As Hurricane Joaquin went out to sea, the winds that had come along with it died down but not before blowing away the clouds, leaving a clear midnight sky.
In the still of the night, under the light of the long-missed stars, five shots rang out. There was a little yelling before, when as quick as it began, all was quiet once again. This time, for the first time, the police sirens did not follow, the occurrence now all too common. This gunfire was less than 100 blocks north, on Fifth Avenue from where only one week earlier Pope Francis had held mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. For all the people whose hearts the pope touched, there are an equal number for whom his message fell on deaf ears.
Speaking of church and the pope, congratulations to the Gospelites, the resident choir of St. Charles Borromeo, who performed at the opening ceremony after Jennifer Hudson at the mass held at Madison Square Garden. In the spirit of education and the pope, St. Charles has established the Pope Francis Scholarship Fund. The goal is to raise $100,000 to provide financial assistance to the neighborhood children who would like to attend the school but can’t afford the $3,700 yearly tuition. Call the rectory at 212-281-2100 to make a donation. No amount is too big or too small.
There’s a new watering hole in town, a beer bar called Harlem Nights, located on the corner of 138th Street and Seventh Avenue, looking exactly like the log cabin on the syrup bottle.
The Hispanic Society of America hosted their gala dinner at the Metropolitan Club. Honored was Mario Vargas Llosa. The Hispanic Society of America is a museum and library dedicated to Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American culture and art. Admission is free.
For all of the concerned friends and loved ones of Wilhelmina Billie Holliday Hayes, she is doing fine and well. Under the watchful eye of her loving niece, Didenous Styler Dixon, she is being cared for, eating well and continuing to live in the lifestyle to which she has become accustomed. Yes, some things have changed, as Dina is the new sheriff. So let’s all give her our love and support, and let the girl do the thing she loves best—taking care of Billie.
Congratulations to all of those elected to various community positions and judgeships as a result of the Sept. 10 elections. Among those are the Hon. Tanya Kennedy and the Hon Ray Bruce, both elected to the New York County Supreme Court, and District Leaders Earnestine M. Bell-Temple, William Allen and Cordell Clare.
Carrying on with the celebration, the Frederick E. Samuels Community Democratic Club will host the ninth annual Legends Awards Saturday Oct. 25, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Alhambra Ballroom, 126th Street and Seventh Avenue. Honorees are the Hon. Milton Adair Tingaling, county clerk and clerk of the Supreme Court New York County; the Hon. Earnestine M. Bell-Temple, district leader, Tonga Carver Democratic Club; Malaak Shabazz, international human rights and peace activist; Robert “Bob” McCullough, president pro founder of the Rucker Pro Legends and Each One Teach One; Kane Mamadou, president of the African Livery Drivers and Base Owners Association; and Susie Drayton, community activist. A special award will be given to Thomas Murphy, Doris Williams, Abraham Thomas and Giselle Davis-Booth. Tickets are $125 and can be obtained by calling club president Ricky Davis at 718-644-4277.
The Links Greater Hudson Valley chapter will host their annual Ladies in Hats Luncheon and Hats-Off Award Presentation honoring Michelle Ifill Jenkins, senior vice president and general counsel, Verizon Corporate Services, Corporate Award; Westchester Clubmen, Community Service Award; and T. Hudson Jordan, Supply Management-Operations and Major Deals, TD Ameritrade, Corporate Award. The event will take place Oct. 24 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, N.Y. Among the members are Regina L. Darby and Janice A. Dye-Owens, so you know it will be fun.
Harlem School of the Arts hosted its 50th Year Anniversary Gala Kickoff at the Plaza Hotel. Among the HSA honorees were renowned soprano and great diva Jessye Norman, receiving the Dorothy Maynor Award and the amazing; Cicely Tyson, actress and activist, receiving the Betty Allen Lifetime Achievement Award; and Alicia Keys and her mother, actress Terria Joseph, both receiving the Visionary Artist Award. Also receiving the Visionary Award was visual artist Kehinde Wiley, who originally hails from Los Angeles but has made a name for himself at the tender age of 30 as an artist extraordinaire.
Janice Savin Williams, vice chair and secretary of the HSA Board of Directors, introduced honoree, New York Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright, who received the Civic Award. John Paulson chairman of Steinway & Sons accepted the Corporate Award. Remarks were made by Charles J. Hamilton Jr., chairman of the HSA Board of Directors, and HSA President Eric Pryor. Among the guests were Stephen Usher, gala chair/HSA Board of Directors, with wife, Emily; Christopher Williams, CEO and founder, the Williams Capital Group, LP; Rona Sebastian, president of the Herb Alpert Foundation; Alfred Preisser, HSA Theater program director, with wife Mia; and Mort Gleberman, Tamara Tunie, Alexander Smalls, Gloria Reuben, Michael Michele, Pamela Carlton and Melvin van Peebles. Performances were by HAS students, and it was a wonderful night.
Until next week … kisses.