Thursday, December 24, 2009

Teen violence a ‘real’ problem in Columbus

By Donna Marbury
Contributing Writer
Columbus Post
Carlita Mitchell raises her three children on the Southeast side of Columbus. As a single mother, she juggles two jobs along with the responsibility of rearing her kids. Sometimes she blames her absence, and the absence of the children’s father on the fact that her two teenage sons are gang members.
“Back when I was growing up, kids knew better than to hang out with the wrong people, even when their parents weren’t around,” said Mitchell, whose 17-year-old son has influenced her 15-year-old to start gangbanging. “I knew when they became teenagers that I needed some positive male role models in their life. But I just didn’t know what to do.”
Mitchell said her sons are in and out of juvenile jails, courts and programs, especially in the summertime. She attended last week’s Power 107.5 Town Hall Meeting on Youth Violence at the Lincoln Theatre to get advice and answers from city leaders. “My boys aren’t bad kids. But the reality is they are being a terror in our neighborhood. I am hoping that I can learn what to do,” she said.
Columbus’ top urban radio stations; Power 107.5FM, Joy 106.3 and Magic 98.9 simultaneously broadcasted the town hall meeting, while the Lincoln Theatre was filled with parents, children and members of the community looking for real answers to Columbus’ youth violence issue. Paul Strong, program director and host of Power 107.5’s Power Morning Crew, said that the community uses his radio show to voice their frustrations. “When there is a bad weekend in Columbus, every morning at 6 a.m. my phone is ringing with people telling us we have to get with the schools, the police, the pastors and preachers together to figure this out,” Strong said, who estimated that thousands of listeners were tuning in. “We have to stop leaving teddy bears, balloons and cards in our neighborhoods where one of our children lost their life.”
Joining Strong and his Morning Crew co-host Misty Jordan were panelists Mayor Michael Coleman, Dr. Gene Harris, superintendent of Columbus City Schools, Jeff Blackwell, deputy chief of the Columbus Police Department, former state representative Larry Price and Ohio State University Professor Dr. Deanna Wilkenson.
Coleman voiced that teen violence stems from many different sources and that solutions are multi-faceted. “Teen violence is a problem that everyone has a solution to. We have to look at ourselves in the mirror as a city and a community. It doesn’t take a government program, though it’s helpful,” Coleman said. “It’s not just about what is said tonight, but what’s done tomorrow.”
Harris was one of the first to suggest that mentors can help teens use dialogue that will help them with conflict resolution. She said that community leaders like Walter Smith, host of 107.5’s Street Soldiers and a consultant for Columbus City Schools, help bridge the gap between the streets and the right path for teens. “We have to find men and women that we trust that can reach kids in a way that many of us don’t,” Harris said, who stressed that when young men and women lack a positive male role model, it can lead to unresolved anger issues. “We need more men to step up and help raise other people’s children at this point.”
One of the biggest areas of concern for Blackwell is the rise in gang activity in central Ohio. He said that the Columbus Police Department estimates that there are 1,300 documented gang members in the city and equal as many non-documented members. “Our youngest documented gang member is nine-years-old. Gangs are all in our schools, recreation centers and all of our neighborhoods,” he explained. “A lot of kids are pulled in not because they are bad, but because they want protection. It’s like a mob mentality.”
After initial discussions, many parents and community members stood in line to question city leaders about solutions to the violence epidemic. “I just don’t want to see another summer like we had last year,” said Yolanda Davis, who lives off of Main Street and says she sees prostitution everyday. “A lot of the girls I see busted up and bruised look the same age as my daughter.”
Strong said the town hall meeting is the first of many initiatives that the radio stations are planning to help curb teen violence in Columbus. For example, Terrence “City” Sigers, 107.5 radio personality who hosts The City School Tour, visits high schools and regularly talks to gang members and drug dealers about their motives. “I talk to young ladies and men and they tell me there’s no hope for them. There are no options. What they want, they want it now,” he said. “They don’t want to wait. Sure, there may be one job for one kid. But there are a hundred more on their block that need that same attention.”


http://www.columbuspost.com/2009-updates-12-24/headlines12-24-teen-violence-columbus.html

Last Minute Shoppers: Big Daddy's/Lace Boutique Open Till 1AM Tonight & XMas Day



Big Daddy's/ Lace Boutique
2222 Summit Avenue
Christmas Eve Hours: Open until 1AM
Christmas Hours: 12-6PM

Still looking for that last minute Christmas gift? Or need something stylish to wear to holiday festivities?

TONIGHT at Big Daddy's and Lace Boutique, everything will be 30%-50% off! Complimentary food and cocktails will be available, along with music from DJ Boog from 10PM until close!

Enjoy deals and discounts on Christmas Day from 12-6PM!


Other Christmas Weekend Events

Friday: The Day Of Christmas Party
Christmas Night @ Club N'Vivo
6252 Busch Blvd (The Continent)
18 & Up!


Let It Snow
Christmas Night @ ICON
231 N. Fifth Street (Downtown Columbus)
21 & Up!



Encore Sundays
This Sunday @ Mynt Ultralounge
445 N. High Street (Arena District)
21 & Up


Tuesday, December 22, 2009

NYE Hair & MakeUp Specials @4th & High


4th and High Hair & Fashion Studio REOPENS!
NEW YEAR's EVE Thursday, December 31
@1127 N. High Street
4-9PM
614-299-2614

Make appointments NOW for complete Hair & MakeUp Services for just $55 on New Year's Eve

The first 20 ladies to make an appointment will get $10 off at the next MakeUp Bar event!

Stop by to get fabulous with professional makeup artists! Services include:

XPresstini (15 minute makeup touchup)
$15

Flirtini (Natural makeup)
$30

4th and High Martini (A Flirtini with Lashes & More Kick!)
$48

Mimosa Makeover (A mini facial, eyebrow arch, lashes & dramatic makeup application)
$70

Lashes ala carte
$10

Lashes & Eybrow Shaping
$20

Thursday, December 17, 2009

The ART of Giving Toy Drive @ Urban Spirit Coffee Shop



The Art of Giving is an effort by the B.R.U.S.H. Experience to Give the gift of Christmas Joy to a family in need. We will be hosting a Drop Box at Urban Spirit Cafe' from December 13 - 22, 2009 and are asking for your help to give families a bright Christmas this holiday season. We believe the real gift of the season is painting a smile on a child's face by giving selflessly.

We are looking for items for children ages two to 10 years old:

• Unwrapped, unopened toys & games
• Educational games or toys
• Children books
• Puzzles

Other Acceptable Items are:
• Toiletries
• Pampers
• New or gently used clothes
• Weekly or Monthly Cota Bus Pass

100% of all donations will go to local families in need.
We thank you in advance for your participation in this effort.

For more information, please contact Marshall L. Shorts at the following:
contact@soulotheory.com or 614.859.9170

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

FUNKDEFY: Tribute To James Brown


Friday, December 18th
Circus Bar
1227 N. High Street
10PM-2AM
NO COVER

Soul Brother Number One ... The Hardest Working (and funkiest!) Man In Show Business ... The Godfather Of Soul. James Brown will forever be linked to the holidays since his passing in 2006, and FUNKDEFY has celebrated his legacy every year with THE GODFATHER OF SOUL - A TRIBUTE TO JAMES BROWN HOLIDAY PARTY!

To honor the brother like no other, we will be throwing down everything we've got on James Brown, Bobby Byrd, The JBs, and everything off of the King Label he made famous.

If that is not enough, we will be giving out special JB and other holiday gifts to thank you for making our night THE Funk-N-Soul party of Columbus!

And there is even MORE to celebrate ... come on out and wish our fellow funkster Funky D Happy Birthday as he turns 30!

Drink specials will be available on Elevator Brewery Beer!

Fantastic food available from CLEVER CROW GOURMET PIZZA!

Stop by for some holiday cheer, FUNKDEFY style!

Friday, December 11, 2009

The CURE @ Bristol December 11, 2009



TONIGHT
The C.U.R.E.
(Cultured Unique Relaxing Experience)
Bristol Bar
132 E. Fifth Avenue

Ladies Free Until Midnight
Everyone $5 All Night

Come enjoy good music, good people, and a good experience. It's not exactly a party, not quite a get together, but simply The C.U.R.E. for a long week.

21 & Up

Dress to impress

For more information call 216-536-9812 or 614.859.9170

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Tyson excited to serve

By Donna Marbury
Contributing Writer
Columbus Post
In the next 10 years, newly reelected Columbus City Councilwoman Priscilla Tyson said that Columbus will be a bustling metropolitan city with jobs, entertainment and quality of life for all its residents. “People still see Columbus as a safe place to live and visit,” said Tyson, who hopes to facilitate those changes to make Columbus better. “I am here to serve. I have been reelected to a new term and I am excited about the work in the city. I am very prayerful about what I do.”

Tyson who was first elected to Columbus City Council in 2007, after replacing former Councilwoman Mary Jo Hudson, said that she is proud of how the city has made a commitment to making things better in the central areas of Columbus. “On a positive note, you can see the changes in the center city. There’s the revamping of the King-Lincoln District, especially reopening the Lincoln Theatre, in the Parsons and Livingston Avenue area the Nationwide Children’s Hospital is growing, the Arena District is now host to our new baseball park and downtown is continuing to grow,” she said.

Though the city is growing, Tyson acknowledges that the recent recession has caused city council to make some hard economic decisions. Earlier this year, 11 city recreational centers were closed as the city struggled to balance the 2009 budget. In the 2010 budget, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman has proposed reopening the centers, with the help of some community partners and has earmarked an additional $1 million to Parks and Recreation in the city. Tyson, who is chair of the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee, said that she is excited to hear that the centers will be reopening. “There is a timeline to reopen the 11 centers in some capacity throughout 2010,” said Tyson. “There is a real need for those centers for our families, young people and seniors and we are real excited to be able to reopen them.”

When incumbent Democrats Tyson, A. Troy Miller and Eileen Paley were reelected in November, voters also passed the constitutional amendment that aimed to build casinos in Ohio. The amendment does not allow host cities Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus and Cincinnati to participate in the zoning and placement of the casinos. Casino builders hope to place the Columbus building in the Arena District, to the disapproval of Mayor Coleman and other city officials. Since then, Governor Ted Strickland said he would veto any bill that would not allow cities to regulate zoning. Tyson, who also chairs the city’s Zoning Committee, said that Columbus officials need to be in on the talks about the casino, which is slated to open in 2012. “There needs to be home rule,” Tyson said concerning the controversy. “The city needs to participate in the conversation on where it needs to be placed. I know in this economy, people want jobs. So I hope we will be able to work with the casino owners to make sure it is something the city wants.”

Tyson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Franklin University and is the human resource director for Ribway Engineering Group.
Outside of City Hall, Tyson said she enjoys vegetable and flower gardening, travel and looks forward to baking for her family throughout the holidays. She is a board member of the Grater Columbus Arts Council and has served on the boards of Phoenix Theatre Circle, National Black Programming Consortium, Opera Columbus, and the Community Shelter Board. Arts are very important to Tyson, who is the owner of Start Arts Limited, located at 1465 E. Broad St., and highlights African and African-American artists. She said arts are important to Columbus, not just aesthetically, but economically. “We have to continue to move arts forward, not just because it makes people feel good,” Tyson said. “Art is important to the economic development of the city and it enhances the quality of life. The creative economy is very important.”

http://www.columbuspost.com/2009-updates-12-10/headlines1210-priscilla-tyson-excited-to-serve.html

New CCS board member ready for challenges

By Donna Marbury
Contributing Writer
Columbus Post
Newly elected school board member Hanifah Kambon said she felt running for her first public office was a natural next step for her. “My primary focus through the campaign was to get the job done. For the first time I had to go out and get votes, it is very different from just pulling the lever,” Kambon said, who was elected to the Columbus City school board in November 2009 and will be officially sworn in January 2010. “I asked God if this is what he wanted me to do. I attended the Obama inauguration. After that I prayed and asked God if it was what he really wanted me to do. The answer was yes. There was no hard part, it was meant for me.”

Kambon worked in Columbus City Schools for 30 years as teacher at Franklin Alternative Middle School and Marion Franklin High School and a master teacher in the Teacher Advancement Program at South High School. “As an educator, I think the most effective first step is creating trusting relationships with students, parents, staff, community and the school board,” said Kambon. “I really want us to increase the trust between the community and the district and for there to be less doubting.”

Gaining that trust might be difficult as Columbus City Schools hosted the last of four town-hall style meetings aimed at getting feedback from parents about six schools closing in the next school year, though up to nine may be closed. The district will be hosting community meetings at 40 schools in the district to discuss how students will be reassigned as a result of the school closings.

Hubbard, Douglass, Fair and Deshler elementary schools and Clinton, Beery, Eastmoor, Indianola and Franklin middle schools have all been named to possibly be closed in the 2010-2011 school year. The district plans to announce which will be closing by the end of the year. Kambon said she agrees that the schools should be closed, but parents need to be more informed about the process. “We have to live up to the promises made when the 2008 levy passed to make more efficient and effective schools and school closings was high on that agenda. But parents deserve a detailed explanation of the process.”

Kambon said she attended some of the town-hall meetings held at schools through the month of November and noticed that many parents had unanswered questions. “I wish there were more details given so that parents left knowing what to expect. I just hope that parents don’t get frustrated and leave the district when we are working to make things better,” she said.

The district also faces a large number of its students leaving to attend area charter schools. From 1997 to 2007, approximately 10,000 students in Columbus have left the district, many attending one of the 30 public charter schools. Kambon said that parents should be able to choose which school to send their children, but should look at the big picture of what charter schools do to the community. “I do believe in choice. I believe public education has to be innovative and exciting to children, especially now. My children did great in Columbus City Schools, and we have to make that a good experience for every child,” she said. “But charter schools can be a financial drain. When a child leaves our district they take a lot of money with them. If they decide to come back to the district, we lose the money we need to teach them. Sometimes, they are not taught at the same level as they would have been at a Columbus City School. So we have to play catch up.”

One of Kambon’s priorities is making sure students that are in the school district are ready to face the world outside of Columbus. Globalizing education is not just a privilege, she says, it is a necessity. “We must make sure students are competent in this global world, and not just using computers as word processors. We have to use the up-to-date technology that is in these new schools to connect to the world in meaningful ways,” said Kambon, who is looking forward to the district expanding its science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming.”

The district recently approved $250,000 federal stimulus money to work with the United Way on efforts to increase school readiness for three to four year olds. “We are trying to prepare our children as early as possible to be a part of the global community,” said Kambon of the pre-kindergarten program. She also looks forward to working with Columbus City Schools Superintendent Dr. Gene Harris on other unique initiatives like an international school and single gender education. “Dr. Harris thinks out of the box,” Kambon said.

http://www.columbuspost.com/2009-updates-12-10/headlines1210-new-ccs-board-member.html

HBCU Foundation Presents: More Than A Game December 11, 2009




The HBCU Foundation Presents
Filmz Worth Watching: More Than A Game
Friday, December 11
Lincoln Theatre
769 E. Long Street

Social Mixer w/ Music, Cash Bar & Hors d'oeuvres @ 6PM
Film Showing @ 8PM

Experience the film that documents Akron basketball star Lebron James and his rise to success at the historic Lincoln Theatre.

Tickets are $15 and raise money for the HBCU Foundation Scholarship Fund
Advance tickets available @ Ticketmaster.com

After Party @ ICON Lounge
231 N. Fifth Street @ 11PM
Valet Parking and Coat Check Available

Click HERE for more information about the HBCU Foundation

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

A New Resume Is A Great Holiday Gift!

Start Out The New Year With
A New Resume & Cover Letter To
Land The Job You Want In 2010!



Do You or Someone You Know Fit Into One of These Categories:

A recent or soon to be college or high school graduate with little work experience?

Recently laid off or looking to reenter into the workforce?

Looking to go into a new career path?

Someone who hasn't updated a resume in years?

Just looking for a better paying job?

Donna Marie Public Relations can help you land the job you want with a industry-specific and current resume that highlights your best skills and qualities!


$50 Cover Letter & Resume Packages
($80 Full Price) Throughout The Month of December!

Packages include:
Your revamped resume and cover letter emailed to you in a Word document. Resume and cover letter will be completed one week after payment is received.

A unique holiday gift you can give to someone you love....or yourself is a new resume!

Contact Donna Marie Public Relations at 614-783-6598 or donnamarbury@gmail.com to schedule your consultation!

Monday, December 7, 2009

List of DMPR Services

Donna Marie Public Relations is a full service business writing and communications company that specializes in efficient and effective ways to market and express your business ideas.

Donna Marie Public Relations takes pride in producing clear, concise and creative communication products. Our services focus on writing that is easy to understand. We promote plain language and the "less is best" approach to our clients. Some of the services we provide include:

Below is a list of services we provide. Please contact donnamarbury@gmail.com or 614-783-6598 for estimates.

Web Marketing Packages
Reach more than 2,000 email subscribers in central Ohio and beyond through sophisticated and effective email marketing.

Platinum Package
4 email blasts per month
1 month of banner ads

Gold Package
2 email blasts per month
1 month of banner ads

Social Networking Packages
Create, maintain and build interest in your band, business or upcoming events through marketing on MySpace, Facebook and other social networking platforms.

Top 3 Package
Create profiles on 3 industry specific social networking sites (MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, imeem, Twitter)
Custom graphic design for social networking site
1 month site management (collecting friends, creating events, answering emails, managing calendar)

Top 2 Package
Create profiles on 2 industry specific networking sites (MySpace, Facebook, Linkedin, imeem, Twitter)
1 month site management (collecting friends, creating events, answering emails, managing calendar)

Marketing/ Press Kit
Show investors, press and promoters who you are with a tailored and industry-specific marketing/press kit. With sharp marketing language, stylish graphic design and crisp photography, you will be putting your best foot forward!

Basic Kit
Profile/Biography
Additional Information Page (contacts, list of venues, client lists, etc.)
Logo or other graphic design
Photo Shoot (studio location, one wardrobe)

Professional Kit
Profile/Biography
Web or Print Press Clips
List of Venues Performed/Client List
Additional Information Page (contacts, list of venues, client lists, etc.)
Logo or other graphic design
Photo Shoot (2 locations, 2 wardrobe changes)

Job Hunters Packages
Whether you are looking for a new job, or changing careers, a fresh, new resume will help you to convey your skills and land the job of your dreams!

Start Up Kit
Industry Specific Cover Letter & Resume

Professional Kit
Industry Specific Cover Letter & Resume
LinkedIn.com Profile

Other Public Relations Services

Press release with local/regional/national distribution
Email Marketing
Profiles/Biographies
Contracts/Invoices
Technical writing/editing/layout
Brochures/ newsletters
Quick reference cards/handouts/flyers
Procedure/training manuals
Database management (gathering contact information for direct mailings, emails, etc.)
Journalism/article/ghost writing
Resumes/cover letters
Business plans/proposals
Plain language editing and revision
Event Planning/Marketing

Thursday, December 3, 2009

December MakeUp Bar This Saturday Has Been Postponed


POSTPONED!
Due to fire and smoke damage, Guilty Indulgence at 4th & High Hair and Fashion Studio this Saturday, December 5 has been postponed to a later date.

You can still take advantage of Winter Specials offered by Strands by Chris, and make hair appointments by calling 614-299-2614 or emailing chris@strandsbychris.com

Makeover contest winners will also be announced at a later date. Please stay posted to Donna Marie PR or Strands by Chris on Facebook for more updates!