Several parts of the borough of New Kru Town on the Bushrod Island in Monrovia were over the weekend seen lighted with power supply from the Liberia Electricity Corporation’s (LEC).The New Kru Community, where at least five persons have died from the deadly Ebola virus, contains a good number of Liberian and foreign-owned businesses.For the past three weeks, the LEC Management resolved to cut off the New Kru Town Community on the Bushrod Island, due to power theft.As a result of the numerous power theft occurrences on the LEC’s power lines in several parts of New Kru Town, the electricity agency shut down the supply of power to its many customers.According to LEC Management, power theft on the power lines over the years has caused the Corporation to lose thousands of United States dollars in order to buttress the Liberian Government efforts in the provision of constant power supply.“We eagerly want to provide power supply to all parts of Monrovia and its environs, but our efforts are thwarted owing to the constant power theft on our power lines in Monrovia,” an LEC official told the Daily Observer recently.A few weeks ago, LEC’s Chief Executive Officer Joseph T. Mayah told the Daily Observer that the Corporation had crafted a master plan to address the growing demands by Liberians for quality provision of power supply.However, he regretted the huge destructions on almost all the vital installations of the LEC during and even after the 15-year civil war in the country.To date, Mr. Mayah explained, several reconstruction and rehabilitation projects are ongoing in Monrovia and other parts of the country under the auspices of the LEC.Mr. Mayah also urged Liberians, investors and foreign business entities to exercise patience as the system works with supporting partners to mobilize the needed funds for the reconstruction of the energy sector of the country.He further extolled the excellent relationship amongst the many donor and support partners that continues to provide the critically needed funds for the reconstruction of the energy sector.Meanwhile, the partial restoration of LEC’s power supply to the densely populated community of New Kru has been described as a significant development in the interest of a secured environment and better business atmosphere.Postwar Liberia’s LEC challenges and constraints have been the shockwave of power theft by what many observers believed is the work of a well organized crime syndicate of unscrupulous individuals.It can be recalled that about five months ago one Akoi was electrocuted following attempt to steal power.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
“Liberia must swerve away from hypocrisy in the fight for women’s rights, as the opposite is currently applied in the 1973 Aliens and Nationality Law, as amended in 1974,” a group of Liberians in the Diaspora has said.At the end of the recent Dual Citizenship Convention in the United States, a statement signed by its chairman, Emmanuel S. Wettee, said Liberia produced the late Madam Angie Elizabeth Brooks, the first African female President of the United Nations General Assembly and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first female elected President and a co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, hence, women’s issues must be of paramount importance to Liberians.The statement said on July 17, 1984, Liberia became a party to the Convention on The Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women of 1979 (CEDAW).“By accepting the Convention, Liberia committed itself to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms,” the statement said.“Liberia,” it said, “decided to incorporate the principle of equality of men and women in the legal system. Abolishing all discriminatory laws and adopting appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women.”The statement further said Liberia accepted to establish tribunals and other public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination; and to ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises.However, the statement accuses Liberia’s current 1973 Alien and Nationality Law as amended in 1974 of legally discriminating against women.Quoting the American Bar Association in an analysis made in 2009, under the title, Analysis of the aliens and nationality law of the Republic of Liberia, (p. 16) said noted the following: “The subchapter on Naturalization or Restoration to Citizenship of Special Categories of Aliens of Chapter 21 presents several concerns regarding gender-based and racial discrimination.“Section 21.30 permits the naturalization of female spouses of Liberian citizens who are of Negro descent and otherwise conform to the requirements of Section 21.1.“However, the subchapter does not permit naturalization of male spouses or persons not of Negro descent. The law should be amended to avoid discrimination on the basis of gender, in light of Liberia’s obligations under ICCPR Article 23(4) requiring the state to take appropriate steps to ensure equality of rights and responsibilities of spouses as to marriage.“It should be particularly noted that, as a woman does not presently have the right to pass on her citizenship to her children, this effectively denies Liberian citizenship to the children of a union between a Liberian woman and a non-Liberian man, in violation of Liberia’s obligations under CEDAW Article 9(2). This provision may also affect a child’s right to acquire a nationality pursuant to ICCPR Article 24(3).“Section 21.31, which states that a child born outside Liberia to alien parents or to a citizen mother and a non-citizen father may become a citizen of Liberia through the naturalization of the father, also raises concerns.“This is incompatible with CEDAW Article 9(2), and also incompatible with contemporary norms of jus sanguinis, which allows the citizenship to be passed on via either the mother or the father.”A group of professional and successful Liberians in the United States, Europe and elsewhere, often described as in the ‘Diaspora’ have been urging the current leadership to amend the current laws that deny them citizenship, after having acquired same from the countries they are residing.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A woman in her 20s, accused by Caldwell dwellers of having a poisonous substance, was detained by police on August 11.Meima Zack of the West Point Community was “rescued” by Zone 7 Base Police officers in the Caldwell community at about 3 p.m.According to officer Bitee N. Williams at the Zone 7 Base, she was picked up after officers received a call that Meima was being mobbed because of suspected “poisonous” snacks.”The suspect is not under arrest, and is just here until we can identify her family. We had to go and rescue her after residents saw her in their community with a black plastic bag.”The people thought that she looked suspicious after they opened the plastic and saw stick candy (lollipops) and cookies inside. After she refused to eat it, they jumped on her,” Officer Williams added.According to Pastor Maxwell, who first came in contact with Meima, she claimed to have been looking for a room to rent in Caldwell but was told by the pastor that he had no available rooms.”I told her that we weren’t renting any rooms while my wife gave her water to drink,” the pastor said. “We then showed her to the next yard that had an empty room. She only appeared confused when I last saw her.”Some have suggested that the woman has a mental disorder because of her inability to communicate and identify herself. She wore a white tank-top with a grey t-shirt which she converted to skirt. Her hair was short and uncombed.Also, the man who discovered Meima sitting on Maxwell’s neighbors’ porch noticed her strange appearance and asked for her identity and about the contents of the plastic. The man has requested to remain unnamed.”I started walking behind her after she acted like she wanted to go. She pointed to another house, suggesting that she had people there. But when the people of that house denied knowing her, that’s when other people came around and started investigating her and saw that she had candy and biscuits in her bag. We told her to eat the candy and biscuits and she refused! Why should she refuse?” He questioned.Meanwhile, Officer Williams said that officers at their depot tested the candy and cookies by eating them, along with Meima, too. “No poison is inside,” the officer explained. “We just have her here for her safety and to keep her from the crowd. Officers tasted the biscuits and candy and there was nothing poisonous inside them. Meima hasn’t been able to give us her address or the names of any living relatives. She seems a bit off track, but is not under arrest.”Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
In an effort to support orphaned children in Liberia, the All God’s Children School System-Liberia Charity Outreach (AGC), has donated assortments of food and non-food items to the Susie Guenter’s Children’s Welfare and Rehabilitation Center to help in caring for the orphanage home children.Making the donations over the weekend to the home, situated on the Robertsfield Highway, Deacon James G. Guanue, principal and acting country director of All God’s Children School System-Liberia, said his institution was established to meet the needs of children. His organization thought it wise to provide for the Susie’s family this time.According to him, the AGC is not focusing on big name institutions but rather on institutions and Liberian children that need such an initiative to ensure their livelihood and educational progress. “Our institution was established in 1997 to provide free education and counseling for child soldiers, abandoned children and orphans and so, AGC sees the need to continue helping underprivileged children. We are committed to the vision of supporting Liberian children.”He continued, “We hope that this donation will meet the needs of the little ones that are here and we pray that other humanitarian groups will follow the same process in supporting the children and making sure that they are properly cared for,” he said.He explained that despite the closure of all his three institutions, due to the Ebola virus across Liberia, his institution is serving the Liberia public through providing tuition-free education and counseling to the younger generation with support from Save the Children (USA).Mr. Guanue expressed thanks and appreciation to Save the Children, which continues to provide salaries and relief items for staff, students and parents, families of Ebola victims, including orphans.In remarks, the directress of the Susie Guenter’s Children’s Welfare and Rehabilitation Center, Edwina Z. Kamara, hailed the All God’s Children School System-Liberia Charity Outreach (AGC) for reaching out to the Susie family.“We are very thankful for what God’s children have brought for us. This is a blessing for the All God’s Children. These items will us for sometime,” she noted.She called on other Liberians to help support the children, stating that, “We need to support them because we do not know their future. Many of them might be good leaders for Liberia.”According to her, the closure of all institutions due the disease was a serious challenge in caring for the children,She explained that the institution does not have sponsors now but her late father had a dream of ensuring that the children will have sponsors to help in supporting these children and the institution taking care of them. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
ameroon Ambassador GangCameroon Ambassador to Liberia Beng’yela A. Gang has called on the family of the late Liberian Ambassador Carlton Alexwyn Karpeh to strive with enormous dignity to accept the void created by his death since February 28, 2017, calling Karpeh “a man who was sturdy, a protector and guide.”Paying a tribute at Ambassador Karpeh’s funeral, Ambassador Gang entreated his family, despite their grief, to take heart and to especially remember that his bowing out of the stage of life is but a clarion call, adding: “It is a call for you to seize the glowing mantle of his positive achievements and to ensure that his light is never snuffed out by the storms of adversity or family divergence.”He told the family and other mourners, including government officials, and those he mentioned by name, among them “Louise, Martin, Versia, the Rev Foday, Ma Mary, Ambassador Tuan Karpeh, Honorable Edwin Snowe,” that Ambassador Karpeh prepared them well for his departure.Ambassador Gang reminded family members and others that from certain perspectives, “today’s dirges also contain some strands of hope and celebration: Celebration of a life fully lived and well-fulfilled.”Ambassador Gang said whether “it is from the angle of academic, journalistic, governmental or diplomatic exploits, whether it is from the perspective of his diverse social attachments, we stand before you to join in the testimony of the diplomatic excellence of Doyen Carlton Karpeh. The government of Cameroon wishes to remember him as such.”He said Ambassador Karpeh, as the longest serving Liberian Ambassador in Cameroon during which time the title of Dean of the Diplomatic Corps became synonymous with the name Karpeh and Liberia left an unrivaled image of professionalism and commitment to the fortification of the bilateral relations between the two countries, adding: “He left many friends in Yaoundé.”He said: “Ambassador Karpeh was faithful to the eternal foundations of our bilateral solidarity as were laid by President Tubman in 1960 when he symbolically brought along with him to Yaoundé the pioneer Ambassador to Cameroon being among the very first foreign sovereigns to visit the nascent Republic of Cameroon.”He said Ambassador Karpeh served in Yaoundé from 1987 to 2003, which included extremely difficult times for a foreign diplomat as Liberia was mostly in grave civil strife.“At such times, any Ambassador’s usual composure and assurances would be eroded by the drought and uncertainty of support from home. The early 90s were also a period characterized by some turmoil in my country.
Cameroon Ambassador Gang : “Today’s dirges also contain some strands of hope and celebration: celebration of a life fully lived and well-fulfilled.”“This was engendered by the unmitigated expectations and recriminations from the competitive, multi-partisan politics that President Paul Biya had impelled in Cameroon,” he said.“These were the turbulent challenges through which Doyen Karpeh had to navigate. He did so with courage, eloquence, penetrating wisdom, balance and a sense of destiny. The indelible image left of him in Yaoundé is that of a wise-looking notable clad in an elegant Lofa County traditional suit – and yet the English language was his willing servant.”Ambassador Karpeh, he said, served under three contrasting Liberian Presidents, adding: “I could even say conflicting Presidents, and survived – before serving under President Sirleaf in the new era of democracy. One could, in other circumstances, say a cat with nine lives.”He hoped that when the time comes for President Sirleaf to fill the yawning gap left since the departure of Doyen Karpeh from the Embassy of Liberia in Yaoundé, “our hope is that an Ambassador of the stature of Ambassador Karpeh, or even more, will be among her prerogatives.”Meanwhile, Ambassador Gang said the high authorities of Cameroon instructed “me to publicly recognize Doyen Karpeh’s role and also asked me to pay tribute to his government and family who gave him to serve both our countries in Cameroon.”Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
NEC Chair Jerome Kokoya A commissioner at the National Elections Commission (NEC), Cllr. Jonathan K. Weedor, has in no uncertain terms rejected the June 14 pronouncement by NEC Executive Chairman, Jerome G. Korkoya, that people with valid voter ID cards will vote on October 10, even if their names and other details were not identified during the voters roll exhibition.“It is important to emphasize that the essence of the voters roll exhibition exercise is to provide individuals who participated in the voter registration exercise the opportunity to vet the provisional roll aimed at establishing a final registration roll that is reliable and credible,” Cllr. Weedor said.He noted further that there are several problems associated with the present provisional roll ranging from the omission of hundreds, if not thousands, of names to missing photos and profiles of registrants.In his position statement on June 15 in Monrovia, Weedor said Korkoya’s statement concerning people voting on October 10 without establishing all relevant voter information about them is alarming, disturbing, and troubling because a reliable and credible final registration role (FRR) is a cardinal requirement of every free, fair and transparent election.“In fact, the essence of every voter registration exercise is to establish a voter roll that can account for every eligible voter who participated in the voter registration exercise. And so the relevance of a reliable voters roll in every electoral process cannot be overemphasized because the absence of said roll is an open gate to fraud,” he noted.The NEC executive said any action or pronouncement that has the potential to understate the relevance of a reliable voter roll must be discouraged because said endeavor is a recipe for chaos.“In this regard and as a matter of principle, I wish to dissociate myself from the pronouncement of chairman Korkoya as it relates to the possibility of a huge number of individuals with voter cards being permitted to vote when their names, photos, and other particulars are not on the final registration roll (FRR),” he said.The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) was the first to raise concern about the NEC Chairman’s pronouncement, citing “a need for answers to some critical questions by the NEC.”The day after Cllr. Korkoya made the statement, the ECC, through its chairman Oscar Bloh, expressed its disappointment at Korkoya’s remark and recommended “that the NEC shoulders the responsibility to let the Liberian people know how many registered voters’ names and photos are missing from the 2,080 voter registration centers,” he said.According to Bloh, NEC needs to provide an explanation to the citizens on how the names and photos of registered voters got missing from the PRR. “The ECC is calling for a full investigation on whether this emerging problem emanated from the voter registration centers during the scanning of the forms, the printing of the PRR, or a combination of all of the above,” he said.Interestingly, no political parties have released any statement concerning the NEC Chairman’s unilateral decision, which will no doubt affect their chances at the October polls.In fact, only one political aspirant, Josiah F. Joekai, has spoken out against the pronouncement, saying it “cannot in any way be taken lightly since many Liberians stand to be disenfranchised…” He made reference to the numerous reported cases of illegal voter registration activities that took place using NEC registration materials in some instances, highlighting the plausibility that forgery may have taken place.“Thus, no one doubts the possibility of the use of hundreds or thousands of forged Voter Registration Cards in October given the capacity issue that remains a challenge for the Commission,” Joekai predicts, adding, “This matter is grave and one that requires prompt and practical solution.”It is not clear whether other NEC Commissioners were informed by Korkoya beforehand of his decision. However, Commissioner Weedor said he was taken aback by Korkoya’s pronouncement and could not recall any emergency meeting held by the Board of Commissioners at the NEC held before the announcement was made by the chairman.“I called the magistrates in my areas of oversight (Nimba and Bong counties) and they confirmed the unprecedented and alarming situation of the omission of names from the roll and other associated problems. Upon my arrival at the office, I proceeded to the office of chairman Korkoya and inquired what was the information available to him relating to the exhibition exercise, and he responded that he has received information from around the country relating to the omission of some names from the roll,” Weedor said.He said in the presence of the NEC executive director, Lamin Lighe, Korkoya indicated that there will be a press conference at 4pm to inform the public of the magnitude of the problem, and to assure them that the commission was working around the clock to address the problems, but was shocked when the NEC head said there will be no problem to vote for legislators and the president even if a person’s name and photos were not reflected in the FRR.“Since my association with the NEC, dating back to March 2004, I have endeavored to contribute my quota to the consolidation of our young democracy aimed at protecting our hard-won peace. This commitment shall remain unshakable during these elections and the days beyond,” he noted.“In a credible electioneering process, deception is not possible because numbers don’t lie and the facts are always unraveled no matter what,” Joekai warned. “Thus, it is better to divulge the reality now with respect to the current state of the voters roll rather than present a roll that does not reflect the actual number of voters in possession of Voter Registration Cards at the polls in October.”Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) – Advertisement –
AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREGame Center: Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, 10 a.m.They sent me an agreement stating I had to pay $1,400 by Oct. 18 and then $1,900 for four more months until my regular mortgage of $901 is caught up. They also stated all of those payments have to be in full; even if the total of partial payments are paid before the due date, they will not accept them. Can they do that? I do not understand why the money has to be paid in one lump sum as long as they get it before it is due. – Jeremy By Steve Bucci BANKRATE.COM Q uestion: I left active duty in the Marine Corps about seven months ago and got behind on my mortgage payments. I found a new job and am able to make the payments and some extra, but the mortgage company will not accept partial payment. Answer: I hear your frustration at the mortgage company’s rigid requirements for catching up on your mortgage loan. Unfortunately, you are not the only one, by a long shot, who is trying to catch up with missed mortgage payments. But I’m happy to say that there are some new, innovative solutions available. One such program is called PHASES – short for Preserving Homeownership and Savings Education Strategy. This program can give borrowers in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New York and Ohio who meet certain criteria a grant to catch up on their mortgages. The program is administered by Money Management International, the largest HUD-certified national nonprofit credit counseling agency. The program combines an online education program with counseling and the opportunity for individuals to receive a grant for up to $5,000 to bring past-due mortgage payments current. They also may be able to have other, nonmortgage debts, such as vehicle loans, brought current (as car repossession can put new pressure on a mortgage and lead to renewed problems). This kind of innovative response to the mortgage crisis facing many families is refreshing. The number of states involved has grown, so if yours is not on the current list, I’d check to see if it has been added. You can get more information about this program by calling 888-589-6959 or on the Money Management International Web site, www.money management.org. For those of you who live in the other states, I suggest you check for what programs may be available in your area by contacting a HUD-certified counseling agency. You can find a list of approved agencies on the HUD Web site, www.hud.gov. It sounds to me like you have the money that is necessary to meet the agreement to catch up on your loan; you would just like some flexibility in making the payments. What you have experienced so far is a variation on business as usual: often inflexible approaches offered by mortgage lenders who are following bureaucratic process and procedures laid down by investors and regulators that need to be updated. Let me caution you to be sure to make each payment exactly as scheduled and in the full amount. Mortgages are very different animals from other bills. Once you reach a certain point in delinquency, usually between 60 days and 90 days, the rules become very inflexible. A mistake at this time can lead to a fast train ride to foreclosure with no stops on the way. If you rely on the discipline you learned in the Marine Corps and stay with it, you’ll get caught up with your mortgage before you know it. Steve Bucci is president of Money Management International Financial Education Foundation. Go to www.moneymanagement.org for additional advice. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set!
5 Miralem Pjanic could be sold – Roma president Jim Pallotta has suggested Pjanic could move to Old Trafford this summer. Football Italia report Pallotta said that if United match his release clause then the Bosnian will be on his way to the Premier League. 5 Real Madrid not chasing David De Gea – Real Madrid will not take up the option of signing De Gea fro £39m before June 15, with Zinedine Zidane electing to keep Keylor Navas as his number one goalkeeper, report Spanish outlet AS. The Spaniard recently spoke of his excitement of the prospect of working with new boss Mourinho. 5 5 Zlatan Ibrahimovic announcement this week – click the arrow, right, for more transfer rumours – Ibrahimovic is set to make a big announcement on Tuesday with it claimed he will be announcing his next club. Should he do that though, he will be forfeiting a £3.9m loyalty bonus according to the Mirror, as he would have agreed to sign for the Red Devils before his Paris Saint-Germain contract has expired. 5 Andre Gomes added to the list – Italian outlet Alfredo Pedula say Mourinho has added Valencias Gomes to his midfield wishlist which also contains the names of Paul Pogba, Joao Mario and Saul Niguez. Mourinho watched Gomes during Englands 1-0 win over Portugal at Wembley this week. The rush to push through signings before the start of Euro 2016 is on and there may be one or two at Old Trafford before Friday.Jose Mourinho has identified who he wants to bring to Old Trafford so Manchester United can mount a serious title challenge and Ed Woodward is already involved in negotiations with those targets.The Portuguese has also reportedly decided who is to leave the club this summer but it is likely those deals will be completed later on in the summer.IS THIS MOURINHO’S MANCHESTER UNITED XI? FEATURING ALL NEW CENTRE MIDFIELD PAIRING AND £100M OF NEW SIGNINGSEvery day brings fresh transfer rumours about the Red Devils and talkSPORT have rounded up the latest ones.Click the arrow above, right, to see the latest United transfer rumours. Eric Bailly talks to continue – Talks between Baillys representatives, Villarreal and Ed Woodward are set to continue this week, according to the Daily Mail. Villarreal are ready to let the 22-year-old leave with owner Fernando Roig saying if Bailly wants to move to Old Trafford, then the club will not stand in his way.
160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MORE11 theater productions to see in Southern California this week, Dec. 27-Jan. 2Scientists will gather data without broadcasting alerts to residents or businesses. While a working system is still years and tens of millions of dollars away, many see the pilot project as a first step toward catching up with the rest of the world. PASADENA – The ground heaves, an earthquake is born. Underground sensors along fault lines detect rumblings humans can’t and relay signals to a central computer. Precious seconds before anything is felt, wailing sirens blare that a big one is on its way. That sliver of time could be used to warn people to flee from windows and take cover. Companies such as gas and electric utilities could take actions to protect their systems. Speeding trains could have enough time to brake to a halt. Such alert systems already exist in parts of Japan, Mexico, Taiwan and Turkey where the main users are businesses such as railway companies, power plants and manufacturers. But that’s not the case in the United States – except for a handful of schools, firehouses and airports that use commercially available, battery-powered seismic gadgets that warn a limited region. This summer, the U.S. Geological Survey is cautiously taking another look at early warning, beginning with a three-year test to gauge how well three experimental systems around California would work in the real world. 
PASADENA — The Rev. Ed Bryant, who mentored troubled young people for more than four decades in his work as a court counselor and founder of the Pasadena Youth Christian Center, died Oct. 6 of prostate cancer. He was 69. Bryant founded the youth center in 1965 and remained its executive director and continued to mentor adolescents until the day he died, friends said. For about 20 years, he juggled the youth center with his work in the Pasadena courthouse, where his primary role was to serve as a liaison between juvenile defendants and the prosecutor. He retired as a court counselor about 10 years ago but didn’t lighten his workload for long he had recently started taking correspondence classes for a doctoral degree in counseling. “He was at an age when most people would think about slowing down,’ said Jeff Dorsey, who met Bryant in 1964 as a 13- year-old who had just served time for gang activity. “But for him, life was a thing of living. It wasn’t about slowing down or cutting back. It’s really an inspiration to me.’ AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREWalnut’s Malik Khouzam voted Southern California Boys Athlete of the Week Brryant ventured into politics in 1991 when he unsuccessfully ran for the Pasadena Board of Directors, as the City Council was then called. He was also an active supporter of Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley. They became friends in the early 1980s when Bryant was a court counselor. “He’s probably irreplaceable. Sometimes they throw the mold away, and I don’t think we’ll see anyone of the quality and character of Ed Bryant for a long time,’ Cooley said Tuesday. Shirlee Smith, who had a 30- year friendship with Bryant, spoke of the personal connections he had throughout the community. “Ed and I went to lunch once a month and it was a real nuisance … because you couldn’t drive two blocks without someone honking, saying `Hey, Brother Bryant,’ and he would have to stop and talk,’ Smith said. “And once we got to the restaurant, he would know the cook, busboy, dishwasher, somebody. He knew everybody and helped everybody.’ He was known as “Brother Bryant’ for the close connection he could make with everyone, even if they didn’t speak English, friends said. Bryant had learned Spanish and knew some Korean from his service during the Korean War. The Pasadena chapter of the NAACP recognized Bryant’s work with delinquent youths in 1989 by awarding Bryant the Ruby McKnight Williams Award, the chapter’s highest honor. The youth center at 1742 N. Raymond Ave., undergoing a $1- million expansion to add a gym and conference rooms, now serves the grandchildren of people Bryant mentored more than 40 years ago, Dorsey said. Funeral services for Bryant, who is survived by two nephews, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Metropolitan Baptist Church, 2283 N. Fair Oaks Ave.160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set!