for women with no butt and no hips.” Her line, in addition to being flat- tering to women with curves, won’t have the look of traditional workout clothes. And continuing the women’s empowerment theme, Warrington has planned an afternoon of motiva tional messages, massages, makeovers and a seven-course meal on Jan. 13 at the Doubletree Suites in Sou^th Park, “It’s about women having the opportunity to get with other women who are business minded,” said Warrington- “This event is about helping women to live dreams and find success despite the odds against them.” For more information log onto www.divinebodyon7th.com or call (888) 310-5760, Chicago Defender executive editor to leave publication -THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CHICAGO - Roland S. Martin says he is steppir^ down as execu- a tive editor of the Chicago Defender after leading the sto ned black newspaper tlu'ough a period of rejuvenation. Mai'tin will leave the lOl-yeai'-old Martin newspaper' when his conti’act expii'es in March. He said Monday tliat he assessed the progress the newspaper has made since his arrival in 2004 and realized that the time is right for him to move on. “The Chicago Defender today is a mucli better' newspaper' then when I walked in here ... And anyone who woifld ti-y to dispute that is a flat out bar,” he said in a telephone intei'- view. Wlule noting the paper- i-etm-ned to pi-ofitability under- his leadership - tiuiiing a $950,000 loss in 2004 to a $117,000 profit in 2005 - Mai'tin also acknowledged that di-culation numbers remain flat. Martin brought life back into the struggling newspaper but also turned its focus awayfrom local cov erage, said Hermene Hartman, publisher and chief executive of ND^, a weekly newspaper that also serves Chicago’s black commu nity ‘T think he revitalized it without a doubt,” Hartman saidd. “But he did n’t do local.” Mai'tin, a native of Tbxas who also has worked at the Houston Defender and the Dallas Weekly said he plans to remain in the Chicago area, where hell puisue opportunities in new media pud continue hosting a local radio show. Martin said he helped bring the Defender into the modem age, over seeing the development of the news- papei-’s Web site, and worked to raise the newspaper’s professional standards - including more quality control in the editing process, ‘T refused - as a man of faith, as a man of principle - to allow naysay ers and negative people to derail positive growth,” Martin said. Tips for building year-end tax plan By Angeline Melton SPECIAL TO THE POST Along •with the Twelve Days of Christmas, take a moment to review these Twelve Tips of Business Year- End Tax Plannir^. These could save the average business thousands of dollars! It’s important to act quickly - once the beU tolls for the New Year, these opportunities for potential savings may be gone! 1. Accelerate deductions firjm 2007 into 2006. A business can do this by making payments this year for expenses such as office supplies, repairs, maintenance, and advertis ing. 2. Consider setting up a qualified • retirement plan. It is one of the best ways for businesses to save on taxes. There are many options, so picking the right plan for your business is the key 3. Reduce or defer year-end income. For cash basis businesses, deferrii^ bflling for services rmtil the end of December or January can shift the income into the next year, as the income is reported in the year it is actually received.. 4. Accelerate purchase of equip ment. If you anticipate business income to be higher in the current year versus next year, it makes sense to accelerate the purchase of equip ment and other assets into this year. The benefits of Section 179 deprecia tion can mean latg-e tax deductions, thus making the tax savings signifi cant. 5. Review fringe benefit plans. A Section 125 “cafeteria” plan can ben efit both the employee and employer with pre-tax savings for health and dental insurance, out-of-pocket med ical costs, dependent care, and other benefits. 6. Write off bad debts. Businesses that use the accrual basis method of accormting may have uncollectible past-due accormts. These businesses can deduct these bad debts when they become partially or totally worthless. These accounts should be identi fied before year-end and the business should keep a detailed record of the debt-collection efibrts. 7. Write off old inventory Review the business inventory for obsolete and un-sellable items. A business may" write down inventory below market if in the regular course of business the company has offered the merchandise for sale at below- market prices. 8. Review building depreciation. If your business has purchased or sub stantially renovated a building in the last 10 years, conduct a Cost Segregation Study The study ana lyzes the components of a bruldir^ or renovation to gain larger depreda tion deductions based on shorter depredation lives. 9. Ejqjlore like-kind exchanges. If you are considering replacing old equipment or buildings with newer ones, take advantage of the hke-kind exchange rules. Trading assets is one of the best tax shelters available to businesses and investors. The sec tion 1031 like-kind exchange rules are very strict and must be followed exactly 10. Review your business entity dassification. Check to see if your business classification (sole propri etorship, C-corporation, S-corpora- tion) and your accormting method options (cash basis vs. accrual basis) are the most advantageous for your business. 11. Finalize the budget. Compare income and expenses for the current year to the previous year and pre pare a budget for the coining year. A budget wfll help a business reach its goals. 12. See your accormtant or tax advisor. There are many ways to save tax dollars and consulting with a tax professional who is experienced and familiar with the latest tax law changes can help you minimize taxes and maximize your bottom fine. Aiigelene Melton is a certified public accountant in Charlotte. C)«Ol
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