Kenton Rogers: Press

RESIDENTS UNITE TO SAVE BARNERT

Sunday, November 4, 2007

PATERSON – Several hundred people danced, sang, prayed, yelled and promised to do all they could to save embattled Barnert Hospital at a rally Saturday.

Despite blustery weather, employees, former employees, patients, politicians and city residents gathered in front of the bankrupt Eastside hospital to send a message to Gov. Jon S. Corzine and other political leaders that they must allow the hospital to remain open.

"We need a second hospital, as big as Paterson is," said Yolanda Sanchez, a secretary in Barnert's rehabilitative medicine department, as she put the finishing touches on a homemade sign that read: "Barnert is the community's hospital. We want it kept open."

Barnert declared bankruptcy in August and nearly closed in September when it ran out of money. A last-minute infusion of public cash saved it and the bankruptcy court gave the facility 60 days, until Nov. 20, to try to find a buyer.

Many people worried that if Barnert closes, St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Paterson's other hospital, will be overloaded and unable to provide adequate care.

"You're talking about taking a crucial entity from our community," said Dudley Griffith, a member of ACORN, an advocacy organization for low- and middle-income neighborhoods. "If this hospital is gone, they're going to feel it," he said, pointing into the neighborhood across the street.

Latasha Rountree, who lives near the hospital and has five children, said that if Barnert closes, she will have trouble getting care for her family.

"God forbid if I have to go to the hospital right away," she said. Rountree carried a sign written in green crayon that read "Save Barnert: Where will the sick go?"

The rally was organized by 1199J, the union representing Barnert employees, and several local community organizations.

Organizers parked a flat-bed truck on the lawn in front of the hospital with loudspeakers and a podium for politicians and religious leaders. Inside the front doors, volunteers handed out paper and pens for people who wanted to create signs.

The Rev. James Kuykendall, leader of the newly formed People United to Save Barnert Hospital, spoke first, ticking off a list of services that could be in jeopardy if the hospital closes: behavioral services, women's services, emergency room care.

"We are here to send a message to Trenton," he said. Later, asking the crowd to repeat after him, he began to chant, "The people united will never be defeated."

"We need the community to fight," said state Sen. John Girgenti, D-Hawthorne. But in the end, he said, "it always comes down to dollars."

Though this is the first communitywide rally, support for the bankrupt hospital has been significant. The City Council and county freeholders have passed formal declarations of support, and a handful of community and neighborhood organizations have pledged to help the hospital.

However, the hospital is still looking for a buyer. About a dozen groups have shown interest in the medical facility, though none has yet submitted formal bids.

"We hope that (Corzine) will consider keeping this hospital open," said Kuykendall. He and other organizers said they wanted the governor to help out through more money or by giving the hospital extended time to find a buyer.

"To buy and sell the hospital takes more than 45 or 60 days," said Karen Walker, part of People United to Save Barnert Hospital and wife of the hospital's board of trustees president, Charles Walker.

Near the rally's end, candles were passed around and lit, though the wind blew them out quickly. As gospel singer Kenton Rogers, a Paterson native, closed the program by singing "I Believe I Can Fly," people waved unlit candles and "Save Barnert Hospital" signs.

"This is a good hospital," said Rosalina Cardero, a Paterson resident who has frequently used the hospital's services. "We have to save it. We have to."

Reach Betsy Querna at 973-569-7169 or querna@northjersey.com.
7217532

OCTOBER 24, 2007 @11:59PM

'MR. MIKE' and KENTON ROGERS MAKING SWEET MUSIC TOGETHER

HUNTINGTON -- For the past 10 years or so, the first name in producing hot beats for hip hop artists straight out of Huntington has been Mr. Mike.

But as your ears will hear tonight, "Mr. Mike" Crawford, the 30-something producer, is also making a name for himself in a wider circle.

Tonight, e2ntertainment and Mr. Mike present New York City R&B crooner Kenton Rogers who will perform some of the songs from his new CD, "Confessions of a Preacha Man," at Chubby's Bar, 1318 4th Ave., Huntington.

Doors open at 9 p.m. Cover is $5 before 10 p.m., and $10 for guys after 10 p.m.

Also performing will be other artists Crawford works with including Buzzy Shine, Tiger The Ace, K-Kutta, Peezy, as well as Ms. Deanna, an R&B singer out of Cincinnati.

Rogers, who took first place as a youngster, at amateur night, at the world-famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, will also sing at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the House of David Christian Nightclub, 1415 4th Ave., at the Upper Classman.

A chemical operator for BPS Printing Systems (formerly BASF) at his day job, Crawford said after making more than a dozen CDs in the past 10 years and working on many other hip hop projects, his love of the game was fading.

Then, about a year and a half ago, Crawford was walking across the parking lot at Speedway when he ran into a friend who knew and eventually introduced him to Rogers. Rogers travels the country singing, mostly in churches.

That chance meeting has been a blessing as the two started working on Rogers' R&B cross-over project, Crawford said.

"The first thing is that Kenton is actually a preacher so he has been a very big help and inspiration spiritually," Crawford said. "He also saved me musically. The monotony of the hip hop was starting to bore me, and the whole way the hip hop is going with no integrity in the music and it being all about the money. ... His music is very inspirational."

So far, Crawford and Rogers have put together two songs and a remix that they are hoping helps Rogers cross-over onto the general R&B charts, not unlike other singing preachers such as Memphis' Al Green.

"He has had gospel deals before but he was saying nobody wanted to put time into him crossing over into the R&B genre," Crawford said. "He was happy because I put the time into it, and it is about the integrity of the music. His voice is like the old-school R&B because a lot of the R&B artists we have now they almost want to be rappers. Kenton Rogers is like a breath of fresh air and a blast from the past."

Crawford said the single, "Confessions of a Preacha Man," tackles the tough subject of preacher's having to battle with the temptation of other women.

"It definitely deals with a lot of issues we have today and this topic is so taboo," Crawford said. "Basically women throw themselves at him because he is a preacher, and they look at him in awe, like he is a higher type of figure. A lot of people don't want to talk about it, but it is real."

Crawford said they're billing the night as a CD release party for Rogers. Rogers will share the stage with R&B singer Deanna, out of Cincinnati. There will also be some hustle and flow on the mic from some of the region's best hip hop artists including K-Kutta, Peezy, Buzzy Shine and Tiger the Ace.

"We're fortunate to have some of the best acts in the Tri-State perform since they are some of the artists I produce anyway," Crawford said. "We're billing it as the homecoming starts Thursday night."