Soular Food Garden to open on E. 12th Street Saturday

Alexander Hoover of Hoover’s Cooking

East 12th Street Partners & Hoover’s Cookingwill be hosting the Grand Opening of the 12th St.SOULAR FOOD GARDEN on Saturday, October 29th at 5:00pm. The public is invited to come celebrate Halloween and launch whatthey believe will become the friendliest, tastiest, & liveliest collection of food trailers in Austin with live music, great food from some of Austin’s best chefs and entertainment for kids, families and adults.

Eventual home to six food trailers,the 12th St. SOULAR FOOD GARDEN is anchored by two of Austin’s most acclaimed provisioners: Hoover’s, which will be offering up "veggie-centric" versions of his mouth-watering southern cooking along with a second trailer, "Java, Juiced, & Sweet House" (in conjunction with Texas Coffee Traders) serving coffees, infused teas, agua frescas and freshly baked goodies; and El Naranjo, purveyors of delicious Oaxacan cuisine that has been hailed by the Fearless Critic restaurant guide as the best Mexican food in Austin. Period.

The SOULAR FOOD GARDEN is a unique shaded grove with food trailers, badminton, horseshoes and a stage at 1110-1112 East 12th Street (just east of Waller Street, 2 blocks east of IH-35). Come experience the awesome mojo and usher in the bountiful future of East 12th! Brought to you by East 12th Street Partners, an organization com-mitted to revitalizing the12th Street corridor.

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Spirited Journey Concert

Bydee Murial

left to right) Dr. Charles, Urdy, Michael Perkins, Gwendolyn Greene, Mae Frances Rowlett,

Brian Josephs and Dr. Meria Carstarphen presents gift.

Bydee Murial dedicated at Kealing Middle School

Left to Right) Dr. Urdy looks on as Brian Josephs presents gift to Dr. Carstarphen. Villager Staff photos.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. President Gwendolyn Greene and Dr. Charles Urdy, Chairman, Austin Revitalization Authority officially dedicated the mural at Kealing Middle School, Tuesday, August 30, 2011. The mural was done by Brian "Bydeeman" Jopseph. Joseph, owner of the ByDee Art Gallery on E. 11th Street, in Austin completed the work in record time, because he is leaving Austin to move back to New York.

The public was welcomed to the dedication by Kealing Principal Michael Perkins. Austin Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen and number of school administrators were in attendance along with other school personel.

Delta Southwest Region Director, Mae Frances Rowlett of Dallas was also in attendance. She stated that she made the trip just after returning from Washington, D. C. for the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial that was unveiled last week on the Washington Mall.

The Kealing project is the last in a series of murals that Joseph has done for several East Austin schools. He says that he hopes that this project will bring happiness to Kealing Middle SchoolAdministrators, Faculty, Parents and Students each time it is viewed.

Brian "ByDeeman" Joseph has been a part of the Austin community for more than 27 years. His work can be seen all over the Austin area. He says that he will be coming back from time, because he still has family here. However, he will be going to New York to spend some time with his mother.

CCAACC appoints new President/CEO

Natalie M. Cofield

The Board of Directors of the Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce (CCAACC)
has selected Natalie Madeira Cofield to serve as its new President and CEO.
Cofield will use her economic development, public affairs, and program management expertise to lead the organization as it works to enhance programming, expand and
deepen community relations and diversify its development portfolio.

"Ms. Cofield brings a breadth of knowledge and experience that will help
to elevate the Chamber and its members. We are thrilled and excited to
bring her on as our President," stated Juanita Stephens,

Chair of the CCAACC Board of Directors.

Cofield, has previously served in the capacity of management consultant
in New York, economic development consultant in Los Angeles, and economic development
director in Washington, DC. Most recently, Cofield was
President of NMC Consulting Group, a diversity consult- ancy with

specialization in business development, program management and public affairs.

In this capacity Cofield worked with national clients including the
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the United Negro College Fundn,
the Merrill Lynch Foundation, and the Association for Enterprise Opportunity, among others.
A published author and expert on the topic of minority business development,
she has been called to testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on

Small Business on Access to Capital Disparities for Minorities Businesses
and has been profiled in national media outlets.

"Austin is a bourgeon- ing market that has received considerable national attention.

I look forward to expanding the Chamber to keep pace with the growth and
demands of the city and it’s African-American business community," stated Cofield who will be relocating from Washington, DC assumed her post on August 29, 2011.

Cofield is a graduate of Howard University in Washington, DC and the
Baruch School of Public Affairs in New York, New York.

The Capital City African American Chamber is an advocate for the creation, growth and

general welfare of African American businesses in the Austin area.
It actively promotes the expansion of business opportunities on behalf of its membership
through referrals, partnerships, seminars, technical assistance and marketing.

Nathaniel Sanders Case Settlement

On Thursday (Aug. 25) the Austin City Council approved an item to settle with the Nathaniel Sanders case for $750,000. The issue passed by a 5 to 2 vote with Mayor Leffingwell and Counciman Martinez voting no. I believe that this was the right decision and Mayor Protem Sheryl Cole and Council person Kathie Tovo should be commended to sponsoring the measure. What do you think?

Restoring Our Historic Mansion

                                        

                                           Governor Perry, Please Finish
                        Restoring Our Historic Mansion

Governor’s Mansion

before the fire (top) and

after the fire (bottom)

          has been under restoration since the June 8, 2008 fire

                                                                                                                                                                               

By T. L. Wyatt Editor

Last week, Governor Rick Perry made the announcement that we all knew that he would, that he is running for the President of the United States. It was interesting, however, that he would make such an announcement outside of the State of Texas. Most politicians want to have friends and supporters around when they take such a huge step.

It could be that the Governor did not want to open himself up to the Texas media, one on
the toughest groups in the country. He also did not want to answer the questions that linger
over the recent legislative secession. But, my question is a very simple one
"Governor Perry, when will you complete the repairs of the Governor’s Mansion?"

The Mansion was damaged by fire during the early morning hours of June 8, 2008.
The 152-year-old building was unoccupied at the time, because the Governor
and his wife Anita had temporarily moved out a year earlier so that a $10 million
renovation project could take place. At the time of the fire, they were in Europe
on an economic development trip.

Four years later, the building remains in disrepair. At the same time, the tax payers of Texas
are paying an exorbant amount ($10,000 per month plus expenses) to rent the
governor and his family with a resident that comes up to his standards.

One has to wonder, if the Governor cannot supervise the completion of this small project
to a successful conclusion, how can he be expected to deal with the
many problems facing our nation.

The fire is suspected to be the work of an arsonist, but no prospect has been officially charged. However, the investigation continues.

The Texas Governor’s Mansion is the oldest continually used executive residence
west of the Mississippi, according to the group Friends of the Governor’s Mansion,
which works to preserve and show the public the historic building. According to their
web site, the restoration should be complete by late Spring 2012.



                                                                                                         

ART EXIBIT

Sacred and Secular

A Dual Photo Exhibition By George E. Hardin

Presents art of East Austin Churches and

Memphis' Beale Street

Held @  The George Washington Carver

Museum and Clutural Center

August 11, 2011 -  October 15, 2011

   

Serena Williams resumes her winning ways in tennis

By: George Hardin

SportsBeat

Serena Williams

Serena Williams has made a brilliant comeback in winning the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, Calif., Sunday. She had been sidelined for almost a year because of foot operations and blood clots in her lungs—events that put her career in jeopardy. It was her first title since she won the Wimbledon in 2010

Williams defeated three of the four semifinalists before surging past Marion Bartoli7-5, 6-1 at Stanford University. It was revenge of a sort because Bartoli beat Williams, formerly ranked No. 1 in the world, at Wimbledon this year. A 13-time major champion, Williams moved past two breaks in the first set to claim her victory. She said she’s glad to be back in the game and hopes to move up to a single-digit number from her position now in the top 80, moving up from 169th because of her victory.

It was Williams’ best performance this year in the longest-running women only professional tennis tournament in the world. Now in its 41st year, the tournament is the first event leading up to the Olympus U.S. Open Series.

Venus Williams is one of the past champions of the Bank of the West Classic. Venus has been nursing a hip injury, which has kept her off the courts. The prospect of the sisters playing against each other in the WTA Tour event that begins Aug. 6 in Toronto is still likely. Venus is 31 and Serena is nearing her 30th birthday, Sept. 26.

Some experts are saying the sisters are nearing the end o their best playing days. But Venus told a reporter recently, "I feel like I’m a talented player and I have the experience, and that makes me more confident even when it seems I shouldn’t be as confident as everyone else in the field. People have realized how valuable it is to play into your late 20s and 30s. You really understand the game. And it’s just about staying fit and healthy."

The sisters’ standing shows once again the path their father chose was a wise one. Richard Williams became his young daughters’ main coach after tennis academies in Compton, Calif., were not willing to accept them. Williams was denounced by some coaches and columnists who said he was ignorant because he was not highly educated. But his teaching was not one-sided. He told his daughters, "Education is power, not chasing around some tennis ball."

His coaching techniques were ridiculed by those who said he should let experts teach them because he was hindering his daughters rather than helping them. He responded by rebuffing his critics in strong language and expressing indifference to the mainstream tennis world.

Williams also coached his neighbors’ children in Compton, but none of them reached the upper pinnacles of tennis like his daughters.

Table of Brotherhood Project!!!!

Chevrolet Announces ‘Table of Brotherhood Project’

Chevrolet is sponsoring the “Table of Brotherhood Project,” a four-city tour honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. that culminates with the Aug. 28 dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C.

“We admire and respect Dr. King's eternal legacy and all that he represents,” said GM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dan Akerson.  “This is an important moment in our nation's history and we hope this memorial will inspire others to turn their own dreams into action”.

The dedication will mark the 48th anniversary of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech following tour stops in Atlanta, Memphis, Chicago, and Washington, where diverse community leaders will evoke King’s spirit though dialogue on topical social issues.

Tour stops will feature a table designed by Scott Tucker of Raunjiba furniture, where people of all backgrounds and opinions are invited to participate in culturally and socially relevant conversations around King’s vision.  The discussions will be moderated by Roland Martin, a CNN News contributor and commentator for TV One Cable Network.

The Table of Brotherhood Project is highlighted in a TV ad that aired during the recent BET Awards.  The ad features Americans from all walks of life taking their seats at an endless table weaving its way through beaches, schools, streets and restaurants to Washington, D.C. The ad was created for Chevrolet by SpikeDDB, its African-American advertising agency of record. 

To date, General Motors and the General Motors Foundation are among the largest sponsors of the King memorial, having donated more than $10 million to the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc.  Both are committed to raising public awareness of the Memorial in the nation’s capital.

The Memorial will be positioned in a direct line between the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials on the National Mall, where King delivered his most famous speech on Aug. 28, 1963. The centerpiece of the Memorial, the "Stone of Hope," will feature a 30-foot likeness of King made of natural elements.  It will contain excerpts of his sermons and public addresses to serve as living testaments of his vision of America.  It will be the first memorial on the National Mall to honor someone other than a U.S. President.

“We are deeply grateful to General Motors and the General Motors Foundation for their consistent and steadfast support, which has helped build the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in our nation’s capital,” said Harry E. Johnson, Sr., president and CEO of the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. “We look forward to the conversations the Table of Brotherhood project tour will create and are certain they will be a meaningful prelude to the August 28 dedication of our nation’s memorial to Dr. King, one of the world’s most influential leaders.”

The Chevrolet.com/MLK site is the hub for all information related to the Table of Brotherhood Project. The site also has space for visitors to join a virtual Table of Brotherhood conversation by posting thoughts through video and photos around a number of topics inspired by King.

American Youth "Aspire To Be Me"

        ANNOUNCING the 2011

"Aspire To Be Me" WINNERS!

Event "Keep It Digital"

All of the Talented Contestants

Aspire To Be Me

Greetings!

The second annual "Aspire To Be Me"

Talent Showcase and Fundraiser

was a huge success!!! Mehcad Brooks being the
primary highlight of the evening,
made us laugh, dream and believe; along with

leaving us with many thing to ponder,
in paticular, that "Success is a

Choice....Choose Success."

All of the talent contestants were fabulous!!!
Please keep them in mind for future entertainment
opportunities with your organizations.

This year's winners walked away with
 $500 for 1st place, $300 for 2nd place
and $200 for 3rd place winnings!

1st Place Winners - Peterson Brothers Band   

2nd Place Winners - Ballet Afrique Youth Company                     

Two Artists Tied for 3rd Place                      

    

This year's panel of judges:

Jennifer Cumberbatch, Mehcad Brooks,

Bernard Wong 

                    

Emcees for the evening!

 Tamra Cobbins and Martin Egwuagu Jr.

                     

Tennis: is it just a country club sport?

　

The Davis Cup just made an appearance here in Austin. The Davis Cup is an international competition between 125 countries that occur on an annual basis. This year the number one ranked country in the world Spain beat the sixth ranked United States. The crowds were good the hospitality was excellent, the games were even great. However something is missing with this sport there is not a ground swell of passion like we have for football, basketball or even baseball. People reschedule you’re their life in order to make football and basketball fit in.

What happened to the love of tennis in this country? There are only three times a year I may pay attention to tennis, Wimbledon, the US Open and if a major professional tournament is in town. There are very few Americans that are playing at the top level of the game now. Most people may know Serena and Venus Williams, Marty Fish and local hero Andy Roddick.

Tennis is a very inexpensive sport to play and can be readily made available to the masses, but it isn’t. The Williams Sisters are watched and adored, but they do not inspire people to play the game. Arthur Ashe was a well-respected and he inspired us to play tennis. Even the video playing generation does not clamor to play the game via their XBOX or Wie consoles. If you go ask the average person to name four Americans that are currently playing on the professional tour, less than 10 percent surveyed would be able to pass this test.

What can be done to restore the broad appeal? The powers that be needs to remove the stigma of Tennis being only a Country Club sport and bring it back to middle America and most importantly back to the inner city. Tennis should increase their marketing and courts need to made available to the entire community. In the 80’s there were plenty of public tennis courts for the average person to play on at a very reasonable price.

Today I see tennis courts at some apartment that are in vast need of repair and most public courts not being used. Tennis need to adopt a program similar to the Pro Golf Association First Tee program which bring the game of golf to people who may not be able to afford to play or get quality teaching from a professional at no cost. Tennis needs some variety, color and not just the clones that are playing the game. Doing these things may just restore the domination the Americans once had across the world in tennis.

By Terry Davis

5^th ANNUAL WOMEN’S PRAYER CONFERENCE

CELEBRATED AT ST. PETER’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Located at 4509 Springdale Road, Austin, Texas, St. Peter’s United Methodist Church Women’s Ministry will celebrate their 5^th Annual Women’s Prayer Conference beginning Friday, July 29, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. with registration and an opportunity for fellowship and snacks.  “Women of Triumph – Treasuring the Anointing!” is the conference theme for 2011.

Friday, July 29, 2011 will feature Reverend Telley Lynnette Gadson, M.Div., pastor of Saint Mark United Methodist Church, Sumter, South Carolina since 1999.  Affectionately known as Pastor T, Reverend Gadson with her sensitivity and a warm smile as her hallmarks, leads by example and believes that everyone has a place in the building of God’s Kingdom.  An anointed preacher, a tenacious teacher, and a compassionate counselor, Reverend Gadson models her life after the African-American spiritual:  “If I can help somebody as I travel along the way, then my living shall not be in vain.”

Saturday, July 30, 2011 will be the continuation of registration with fellowship and snacks before going into our Praise Celebration with Keynote Speaker Pastor Arlise Carson, co-pastor with her husband at Spirit and Truth Christian Church in Round Rock, Texas.  Her passion is to glorify God and serve His people by reaching out to the un-saved and spiritually disillusioned with a radically relevant message of salvation, deliverance, integrity, empowerment, and faithfulness.  Pastor Carson is a woman that earnestly perseveres to walk in the excellence of God, so that she may glorify Him in all she does.  She has truly been ‘Called Into This Time for God’s Purpose.”  She attributes all she is in Christ to the love and grace of God that continues to make all things possible in her life.

During the Saturday activities we will have age-appropriate child involvement sessions for children three years to 12 years of age.  These sessions will be going on simultaneously with the Women’s Prayer Conference Workshops.  St. Peter’s will be sponsoring a Silent Auction Friday evening through Saturday and vendors will be on site.

Our climax for this three day Women’s Prayer Conference will be Sunday, July 31, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. with Reverend Dr. Clara M. Reed, D.Min., as the Keynote Speaker.  Dr. Reed is an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and a member of the North Texas Conference where she currently serves as the District Superintendent for the Metro District and provides spiritual and administrative oversight for the 80 churches and all the clergy members in her district.  Throughout her Christian journey, which began as a member of the Pentecostal Church, Dr. Reed has served the church in numerous capacities which include pastoring, directing community outreach ministries, serving as minister to children and youth and as a frequent facilitator for Disciple Bible Study.

New this year for our Prayer Conference, St. Peter’s will sponsor a Women’s Chorus Musical, “PRAISING GOD FOR THE ANOINTING” scheduled for Sunday, July 24, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. This praise musical will be featuring choirs, groups and soloist from the Austin and surrounding communities.  Serving as the Mistress of Ceremony for this celebration will be Claudia D. Williams, a Christian woman who has carried the baton directing the St. James Missionary Baptist Church Music Ministry since 1976.  Her love for gospel music, especially her rhythmic and animated actions, began at a very early age. Her accolades within her church as well as the community are numerous and extraordinary.  And on Wednesday night, July 27, 2011, we will have an Old Fashioned Prayer Meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m.

The proceeds from our Women’s Prayer Conference benefit St. Peter’s UMC Ministries and Educational Scholarships of St. Peter’s graduates.  The Austin and surrounding communities are invited to join us for this awesome conference, musical and prayer meeting.  For conference information pertaining to registration, scheduling, etc., please contact the church office at 512 926-1686 or visit us at stpetersaustintx.ning.com.  First Lady Tammie Y. Gause is the founder of the St. Peter’s United Methodist Church Women’s Ministry and the Women’s Prayer Conference and Elder Jack C. Gause, M.Div., is the pastor of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church.