The Reporter. (Akron, Ohio), 1974-11-16

              WE BELIEVE IN AMERICA > VONl l?T YOOR COUNW DOWN vol- VI NO. 8 1 ~ NOVKMBER M THRU NOVEMBER 23, lt74 J. CrnU per Cfy EACH MAY DISCONTINUE SALE OF FOOD STAMPS A CALL FM ACTION There will be a membership meeting of the NAACP, Tuesday, November at, 1974 at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Service Center and Urban League, 250 E. Market Street. All NAACP Board Members are urged to attend. There will be a report from the Nominating Committee for branch officers and board members. Once again, it is NAACP membership Drive Time. Gkwter Current, director of branches and field administration, is appealing for 100,000 new members in 1974. rould bring the total ent up to SOO.OUO. We think it should be moreone million at a minimum. That is less than five per cent of the Mack population in the United States. But that small per centage of, NAACP supporters ?carries the burden of responsibility in the continuing legal battle for freedom and equality of opportunity. For mere than 70 years, the Association has been the steadfast bastion of human rights. Through its efforts, it has not only defended the rights of black people ; it has benefited all Americans by making the Constitution a viable reality. Each of us is indebted to the NAACP. Once again, those gains which were so painfully won are under siege. Bigotry rears its ugly head in Boston. The barbarians who stone the buses and beat black men, while shouting racial epithets are the descendants at refugees who fled tyranny and famine to seek freedom in a new land. There is a hidden issue of racism in the campaign to bar certain textbooks and library books in West Virginia schools. Despite the laws already enacted, both the government and the private sector persist in finding ways to circumvent (ten, in the mm of housing and employment. The administration of equal justice under law continues to be thwarted. Blacks and other minorities are still being short changed and frustrated in the blessings of democracy. Too many of us have been lulletf into a false sense of security. Sleepers awake! The time is now to join the NAACP. Freedom is more than a word. Your membership is an investment in the future. Let's make that goal a million members in '74. K-MMT FOODS TO FREEZE FRIGES CLEVELAND, Ohio, Nov. 8 ? K Mart Food Stores will freeze prices on more than 400 grocery products for the next 30 days, it was announced today by Coy Wright, Eastern Division general manager of Allied Supermarkets, Inc., which operates 11 K Mart Food Stores in Ohio. Prices will be frozen from November 13 through December 14 on a wide variety ' of K Mart Food's own private label brand products including canned goods, bakery products, frozen fobds, household cleaning items and geperal merchandise. Special shelf labels will indicate which items have been included in the price freeze. K Mart Food's own brands include Camelot, Meadowdale and Squire. Wright explained the price freeze; "K Mart Foods wanted to do something to help hold down the cost of living. We have no control over the wholesale prices of nationally advertised brands, fresh produce and meat, but we could make a price freeze commitment on our own private label products. "If at all possible, we will extend the price freeze beyond December 14. Prices on some items included in the freeze may be reduced during this period, but we absolutely guarantee they will not go up." Wright explained that wholesale prices to K Mart Foods have continued to go up rapidly with little prospect of a downward trend. For this reason, they could not include such items as meats, produce or major brands in their freeze. But he added, "Many thrifty ' shoppers have already discovered the savings in buying our own Camelot. Meadowdale and Squire brand products. We do have control over these products as they are packaged for us to our own high standards of quality. "In all cases, we guarantee our own brands will be equal to or better than comparable national brands. This is because we use many of the same suppliers as the large national food companies. Therefore the quality is the same. "We can keep prices-down on our products because we don't spend large amounts on costly national advertising campaigns or promotions," Wright said. K Mart Foods Stores in Akron, Brooklyn, Eastlake, Stow, Middleburg Heights, Austintown, Youngstown, Lorain, Massillon and Canton will be taking part in the price freeze. * K Mart Foods here are a division of Allied Supermarkets, Inc., the 12th largest food chain in the U.S. GRAY DRUG STORES, INC. Gray Drug Stores, Inc., is honoring National Diabetes Week (November 17-23) with special diabetes information displays in all of its drug stores. Sponsored by Becton, Dickinson and Company, a "BD Plastipak Bonus Offer" paster will be displayed in all Gray's prescription departments.Coupons on the poster entitle customers to a free Diabetic Information Kit containing important facts about up-todate diabetic care. No purchase is necessary to obtain a coupon which also means a chance for a free lifetime supply of insulin and other free gifts. , May discontinue the safe of FOOD STAMPS shortly. Many hundreds of buyers of FOOD stamps may soon be forced to go elsewhere to buy food stamps, it was made known at the Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday night by the Executive Director Homer PettingiU. In his report to the Board of Trustees he reported sales for January -June ammounted to $12,510. The sales were made at a cost of $13,031.21. The income of 110,840.10 amounted to a total loss of $2,191 .04. In fact the record shown a loss of 17.4 cents per transaction. ** . PettingiU further stated that sales from November 1st to Npv. lSttiL di(Li amount to $2265.00, and they were made at a coat of $2,205.00 which showed an income of $1812.00 which still leaves a deficit of $393.00. He further stated, that as the sales increase, jso does the loss, and that increased sales of food stamps will continue as the economy continues to fait. PettingiU stated that as many as 900 (nine hundred) sales had been made recently in a single day, and from which sales the Community House received 80 cents per transaction. The Board was asked to study the idea of continuing the sales and bring a report at a SPECIAL MEETING to be held next week. He predicted that sales being discontinued at the United Baptist Church on Bellows Street would surely increase the flow of sales to the East Akron Community House since the Banks are very limited in their effort to distribute the FOOD STAMPS. Should it be necessary for the sales to discontinue, many hundreds of the poorer peoples of East Akron will be put to a disadvantage in locating STAMPS. The chairman asked Councilman William Grimm to make contact with the Commissioners immediately to see if something could be done to make the East Akron Community House a continued market for FOOD STAMPS. ft MILESTONE FOR MODEL CITIES Vallie L. Sykes, director. Model Cities Transportation; 764 S. Broadway; Akron, O. announced today that Mr. and Ms. James Campbell, 932 Snyder St., Akron, O., jointly became the 50,000th passengers to utilize the services of the Model Cities Transportation Program. The auspicious occasion occurred last Friday, Nov. 9 as Mr and Ms CampbeU were using the Model Cities Transportation convenience to return home .from a hospital visit. The Model Cities Transportation program has been operational since Sept. 1, 1970 and offers transportation services to all Senior Citizens, 62 years or older, and who are Model Cities residents. Model Cities Transportation records indicate that the Campbell's have been card bearers and users of the service since October 9. '970 I Lloyd Cox/ president elect of the National Business Leagueof Akron, and his officers will be installed Friday, November 2?, 1974 at a formal dinner -da nee reception given in their honor at the Mark Restaurant Banquet Hall. ' Mr. Cox is a local Realtor and operates the Parkhill Realty Company on Copley Road. The National Business League is an organisatfen composed of minority businesses and persons interested in business. The Economic Development Program assisted in the Mrmation of the lootfl organisation. The National Organisation is located tt| Washington DC. vyltfe associations in many of ?j? cities in the United States, Hie National Convention was concluded in Atlanta, Georgia Most of Akron's minority business personalities are affiliated.WEST mm "Y" GMMKN CMIMUN San ford Taylor Sanford Taylor, 1974 West Akron YMCA Membership campaign chairman launched the annual membership drive with a team of workers Tuesday. v Mr. Taylor is an architectural engineer employed by Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. He is a graduate of Chicago Technical College. Since becoming an Akron resident he has become very active in the YMCA and the TURF Builders Club. In launching the membership drive Mr Taylor emphasized the good location of West Akron "Y" at 1225 Lawton Street, which happens to be ideal for the residents in this neighborhood because it is located within walking distance. It seems to be the place where the "Action Happens" Our goal here at the West Akron Y.M.C.A. is $2,500.00 cash and 500 new adult memberships. We need more resident participation and more Resident help financially to raise this money for the West Akron YMCA. For us to deal politively with the youth in our community and to continue to try to plan programs which are based on community needs, it is not only important, but crucial that we meet our goal this year. Our record within this area should cause the residents in this community to take out a personal membership to the West Akron YMCA or sponsor a youth to the Y. The area businessmen and women, churches, groups, and organizations have always participated in our campaigns. 1. By buying a personal membership 2. By buying a membership for someone else. 3. By taking a cash donation to this center, which will be used for the operation of this facility. For further information about programs or ways in which you can assist us, feel free to call the West Akron Y.M.C.A. at 8364934 during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Firday. Last evening at the first Report Dinner of the 1974 Akron Area YMCA Membership Campaign, Chairman Steve George reported that 15.2 per cent of the Y's goal of 7,000 new and renewal members and $275,000 has been achieved. The five Campaign Divisions reported a total of 627 members and *41,696. Syd Collins, 'The Voice of the Indianapolis Speedway," was guest speaker at the dinner held at the University^ of Akron's Gardner Student Center. He told an estimated crowd of 250, "The Y has a unique opportunity for serving a diverse variety of groups in this community. Young and old, working and retired, Vich and poor - the YMCA offers programs of interest and aid to all these people. Collins emphasized the need M community support and collaboration for local organizations like the YMCA. The Y Campaign involves the 21 operating units of the Y in Summit Canity and will continue through December 5. Volunteers work in five major divisions to seek participating and sustaining members. Compefive quotas based on past performances stimulate rivalry between divisions and community teams. lite second Report Dinner will be November 21 at the Gardner Student Center. Featured Speaker will be Jim Houston, former Cleveland Browns football player Ift 197$, the median income of female-headed families was $$,380, compared with $i2,ofc) for husband-wife families. BUCK UW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BEMNJNCE INJUSTICE The NATIONAL BLACK POLICE ASSOCIATION, representing thirty-six (36) Black Police Organizations frW sixteen (?) states, held their Second Annual Convention in Los Angeles, California, October >-12, 1974, to further their goals and objectives and did resolve: 1. To go on record as: being appalled and greatly concerned over the statement of President Gerald Ford relative to the busing situation in Boston, Massachusetts. We feel that the statement of President Ford has greatly inflamed the situation as it now exists in Boston, and has tended to add fuel to the fires of racial hatred and bigotry. It has further etKKMfca* those who would* flaunt the laws of the United States, and the mandate of the courts as well, to further acts of violence which is tantamount to giving them his political blessings. If the President cannot find words that would encourage people to act lawfully and responsibly, what may we expect from other leaders of the Country and the' City of Boston? Whatever the consequence may be, the responsibility for these acts of violence, that have already taken place or tnay take place ? William W . Ellison "In tl* future, matt bt laid directly at the President's doorstep. For it was he that encouraged the people of Boston to act as they have, turning, the City of Boston from what was supposedly a city known as the "cradle of liberty" into what has become a cradle of racial hatred, bigotry, and violence. 2. We as Black citizens and Black Professional Police Officers take exception to our various depaVtments singling out Muslims. We are demanding and end to massive surveillance, harrassment, and the taking of human lives. 3. We deplore the derallii? of the "due process" of American Justice which wm used in the Presidential pardoning o I former President Richard M. Nixon. The Criminal Justice System is one that should afford a citizen Constitutional rights to due process. Richard M. Nixon has not gone through the procedures of' the Crfcniml Justice process - a praci which has been and is being misapplied to Black and Poor people 4. United States police chiefs will not say it, pouee unions will not say it, governors and most mayors will not say it, but we the NATIONAL BLACK POLICE ASSOCIATION must say it: Billions and billions of American tax payers' dollars are being distributed, each year, under the Omnibus Crime BiU, via the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, for police departments throughout this nation, as well as the billions distributed via Federal Revenue Sharing. All of this money is issued with a mandate that it not be used to foster racial discrimination. The Department of Justice, which is charged with this responsibility, chooses to leave the situation status in que. Continued to Page 6 SOUTH HIGH'S FUTURE IN DOUBT This Tuesday, parents, teachers, school board members and community leaders met as South High School to discuss school building needs in the South High district. It was cleat that while much has been said about South High yet little is definite on its future. After opening statements by school principal Robert Brigeman, Superintendent Conrad Ott and Director of Supplemental Services George 1 C. Miller, all gathered broke into four discussion groups. Hie major concern seemed to be the "future of South". Edwin L. Parms raised the question as to whether or not South High with its previous enrollment of less than 200 pupils should not be ''phased out of existence". It is the smallest school in the city with the next largest one being CentralHower with approximately 1000 students. Parma asked "How can you give a well-rounded education to the student body when you don't have enough students to offer a French class or for a good art class, when you don't have students coming from a variety of backgrounds ? even though you have dedicated teachers, good administrators and a good building?" Parms also challenged the proposal to build a vocational annex some distance from South at Lakeshore Field before deciding whether South's future as a school. He said "How can you answer the question of the annex before you answer the question of the futurfe of South?" Dr. John Watts, school board member, admitted that Parms' question caused him some problem and that the better procedure probably would be to determine South 's future first but be added "when you can get $800,000 from the state to build vocational plants, you don't hardly "turn it down". Or. Watt said the only way he saw making South usable was "to add ninth grade students." School Board member, Sam Salem referred to "plush vocational wings" added to other high school and said he still has questions about the lakes ho re annex which would separate those vo-ed facilities from South High. Mary Anderson, South PTA president, said she felt any new facilities should be added to the present high school building. Many teachers were in attendance from South and the surrounding schools at what was billed a "cluster meeting". They seemed likewise genuinely concerned about the future of South and other schools, particularly Thornton Jr High A South teacher commented that one of the aims of the school is to prepare students for work, but when they go out to the "w6nderfu! world of work" they find it all white. "Do you think this is a wholesome situation ? to keep them here where it's all black?" she asked. "It works the other way. too. When we have a few white students come to this school how long do they last? Two or three days. They say it's all black." Another teacher from Thornton asked "If you dispose of South do you take the same situation and problems (Thornton) to another building?" The same teacher questioned the purpose of the School Board sponsored meeting when she said "We have an information meeting to get no information? What information have you given us?" Perhaps the most startling statement was when a teacher from South High in response to a question revealed that many students at South seem to have a feeling that the community does not think too highly of the school. She said many students in response to efforts to get them to prepare themselves for jobs say "What's the use, if you say you graduated from South High they won't hire you anyway.". School administrator George C. Miller, pointed out that vocational training was necessary and that when he was formerly of South, the students had learned in "6 months what was planned to take 2 years." SB! SEEK SUPPLIERS Frank D. Ray, Director of the Columbus District Office of the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today announced that SBA is assisting the Northrop Corporation in locating potential small business suppliers for its F-17 light fighter. A three hour supplier symposium will be held in Chicago on December 11. Small business firms wishing invitations to the briefing session should send the business name and address, owner's name and SIC specialty to Kdward Zuncic, Procurement Division, SBA, 219 South Dearborn, Chicago, Illinois 60604 (.112-353 4503) immediately. SUBSCRIHK TO THE RKPORIFR