February 20, 2013 - 11The Chronicle

YYYYOOUUTTHHOOUUTTHH &&&& EEEEDDUUCCAATTIIOONNDDUUCCAATTIIOONN

Open 6 Days A Week Monday - Saturday (8am-6pm)

Manager: Alice Warren (She’s Back!)

IKE’s Hot Chicken, Fish & MoreServing Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

DAILY LUNCH SPECIALSMONDAYSTurkey Wings

Sweet peas, cabbage & rice

TUESDAYSBeef Stew

String beans, okra soup & rice

WEDNESDAYSPork Chop(baked, fried or grilled)

Lime beans & rice

THURSDAYSMeat Loaf

Hoppin john & rutabaga

FRIDAYSFried Fish or Barbecue Ribs

Red rice & collard greens

SATURDAYSConch Stew

Phone # 843-805-5812

616 Meeting Street

Charleston, South Carolina

By Orrin "Checkmate"Hudson

Several years ago, I foundmyself at a crossroads in mylife. If not for a helping handat just the right time, I mightnot be here to offer thesewords of advice and encour-agement. I definitely fit thedescription of an "at risk"youngster.

I was an inner-city toughguy. That was my life, my cul-ture. It defined me. I wasn'tworried about my future.Future? Ha! My future wastoday, tonight. Tomorrowwas never a sure thing.

So what happened? Howdid I escape? Why am I nowpreaching against the life thatonce looked so "cool"? Forthis column, let's just say avery special teacher sawsomething in me that I didn'teven see. He taught me thegame of chess and with thatsimple act, he saved my life. Iowe him so much and oneway I'm paying him back is byliving every day to save otheryoung people who are in trou-ble or potentially stand tomake poor decisions.

We are surrounded by somuch pain and heartache.You can't turn on the newswithout being faced with alitany of domestic violence,carjacking, robberies, andkidnappings. Violence issomething that has alwaysplagued this world. It is soimportant to learn that hostil-ity gains you nothing in life.Peaceful compromises are theway to solve your dilemmas.Why is the world so angry?Perhaps we will never knowthe answer to that.

Downtown Constituents Mounting Challenges To District’s Proposals

- cont. from pg. 1

Open Letter To America's Black Youth: "Brains Before Bullets, Think It Out, Don't Shoot It Out!"

Using the game of chess, Ifounded an organization sev-eral years ago based upon asimple premise: Be someone,not something. Your actionsspeak louder than your words,and that is often forgotten.There is no reason in thisworld why two people cannotsit down with a game of chessor something similar and usetheir mind power to put hostil-ity and sore feelings behindthem. Use creativity and yourmind in a unique way to solveyour differences. Violence getsyou nowhere but behind bars.

Taking someone else's life isone of the most unholy sins aperson can commit. Considerwhat that family has to gothrough and what yours willgo through knowing that youdid this. Did you see therecent story in Chicago? Abeautiful young lady who hadrecently performed atPresident Obama's inaugura-tion in Washington was shotand killed by gang members

firing weapons indiscriminate-ly. Think of the pain and heart-break.

Remember this simple state-ment, "Brains before bullets,think it out, don't shoot itout!" I teach this and my stu-dents are hearing me but Ineed to reach more young peo-ple than those I'm able to meetin my classes.

Everyday lives are taken forno reason at all or for some-thing menial. No matter whatit is, a gun is never the answerto solving your problems.

I have dedicated my life toteaching young people thatthey can succeed. They canmake the right choices thatwill lead them places they haveonly dreamed of going if some-one can reach them. I believeGod gave me that ability andcapability.This is my message to young

people: Learn how to takecharge of your life. I want tohelp you do that. I have guid-ed and mentored many youngpeople who others have givenup on. I offer a calm voice anda steady hand that has weath-ered numerous tests.

I believe every child has thepotential to succeed. That'swhat guides my presentationsand my classes. Take myinstruction, and use it con-structively in your everyday lifeto become that upstanding cit-izen that you desire to be. Be asuccess, not a casualty. Youcan be productive in life, youcan go places, and you do havesupport to help you get there.

So many young people forgetthat life is beautiful, and if yourchance to take advantage of allit has to offer is taken awayeither by your own hand oranother's; you will live withmany regrets. Let's have moresuccesses and challenge yourmind, put the guns away!

Florence Crittenton Programs' Annual Oyster Roast & Chili Cook-Off

Generously Sponsored by Wells Fargo

Sunday, February 24, 2013 2:00pm - 5:00pmGoldbug Island

(between Mt. Pleasant & Sullivan’s Island)

This family- friendly event will feature all you can eat oystersprovided by Sticky Fingers, a chili cook-off showcasing 12

different chili recipes and featuring News 2's Brendan Clark , an open bar provided by Piggly Wiggly and Whole Foods.Oysters, Chili, Hot dogs, Open Bar with Beer and Wine,

Live Music by Smoky Weiner & The Hot Links, Face-painting and a Jump castle for the Kids!

TICKETS: ADULTS - $35; UNDER 21 - $206 AND UNDER - FREE

To purchase tickets online visit: www.florencecrittentonsc.org For More Ticket Information Call 843-722-7526

100 percent of the proceeds from the event will benefit FlorenceCrittenton Programs of South Carolina, which provides education,counseling, medical care, social support, and a safe haven for young

pregnant women and young mothers in need.

Orrin "Checkmate" Hudson

BERKELEY LOCKSMITHAUTOMOTIVE • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL• RESIDENTIAL

843-572-7602 PHONE • 843-572-2619 FAX113 College Park Rd. • Sutie G • Ladson, SC

FAST, DEPENDABLE SERVICEWillie D. Gamble, RL Locksmith

LICENSED, BONDED, INSUREDwww.berkeleylocksmith.com

(Located in College Park

Stono Park held its annual Science Fair during PTA on Tuesday, February 12, 2013. The ScienceFair is to provide our students with hands on experience with the Scientific Process as well as provid-ing higher level thinking experiences. First through third grade completed a class project whilefourth and fifth grade students did individual projects. The projects were judged and students wereawarded medals and certificates for first, second, and third places.

Creative Thinking on Display at Stono Park Science Fair

Burke High in a programthat changed before it couldbecome successful. Now thateffort is being considered forscraping, he said.

As school officials contem-plate converting Sanders-Clyde Elementary to a standalone middle school, some res-idents are asking how the rec-ommendation was made with-out community input.

“Meetings are being held insecret. The administrationheld meetings with parents,but how were those meetingsannounced and who wasasked to attend,” one East sideparent argues.

“At two meetings held 9:30a.m. there were no Black peo-ple in the meeting. You can’tannounce a 9:30 a.m. meetingvia Skype and blogs andexpect to get parents whowork to attend,” she said.

Jan. 31 parents concerned

about a proposal to create astand alone middle school atSanders-Clyde campusoffered that the proposal isunacceptable.

“How could you build a newschool in the middle of a hous-ing complex then take it awayfrom those residents and giveit to someone else,” a parentquestioned.

And as elementary and mid-dle schools downtownchange, Burke High will be

affected. Burke Foundationmembers at their Feb. 5monthly meeting came upwith some 42 questions toschool officials about thefuture of the school.

Among their concerns are acomprehensive plan for feederschools that supply Burke itsstudents, a comprehensiveplan to ensure Burke willbecome competitive academi-cally and the school’s declin-ing enrollment.

Local Students Excel in Scholastic Writing Awards

Charleston - Courtney Carrick(Mounty Pleasant, CharlestonSchool of the Arts) Gold Key - Flash Fiction; Honorable Mention- Humor; Honorable Mention - Poetry; Honorable Mention -Poetry; Honorable Mention- Poetry;Honorable Mention - Poetry;Gold Key - Short Story

Berkeley -Nandita Karambelkar (Goose Creek, Stratford H.S.)Gold Key - Flash Fiction; Silver Key - Flash Fiction; Honorable Mention - Humor; Honorable Mention - Personal Essay/Memoir;Silver Key - Personal Essay/Memoir; Silver Key - PersonalEssay/Memoir; Silver Key -Personal Essay/Memoir; Silver Key -Personal Essay/Memoir; Gold Key - Poetry; Gold Key - Poetry;Silver Key - Poetry; Gold Key -Portfolio; Gold Key - ShortStory

List of students by county including hometown, year, former high school and awards

SOUTH CAROLINA –South Carolina Governor’sSchool for the Arts andHumanities (SCGSAH) cre-ative writing studentsreceived 251 total awards inthe recent Scholastic Arts andWriting Awards for theSoutheast Region. It is thefirst year all 26 CreativeWriting junior and senior stu-dents received awards.

“The fact that every one ofour young writers was recog-nized by Scholastics speaks totheir discipline and hardwork,” says Scott Gould,Creative Writing DepartmentChair. “It also speaks to thechemistry that developsbetween these writers. Theytruly support each other andwork daily to make each otherbetter. It’s nice when someoneelse – like the folks atScholastics – recognizes theirefforts.”

The nonprofit Alliance forYoung Artists & Writersadministered the ScholasticArt & Writing Awards. Thestudents’ work was judged onthe regional level within theSoutheast Region, includingAlabama, Kentucky,Mississippi, North Carolina,South Carolina, Tennessee,Virginia, and West Virginia.

From the regional level,Gold Key work is submittedfor consideration at thenational level. SCGSAH stu-dents were recognized with76 Gold Keys. Of those 76,nine students were awardedPortfolio Gold Keys. If cho-sen for a national award in thiscategory, they will also receivea $10,000 scholarship.National winners are celebrat-ed at a prestigious CarnegieHall ceremony and have theirwork showcased in reputablegalleries in New York City.These winners will beannounced on Friday, March15, 2013.

The Creative WritingProgram at the SouthCarolina Governor’s Schoolfor the Arts and Humanities,developed by professionalwriters, is intensive and highlychallenging to ensure talentdevelopment and productivity.Students concentrate onsound writing techniques infiction, poetry, creative nonfic-tion, and screenwriting. Thegoal of the Creative WritingProgram is to recruit and men-tor the finest young writers inSouth Carolina. The programoffers a creative, supportiveatmosphere and a course ofstudy supervised by practicing,published writers.

Free Tax Return

Preparation --See If

You QualifyDo you need help preparingyour tax return? Learn aboutthe IRS Volunteer IncomeTax Assistance (VITA) andTax Counseling for theElderly (TCE) programs.

VITA Program: If you make$51,000 or less, IRS-certifiedvolunteers can inform youabout tax credits for whichyou may qualify, and prepare abasic tax return with electron-ic filing.

TCE Program: If you are 60years of age or older, you mayqualify for free tax help fromIRS-certified volunteers whospecialize in issues that pertainto seniors.

There are thousands of loca-tions across the United Stateswhere you can get free taxhelp through the VITA andTCE programs.

Visit the following website formore information:

http://www.irs.gov/Individual s / F r e e - T a x - R e t u r n -P r e p a r a t i o n - f o r - Y o u - b y -Volunteers