VICTORIA HORSFORD

USA ELECTION/2012

By 10/18,  we should be all smiles and somewhat complacent about  President Barack Obama’s 10/16 Town Hall Debate prowess  and  his  re-election victory.   Now for the hard work during the next 19 days. The President enjoys very close leads in the swing states and  strong support among the Democratic mainstream,  African Americans, Latinos,  progressives, ,women,  college students. He is leading his opponent in states which observe early voting. Nationally most college administrators had students register to vote at the beginning of the semester or to file absentee ballots in their home state.   Remember the victor is determined by the Electoral College votes.  Read the  NY  Magazine 10/23 issue AN ELECTION SPECIAL ISSUE, which includes opinions  and reflections by John  Heilemann, Frank Rich et.al about  the 2012 USA election season.

NEWSMAKERS

 The 28^th Annual Africa America Institute’s (AAI) 28^th Annual Awards Gala at the  Grand Hyatt Hotel, was unquestionably ladies’ night. Africa’s two female presidents - Liberia’s Ellen Sirleaf and Malawi ‘s  Joyce Banda were the distinguished event honorees.   Mora McLean  stepped down as AAI President/CEO; and  she is succeeded by Amini  Kajunio, of the Democratic Republic of Congo, making her the first African to helm the AAI, an organization, which was founded in  1953 and which is  committed to education and professional training for Africans and promoting engagement between Africa and America via education, training and dialogue.

 Happy Birthday wishes to Scorpios:  Ruby Dee, VP Joe Biden, Joy Elliott,  Whoopi Goldberg,  Maurice Grey, Yaphet Kotto, Kim Weston Moran,   Stanley McIntosh,   Earl “ The Pearl’ Monroe; Melba Moore; Sean (P. Diddy) Combs: Dr. Condoleeza Rice;  Kenn Reynolds;  Rosetta Torrence; Gloria Horsford  Torruella;   Gabrielle Union, and  Anita Webster.

REST IN PEACE:  Gustav “Gus” Heningburg,  a NJ  civic and business figure who  hosted  the  WNBC-TV community affairs show “Positively Black,”   died.  His daughter Anne-Renee Heningburg  plans  a  memorial service for him later this year.

Alphonso Hurst, 93, died . Born in Puerto Rico, his family relocated to New York in the 30s.  An alum of  President  Roosevelt’s  WPA program,  he worked at Harlem Hospital  before he cut his entrepreneurial teeth, and opened, Al’s Luncheonette on Eighth Avenue. He is survived by his daughters, Saundra Gaulman and Margaret Celeste, a grandson and a great granddaughter.

ARTS CALENDAR

FINE ARTS:  The REFLECTIONS OF MONK: Inspired Images of Music and Moods, exhibit,  which showcases the works of 45 visual arts,  including Romare Bearden; Betty  Blayton;  Kwame Brathwaite; Leon  Denmark; Al  Johnson, Overstreet; Otto  Neals:, Danny Simmons,   TAFA, and Ann  Tanksley at the Wilmer Jennings Gallery at Kenkeleba,  located   219 East 2 Street, near Avenue B,  Manhattan.  Call 212.674.3939.   Presented by the Thelonius Monk Society for American Arts, the REFLECTIONS OF MONK exhibit runs through December 8, and includes an 11/3 gallery talk,  from  2-5 pm..

Loris Crawford revives her  ART OFF THE MAIN Expo and  partners with the American Art Marketing; The Contemporary Art Fair, NYC; and the American Craft Show, NY for a Fine Arts   Expo ar the Javits Center at 11 Avenue at 39 Street on October 19/20/21, Art Off The Main  booths 105 to 145.  Visit www.artoffthemain.com. 

FALL AFFAIRS

OCTOBER 18: Voza Rivers/New Heritage Theatre Group, Take Wings And Soar and Be Rich Entertainment, along with City College, co- present a staged reading of a Lorey Hayes drama, POWER PLAY, at the Schomburg Center, located at 515 Malcolm X Boulevard, Harlem.. POWER PLAY is  a story about  politics and power  during the election season that gives rise to the first African-American governor of California.  Paulette Pearson Washington (Mrs. Denzel Washington), Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, Lia Chang, Roscoe Orman and Jeff  Wallner are the POWER PLAY cast of characters.  Admission is free.   Reservations  necessary.  212.926.2550.

OCTOBER 19: The Caribbean International Network in collaboration with the Schomburg Center co-present a lecture The Key To Prosperity In Jamaica,  by Douglas Orane, Executive Chairman of GraceKennedy Limited., at 515 Lenox Avenue, 135 Street, Harlem.  Registration necessary, call 212 491.2040

NOVEMBER 17:  The next best thing to the NFL game  is the NY Urban League’s  41^st Annual Whitney M. Young Jr. Memorial Football Classic to be held at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. The  Football Classic gladiators are Hampton University’s  PIRATES  and Morgan State University’s  BEARS. Don’t forget half-time and  the Battle of the Marching Bands .  The NYUL  Football Classic returns to its home turf, having done battle at the original Yankee Stadium from 1968 -73 and from 1976-87.  Tickets range from $25 - $75  and  can be purchased online, visit www. nyul.org, or football@nyul.org. or call  212.926.8000.

NOVEMBER 24: Mary Flowers Entertainment  is back in  NY with a special Thanksgiving Celebration, an R&B, Soul and HIPHOP concert, starring Faith Evans and TANK with Luke James and Bridget Kelly, who will perform at  the Apollo Theater, located at 253 West 125 Street, Harlem.  Tickets  are scaled from  $ 61.50 to $91.50 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster at 800 745.3000 or  at the Apollo Theater boxoffice. 

A management consultant, Victoria Horsford is a NY based journalist and pop culture historian reachable at victoriahorsford@yahoo.com