The Fonda Blog

Gotta be “Fonda” the Tigers

Vohland Fonda running for Caruthersville Tigers

Caruthersville, MO — Something had to give going into Monday night’s second-round playoff game between the Caruthersville Tigers (10-2) and Crystal City (7-5) at Hopke Field.  The Hornets came in averaging 46 points per game in its last four contests, while the Tigers’ defense had allowed just six points and pitched three straight shutouts during that same span.  The CHS defense bent, but did not break and allowed only a last second score in dominating the visitors 35-6 to advance to the round three Saturday at Brentwood.

Meanwhile, the Tigers got five touchdowns and 278 yards on 30 carries from star running back Vohland Fonda, who continued his impressive run in the playoffs. Fonda has now rushed for 550 yards and eight touchdowns in the two Caruthersville wins.  Caruthersville coach Brad Gerling said he challenged the Tigers to be at their best on every play and they delivered.  “That is what they stepped up and did. I really think they answered that call this week. They came out and battled on every single snap whether it was nothing to nothing at the beginning of the game or 35 to nothing at the end of the game.” (…)

Middleton hit speedy Peter Lloyd for gains of 15 and 35 yards and after two runs by Antonio Hopkins out of the “Wild Tiger” set netted 18 yards, Fonda took it in from 22 yards out at the 1:11 mark to make it 6-0. Jeffery Massengale, who was a perfect 5-for-5 on the night, added the PAT to make it 7-0. (…)

Middleton found Lloyd for a 29-yard hookup on third-and-12, with Lloyd making a circus catch to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, Fonda made it 14-0 with a nine-yard run with 2:41 left in the half. (…)

The Tigers got a first down and goal from inside the one yard line when Smith hauled in a 28-yard reception from Middleton, but were unable to punch it in on two running plays to Fonda before Middleton was picked off in the end zone. (…)

A late hit by Crystal City on Fonda set up the Tigers’ third score. Fonda then took it from midfield to the house with 5:33 left in the third quarter to make it 21-0.  Fonda added a 12-yard TD run with 3:06 left in the third quarter to make it 28-0 and the Tigers invoked the mercy clock on an opponent for the second week in a row when Fonda broke a 94-yard touchdown run with under 30 seconds left in the third quarter.  (…)

Vohland Fonda was selected for the 2009 Semo-Central All-Conference Team 1st Team.

Also see article on the Caruthersville Basketball Team.

written by admin \\ tags: Achievements, Great Plains, News, Sports

Crocodiles move into luxury lagoon

CROCODILES are lurking in the man-made lagoon at a luxury estate at Trinity Beach, posing dangers for pets, children and the area’s wildlife, residents claim.  Residents of the gated community within the Blue Lagoon Resort say at least two crocs have been seen in the estate’s 2ha lagoon.

Danger: Chelsea and Lachlan Fonda at the entrance to Trinity Beach’s Blue Water Lagoon where crocodiles have been sighted swimming.

Pictures: Cairns crocodiles

In 2005 developer John Murphy built a croc-proof fence across a spillway at the northern side of the lagoon after reports of sightings.  Resident Justin Littlefield yesterday said the fence was failing to stop salties from entering.  “The fence until last week had a pipe protruding through into the Coral Sea to pump salt water into the lagoon to control algae growth; now the fence has a hole as the pump and piping has been removed,” he said.  “I observed with other residents a crocodile about 1.5m in length cruising the lagoon on Sunday.

“Other residents report the croc ate a duck swimming in the lagoon. I’m waiting for a little dog to get monstered.”  Resident Charlie Fonda said he saw a croc’s head, more than 60cm long, peering above the lagoon’s surface while walking through the estate with his son Lachlan last week.  “I have to remind the kids to not go too close to the lagoon,” he said.

Speaking to The Cairns Post while on holiday in the Philippines yesterday, Mr Murphy said he had not heard of any recent sightings but didn’t rule out the possibility.  “Anywhere in Cairns close to water is prone to crocodiles, it’s quite possible something could get in there,” he said.

“If there have been reports of sightings the EPA will get called to do a search and will relocate the animal but it’s the first I’ve heard about it.”  Mr Littlefield said a croc-warning sign had recently been erected at the entry into Trinity Beach.

written by admin \\ tags: Australia, Nature

BmoreArt

Thursday, January 21, 2010
Recent Works at the John Fonda Gallery Friday, January 29

www.leahcooper.com	www.juliebenoit.com

Opening Reception: Friday, January 29, 6-8 p.m.
John Fonda Gallery
45 West Preston Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Located at Theatre Project
Hours: M-F Noon-4 p.m. or by appointment

written by admin \\ tags: Achievements, Arts, Baltimore, Gallery

Faith & Finance: A Boom in Religious Funds

What if Jesus were a stock picker?

It’s a question more investors seem to be asking these days. At a time when investors’ confidence in the markets has been shaken—even after the big rally of 2009—experts say a growing number of Americans are integrating their faith with their finances. The number of religious mutual funds has tripled over the past decade, to more than 90—with one now available for almost every flock, from evangelical Christians to Mennonites and Muslims.

Religious funds now control more than $27 billion in assets, up from $10 billion in the late 1990s, making it one of the hottest sectors in the broader category of socially responsible funds. “People are waking up and saying, ‘What I do with my money ought to reflect my values,’” says David Miller, a scholar at Princeton University’s Center for the Study of Religion.

Socially responsible funds have been around for years, of course, attracting both diehard followers and critics who see their stock-screening methods as a drag on returns. But the faith-fund boom is part of a growing hunger among religious people for financial guidance. While some financial planners specialize in estate planning and others claim an expertise in taxes, more and more are claiming the label of Christian financial adviser. Churches are also getting into the act, setting up workshops that dispense financial advice. And just this month, five new religion-based exchange traded funds were launched.

While most mutual fund managers place a laser-like focus on financial measures such as earnings per share and balance-sheet debt, managers of faith-based funds first check whether they think a company violates scriptural teachings. But injecting morals into financing is not without its share of controversy. Catholic funds typically draw a line at companies they believe support abortion or contraception; the evangelical Timothy Plan bans stocks of companies deemed supportive of a “gay lifestyle.”

Personal beliefs aside, each fund’s interpretation of scripture is open to criticism. “Why single out companies that provide same-sex benefits when they also provide benefits to employees who are greedy or venal or in other ways immoral according to biblical teaching?” asks Gary Moore, an investment adviser and founder of the nonprofit Financial Seminary in Sarasota, Fla.

Of course, just because a fund claims to have God on its side doesn’t mean investors will be blessed with top returns. Diversified U.S. religious stock funds are up an annual average of 2.27 percent over the past five years, just below the 2.34 percent return for all diversified equity funds, according to Morningstar. Religious funds tend to have expenses above the industry average, and because they often screen out certain sectors, they can be handcuffed when market sentiment shifts to an industry they’ve excluded. To find the best options, we looked for funds with solid long-term records and managers who have been at the helm for at least three years. (more at site)

written by admin \\ tags: Achievements, Business, Professional

The intent of this posting is simply to document the facts about slave ownership from a genealogical standpoint.  No moral or ethical judgments are implied. Prior to the Civil War, it was common practice for certain businesses to own slaves in both the South and the North.  Hopefully, this may assist some decendants in discovering their roots.

Historical records indicate the following Fonda slave ownerships: (For simplicity, the term Black is used herein to designate what may have originally been listed as Colored, Negro or Mulatto, today referred to as African-American)

Log Cabin, Virginia, 1870

Afro-Louisiana History and Genealogy, 1718-1820:
Joseph Fonda – New Orleans, LA – seller of 1 slave – 3/18/1816 – Notary: Pierre Pedasclaux, Depository: housed in parish courthouses. Location: Orleans (including Chapitoulas). Language of this record: French, Seller: Joseph Fonda, Buyer: Jean Davis, Name: Eveille, Name Type: Partilly coded, overwhelmingly European, Gender: male, Race: black, Age: 50, sold or inventoried as an individual Value of Sale: 235, Sale Common Price: 235.

1850 US Census Slave Schedule:
Abraham Fonda – Louisville, KY – owner of 1 slave, 15 Male Black
Claressa Fonda – Montgomery Co., MD – owner of 10 slaves – 5 Male / 5 Female, Black, ages 48/38/36/27/12/11/7/5/3/1
Sarah Fonda – Monroe, AL – owner of 1 slave, 60 Female Black

1860 US Census Slave Schedule:
Abraham Fonda – Louisville, KY – owner of 1 slave, 40 Male Black
Frederick Fondy – Bullitt, KY – owner of 1 slave, 25 Male Black
Sara Fonda – Monroe, AL – owner of 6 slaves – 2 Male / 4 Female, Black, ages 50/40/35/30/20/2

We also know that a few slaves were kept by several other Fonda’s in the North since there are references to slave quarters on certain properties.  These all appear to be prior to 1820, before detailed record-keeping.

After the Civil War, and all slaves were set free, some apparently took the name of their former owners.  We have records of some Black families with the Fonda surname.  Here are 12 heads-of-household with Fonda (sic.) surnames found in US Federal Census records (for privacy, those born after 1930 are not disclosed):

Emancipated Slaves, North Carolina, 1863

London (Lun) Fonda – b. abt 1790 – 1830 US Federal Census, Broadalbin, Montgomery Co., NY (40, Free Black, Wife Kate, 2 children) – probably slave of Abraham A. Fonda, Merchant of Edinburg, NY.

Doe Fundy – b. abt 1795 – 1870 US Federal Census, 12-Wd 15-Sub Divn, St. Louis Co., MO (75, Black, b. LA, Roustabout) – probably slave of Christopher Yates Fonda (and wife Sara, listed above in 1850 and 1860 Slave Schedules, since Christopher had died in 1845), Merchant of Monroe, LA.

Primis Fonda – b. abt 1796 – 1840 US Federal Census, Salina, Onondaga Co., NY (Free Black, b. NY); 1860 US Federal Census, 4-Wd Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY (Free Black, Day Laborer); 1870 US Federal Census, 8-Wd Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY (Black, Cook, Wife Rachel) – probably slave of Nathan Carey Fonda, Blacksmith of Syracuse, NY.

Henry Fandy – b. 1835 – 1880 US Federal Census, Pembroke, Christian Co., KY (Black, b. KY, parents b. VA, Laborer, wife Malvina and 7 children)
John B. Fondy – b. abt 1840 – Civil War Service: John B. Fondy; Co.E, 81st US Colored Infantry, Private
B. Fonday – b. 1847 – 1880 US Federal Census, Van Zandt Co., TX (Black; b. GA, Tends Bar)
John Fonda – b. 1858 – 1880 US Federal Census, 3rd Ward, Washington Co., LA  (Mulatto, b. MS, parents b. MS, House Servant)
Benjamin Fondey – b. 1869 – 1900 US Federal Census, Perdido, Baldwin Co., AL (Black; b. AL; parents b. AL, Road Superintendent, Wife Mary, 1 child)
Sam Fundy – b. 1870 – 1900 US Federal Census, Brickville Pct, Colbert Co., AL (Black; b. AL, Farmer, Wife Darria, 2 children)
James Fonda – b. 1877 – 1900 US Federal Census, Texarkansas, Bowie Co., TX (Black, b. AR, Hotel Waiter, Wife Emelie, 2 children)
Jim Fonda – b. 1879 – 1910 US Federal Census, 4-Bt, Tallahatchie Co., MS (Black; b. MS, Wife Mary, 2 children)
Edgar Fonda – 1881-1956 – Black, b. LA; res. Hughes, AR; res. MS; Wife Pearlie, 2 children

School for Emancipated Slave Children, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1866

With the exception of the first three, the origins of these men are unknown.  Those first three did not leave any progeny that are recorded.  One had a son and grandson, but the line stopped there.  It is not certain that their names were taken from their slave masters, although in sheer numbers, it is possible.  The locations are generally consistent with the known locations of slave ownership: LA, KY, AL, NY and MD, so you could draw some conclusions.

One interesting story unfolded regarding a slave who was set free long before the Civil War:

The Town of Galway records show that in 1812, Abraham Fonda sold a certain slave, called “Lun,” to John Pettit and that Pettit entered into an agreement “to free ‘Lun’ in nine years and at that time give ‘Lun’ two cows and 10 sheep of full middling quality.”  The document was witnessed by Lenton Hicks and Ebenezer Fitch and Eli Smith recorded it April 6, 1813.  Nine years later, in 1822, it is recorded that Abijah Comstock and Asa Cornell, overseers of the poor, were called upon to examine the said “Lun” and “Kate,” his wife, “to see if they were of sufficient ability to provide for and maintain themselves?”  They issued a certificate of freedom in issuing which they took pains to state that it was their pleasure “to encourage acts of humanity” and an entire willingness that “all should enjoy the inalienable right of liberty.”  Chronicles of Saratoga: a series of articles., Chronicle VIII. Harriet Beecher Stowe visited Saratoga in 1850’s–“Cabin” staged in hall p. 29. McGregor, Jean. Saratoga Springs, N.Y.: Reprinted from The Saratogian, 1945-47.

This is noteworthy since The United States was fifty years away from emancipation although “by the time of the 1790 census, 94 percent of the 698,000 U.S. slaves lived below the Mason-Dixon Line.”  The British Empire was still twenty years away from the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.

written by admin \\ tags: Business, Civil War, Slavery