When attending the Vanguard awards ceremony on Friday December 19th, one of the members of the student organizations that were there typed up a nice little history of the delicious treat. I thought it would be nice to share that with you since most people don’t know the history and probably don’t care, but let me say that it is very interesting.

The development of the candy cane took a few hundred years. Before the invention of the modern pacifier, parents used to give their babies unflavored white sugar sticks to on. During the 1670’s a German choirmaster had the sugar sticks bent into a shepherd’s staff and passed out to children attending the Christmas services. This holiday custom spread throughout Europe and fancy canes, decorated with roses, were used as Christmas decorations in many homes. About 1900 the white candy cane received its traditional red stripes and peppermint flavoring. At the same time the legend of the candy cane into being. According to this legend, a candy maker in Indiana designed the candy cane to tell the true story of of Christmas-a story about virgin giving birth to a shepherd who would give up his life for the sheep.

The most obvious symbolism used in the candy cane is its shape. Turned one way, it resembles a “J” for Jesus. The newborn Lamb of God was named Jesus, meaning Savior, because he was destined to “save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:21). Turned the other way, candy canes remind us of the shepherd’s staff. The first people to hear of Christ’s birth were shepherds guarding their flocks at night (LK 2:8-20). Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd searching for his lost sheep, feeding them. gently leading them, and carrying them in his bosom (Ps 23; Jn 10:1-18; Is 40:11; Jer 31:10; Micah 5:4; Heb 13:20). The sweetness of the candy reminds us that we are fed on the sweet milk of the Gospel of our salvation and peace (Eph 1:13; 6:15)

The hardness of the candy reminds us that Jesus is our rock of refuge (Deu 32:4, 15, 18; 1 Sam 2:2; 2 Sam 22:32, 47; 23:3 ). In rocky lands like Israel, people often sought shelter from their enemies in the caves or rocky crags of cliffs. Rocks also remind us of the solidness of the promises of Christ who is a precious cornerstone and sure foundation to those who follow him, but a “stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” to those who reject his gift of peace (1 Pet 2:6-8).

The whiteness of the candy brings ti mind the Virgin birth and the sinless life of Christ (Mt 1:23; Lk 1:34-35). We aksi are made as pure as the snow through the cleansing action of his blood (Rev 7:9, 14; Is 1:18). The traditional candy cane has 3 small red stripes to remind us of the soldiers’ stripes by which we are healed and a larger stripe which represents the blood shed by Christ on Calvary’s tree (Is 53:5; Mt 27:32-50). Some people say that the 3 small stripes honor the Holy Trinity while the larger stripe reminds us of the one true God. Others claim that the small stripes represent our mini-passions or sufferings and the great stripe symbolizes Christ’s Passion. A green stripe is sometimes placed on candy canes to remind us that Jesus is God’s gift to us. Green is the color of giving, by the way.

The peppermint flavor of modern candy canes is said to be similar to hyssop. In Old testament times, hyssop was associated with purification and sacrifice. During the first Passover celebrations, a bundle of hyssop was used to smear the blood of Passover lambs upon the doorposts of houses so that the Angel of Death would pass over their occupants (Ex 12:22). Bundles of hyssop were also used to sprinkle blood on worshipers and objects during Mosaic purification rituals (Ex 24:6-8). After his affair with Bathsheba, King David appealed to God’s mercy crying, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;wash me and I shall be whiter than snow” (Ps 51:7). Peppermint reminds us that Jesus is our Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5:7). Peppermint reminds us that Jesus is our Passover lamb (1 Cor 5:7). His blood cleanses us from sin and destroys the power of death (Hosea 13:14).

Except where otherwise indicated all scripture quotes are from the NKJV

Wow, isn’t this an eye opener. Just wait until you read my entry on the big man himself, Santa Claus.

Mr. Wade and I first met when I was writer/editor for the North Philly Metropolis teen newspaper. Mr. Wade had come to my office in the summer of 2006 wanting his views and concerns about the city of Philadelphia heard. I agreed to interview Mr. Wade for what soon became a series of articles appearing in every other issue of the NPM. Within this article I decided to switch things up a bit and instead of interviewing Mr. Wade, give him a chance to share his ideals and suggestions about the violence that inhabits Philadelphia.

 My name is Mr. Wade Jackson and I have a few things to say on how we can stop the violence in Philadelphia. I have a solution that will bring the violence down, but it will take participation from everyone including Moms In Charge, Moms Against Guns, Men United, Block Captains, Ex-offenders, former gang members, the commissioner, and Mayor Michael Nutter.

Locking up and throwing away the key is not the answer to prevent violence. My solution is that throughout the city of Philadelphia instead of thinking negative about the young generation that went astray; let’s turn this negative thinking into positive. Everyone, take one male or female that is going toward the wrong direction under your wing and reach out to them like they are one of your own. Show them what they are missing in life, show them how important education is, and take them to different places. Everybody must work together as one; we are the answer to the violence, not jail.

Michael Nutter since you are about education and want the violence to slow down, are you willing to take a teen under your wing and guide them in the right direction? You are the mayor of Philadelphia; you can set the biggest example by letting Philadelphians see you do this. I am asking everyone to reach out and take a chance with youth because we are losing them either in jail or to the grave. They deserve a chance, let’s give it to them. Reach out to them and show them love.  If God can forgive, so can we.

Everybody throughout the city of Philadelphia step up to the plate, it will be a big change for our lives. We must remember not all families have both parents. Even with both parents some children still don’t get love and that can definitely lead them in the wrong direction. We are all supposed to be as one, love each other as one no matter what color you may be.

Another solution for people who are ex-offenders and don’t have jobs, one thing that could be done is to create outside jobs such as, cleaning graffiti off of walls, painting buildings, washing windows, and landscaping. I know a lot of companies don’t want to take a chance with a person who has a record, but just give them a chance. I believe that a lot of outside jobs will be a success, there is nothing like getting a paycheck for doing honest work.

Michael Nutter this is another idea for you to think about, since you want to help people on parole and ex-offenders. Instead of millions of dollars going toward unnecessary things for our city they could go towards those who do need jobs.

Thank you.

(Peak Johnson, The Student Vanguard)

It seems readers that our desperate hope for a peaceful city, unfortunately, is still only a dream. You may be asking why?  The reason is quite simple, we live in a city where people are fearful of each other and once you think about it they have the right to be. For if I was on my way to the store and suddenly by mistake bumped into someone who might have had a bad day, it is almost likely that they would pull a gun out on me. It becomes so difficult to understand how anyone can pull the trigger of a gun ending a person’s life.

When did everything begin to fall apart? Did the violence begin to escalate more when former mayor John F. Street was in office and Sylvester Johnson was commission or further back? In 2006, 179 people aged 7-24 were killed in Philadelphia. Of those who were killed, 94% were killed with firearms. I don’t mean to ask such a cliché question, but isn’t this supposed to be the city of brotherly love?

“Keep kids alive” is their motto and it seems to be a very strong one at that. Last fall Mrs. Lynne Honickman, wearing a magnificent hat and shirt bearing her new organization name took stage at Love Park, “I created Mom Against Guns as a force for change,” said Mrs. Honickman, “And a form for other women to express their fury, its about voices, thousands of voices telling Pennsylvania lawmakers over and over again that illegal guns must be controlled.”

The audience applauded Mrs. Honickman and why not? Obviously things have gotten out a little out of the control and if the people we elect are not going to listen to us as they promised then its time to start making them. “I know its going to take awhile and I don’t think that this one group is going to put an end to gun violence,” says Mrs. Honickman “but I think if we can get voices that haven’t been heard before and then add those voices to the other hard working voices out there then maybe we’ll become the biggest and strongest group in town.”

The idea of Moms Against Guns had came to Mrs. Honickman when building of the, Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs, was in progress.  At the time, she was helping to plan a trip to the Institute of Contemporary Art for some of the community’s kids who attended the after school program now being moved to the learning center. At this time she had also noticed some of them walking past a drug house. When several of the kids couldn’t make it to the trip that had been planed because of a recent drive by shooting, that’s when Mrs. Honickman thought that there was just too many guns in this city.

“Over the next two or three years when the learning center was completed, the violence had just gotten worse and worse and I thought to myself that if I don’t stand up and do something about this then I can’t live with myself.”  Mrs. Honickman wants her organization to do two things, one is to give the good citizens of Philadelphia a sense of having stood up and counted for something that she knows is hurting them inside. “There isn’t a mom around who doesn’t worry about their child walking down the street.” She adds. The second is that she hopes that it makes such a strong loud noise that our legislators have to listen and that the power that one gets from doing a good thing sticks around.

Moms Against Guns plan to expand into the whole state and they’re beginning now, “we are asking people that if you know anyone outside of our city within the state of Pennsylvania to tell us and we’ll email them and as the emails start to come in the message will spread and spread, that’s what a viral campaign is.”

Mrs. Honickman thought of making Moms Against Guns a viral campaign because it’s really “word of mouth.” In making the organization’s website she tried to make it very simple and very clear so that all you have to do is just go on and click the button and a letter from you will go straight to your legislator.

Another hope that Mrs. Honickman has is that we properly learn how to rehabilitate a person, helping them to get a meaningful, find housing, and get a good education. She believes that all of these things keep you from walking the wrong path. “The ultimate solution to major gun violence is to add as many voices as we can mount to campaign and get this to stop.

I urge you, the readers, to sign up and click the button at www.momagaisnstguns.org and get those letters to your legislators fast. The mounting gun violence that is plaguing Philadelphia must come to an end and people like you can help, one voice at a time.

We all have to admit at times, if not all the time now, that there is nothing to watch on television. Watching television used to be a person’s favorite thing to do after school, still might be. All anyone could be found doing was the not-so-productive activity of watching television, eating, and growing fat. Eventually when realizing that there were other opportunities to take advantage of instead of watching television such as, hopping on the internet to check a myspace page, attending a job interview, or just watching the depressing news.

It’s the year 2008 and as leaders of our communities, we need to gain more knowledge and more information about what’s happening in our world today. We need more opportunities to do these things, whether by joining an after school program, writing for a community newspaper, or appearing on television.

Last fall, “Gen.Is.Us Revitalized Teen Talk,” hosted by Fatima Thomas, alongside newcomers Jasmine Martin, and Tymier Butler debuted on Comcast cable channel 80. Gen.Is.Us is completely operated by teenagers who are in charge of coming up with topics to be discussed, interviewing individuals, editing material (which can sometime be very long,) and then delivering the tape to Comcast where it is put on television for out viewing pleasure. The process is very complicated, believe me.

So far, Gen.Is.Us. has discussed topics ranging from whether music provides just pure entertainment or serves more of a social purpose, homosexuality in the black community, and teen sex and the role of parents. Some may be afraid to tackle these tough topics or talk about them in public, but these are the topics that will make you think and question what’s really going on around you.

Presently Gen.Is.Us has wrapped up two tapings, one highlighting more of what it takes to bring the show to the big screen with a look of the host and hostesses. The other, the last premier to wrap up season one will revolve around teen violence. The show will also include poetry from students who develop their writing skills through Philadelphia’s Arts & Spirituality Center.

Preparations for season two is already underway and Gen.Is.Us is starting it off by looking for new teen hosts, middle school through college age students. Viewers have a lot to look forward to in season two of Gen.Is.Us, new faces and new topics that will make us wonder about the world around us.

Viewer feedback on Gen.Is.Us is welcomed by email at GenisusTv@gmail.com or visit their myspace page at, www.myspace.com/genisustv

In some parts of the world, a café can actually be licensed to sell alcohol, one place being France. Shocking, I know. Could you actually imagine walking into a quiet peaceful place and see bottles of Tequila, Beer, and even more liquor surrounding coffee and baked goods? By being able to write this article about Project H.O.M.E.’s newest edition, I was able to learn a little more about café’s in general. Take this for examples, in the United Kingdom, café’s are known by another name, Greasy Spoon. Though they don’t sell coffee or baked goods. By the name you can probably guess that a Greasy Spoon sells burgers, sausages, fried eggs, friend bacon. Mostly fried or grill food. Not very healthy, but it makes my mouth water nonetheless and if you’re hungry yours too.

While the actual term for café is defined as being is “an informal restaurant offering a range of hot meals and made to order sandwiches.” Café’s are different from coffee houses, which usually only focuses on coffee alone. A café’s is regarded by some to be the central gathering point to gather for conversations, meetings, studying, etc. Which I’m sure anyone can imagine. If you have never been to a café’ (Like me, though I’ve only been to one once and know I work at one) picture this, big comfy chairs, the aroma of coffee and cookies, and you and your friends talking about the days events.

When walking past a café, the smell of coffee often reminds me of baked goods. The specific would only be cookies, I like cookies.  The taste of coffee, unless it has plenty of cream and sugar, has never really been, for a better choice of words, my cup of tea. I never really considered myself a café person. It must be admitted in this article that within my mind the actual knowledge that café’s existed had been absent. Where have I been must be the question that you are asking. The only time that a café was mentioned to me had been when reading up on Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and others. Surprisingly enough, café’s are the ideal spot for writers. For the Free Library Of Philadelphia patrons who have been coming to the main branch for years can now be seen when leaving with not only a good book in hand  but either a cup of coffee or a treat from the H.O.M.E. Page Cafe’..

It was on April 16, 2008 that Project H.O.M.E. together with the Free Library of Philadelphia and Metropolitan Bakery held the grand opening for the newest addition to the Project H.O.M.E. family, the H.O.M.E. Page Café. So far, since the opening of the café it has been a huge success. Whether it be rain or shine you can always find a faithful visitor of the library arriving at the café for his/her cup of coffee or cookie. Myself on the other hand can often be found buying Alex’s Lemonade, a peanut butter bar, or actually working there as either cashier or server. There are times when even I can be found in the corner taking advantage of the library’s free wireless internet. Forgot to mention that people go to café’s to work too.

“Our mission stems from the “O” in Project H.O.M.E.-Opportunities for employment,” says Lisa Kavanagh, Manager of Businesses at Project H.O.M.E.  “In the case of formerly homeless people, some have little or no work experience. In our supported employment environment, our hosts receive the building blocks to become a great employee. It also builds work experience for their resume, and builds self worth to know you are a part of something great.”

Ms. Lisa Kavanagh, receiving her college degree from the Art Institute of New York in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management, had worked in great and expensive restaurants in New York City. “I left that life because making expensive food for someone with too much money was not fulfilling.” She adds.  As the manager of Businesses for Project H.O.M.E., Ms. Lisa gets to utilize her culinary background while overseeing business.

Starbucks has contributed financially to the café by loaning them coffee equipment and providing a trainer before the café actually opened. Bank of America also gave generously by giving the café financial resources to get up and running, “These are benefits that other businesses don’t have.” The Back H.O.M.E. Café has an extraordinary relationship with Metropolitan Bakery; Metropolitan has helped train the hosts of the café sells their baked goods to H.O.M.E. Page which they do not do for anyone else in the city. “Seeing customers recognize their products and name has helped business tremendously.” Added Ms. Lisa.  

“The idea of the Café came from Ms. Linda Johnson in 2006,” says Sister Mary Scullion, Co director of Project H.O.M.E. “We saw that it was an opportunity both for the Project H.O.M.E. residents as well as the Harold A. Honickman Young Entrepreneurs.”

During grand opening day, the café was filled to capacity. Beginning first with speeches from project organizers and café employees followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony by Mayor Michael Nutter. “The benefit of opening in an existing building is that we have an instant audience!” says Ms. Lisa, “Library patrons and staff are pleased with out presence and business is thriving, something not always common for new businesses.”

The concept for the café was built upon both the Back H.O.M.E. Café’ and Catering which is operated out of Project H.O.M.E.’s main offices at 1515 Fairmount Avenue and Project H.O.M.E.’s Marketplace operated at RittenHouse Square by teen members of the Harold A. Honickman Young Entrepreneur program. The café; has employed 10 formerly homeless Philadelphians and five teens from the young entrepreneur program. Employees earn $8.75 an hour.

Ask what she hopes the café will accomplish and Sister Mary replies, “My fondest hope for the Café is that it is a fun place to go to get quality food and drink and it is a successful launching pad for our young entrepreneurs and for formerly homeless adults getting back into the workplace.”

“Working with teens is incredible,” says Ms. Lisa, “So much changes for them over a short time that it’s hard to keep up.” Readers, let me just say that working at H.O.M.E. Page isn’t as hard as one may think. Though making coffee is a breeze, lattes and cappuccinos are a little hard for me to master, though I’ve been getting better at it. Seeing the customers bright smiles after each transition always makes my and the other hosts/hostesses day. 

“For the café I want to help many residents and teens gain great work experience in a public setting,” added Ms. Lisa, “My fondest hope for our hosts is that they go on to other jobs when the are ready to have the confidence that they can succeed in anything, and on occasion use something that they learned here in the future, whether it be for work or home life.”