Many paths define a man’s life:
construction-worker on the entire original New York State Highway system, retiree from the
Operational Engineers’ Union, Husband, Father, Ball-er Extraordinaire,
Gambler, Club Owner, competent chief and his moonshine… was mighty-Fine too!
Homie, was a people-person, he loved being well dressed and he never met a stranger.
Homie enjoyed his toys too his new, Black Lincoln Continentals, he
owned Harley Davidsons Only if they were Full-dressed; Owned
Boats well outfitted and, Courted woman in his day
that could Make you say my. My, my.
Friendship… was essential to him and so was respect… and boundaries… concerning “his” family. Homie, you see was old school, A gentleman, But you didn‘t cross his lines
Cause he offered no excuses for his beliefs or his actions.
Homie had a long retirement life and enjoyed club ownerships,
gambling, many, many friends, world famous Birthday Parties, fishing, and baseball.
Homie took out time for people and was a father to many young people well into their adulthood. You could call him anytime -- night or day
and get advice or just to laugh.

I guess when I look back at my youth I understand like Charles Dickens said, “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times”. I am a baby boomer and I grew up in New Rochelle, NY. We had a more than an adequate City-run Youth Bureau and Department of Recreation with neighborhood-based and city-wide activities and plenty of Boys & Girls Clubs. We had a lot but we still needed an intimate element because the world even then was complicated.

What keeps coming to mind for me today is an experience offered by a private family for a few years between middle school and high school. Today, I call it the out-of-pocket “youth group”. And that’s what it was. It was created by Alice and Clarence Stewart in New Rochelle, NY.

Proud, New Rochelle native and Talk of the Sound contributor, W. Calvin Anderson, M.Ed has announced the launch of his new “East Coast Oriented - Blog Newspaper” to showcase some national and international news but primarily, Groovetrak network members.

Groovetrak members are business and project leaders with news, products, services, events and ideas we think EVERYONE should know about -- so we eblast and market them with support targeted demographic print, digital multimedia, and even “street marketing team” support across the east coast to increase branding and market shares.

“There is no question that we must now take advantage of our networked and digitized economy. So let’s connect the dots by taking advantage of the benefits of global communications and transaction services in our digital age. The blog has editorial in education, business, travel, arts & entertainment, politics, technology, and miscellaneous items. Stop bye and check us out,” invites Calvin Anderson.
http://wcalvinanderson.wordpress.com

*Note:

Arlene… was always a help to her family, a
competent person; an “old and sweet soul”if you will.
She, along with Durwood Hall in my reflection
were the first and real youth leaders
on Lawton Street in New Rochelle back-in-the-day
representing [our side] of city hall.

Beanie… was the “big sister” for her siblings and anyone else that
came near. She had a heart of gold
and a voice in music that could make
you fall in love at any age, especially if she
caught you in her smile.

There was no acclaim for Beanie alone in music,
as she was a force in a group of singing sisters:
Rosalyn Major,Deborah Henderson and Lance Rogers.

Today we celebrate
your loving and your life and friendships.

We celebrate your core competencies,
care-taking, courtesies, and give
Voice to our love for you
as a natural leader,
big sister,
friend and
example in our youth
to the benefit of
“good old”
and priceless native,
New Rochelle.

December 23, 2011

God comforts people with gifts.

Like the metaphors in Isaiah

with the “The Rose of Sharon”: Kingdom glory;

beauty on hills, splendor; support for

miracle reversals from weakness to strength and blindness to sight;

the ability to recognize joy, good people, happiness and growth.

You are a gift and you are my people as far back as

I have memory in New Rochelle. As far back as Rev. Cructhfield

crying in the midst of sermon and the Sweet Hours

Of Prayers at Shiloh sang right through -- the blue and speckled stained glass.

I recall your dad belting-out, punctuated hymns that stirred the

sisters and the brothers too and also made your momma proud.

I remember you as J.V.’s sister and then “our’s too” in kind.

Each laughing moment with you took the relationship to new bonds and you always

December 23, 2011

You know that our family and particularly a Flowers

Set the Points on the Compass of Hearts and Courage

in the neighborhood, in Pop Warner football; working for the city;

across the streets of New Rochelle; coming out of church;

and of course showing up with City Pride on the NRHS bleachers.

One of you was always there and each of you had your own way and “effect”.

I think of the, un-flinching love for all of us and remember Psalms 139:7-10 in the human condition. “Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there.  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.”

But you Ernie, had those eyes and fewer words.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE FROM NEW ROCHELLE IF…This two week old entry on Face Book has attracted thousands of comments from all over the country galvanizing current and former natives and former residents of New Rochelle from all ethnic backgrounds including instant “hometown” commentary like no other vehicle before it on the Queen City of the Sound.

Hundreds of people with multiple entries from every walk of life are excited about their and others reflections on everything from historic New Rochelle neighborhoods, landmarks, people, incidents, clubs and associations, nicknames, retail, positive and negative news, teachers, principals, gossip, sports, parties, festivals, teams, romances and many other delights of the heart that are obviously -- still aflame.

For this writer it is refreshing to hear from people collectively who even know what it was about historically in New Rochelle and to have an immediate and welcome platform for commentary.

Just got news my project's course was accepted at Duke University in the Fall. I will be a visiting instructor. The project focuses on a documentary we did on the historic Black Business District called Hayti in Durham.

http://www.asaponlinereg.com/CourseDetail.aspx?CourseID=18492

In this research and fieldwork course, students will record oral histories and use archival material to produce a series of short documentaries about Durham’s Hayti neighborhood. Participants will create a multimedia portfolio and contribute to an ongoing project about Hayti’s history, as part of a collaborative community-based project sponsored by Triangle Media, Inc.
AIM: The Hayti the Heritage Lecture Series will
OBJECTIVES: Participants will be able to:
• Easily explain and create timelines of the historic Hayti Community milestones in its nationwide recognition of a sophisticated U.S. Black Business district.
• Easily explain and create written documents to indicate leadership figures, ideologies and lasting contributions
• Easily be capable of coherently discussing the past, present and future of Durham, NC.

Nancy Reagin, a history professor at Pace University and Janice Liedl, a professor of history at Laurentian University in Ontario, Canada get the entertainment/scholastic book contract of a lifetime from the leading academic publisher, John Wiley & Sons to parallel topical world history where it was applicably depicted in the block-buster film trilogy "Star Wars" as a historical account.

The seasoned scholar duo Reagan and Liedl have done this work before with the Harry Potter series so this project will be a thriller too.

We must footnote that, George Lucas the Star Wars guru is not only an avid history buff, he also pioneered www.edutopia.com in the early days, linking education to current and emerging technologies so instructional designs on this compare and contrast literary work has a lot of promise.

This 2013 book release should create interesting new genre and perhaps engage students to understand "why and how art imitates life; and how life can be funnier and more amazing than fiction".

Kudos to John Wiley & Sons, George Lucas and Professors, Nancy and Janice.

The Black
Community is
Really a home,
to all who
understand their own purpose. What I mean is, it’s
never much of a place for those who don’t know or own their own feet.
There was a love for Mr. Danny White
Based partly on, How many Amazing Graces’ a real Brother could sing;
how many Sweet Hours of Prayer and standards and favorite songs
he really brought because he was
“family-planted” into weddings, funerals, anniversaries
and left at countless moments when we had no words and
he and ministers carried many through times -- much heavier than the rest of our lives.
We on this occasion on this serious note, in your hour, Danny White
Celebrate you and
your ascension with Psalms 139. And because there was not
a day without your laughter and few moments without your sense of order ,
We now as a Community Appeal:
that the, Lord
Bind and keep You in His everlasting,
that Christ Jesus welcome You home. And with harps and dance and David’s Music,
We ask that God, keep you near.