FEATURED BUSINESS: Creations by Victoria

Creations by Victoria was established in March 2008 by Victoria Blake out of her love for baking and creating unique and delicious baked goods. Creations by Victoria is a custom cookie & cake and edible arrangement company that specializes in unique and custom decorated cookies, cakes of all kinds, gift baskets and fruit arrangements for all occasions and special events.

Creations by Victoria offers a complete and diverse line of custom-made fruit arrangements, cakes, and cookies. Blake offers customers a wide range of goods, specializing in creating bouquets and arrangements shaped as floral bouquets but made from fresh fruit or cookies.

Blake says , "fruit arrangements are made from the freshest of fruits, and the finest of chocolates. Our cookies are hand cut one by one, and iced to perfection. Our cakes are custom-made and accommodate any party size. Our batter is homemade and delicious to say the least. We are perfect for parties, congratulations, sympathy, thank you, and I love you messages, weddings, and so much more.

For more information, you may view the company brochure by clicking here: CREATIONS BY VICTORIA BROCHURE

OR e-mail Victoria at creationsbyvic@yahoo.com.

Submit to the Keeping the Faith Anthology presented by Vanessa Miller

Author, playwright and motivational speaker, Vanessa Miller, is in need of three (3) more stories for the Keeping the Faith anthology.

Do you have a story of faith that you'd like to share with thousands of readers? Are you a writer, but you’re still trying to find a way to become published? Do you have a book out, but you just haven’t been able to connect with your audience yet, and you’re looking for a way to introduce yourself to more readers? Becoming a contributing author in the Faith Series Anthologies can help you achieve your goals.

I have already published two books in this series (This Far by Faith and Have a Little Faith) which have sold thousands of books. Keeping the Faith will be the third and final non-fiction book in the Faith series.

What are the writing guidelines?

The genre is strictly Christian, so the material submitted MUST be biblically sound. It should be double-spaced and in 12-point type (Times New Roman font only). This anthology will be filled with stories of HOPE, and VICTORY through Jesus Christ. I’m looking for short stories that show how faith in God can bring you through the storms of life and personal testimonies concerning the situations in your life that caused you to KEEP THE FAITH even when you didn’t want to anymore. There are also countless personal testimonies of God’s healing power in the area of illness and deliverance. I need those stories for KEEPING THE FAITH. Absolutely no profanity, sexually explicit or vulgar language permitted. Each story should be 4,000 – 6,000 words.

If you have a story that would meet this guidelines and are interested in contributing to the Keeping the Faith anthology, email Vanessa at: vmiller-01@earthlink.net. In the subject line, type the words Keeping the Faith and let her know that you would like more information and Ms. Miller will forward submission guidelines.

Happy Parents' Day

In the United States, Parents' Day is held on the fourth Sunday of every July. This was established in 1994 when President Bill Clinton signed a Congressional Resolution into law (36 U.S.C. § 135) for "recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children (ParentsDay.com)." 

The establishment of Parents’ Day affords a wonderful opportunity for communities, organizations, churches, mosques, synagogues and temples to honor exemplary parents and to encourage families everywhere to invest in our most precious resource – our children. Among the most popular of these activities has been the recognition of outstanding couples as parental role models who have been honored as "Parents of the Year" at the national, state, local and faith community level.


ParentsDay.com encourages you to get involved in helping recognize outstanding parents worthy of this recognition by establishing a Parents' Day Selection Committee in your faith community or local area. Please also recommend such parents to your state's National Parents' Day Council affiliate or the ParentsDay.com national office for consideration to be selected "Parents of the Year" at the state or national level.

For more information, visit ParentsDay.com.

Tashera Simmons Writing Memoir and Starring in Upcoming Reality Series

Tashera Simmons Writing Memoir and Starring in Upcoming Reality Series


Tashera Simmons, soon-to-be ex-wife of critically-acclaimed rapper, DMX, recently confirmed her official separation from her spouse of 11 years. Ms. Simmons’ upcoming memoir, Tashera Simmons: Strength of A Woman, is a positive story of she and the rapper’s life together. In an interview with AllHipHip.com, Ms. Simmons states, “"It's not a tell-all, I want to clear that up.” While her reality show has yet to be picked up by a television network, Tashera Simmons’: Life After X will showcase Tashera and the rest of the immediate family’s life without the rap star. DMX will not star in the series.

FOR DISCUSSION: Many of us know that DMX has had run-ins with the law, as well as experienced many bouts of drug addiction. Tashera stayed for a long haul. Would you get help for your mate? Could you stand the constant relapses? Would you stay or would you go? If you have stayed or would stay, what tools and resources do or would you recommend to help get through a situation similar to Tashera’s? If you’d leave, what would be the turning point for you?

Company searching for qualified applicants to fill school bus driver positions.

Company searching for qualified applicants to fill school bus driver positions.

First Student, Inc., the nation’s leader in student transportation, will host two open job fairs on July 22 and 24, to fill approximately 100 school bus driver positions for Detroit Public Schools. The company is seeking applicants with or without a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and will provide all necessary training for those in need of a CDL. First Student began the five-year contract with the district in June.

The job fairs will be held at First Student’s west Detroit bus lot, located at 8145 Greenfield, on Thursday, July 22 from 3 to 7 p.m., and Saturday, July 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Interested applicants who are unable to attend the job fairs may apply in person at the First Student offices located at 8145 Greenfield or 10205 Mack Avenue Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Potential drivers must understand the importance of driving a school bus and make safety their core value. They must be able to pass the company’s extensive background checks, drug and alcohol tests, and rigorous training program, which includes in-classroom, behind-the-wheel and safety training for new drivers. Prospective drivers must also be able to safely transport students in a timely manner and complete all pre- and post-trip shift activities. Applicants should possess a sincere desire to work with the public, follow all traffic and corporate regulations, and meet additional company requirements.

Additional information on the job fairs can be found by calling (313) 945-9324.

Introducing Karen Dabney: Author, The Magic Pencil

The Magic Pencil by Karen E. Dabney

The Magic Pencil, a powerful novel for young adults, is the story of Malcolm Bakersfield and the star of his latest and greatest dream, Nia Stellar.

Nia is "the new girl" at Gillespie School. Malcolm quickly notices she's definitely different from all of the other kids he knows.

One day, Malc forgets to bring his pencils to school and borrows one from Nia. When he begins to use it, the pencil glows and his writing flows! Malcolm becomes as mystified as Nia is mysterious.

Many wonderful things continue to happen with Nia on the scene. She challenges Malc to be better than his best and he soon discovers amazing things about himself and the world! But whenever he gets the chance to ask Nia if the pencil has special powers, her answer is usually just a laugh.

We join Malcolm in his quest to discover the secret to the power of the pencil! And we'll uncover hidden powers within ourselves, along the way.

Writing Contest

A student from the age groups 8-12 and 13-17 years old will win 5 copies of The Magic Pencil novel for their school!

The entrants must write an essay on "What is Code-switching?" using The Magic Pencil as a springboard. The winners will be chosen, based on the overall quality of their essay, by 5 professional writers/teachers/editors.

The essay must be accompanied by a letter of authenticity signed by the students' Language Arts or Social Studies teacher and co-signed by a parent or guardian of the student.

The contest is open to U.S.A. students, only.

Entries must be postmarked by Thursday, September 16, 2010. The winners will be notified through their schools.

Send entries via U.S. Mail to:
Dabs and Company
P.O. Box 47327, Oak Park, MI 48237
313.632.3384

BOOK REVIEW: An Inconvenient Friend by Rhonda McKnight

An Inconvenient Friend by Rhonda McKnight*
Reviewed by Tavares S. Carney
Amazon Rating: 4


Using What You Have to Get What You Want

The author of An Inconvenient Friend, Rhonda McKnight, brings gold-digging Samaria Jacobs back for Round 2. Samaria first arrived on the literary scene in Ms. McKnight’s debut novel, Secrets and Lies. In this offering, Samaria is up to her same conniving ways. Though this time around, Samaria’s plan is to win the man of her dreams by any means necessary, even if it means getting too close for comfort.


Highlighting major concerns that have the ability to either make or break a marriage, Ms. McKnight gives readers a story ripe with the marital issues of infidelity and fertility, as well as subplots of relationships amongst women in the church, drug abuse, as well as familial financial dependency and emotional abuse. This story will cause readers to ruminate existing relationships, and to possibly even consider what they would do in any of the given scenarios presented - at work, at church or at home.


The messages conveyed throughout the novel are the importance of a strong, committed relationship with God, the importance of communication, and truth and honesty in marriage. An additional subplot involving Samaria’s relationship with her own mother caused me to have just a tad bit of empathy for Samaria. A part of me wanted to understand her need for attention – albeit from the wrong people for the wrong reasons. Can faith and forgiveness heal a mighty blow?


I look forward to future offerings from Ms. McKnight.


Reviewed by Tavares S. Carney

*Advance Reading Copy provided by author.

Everyone wants to be a PRINCESS… now you CAN BE!

Everyone wants to be a PRINCESS… now you CAN BE!

The Princess Scholarship Program is designed to recognize women between the ages of 17-23, that are currently a high school senior or enrolled in an accredited Michigan university. The Parade Company is looking for candidates whom invest their time and energy in their community in a positive way and whom represent The Parade Company’s mission of bringing people together from all walks of life to create lifelong happy memories.
A panel of judges will select the Top 5 candidates based on academics, campus & community involvement, personality and knowledge of America’s Thanksgiving Parade®. Four (4) of the Top 5 will be recognized as Parade Princess Ambassadors and receive a $250 scholarship. The final candidate will be named the 2010 America’s Thanksgiving Parade® Queen and receive a $1,000 scholarship. Please note this is not an actual pageant. Contestants will be judged and selected based on their written responses to the application and information provided. Photos are requested for media releases and promotion of winners only.
All five (5) women will have the opportunity to ride in the 84th America’s Thanksgiving Parade® in downtown Detroit with the opportunity for media interviews and additional appearances with Parade Company activities throughout the year. The Parade is televised LIVE on WDIV-Local 4 with the first hour nationally syndicated in 74.5 million households.
In addition to the scholarship, America’s Thanksgiving Parade® Queen also receives:


· Tickets to Hob Nobble Gobble®, the premiere Detroit Black Tie event
· Interview and media opportunities
· Tickets to the VIP Rooftop Party to view the Target Fireworks
· Jewelry and other prizes!


Everyone that enters to become thee 2010 America’s Thanksgiving Parade® Queen will receive two (2) tickets to the Princess Tea in September, where the Queen will be crowned.
This is a great opportunity to advance your resume and represent your organization. There is a $25 application fee and the deadline for applicants is August 2, 2010.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact CarolAnn at cbarbb@theparade.org, 313.432.7831 or visit http://www.theparade.org/.