Our readers know that we like to keep an eye on two of Scientology’s sneakiest front group operators — Queens dentist Bernard Fialkoff and his daughter Meghan. As far back as 2013, we were examining how the Fialkoffs were infiltrating New York City schools with their quack L. Ron Hubbard drug abuse literature and getting lots of help from local political leaders and the NYPD.
Over the years they’ve been recurring figures here at the Bunker. And if you followed along with those sightings, you know that during their forays into local schools, the Fialkoffs often took with them whoever was the most recent “Miss New York.”
Here’s Meghan, for example, with Miss New York 2013 (left) and Miss New York 2014 (center).
The other day, Mike Rinder pointed out over at his blog that the Fialkoffs were once again touting a Miss New York to push their Foundation for a Drug-Free World nonsense.
Well, one of our readers, a health journalist, decided to look into that situation, and sent us this great report…
It turns out there are multiple Miss New Yorks in the pageant world, but the Miss America organization told me the woman in the video that Mike posted is Rahmeka Cox, current title-holder from the Miss New York Scholarship Organization. So I reached out to the Miss New York Scholarship Organization to ask if they were aware that Foundation for a Drug Free World was affiliated with Scientology, and to ask if they knew that the Church was using a video and photo of Miss Cox in a promotional email.
Here’s the reply from Sloane Lewis, co-executive director of the Miss New York Scholarship Organization (NYSO), and Miss Kansas, 2012:
In response to your previous inquiry regarding Miss New York 2019, Rahmeka Cox, the Organization would like to issue the following preliminary statement at this time: The Miss New York Scholarship Organization is investigating the video and its alleged use on certain websites. The Organization intends to further review the video and the event at which Ms. Cox made an appearance. We can, however, assure the public that Ms. Cox’s message at the event in question was limited in scope and intended only for the audience present at the event. No portion of Ms. Cox’s message was authorized for use by any third-party. It was not intended to promote any political or religious views, nor to solicit membership on behalf of any religious organization.
Lewis said I could follow up next week for an updated statement. One last thing: In the video Miss Cox says she “raised awareness of mental health” at the event — ironic considering the Church of Scientology and Foundation for a Drug-Free World oppose using lifesaving psychiatric medications for mental illness. (I doubt she had any idea.)
Our thanks to this great new correspondent who went to the effort to get that statement, and we look forward to an updated one at a later date!
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HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles
This year’s HowdyCon is in Los Angeles. People tend to come in starting on Thursday, and that evening we will have a casual get-together at a watering hole. We have something in mind, but for now we’re not giving out information about it.
Friday night we will be having an event in a theater (like we did on Saturday night last year in Chicago). There will not be a charge to attend this event, but if you want to attend, you need to RSVP with your proprietor at tonyo94 AT gmail.
On Saturday, we are joining forces with Janis Gillham Grady, who is having a reunion in honor of the late Bill Franks. Originally, we thought this event might take place in Riverside, but instead it’s in the Los Angeles area. If you wish to attend the reunion, you will need to RSVP with Janis (janisgrady AT gmail), and there will be a small contribution she’s asking for in order to help cover her costs.
HOTEL: Janis tells us she’s worked out a deal with Hampton Inn and Suites, at 7501 North Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, (818) 768-1106. We have a $159 nightly rate for June 19 to 22.
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Hey, IRS: You might want to look at this new photo Scientology posted of David Miscavige
[TWO years ago] Understanding Marty Rathbun: For the first time, his full deposition of 2014
[THREE years ago] Ron Miscavige book out in May: ‘Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me’
[FOUR years ago] Mareka Brousseau on the degradations of Scientology’s Sea Org life
[FIVE years ago] With Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ policy finally hitting the mainstream, here’s more to consider
[SIX years ago] Xenu the The Movie Star! When Scientology Almost Revealed Its Secrets on the Big Screen
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology on the High Seas: Hubbard Claims Victory Over the U.S. Navy
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,390 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,519 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,023 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,503 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 566 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 454 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,761 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,629 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,403 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,177 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,523 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,089 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,009 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,176 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,757 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,017 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,057 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,769 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,295 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,384 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,524 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,844 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,700 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,819 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,175 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,477 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,583 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 1,985 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,857 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,440 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,935 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,189 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,298 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 16, 2019 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
