THE RIGHT MOVE! Sunday afternoon , despite heavy rains, took in the movie “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” this year’s OSCAR winner for BEST PICTURE! Extraordinary film, Cinematography captures the massive horrible SLUMS in MUMBIA, INDIA, that tourist never see UNLESS from the windows of an airplane!

In the midst of this intense film, there is no escaping the sight of rampant poverty, children begging for a handout, filth and crime, But manage to capture a love affair. Controversial, something about young children stars used, paid meager salaries! Despite not seeing the other Oscar contenders other than “MILK”, KNEW before the film was over it would be THE winner! STUNNING - mesmerizing, audience intent, you could hear a pin drop - the screen held you hostage to every moment! Slumdog music score “JA-HO” was a happy moment of gaiety to see dancers in dazzling costume!

RARE do I take in a movie, but this the third year checked out the winning film! December caught “MILK”! SEAN PENN captured the essence of San Francisco Supervisor and GAY RIGHTS leader HARVEY MILK! The role won him Best ACTOR”! Deservedly so - my VIBES tapped him! The girl can’t help it - JUST GOT THE KNACK!

This year’s 81st Oscar Award was too long, switched channels often, BUT impressed with the fabulous designer knock-em’ dead gowns; SLUMDOG vibrant music score, colorful costumes, thrilled to watch dancers in performance; AND this year’s OSCAR BLACK IS IN - noticed MORE BLACK participants on stage than any other years!

ON THE HOME FRONT - I HEARD THAT REV. AMOS BROWN and FIRST LADY JANE BROWN went to see “Slumdog” over the weekend, followed by dinner, RETURNED to FILLMORE SAFEWAY PARKING LOT TO DISCOVER THEIR CAR HAD BEEN TOWED! Cost - $400!



HIGH NOON LAST SATURDAY members of the San Francisco Bay area community attended the CELEBRATION to HONOR THE LIFE of AVE MARIA MONTAGUE at West Bay Conference Center on Fillmore within a block where AVE lived in The Fillmore Center. What a JOYOUS appropriate tribute to the lady who founded The SAN FRANCISCO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL - 2008 its 10th year. Ave quietly left us January 25, 2009. She was 64.

SOME CALLED HER THE UNOFFICIAL MAYOR OF FILLMORE because of all the time and work she devoted to its renovation and the preservation of its cultural traditions. She was at the RIGHT PLACE at the right time! Penned reflective memories about Ave in BeyondChron column dated February 3. MISS THE LADY BUT HAPPY I GAVE AVE HER FLOWERS WHILE SHE COULD SMELL THEM!

A lone drummer kicked off the jubilee entering from the back of the Center with a DRUM PRELUDE calling Ave’s spirit. Emcees BELVA DAVIS( called Ave “A CLASS ACT”) and BARBARA RODGERS elaborated on Ave’s life; Vocalist KIM NALLEY performed “AVE MARIA”; (BRAVO!); a tribute performed by solo dancer of DIMENSION DANCE THEATER OF Oakland. Remarks heard by many, that included; Minister PERRY LANG “Ave was not a religious person but a SPIRITUAL PERSON”! Asked “ARE WE WORKING ON THE DREAMS OF OUR HEARTS” AVE COMPLETED HER WORK - the INAUGURATION at Metreon!”; ...

FRIENDS OF FAITH FANCHER (late KTVU Newscaster who died of cancer) laid red roses on stage. Ave was a Founding board member of the organization that educate women about Breast cancer. Ave’s contributions and involvement were many. CATHY ADAMS, founder Oakland Bay Area Chapter National Coalition of Black Women, emotionally affected but maintained, expressed during the Coalition’s Annual C.J. WALKER Luncheon held in March, Ave received “The Entrepreneur of the Year Award”;..

STANLEY WILLIAMS AND QUENTIN EASTER of Lorraine Hansberry Theater paid tribute; HARRISON CHASTANG, Radio station KPOO News Director, and BeyondChron contributor, noted Ave always saw that the BLACK media was included in whatever she was working on, and an ADVOCATE for the community; San Francisco ARTS COMMISSIONER PJ fought hard to get her funding last year. There at the mike with Commissioner LONDON BREED, San Francisco Redevelopment Board also supporters; SHELLEY BRADFORD BELL, in town from Paris, France, shared remarks in collaboration with Ave on many projects;..

One speaker shared she was a neighbor of Ave’s parents who lived in Virginia, and she’d come from a long line of EDUCATORS. According to the speaker Ave never lived in Virginia, BUT born and raised in East Orange, NEW JERSEY; S.F. Police commissioner JOE MARSHALL, cofounder OMEGA Boys club, spoke well of Ave, said she was their FIRST PR person; AND SUPERVISOR ROSS MIRKARIMI, representing the Fillmore District, spoke eloquently about the lady!

During the program sat next to BOBBIE “Spider” WEBB, San Francisco LEGENDARY Saxophone player, shared Ave would call him to play Christmas Carols at STARBUCKS (Fillmore and O’Farrell). DROPPING a few names who attended; Media personalities CAROLYN TYLER and JANICE EDWARDS; Rev. Arnold Townsend, publicist DAVID ARYR, Oakland publicist SANDRA VARNER (LOVED the gorgeous dressy blue jacket she wore); Effie Lee Morris, Genieve Bayan, EUGENE AND LYNNETTE WHITE; former San Francisco Supervisor/Assessor DORIS WARD; wonderful to see REV. ROCHELLE FRAZIER, Pastor, Pittsburgh United Methodist Church; SHELAH MOODY, of the Chronicle;Trevor Booker, Marketing and Public Relations, ALIOTO’S Fisherman Wharf; artist Marguerite Browne, JACKIE WRIGHT, LHATZ Media; JAMES “Sug” PYE and SURITHA JACKSON; Videographers Ace Washington and Kevin JEFFERSON; and Ave’s dedicated volunteer staff that included - MEGAN MITCHELL and PETRA BRADY.

Ave is survived by one son KALI RAY, a grandson, Kali Ray, Jr, both of Atlanta, GA, and a granddaughter CREE RAY of Tracy, CA.. Ave worked hard to put her son through Morehouse College!

IN CLOSING, Never mentioned in previous column about Ave, that she suffered a STROKE in 1991, wheelchair bound, told she WOULD NEVER WALK AGAIN BUT overcame, learned to walk with a cane. One would see her on Fillmore about her business that included PR work for Rasselas (owner AGONAFER SHIFFERAW attended), 1300 on Fillmore ( co-owner MONETTA WHITE, one of the caterers who served after the program); SHEBA Lounge, Yoshi’s, and REF. FLOYD TRAMMELL, Jr., Executive Director, West bay Conference Center.

During my many conversations with Ave, NEVER heard her complain, always talking about positive endeavors on her plate! I saw her beginnings in this town, my first intro in late 80s when she was promoting JUNETEENTH! Since those days she’d come a long way, told her so! FLATTERED when she called me an “ICON” in this town! YES, BELVA AVE MONTAGUE WAS A CLASS ACT!!!

HEY, IT’S NICE TO BE NICE AND TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE...LOOK FOR ME...I’LL BE THERE...
E-mail Rochelle at iheard@earthlink.net