General disease prevention and early detection for cancer and other ailments are high on the agenda of the free community health symposium coming to York College, 94-50 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard in Jamaica, on Wednesday, March 12 at 7 p.m.
Prostate cancer, breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stress and mental health are among the subjects to be addressed at the event: “Major Health Threats: What You Need to Know and Do,” presented by City Councilmember Leroy Comrie and the Astoria-based SHAREing & CAREing Cancer Support Services.
“Today, with early detection and utilizing wellness programs, a cancer diagnosis is no longer a death sentence,” said Comrie.
“March has been designated nationally as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and I believe it is appropriate that we use this time to raise awareness in our community about this and other cancers.”
“I believe that by engaging all the pertinent stakeholders and by removing the barriers to early screening - which include decreasing the health disparities that exist in poor communities - we can continue to insure that people are living longer and healthier lives,” Comrie said, thanking the members of the SHAREing and CAREing cancer survivors support group for their participation in the events.
For information, call SHAREing & CAREing 718-777-5766, visit the group’s web site, www.shareing-careing.org or call Comrie’s office at 718-778-3700.
Economic health
The local impact of the foreclosure crisis, black spending patterns and disparities in mortgage support from major banks and other topics will be discussed and addressed in the annual “Economic State of Black New York” report, being released by the New York Christian Times newspaper Monday.
According to the Reverend Dennis Dillon, chief author of the report and publisher of the Christian Times, the city’s black consumers deposit more than $60 billion in the city’s 10 largest banks, but get back less than $18 million in SBA loans and less than $200 million in home mortgages, creating opportunities for dishonest predatory lenders.
“These banking institutions with such solid control of the giant share of black deposited dollars are the co-creators of this foreclosure tsunami of a crisis,” said Dillon.
“Because they refuse to lend or to work deliberately to create an environment of sophisticated financial consumers, they leave an environment overwhelmed by disconnected predatory lenders and merchants that prey on our community’s ignorance.”
Dillon and The New York Christian Times have studied black consumer patterns and covered black businesses in the city for 13 years.
“Black New Yorkers pull such a small slice from the economic pie that it crumbles into small insignificant pieces when trying to pick it up,” said Dillon, adding that major improvements must be made.
For information about the “Economic State of Black New York” report, call 718-638-6397.
Passion for Easter fashion
The “Easter Extravaganza & Fashion Walk,” benefiting the Harlem YMCA’s “Strong Kids” campaign, will be held Sunday, March 23 at the YMCA, 181 West 135th Street (between Seventh and Lenox Avenues), from 2 to 7 p.m.
There will be games for children and adults, prizes for best dressed, dance contest, talent show, refreshments and more. Music will be provided by deejay P-Rock.
Tickets are just $5 through March 21 and $10 after that date. In addition, there is an early-bird ticket special through Friday March 14: buy four tickets and get one free.
The YMCA’s “Strong Kids” campaign helps provide “food, clothing and shelter, guidance, support and other resources to improve the quality of life for young people and their families.” For tickets and information, call 646-853-5617 or 212-912-2160.
Pan-tastic plan
If you love jazz and steelpan, make a note about June 14 - that is when the anticipated Father’s Day Pan Jazz Concert will return to Manhattan’s Lincoln Center.
The superstar pan line includes calypsonian David Rudder, percussionist Ralph McDonald, composer/arranger Frankie McIntosh, keyboard player Nicholas Brancker, saxophonist Arturo Tappin, trumpeter Etienne Charles, singer-songwriter Rhea Singh, drummer Buddy Williams, guitarist Scott Galt, keyboardist Miles Robertson, and steelpan masters Robert Greenidge, Rudy (Two Left) Smith, Liam Teague, Garvin Blake and Andy Narell.
The Frederick P. Rose Hall, the home of the Jazz at Lincoln Center program, will be the site of the show, presented by Abstract Entertainment. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
For information, call 914-739-2333 and visit www.panjazz.com online.
This column is reprinted from the March 9 Sunday editions of The New York Daily News. If you have any items suitable for this column please e-mail them to jmccallister@nydailynews.com.
