By Reggie Seigler I had taken a few months hiatus from writing this column as I sometimes need to do to keep my ideas fresh. But when Ashley, (The Stand’s director), told me that in honor of Black History Month and Valentine’s Day, the February print edition would carry the theme of love and Black history, I knew immediately what …

A Friendly Five columnist Reggie Seigler shares memories of the well-known Syracuse busker Yesterday was April 7, it was the fifth anniversary of the death of my good friend and musical brother, Jeff Houston. I had been thinking for a couple of days about Jeff and some of our adventures, both musical and non-musical, and about the things we would …

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In this issue, meet two couples defying the stereotype that black love — especially married love — doesn’t last. View a list of local Black History Month events and take a moment to reflect on historic black figures in Reggie Seigler’s “The Friendly Five” column. Also, hear from project collaborators of the soon-to-open Freedom Commons who explain the purpose of …

Frank Malfitano, founder and executive director, discusses the future of Jazz Fest For the past 35 summers except for maybe a few, the folks around Syracuse have been treated to a weekend of free top-quality entertainment. We’ve grown to anticipate it every year and await it like students waiting for the last day of school. It marks the season and …

Start It course inspires students who have a wide range of creative entrepreneurship ideas

This month’s cover story spotlights local literacy pioneer who is set to celebrate a milestone birthday. Ruth Colvin will be honored with a 100th birthday party celebration Nov. 18 – thrown by the local agency she launched 55 years ago. Her early efforts to increase adult literacy grew to an international movement, but started simply through community networks right here …

Charles Pierce-El Charles was born and raised in Syracuse. He currently is the President of the South Side Community Coalition and is a retired employee from Chrysler. He is also the president/chairperson of the South Side Homeowner Association, chairperson of Saving Our Society and a member of additional local organizations in and around the city of Syracuse. Besides this, he …

Musician Jeffrey Houston passes away after leading a life filled with love It is said sometimes that the heart is where love resides, but sometimes I think it could be the other way around. “Love is where the heart resides.” I say that because when one heartbeat stopped — the heartbeat of my good friend and musical brother Jeffrey Houston …

South Side Newspaper Project Reflects on Five Years