The Bainbridge Times May Issue

THE BAINBRIDGE TIMES - VOLUME I
MAY 5, 2016
THE BAINBRIDGE TIMES

EDUCATE -
A WOMAN
OF DISTINCTION
(pg 2)
MOTIVATE
INSPIRE
FEATURED
ENTREPRENUER
PLAY TENNIS
TODAY
HEALTH BENEFITS
OF VITAMIN C
(pg 5)
(pg 6)
(pg 7)
Introducing the
Rusty & River Fields Foundation
THE BAINBRIDGE TIMESVOLUME I
!1
MAY 5, 2016
A Woman of Distinction
by Rusty Fields
She migrated to New

Yo r k C i t y f r o m t h e
Caribbean island of Jamaica
with $600 in her pocket, and
the American dream in her
heart: to become a nurse,
purchase a home, provide
quality education for her
children, and live the iconic
good life. The possibilities
seemed endless, she was in
America!
Who is this woman? She is
my grandmother, Orrett
Daley Spence. Born in
Kingston, Jamaica, she
possessed leadership,
industriousness and self-reliance from an early age. She was
married by age 20, had five children by 26, and not happy with the
direction her personal life was moving in, for she hadnt planned on
having so many children and wasnt interested in having any more,
separated from her husband by 27, and knew if she was going to
create a better life for her and her offspring, she was going to have
to make some tough, gut-wrenching decisions right now. Already
half way through her nursing program in Jamaica, she saw an ad
in a newspaper welcoming young women to train to become
nurses at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. She
applied, was accepted, and knew this was her opportunity. She
emptied her bank account, and boarded her children between
family and friends, because no one household was able to take
care of all five. She knew however, if she got to America, within
two years they would all be reunited she would make it happen.
She arrived is America and disaster struck. Her money was stolen,
and without the means to afford her schooling, she sought another
career. Within one day she found a job in the garment district, and
before long opened her own import/export fabric and design
business, selling to Europe and throughout the Caribbean. Proving
to be a lucrative venture, the import/export fabric and clothing
business was an avenue for her innate entrepreneurial spirit,
affording her the opportunity to purchase a home, aiding her in
financing the undergraduate and graduate education of not only
her five children, but also of others in her community and in her
church, and allowing her to live her American Dream.
Over the years, her business has enhanced her community in a
number of ways. As an entrepreneur, she offered classes in all
(Continued on pg 10)
ARTS & CULTURE

MAY CALENDAR
BROOKLYN BOTANIC
GARDEN
FREE ALL DAY TUESDAY

FREE SATURDAY (10A -12P)
BRONX ZOO
FREE SATURDAY (10a -12p)
BAM DANCEAFRICA
FESTIVAL 2016
FREE
MAY 28th (12p - 10p)

MAY 29th - 30th (12p - 8p)
LINCOLN CENTER
FREE EVERY THURSDAY @ 7:30p

MAY 5th - Bokyung Byun (Guitar)
(Paul Recital Hall)
MAY 12th - Stephanie Blod
(Paul Recital Hall)
MAY 19th - Julliard Orchestra
Commencement Concert
(Alice Tully Hall)
*WIDE RANGE OF TALENTED
MUSICIANS.
**SEATING LIMITED, FIRST COME
!2
MAY 5, 2016
Harriet Tubman to Replace Andrew Jackson

on the $20: Progress or Propaganda?
By Dionne Spence
I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed
a thousand more if only they knew they were
slaves.
Harriet Ross Tubman
Harriet Tubman - Military
The United States Treasury Department

has recently announced its plans to
replace various historical American figures
on the United States currency. The
department has decided to replace
Confederate President Andrew Jackson
with Military General Harriet Tubman on
the $20 bill. The decision, according to
Jacob Lew of the treasury department,
was driven by thousands of responses
received from Americans young and old.
The responses are said to be based on
a public comments poll in which half a
million Americans voted to have Mrs.
Tubman replace Mr. Jackson on the new
bill. The treasury department plans to
place Andrew Jackson on the back of the
bill opposite Mrs. Tubman.
This is an act that is certain to raise

eyebrows considering the fact that
Andrew Jackson was an advocate for and
beneficiary of the very system that
Tubman spent her entire life trying to
bring to an end. Jackson owned
individuals who were enslaved, Tubman
freed individuals who were enslaved.
Jackson is known for the destruction
of the indigenous population through his
authorization of the Indian Removal
Act of 1830. This was a measure that
forcibly removed hundreds of thousands
of Native Americans from their homes
and off their lands, with many losing
their lives on what came to be known as

the Trail of Tears. Tubman on the other
hand, is most notable for her role as
military general, leading over one
thousand human beings to freedom and
economic opportunity. Maybe the other
Harriet (Harriet Beecher Stowe) would be
a more qualified candidate to share the
space with Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill.
Who was Harriet Tubman
When most people hear the name Harriet
Tubman, the Underground Railroad
immediately comes to mind. But who was
Harriet Tubman really?
!3
MAY 5, 2016
Harriet Tubman to Replace Andrew Jackson

on the$20: Progress or Propaganda?
In her work, Bound for the Promised Land:
Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American
Hero, author Kate Larson appropriately
describes Tubman as a fearless
visionary who not only refused to spend
her own life in bondage, but led many to
their freedom, courageously and behind
enemy lines. Tubman was very clear about
her mission and her position as a soldier in
a war that had been waged against her and
her people. Born Araminta Ross, her last
name changed upon her marriage to John
Tubman in 1844. She then changed her first
name to Harriet after her mother thus
taking on the new name Harriet Tubman.
Harriet Tubman is very well known for
her role as one of the conductors of the
Underground Railroad. The Underground
Railroad was formed in the early 19th
century and reached its peak in 1850. It was
a network of anti-slavery activists and safe
houses created to assist those on their
journey to freedom. It consisted of ordinary
people both Black and White and helped an
estimated 100,000 individuals escape the
brutality of slavery.
In addition to her role as a conductor of
the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman
was a wife, mother, nurse, humanitarian,
intelligence officer and military general for
the United States Army where she went
behind enemy lines more than 17 times to
free enslaved Africans. She was also an
active participant in the suffrage movement
and was the first woman to lead an armed
expedition in the war raid at Combahee
Ferry in 1863, freeing more than 750
enslaved Africans and recruiting them for
the Union Army. Therefore, to singularly
label her an activist, the propaganda being
projected through the media today, is an
insult to her legacy.
Harriet Tubman possessed a certain grit
and determination that never faltered even
in the face of illness or imminent danger.
Her actions angered the racist
establishment and those who depended on
the economic benefits of slavery, causing

rewards to be posted for her capture, and
leading up to the passage of the Fugitive Slave
Act. This did not deter Harriet Tubman, she
was relentless in her mission to save lives. In
response to the Fugitive Slave Act, which
compelled those in the northern states to
capture free individuals and return them to
slavery, Harriet Tubman re-routed the
Underground Railroad to Canada where
slavery was prohibited.
In all her actions, Harriet Tubman
worked for freedom, equal rights, and justice
among all people. Despite a life-long illness of
epileptic-like seizures brought on by constant
blows to the head by her slavemaster during
childhood, Tubman never lost sight of her
mission and never lost a single individual in
battle. When Harriet transitioned from this
life, she was surrounded by family and friends
- in a home named after her and established in
her honor - on land that had previously been
donated by her, to be used as a home for the
aged. It opened its doors in 1908, five years
before her death and was named the Harriet
Tubman Home for the Aged. It is located in
Auburn, N.Y.
Irony of the 20
Harriet Tubman was buried with military
honors yet it took her more than 20 years to
receive a pension after serving in the American
Civil War. Ironically, the $20 bill that she will
be placed on is the very amount she eventually
received from the United States government as
her monthly pension for her service as a nurse,
military general, and intelligence officer in the
United States Army. What is even more
disturbing is the fact that had she not taken the
responsibility of her freedom in her own hands
she might have easily been bought or sold for
that $20.
For more information on Harriets legacy,
visit http://www.harriet-tubman.org/house/
or contact the Harriet Tubman Home for the
Aged at 315-252-2081 to schedule a tour.
!4
MAY 5, 2016
FEATURED ENTREPRENUER
LEGEND PET FOODS AND SUPPLIES
By Rusty Fields
Richard O. Davis Jr., founder and owner

of Legend Pet Food and Supplies in BedStuy Brooklyn, realized a business
opportunity, after being repeatedly
complemented on how well trained his
dog, Legend, was.
Legend Pet Food and Supplies is a locally
owned and operated, neighborhood pet
store, with a friendly staff knowledgeable
about all of your pets needs. It offers its
customers natural cat and dog food, dog
behavior training, and pet supplies, giving
Bed-Stuy an alternative to big box faceless
stores. Richard has carved out a unique
niche for his company. A one-stop shop
pet specialty store, Legend leverages the
synergies between pet services and
product sales. Having skills such as dog
walking and dog sitting, and a background
in the medical field, Richard has also been
able to fine tune his business model,
anticipating his customers needs long before

they even know they have them.
He credits his business success to lessons he
has learned and experience he has gained as an
entrepreneur. When asked exactly what those
were, and what advice he would give to
aspiring entrepreneurs, he replied: Learn your
craft, master it, and become a lifelong student
of your industry.
In describing his goals for the future, Richard
said he sees his company growing and
expanding in terms of services offered. He
plans to add pet grooming and veterinary
services to his business model. In the
upcoming weeks, he is also launching a Doggy
Boot Camp, which will be a fun experience for
pets and owners alike.
Visit the Brooklyn location at 185 Howard
Avenue (between Bainbridge and Chauncey
streets). Contact: (917) 966-5200
!5
MAY 5, 2016
PLAY TENNIS TODAY

By River Fields
According to TIA (Tennis Industry

Association) there are approximately
17.9 million tennis players in the
United States and roughly 1.2 billion
people play or watch tennis worldwide
today. Due to these statistics you can
surmise that people must be enjoying
and benefiting from the game, because
approximately a seventh of the entire
human population is engaged in this
amazing sport. Why is it amazing?
Here are a few reasons. 1.)Tennis is
an extremely fun physical activity. As
you pickup a racquet and start hitting
your first couple of balls, you will
immediately fall in love with the game. You will be continually moving and thinking about
where you should place the next ball, so your brain will never have a chance to be idle. 2.) This
is an activity that could be enjoyed by anyone regardless of age, but you must make sure that
you continuously hydrate your body by drinking lots of water on court. 3.) Researchers from
Harvard University School of Public Health state that, people who play tennis for just 3 hours
a week will be shortening there risk of dying by nearly 50% (http://
healthyliving.azcentral.com/pros-cons-game-tennis-1559.html). 4.) There is a list of physical
and mental health benefits that tennis renders, for example quick reaction time, aerobic
exercise (exercises that increase endurance and cardiac health), anaerobic exercise(exercises
that help you burn fat and gain lean muscle mass), flexibility, increases hand-eye coordination,
boost the immune system, and aids in the ability to stay focused.
Before we begin hitting, we first must
gather the proper equipment required. The
first items you will need is a tennis racquet
and a can of balls, which you can acquire
from your neighborhood sporting goods
store. Since most of you are probably new to
the game, it would make more sense to
purchase a less expensive beginners racquet
and then as you progress within the sport
you may consider upgrading to a more
professional racquet. The second
component required is a pair of quality
tennis shoes. There are four main features
you will want to examine in a tennis shoe
before making the purchase. (1) You want to
make sure that your feet are very
comfortable within the shoe. (2) Make sure
your have a firm fit - your foot should not be
sliding back and forth. (3) Protection of
your knees and ankles is high priority. Ask
yourself if there is enough cushion in the
midsole (the material between the inner and

outer sole that is responsible for shock
absorption). (4) Its very important that you
purchase a tennis shoe with the proper sole
necessary for the court that you will be playing
on the most (hard court, grass court, or clay
court). In an urban setting such as New York
City hard courts are the most common. The
third item you will need is a tennis outfit. You
can either get a dri-fit running/training shirt
and shorts if you are male or a dri-fit tank and/
or dress if you are female. The final item
needed is a tennis ID card, which you can
purchase from The New York City Department
of Parks and Recreation at 24 W 61st St, New
York, NY or Paragon Sports at 867 Broadway,
NYC (Seasonal pass, $10 for children and $200
for adults). GREAT!!! Now you all are fully
prepared to hit the courts and start training.
!6
MAY 5, 2016
Health Benefits of Vitamin C

By RUSTY FIELDS
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid as it is

scientifically known, is a water-soluble
vitamin. It is present naturally in some
foods, added to others, and also available
via supplements. Unlike other animals,
humans are unable to synthesize their own
source of vitamin C, so we must obtain it
from our diets. Lets explore. Vitamin C has
a myriad of functions. Its a powerhouse! It
strengthens our immune system, helps our
bodies fend off foreign invaders, such as
bacteria and viruses, and serves as a key
component of collagen. Collagen, the most
abundant protein in the body, is a gluelike substance,
which binds our
cells together to
form connective
tissue. Thus, it
literally keeps the
entire structure of
our bodies intact.
Without collagen
we would suffer
from weak bones,
wrinkles, poor
eyesight, etc.
Collagen deficiency is also linked with
strokes and heart attacks. So, any nutrient
that builds collagen, builds our bodies and
aids in keeping us healthy.
How much vitamin C do we need on a
daily basis? According to Mayo Clinic, the
recommended daily dosage of vitamin C is
between 65mg and 2000mg. Why such a
large gap? The difference arises, because
different people need different amounts
depending on age, body type, gender,
physical activity level, and the persons
state of health. A child for example, will not
need as much vitamin C as an adult.
Similarly, a healthy individual wont require

as much Vitamin C as an individual suffering
from a disease. Personally, as a 17 year-old,
athletic male, I consume closer to 2000mg per
day. Although too much vitamin C is unlikely
to pose harmful side effects, if taken in
excessive amounts, you may experience
symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, or
headaches.
We now know some of the benefits that
Vitamin C poses for our bodies, but where can
we get it? As stated earlier, it can be obtained
via a supplement in the form of a capsule or
p o w d e r .
Additionally,
there are so many
Vitamin C rich
foods fruits in
particular. These
foods include:
o r a n g e s ,
grapefruits,
tangerines,
lemons & limes,
p a p a y a ,
strawberries,
kiwi, watermelon,
cantaloupe, and so many more!
Another important note is to take your doses in
intervals, and not all at once. This is because
the biological processes in your intestines, the
region where vitamin C is absorbed by the
body, can reach a saturation point. This means
your body wont absorb any more of the
nutrient, but instead will pass it out of your
system through your urine. Therefore, taking
divided doses throughout the day is the ideal
way to consume this nutrient.
Find the source of vitamin C best for you, get
it in optimum quantities, and experience the
AWESOME benefits of vitamin C today!
!7
MAY 5, 2016
FEATURED RESIDENTS
Paul A. Marte was born one of nine siblings in the Dominican Republic. At the age of
18, he left the Dominican Republic to study for three
years in Moscow, Russia, where he learned to speak
Russian, and gained a broader world perspective. In
1989, he came to the United States for the first time
and settled in the state of NY. Prior to purchasing
his Brownstone, and making Bedford Stuyvesant his
home in 2007, he lived in several other communities
including Corona Queens, Jamaica Queens, and
Crown Heights Brooklyn. Shortly after moving to
Bed-Stuy, he became President of the Bainbridge St.
Block Association, a position he still maintains
today. As President, he arduously worked for a year
and a half to get the city to break away cement,
creating larger tree pits, allowing for more plants
and trees to be planted in order to beautify the
community. While he observesthe progress made in
the community thus far, he thinks there is still work
to be done in several areas. First, he would like to
see more communication amongst neighbors, not to the point of intrusiveness, but so
that relationships are built in order to build a stronger community. He would also like
to see much more greenery and less litterthroughoutthe neighborhood.
Born in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and
one of twenty two
children, Salima
Janneh first came to the United States in
1985, when she moved to the state of
Washington. She traveled extensively
across the U.S. before finally settling in
Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, after she married
her husband. She has lived in Bed-Stuy
for 24 years, and enjoys fashion, learning
languages, praying, and the culinary arts.
She speaks seven languages including:
Wolof, Mende, and Mandinka, and in her
youth she was a fashion model and a chef.
As a long-term resident, she feels that

high rent prices are the primary issue in
Bed-Stuy, and feels that people who have
made this community their home, spent
their lives here, and raised their families here shouldnt be forced out and displaced
because of greed.
!8
MAY 5, 2016
FEATURED RESIDENTS
Jane Elizabeth Wright, a mother,
wife, grandmother, and now great
grandmother of two beautiful little
girls, currently works as a Licensed
Real Estate Broker in NY state. Raised
a Navy brat, Jane and her two siblings
developed a love for traveling from her
Tuskeege educated, Naval Officer
father. She enjoys gardening, sewing,
visiting museums, watching live plays,
and hosting parties and events. In
1992, Jane moved from Morningside
Heights to Bedford-Stuyvesant with
her husband after a two year search
for the perfect home. They were
attracted to the community, because
they loved the Brownstones, and had
friends living in the neighborhood.
Jane has been an active member of the
community ever since, participating in
beautification projects, block parties,
and spending time with the elderly.
She donates and volunteers to various
organizations including animal
shelters and organizations which
rescue and support women, who have
been victims of abuse.
As a long-term resident of BedfordStuyvesant, she sees affordable
housing as the most pressing issue in
the community. She personally knows
people who have lived in Bed-Stuy
since the 80s and 90s, and doesnt
want to see the African-American

community living there, disappear. A
possible solution she proposed was to have
NYC raise minimum wage to $25, or even
$30/hour. Thats what you need in NYC to
meet your basic needs; thats what you
need to survive, she said. Jane is
confident that her motto,
Keep the faith and treat others the way
you want to be treated, is key to resolving
some of the challenges currently facing the
community.
!9
MAY 5, 2016
A Woman of Distinction
by Rusty Fields
(Continued from pg 2)
areas of business and summer employment

opportunities for the youth, teaching them
about business principles she learned
along the way: discipline, perseverance,
self-motivation when youre an
entrepreneur, it all rests with you; your
success or lack there of will be in direct
proportion to the amount effort you put
forth. She planned and supervised various
annual community events such as fashion
shows and fundraising galas.
As a
business owner, she became an active
member of the Merchants Association and
served as a board member for several
years, where she received the Woman of
Distinction Award from the former mayor of
NYC David Dinkins. She was also an active
member of the 100 Women for
Congressman Major Owens organization,
through which she worked to educate voters

about the
fundraising community events, thereby helping
to bridge the gap between community leaders
and residents. She rallied the West Indian
community in particular, and held classes on
attaining U.S. citizenship, aiding hundreds to
become naturalized citizens, opening doors
they werent aware existed. She was also
selected by her Congressman as one of a
small group to welcome Nelson Mandela to the
United States. A kind, warm, loving
person, she enjoys being around people. Her
personal interests include visiting museums,
watching live plays on Broadway, gardening,
and traveling around the world.
Not having the resources to finance the arts
education of her own children in their formative
years, she vowed to inundated her
grandchildren with her love for the arts,
introducing them to The Metropolitan Museum
of Art, MoMA, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and
numerous other cultural events around NYC.
She financed their music lessons in piano and
violin, and spent countless hours listening in
as they practiced. She once took her grandson
for his birthday to Paris to visit The Louvre,
and to see the Mona Lisa in person. She took
another to London, to an exhibit at the V&A
museum. Took one to the Getty Museum in
San Fransisco, and yet another grandchild to
the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. She
encouraged another to sail, and when he
received his sailing license, she sponsored a
trip sailing around Tahiti. These were the types
of grand introductions and aspirational
thoughts and ideas, she gave them at an early
age.
When asked about her life choices from
children to entrepreneurship to migration she
replied:
My life decisions have afforded me
the opportunity to design my destiny; I live life
on my own terms.
!1 0
MAY 5, 2016
THE BAINBRIDGE TIMES

Editor-in-Chief Rusty Fields
Managing Editor River Fields
Production Editor Charlene Spence
Columnist Dionne Spence
Associate Editor Errol Sutherland
Assignment Editor Tiffany Young
Video Editor Brandon Spence
Reviewer Brianna Young
Fact Checker Darren Fraser
Follow Us
Instagram
@thefieldsfoundation
Twitter
@RRFFoundation
Facebook
http://bit.ly/FacebookRRFF
Join Us
Interested in being a part of The Bainbridge Times team?
We invite you to submit your articles to us via email:
rustyandriverfieldsfoundation@gmail.com.
Happy writing!
!1 1

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THE BAINBRIDGE TIMES - VOLUME I