CrossRoadsNews, August 17, 2013

SCENE

SCENE

SCHOOLS

Boys 5 to 12 years old can audition in September for the Georgia Boy Choir’s Training and Apprentice choirs and become singing ambassadors. 8

Former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney’s new book documents her ups and downs in state, national and international politics. 8

Nearly 100,000 DeKalb students reported to classes on Aug. 12 for a new school year.

Hopes are high for a studentfocused year. 9

Sing a song

Add author to the list

Off to classes

EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER

Copyright © 2013 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

August 17, 2013

Volume 19, Number 16

www.crossroadsnews.com

MLK parents spar with School District over new principal

By Ken Watts

Kerby Bullard, new principal at Martin Luther King Jr. High, talks with science department Chair Damienne Denham Rudolph. He has a 90-day plan for improvement.

“I have 25 years in the profession – 20 in DeKalb – so I’m not a newcomer,” he said Aug. 8 during MLK’s open house for the new school year that began on Aug. 12.

“I worked my way up from substitute teacher, paraprofessional, teacher and assistant principal, and I’m heavily invested in this school.”

But PTSA President Evelyn Cunningham says the association is worried that Bullard may be overmatched in a challenging environment at the troubled campus, which has an enrollment of more than 1,659 students.

“Nothing against Mr. Bullard,” Cunningham said. “We think he is a very talented guy.

Concerned parents at Martin Luther King Jr. High say their struggling school is being set up for failure with the DeKalb School District’s appointment of a new principal who they believe is inexperienced.

Central Administration announced on July 17 that after serving six years as assistant principal, Kerby Bullard will take over at MLK, succeeding interim Principal Vivian Terry.

Bullard says the overwhelming majority of parents support him as the right person at the right time to turn things around at MLK and that he has a 90-day plan for improvement.

Please see PRINCIPAL, page 9

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Shopping spree winners bag $5,600 in free stuff Cheryl Moore of Decatur, who checked out IKEA before the spree, had a game plan and snagged more than $3,000 in merchandise, including kitchen and bath items.

Three sprint to fill their carts at IKEA in Atlantic Station

By Ken Watts

Three women lived every shopper’s dream on Aug. 10 with the opportunity to fill their shopping carts with as much merchandise as they could grab in 30 minutes.

Cheryl Moore of Decatur, Debbie Tillman of Stone Mountain and Nicole Banks of Conyers, who won the shopping spree at CrossRoadsNews’ Aug. 3 Family & Back-toSchool Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest, took the prize at 5 p.m. in the IKEA Atlanta store in Atlantic Station.

Cheered on by store customers, they took off like sprinters on an obstacle course, veering around people and store displays, competing against the clock.

After 30 minutes, they had netted more than $5,600 worth of merchandise.

In their shopping carts were pots and pans, comforters and bed linens, bath products and plants.

Moore’s cash register receipt totaled $3,061.81. Tillman walked away with a haul valued at $1,359.64, and Banks’ cart load checked out at $1,234.83.

The rules were simple. Each contestant was allowed one shopping cart and a partner to help them snag products.

Armed with a bullhorn, IKEA marketing director Deidra Cunningham gave the countdown and it was on!

The speedy contestants disappeared momentarily into the vast 125,000-square-foot Marketplace section on IKEA’s ground floor.

Marketplace is the Swedish retailer’s kitchenware, bed and bath department.

On Saturday, a tax-free shopping day and the last Saturday before school started in DeKalb, the floor was packed with shoppers.

The contestants had to be quick but careful not to crash into customers.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Each had priorities in mind regarding the products they wanted.

Banks, a medical assistant who enlisted the help of her fiance, Greg Crocker, targeted linens and “kitchen stuff.”

They split up a few Nicole Banks times to cover more ground. Within minutes, their cart was piled high with cookware, cowhide rugs, duvets and enough supplies to equip two bathrooms.

“We’re looking ahead of course and trying to stock up on household stuff we know we’re going to need,” Banks said.

Crocker said Banks made a last-minute decision to enter the Family & Back-toSchool Expo’s grand prize contest.

“At first, she wasn’t going to fill out the entry form for the drawing,” he said. “But she did, right after the last call for entries.”

Tillman brought her cousin Beverly

Hall along as merchandise “spotter” and shopping partner. They moved quickly from section to section.

“I don’t need a lot of big stuff, just comforters, bed linens, shower curtains, things for the Debbie Tillman house,” she said.

Moore had her eyes on tools that will be useful in her favorite hobby.

“I love to cook,” she said, “so I’m looking for quality kitchenware, pots and pans. I could also use bed and bath stuff.”

Moore, a trust accountant with the Salvation Army, came with a game plan.

“I didn’t know a lot about IKEA, but I checked it out a few days ago with my granddaughter,” she said. “We did some reconnaissance and got an idea of how the products are laid out. And we saw where the most expensive items were stocked.”

It worked. Within 15 minutes, Moore’s

cart was nearly filled to capacity with the quality kitchenware she wanted but also decor items, plants and bath products.

“I’m exhausted,” she said. “But I’m grateful to my trainer Joanna Ward at Berean Christian Church for making me fit enough to last through this.”

Tillman had a bit of an advantage from the start.

“I grew up in Hempstead, N.Y., on Long Island,” the retired teacher said. “So I was very familiar with IKEA and their merchandise.”

Tillman quickly stacked her cart with bed and bath items but said she planned to give some of the products away.

“I have a young nephew heading to college in a few days, and this household stuff will help him a lot,” she said.

The shoppers said they’re grateful to the sponsors for the unforgettable experience.

“We really appreciate CrossRoadsNews for putting on the Back-to-School Expo and IKEA for making the shopping spree possible,” Tillman said.

2

Community

CrossRoadsNews

August 17, 2013

“We’ve had a lot of car wrecks there, including one in 2012 that totaled a car carrying four school kids.”

Judge delays decision on motions in suit to stop Walmart

By Ken Watts

Opponents of a proposed Walmart Supercenter in Suburban Plaza on North Decatur Road chanted and carried “Stop Walmart” and “Walmart is not the answer” signs at an Aug. 9 rally outside the DeKalb Courthouse.

Thirty-five spirited demonstrators from Good Growth DeKalb made their feelings known before the first court hearing on their lawsuit challenging the 149,000-square-foot retail project.

The group, which has been fighting the project since January 2012, says the proposed big-box store just outside the Decatur city limits and its traffic would disrupt the neighborhood and pose a hazard at the already congested six-way intersection of Scott Boulevard and North Decatur and Medlock roads.

Good Growth DeKalb, a grass-roots coalition of neighborhoods that surround those streets, sued the county in DeKalb Superior Court on March 15 contending that the county granted a building permit for construction of the Walmart Supercenter in violation of its own truck, tree and hydrology ordinances.

At the Aug. 9 hearing, it asked Superior Court Judge Tangela Barrie to issue an immediate “judgment on the pleadings” based on the facts of the lawsuit.

Barrie also heard arguments from DeKalb County officials who entered a motion to dismiss the suit saying it is without merit.

On Aug. 5, Barrie denied a motion by Suburban Plaza’s owner, Selig Enterprises, asking the court to allow it to intervene and become part of the suit.

The hearing lasted for about an hour with

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Good Growth DeKalb supporters rally outside the DeKalb Courthouse on Aug. 9 before a hearing on the coalition’s lawsuit opposing a project to build a Walmart Supercenter in Suburban Plaza.

no decision on the other two motions. Barrie said she would take time to study the zoning code before deciding.

Barrie told the two sides she would schedule another hearing on the matter in September but that she might rule on the motion to dismiss before the hearing.

Walmart has said the development would bring much-needed jobs to the area, but opponents believe the risks outweigh the benefits.

During the demonstration, Good Growth co-chair Louise Runyon said the truck traffic is a big issue.

“Our primary concern in the plans for

the supercenter is the exit-routing of all delivery trucks, including daily tractor-semi traffic onto tiny Medlock Road, which is designated as a truckfree restricted county road,” she said.

Runyon said that they Louise Runyon have canvassed the Medlock community, Decatur and the surrounding neighborhoods and 75 percent of the people in the area oppose building a supercenter at that intersection.

“We’ve had a lot of car wrecks there,

including one in 2012 that totaled a car carrying four school kids,” she said.

Good Growth said it was forced to take legal action after failing to get the Zoning Board of Appeals to reverse its building permit decision. The Appeals Board in January 2013 voted 5-0 to uphold the decision for Selig Enterprises to have a Walmart Supercenter at the location.

Good Growth’s petition said the Appeals Board should not have acted because it had no authority to do so.

Walmart spokesman Bill Wertz said after the Aug. 9 hearing that they are looking forward to Barrie’s decision and remain firmly committed to the Suburban Plaza redevelopment.

Bill Wertz “We are also looking forward to providing the community with 300 new jobs and a wide range of groceries and merchandise that everyone can afford,” Wertz said.

Scott Selig, Selig Enterprises vice president, said the company made every effort to abide by the county’s zoning rules.

“We followed all county requirements for drainage, tree protection and traffic, so it’s no surprise that the permit was upheld,” he said in a Feb. 15 letter to the Medlock Area Neighborhood Association, the largest adjoining neighborhood to Suburban Plaza.

But Good Growth said in addition to the county’s violation of its own permitting regulations, opponents were deprived of a chance to pursue another avenue of appeal because there was no Technical Board of Appeals as required by the county’s building code.

3

CrossRoadsNews

August 17, 2013

Community

“Is it me or did I just watch a video where the cops talked and acted like thugs and the ‘suspects’ were college educated?”

Sheriff changes policy in wake of YouTube clip

By Ken Watts

Pictured are Walt Bryde (from left), board chairman of Senior Connections; Jim Story, Volunteer of the Year; Chris Morris, director of DeKalb County Community Development; and Debra Furtado, Senior Connections CEO.

Senior volunteers lauded for service A growing corps of volunteers who help seniors in DeKalb County and throughout the metro Atlanta area live independently was honored on Aug. 11 by Senior Connections.

Jim Story, who has logged more than 5,894 miles delivering meals to homebound seniors, was named Volunteer of the Year.

Jeanette Reed, a member of the DeKalb Atlanta Senior Center on Warren Street, is Senior Center Volunteer of the Year, and Mar Yi “Esther” Than is Kitchen Volunteer of the Year.

Martha Zimmer got the “Hero Award” for rescuing a senior who fell and went three days without food or water.

Debra Furtado, Senior Connections CEO, said she continues to be amazed at the dedication of their volunteers.

“In the past few years, the number of volunteers supporting our work has grown and the total hours contributed continue to grow at a rate of 30 percent annually,” she said.

The 2013 volunteer appreciation event included a formal awards program, annual meeting of volunteers, and picnic lunch.

Volunteers from all areas of service with Senior Connections attended, along with board members and other supporters.

Senior Connections, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, manages a number of DeKalb County senior centers.

It also offers Meals on Wheels, in-home care, senior center management, and health and wellness classes.

Through June this year, volunteers donated a total of 27,183 hours.

Sharon Steele, Senior Connections’ development director, said their goal is 50,000 hours per year.

“Every time a volunteer helps out, that means more dollars can go directly into programs and more seniors can receive meals and other services,” said Steele, who leads Senior Connections’ volunteer program.

For more information and to volunteer, visit www.seniorconnectionsatl.org /volunteer.

A controversial 1:30 a.m. service of a civil warrant on an Ellenwood woman has prompted a change in policy for the DeKalb Sheriff ’s Office.

In a 19-minute cell phone video of the raid, posted on YouTube, deputies can be seen storming the home of Natania Griffin and threatening to stun-gun, beat and even “cane” her and her sons.

Griffin said the officers came to arrest her for a $1,000 civil fine that was 15 days late, but she thought they were at the wrong house because they were shouting out a different address.

The video, taken by Natania Griffin Griffin’s 23-year-old son Donovan Hall, made national news in the Huffington Post and on CNN and ABC News, and it sparked outrage on social media sites.

Sheriff Thomas Brown announced Aug. 12 that the cutoff time for serving civil warrants will now be 11 p.m. He also suspended three deputies – Ray Hunt, Charles Dix and Aaron Jackson. Hunt was suspended for two days. Jackson and Dix were each suspended for a day. Their supervisor, Sgt. Dan McGhee, faces demotion if he doesn’t retire on Aug. 30 as planned.

Brown took action in the wake of the July 26 incident at Griffin’s home posted at www. youtube.com/watch?v=F7zYKgDTuDA&fea ture=youtube_gdata_player.

At press time on Thursday, the video had more than 321,000 views.

Brown said he personally conducted an extensive internal investigation with a “thorough review of the facts and the conduct of the sheriff ’s deputies involved.”

As part of his review, Brown called a meeting of the entire Field Division of the DeKalb Sheriff ’s Office to emphasize the central motto: “Treat people the way you would want to be treated.”

The meeting with the Field Division was followed by a meeting between Brown and the deputies involved in the incident.

Brown says from now on deputies will not serve civil warrants after 11 p.m. and only on one day of the week.

Spokesman Lt. Kyle Jones said Brown was appalled at what he saw on the tape.

“But he thinks with the new policy and the disciplinary action in this case, it won’t happen again,” he said.

Family feared for its safety During the chaos captured on the video, deputies can be seen banging on the family’s front door while screaming the address of a different house.

Hall told HuffPost Crime that he was immediately confused as to why the police would be at his house.

“The knocks became more and more aggressive,” he said.

“Oh my Go d, oh my God,” Reuben cries out as he begins breathing heavily.

“They put a Taser to my brother’s head,” Sgt. Dan McGhee (from left) and Deputies Charles Dix, Ray Hunt and Aaron Hall recalled.

Jackson faced disciplinary action after the video went public.

A deputy can Hall said he feared for the safety of his be heard shouting: “Say something else and mother, his 5-year-old sister and his 20-year- I’m [going to] Tase your ass!”

“Why are you being so aggressive, sir,” old brother, Roger Devon Reuben, all of whom were inside the house. He called 911 Hall asks in the video. “We haven’t done to ask why the deputies were there before anything wrong.”

Griffin and her family say they are raising reluctantly opening the front door.

A tearful Griffin is heard saying: “If I’m money to pursue criminal charges against the dead in the morning, you’ll know why,” and Sheriff ’s Office and the officers involved. describing the raid as “sheer terror.”

The video shows eight law officers and a Public reaction Online viewers of the YouTube video sergeant immediately arresting Griffin before were for the most part outraged. swarming the brothers.

“Is it me or did I just watch a video where Though it can’t be clearly seen in the the cops talked and acted like thugs and the video, Hall claims that officers threw both ‘suspects’ were college educated? I would men to the ground before beating them.

“One officer hit me in the face with his have been scared for my life!” said viewer gun and I fell to the floor,” Hall told Huff- “1lionmurrill.”

Another said: “Unless my civics teacher Post. “Another officer began kicking me and bending back my arms. They put handcuffs lied to me, you have no responsibility to alon me and continued to kick and punch me. low an officer into your home if the officer At that point, an officer with his knee in my does not have a valid warrant. The officers back stood up and put both feet on top of my at your door must identify themselves and head. He was standing on top of my head.” produce a warrant that you can see and read In the video, one officer shouts: “Put cuffs before you are required to let them in.”

Brown said he shares the public’s anger. on his big ass! You open the door when I tell “I want the citizens of DeKalb County you to open the door.”

The deputy continues his tirade, repeat- to know that I will not tolerate abusive behavior, physical or verbal, on the part of any edly threatening to stun gun both men.

“F--- with me if you want to,” the officer sheriff’s deputy, and that I will take approprisays, as both brothers plead with the depu- ate corrective actions when the facts justify them,” Brown said. ties, asking why they’re being arrested.

MODIFIED

MEMORIAL DRIVE ROUTES MARTA introduced an express service BRT along Memorial Drive in 2010 that operated during morning and afternoon peak commute hours, and supplemented the current Route 121 bus service.

Based on customer feedback, effective August 24th, MARTA is discontinuing the 521 Q Express and adding more frequency to Local Route 121-Stone Mountain/ Memorial. The service frequency for Route 121 will improve from 15-minutes to 12-minutes during peak periods. Off-peak hours will remain at 20-minutes.

The 520 Q Limited will continue operating weekdays during peak AM and PM every 10 minutes but will be renamed Route 121L–Stone Mountain/Memorial Drive “Limited”. Additionally, the new 121 “Limited” will now serve the Goldsmith Park & Ride lot, WalMart, and one additional bus stop along Central Drive, but it will no longer travel north of Central Drive. Please refer to map for details.

MEMORIAL DRIVE ROUTE RECONFIGURATION Effective August 24th N

Ston eM oun tain Hw y7 8

n irsto Ha

Centenarian stays fit and active

ne Sto

8 y7 Hw

e nc Po st Ea

Leon De

121

eD eL eo n

Goldsmith

ive Dr ial or em M

PARK & RIDE

nc Po st N

u n t ai n

k Dr Cree ian Ind

o Stone M

Ea

P

Hambrick Rd

Rays Rd

121L

Dr ntral Ce

La u r e n

L it h o

Wal-Mart

Memorial Bend Shopping Center

M

em or

ia l

to n

Dr ive

Rd

119

S Ha ir s

d S Rays R

Georgia Piedmont Technical College

nia

P k wy

285 No r th er

Kensington/ Route 119- Hairston Rd.

n

ue en Av

121

121L

Stone Mountain/ Route 121- Memorial Dr. Mountain/ Route 121L-Stone Memorial Dr. Limited

Camp Rd.

daughter, Karen Green.

Relda “Honey Bea” Mackins Mackins, a retired beautiof Stone Mountain marked a cian and salon owner, plays her major milestone on Aug. 7. favorite card games every day Mackins, who was born Aug. at the Antioch Estates Senior 7, 1913, celebrated her 100th Community where she lives. birthday at the Lou Walker Friend Theresa Walker said Center in Lithonia surrounded Mackins maintains an impresby family and friends. sive daily fitness routine.

DeKalb Commissioner Stan “She rides her exercise bike Watson, Eric Hubbard representing 4th District U.S. Rep. Relda “Honey Bea” Mackins in her apartment seven days a week,” Walker said. “She rides Hank Johnson, and interim CEO Lee May stopped by to present her with five miles a day and she does it in 27 minresolutions and proclamations and joined in utes.”

In May, Mackins was honored as “Senior the birthday celebration. Gov. Nathan Deal sent a letter honoring her longevity and ser- of the Year” by DeKalb for Seniors Inc. She is a mother, grandmother and great-grandvice to the community.

The longtime member of Antioch AME mother and serves as a role model for other Church is a fitness buff, according to her “seniors.”

tain

un Mo

Kensington STATION

(Former 520-Ltd.)

121L- Stops

4

CrossRoadsNews

Forum 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Graphic Design Curtis Parker Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Jessica Smith Ken Watts Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Advertising Sales Jeanette Ross Circulation Manager Jami Ffrench-Parker CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoads­News, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings.

The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers.

The concept, design and content of CrossRoads­News are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.

Advertisements are published upon the representation that the advertiser is authorized to publish the submitted material. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless from and against any loss or expenses resulting from any disputes or legal claims based upon the contents or subject matter of such advertisments, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement.

We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

L CA LO ODS! GO

AL !

LOC ICES RV SE

www.eastmetromarket.com

“I would have thought those closest to me would understand what I am doing and why I am doing it.”

Why not just quit? Answer lies in our past, future

By Dr. Eugene “Gene” Walker

The recent decision by Administrative Law Judge Maxwell Wood to sustain Gov. Nathan Deal’s suspension of the DeKalb School Board came as no surprise to anyone, certainly not me. Disappointing, yes. I always hold out hope that the best of human nature will persevere.

But it came as no surprise.

What is surprising at this time is other conversations I have had with people. These are people who I have had the greatest respect for in the past.

There are two in particular: One was white, one black.

“Why don’t you just quit, Gene?” they asked. “Give it up and go on about your business. Let it go.”

They are old, like I am, but their complacency is showing.

I would have thought those closest to me would understand what I am doing and why I am doing it.

The administrative appeal was simply an obstacle that had to be dispensed with. You can’t bother the Georgia Supreme Court if there are untried remedies. It is the court of last resort. The Georgia General Assembly created this constitu-

“The men and women upon whose shoulders I stand paved the way in blood, sweat and tears, but mostly blood. MLK, Medgar Evers, Viola Liuzzo, John Lewis, Jimmie Lee Jackson, and many more.”

Dr. Eugene “Gene” Walker

tional crisis and the administrative hearing was just another hurdle to be cleared.

To place it in a nutshell, again: A privately run organization with no accountability or investigative standards is in power. They don’t even have to comply with the Open Records or Open Meetings acts.

Yet they sit in judgment of school boards, and in a single, unilateral and, until now, unimpeachable decision set the legislative wheels in motion to nullify the will of 40,000 DeKalb County voters.

As it has been proven, they don’t have to meet a burden of proof – only render an opinion cloaked in secrecy and lies.

This is in direct violation of Article VIII, Section V, Paragraph 2 of the Georgia Constitution, which requires all local school board members to be elected as provided by law. It specifically says that after Dec. 31, 1993, there shall

be no more appointed local school board members. What does DeKalb County have now?

Back to the question. I am 77 years old. Why not just quit?

Later on this month, Aug. 28, to be exact, is the 50-year anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial.

I am old enough to remember what that was all about.

You see, at that time it was exactly 100 years after the abolition of slavery, and at that time African-Americans – we called ourselves Negroes back then – still did not have equal rights, certainly not equal voting rights.

Jim Crow laws had recently been overturned, but there was still plenty of activity on the state and local level to keep blacks away from the ballot box. There is one thing upon which whites and blacks can always agree: The vote is a very

powerful right.

Now it’s 50 years later, and the whole civil rights struggle is becoming a distant memory.

On the surface, it would seem we have made so much progress.

So much progress that the U.S. Supreme Court has decided the Justice Department no longer needs to be the watchdog for fairness in the South, where the powers in charge have had the most prolific history of abuse. In spite of this, somehow, a clandestine organization empowers a governor to discard the will of an electorate greater than that of three states.

The men and women upon whose shoulders I stand paved the way in blood, sweat and tears, but mostly blood. MLK, Medgar Evers, Viola Liuzzo, John Lewis, Jimmie Lee Jackson, and many, many more.

They bore the brunt of the struggle – a Georgia Supreme Court case is a pittance in comparison. I owe it to them, the cause they stood for, and to future generations to see this through. That’s why I will never quit.

Dr. Eugene “Gene” Walker is a former chairman of the DeKalb School Board and District 9 representative.

There is another side to Trayvon Martin’s death Did Martin mouth off There is no question to Zimmerman and Zimthat George Zimmerman merman collar him? Did killed Trayvon Martin.

Martin respond by comThere is no question that ing out swinging and takthings would have ended ing Zimmerman down, a better if Zimmerman had position from which Zimheeded counsel from 911 merman believed he had personnel and restrained to shoot to survive? himself from following We will never know the Martin into the bowels of Elrado Ramsay answer to these questions. Trayvon the residential complex.

However, there is big contention was not killed because Zimmerman about what happened when Zim- hates black people. Fact is that Zimmerman caught up with Martin. merman is just as white as Barack Martin was dead from a single gun- Obama. So, without a race-based shot wound, and Zimmerman had murder or a hate crime, it could a bloody nose and a bashed head well have been self-defense.

Where does that leave us? It back when the melee was over.

Quick Read

leaves us with context. The context that Zimmerman, like millions of other Americans, might have been terrified of a young black man he met up in the dark, even as he carried the responsibility of a neighborhood watchman to find out who Martin was and why he was in the complex. Everyone profiles young black men because if you do not, one could make you real dead.

We are left with the context that neither was Trayvon a buttoneddown A student or at 17 years was he free of all the prerequisite calling cards of young black men who are headed to their first armed robbery.

It has become clear that Trayvon’s

parents were failing to sensitize him to the dead-end life of thugism, multiple school suspensions, ganja chic, pornography, gun-modeling rabble-rousing, racist diatribes and all the other stuff that the society depends on parents to stop and stop cold – no pun.

Every African-American knows Trayvon Martin before he committed his first felony. The answer lies in getting real about the context of Trayvon’s death. There will be more Trayvon Martins as long as we continue to avoid these contexts.

Elrado Ramsay lives in Decatur.

Visit Forum at www.crossroadsnews. com for the complete article.

MLK parents spar with School District over new principal 1

fights ‘misinformation’ on Obamacare 6

McKinney’s book dishes on Georgia and national politics 8

Concerned parents at Martin Luther King Jr. High say their struggling school is being set up for failure with the DeKalb School District’s appointment of a new principal who they believe is inexperienced.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is blasting some states led by Republican governors for allegedly spreading “misinformation” about the health care law.

Former 4th District U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney has penned an autobiographical tome titled “Ain’t Nothing Like Freedom.”

Judge delays decision on motions to stop Walmart

State plans new vaccine rules for 2014-15 school year 6

2

Opponents of a proposed Walmart Supercenter on North Decatur Road chanted and carried “Stop Walmart” and “Walmart is not the answer” signs at an Aug. 9 rally.

Senior volunteers lauded for service Circulation Audited By

August 17, 2013

3

Volunteers who help seniors in DeKalb County and throughout metro Atlanta live independently was honored on Aug. 11.

New school vaccine rules are being planned for Georgia’s sixth-graders next year.

DeKalb off to smooth start for 2013-2014 school year 9 Nearly 100,000 students heard a cheery “Good morning, welcome back!” as they shook away the summer cobwebs and returned to class at DeKalb’s 127 elementary, middle and high schools on Aug. 12.

New council to guide efforts to Decatur ‘go-getter’ broadens combat childhood obesity 6 horizons with trip to Italy 10 A 16-member team of leaders in the fields of health, education, business and nutrition from across the state will guide Georgia’s efforts to combat childhood obesity.

As 22-year-old Wesley Clark sat opposite classmate Rachel Peterson at the Italian trattoria on May 25, he found himself in very unfamiliar territory.

index to advertisers Akinyele Law Firm, LLC.................................. 11 Arthur’s Contracting....................................... 11 BJH Attorneys & Counselors at Law............... 11 Comcast.......................................................... 5 First African Presbyterian Church....................9

Henry Mitchell, CPA, PC................................. 11 LawnMax, Inc................................................. 11 Macy’s............................................................12 MARTA............................................................ 3 Ousley United Methodist Church....................9

Saint Philip AME Church................................. 8 Soul Discount Fabrics..................................... 11 The Benn Agency.......................................... 11 The Law Office of Melissa J. Sawyer.............. 11 The Samuel Group......................................... 11

Walmart.......................................................... 7 Best Buy Co. Inc......................................Inserts Walgreens...............................................Inserts Walmart..................................................Inserts

M • 217 Church Street • Philadelphia, PA • 19106 • 215.925.5400

NOT TO BE USED FOR COLOR APPROVAL

5

CrossRoadsNews

August 17, 2013

Have you ever tried to type a 500-word essay with just your thumbs?

INTERNET ESSENTIALS

SM

FROM COMCAST

You can do many things with a cell phone, but homework isn’t one of them. Your kids deserve the chance to do their homework on a computer at home.

With affordable Internet from Comcast, your child can do homework, email teachers, type book reports, get online tutoring and more. You may qualify for Internet Essentials if your child is eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program.

Help your child get ahead. Affordably.

AFFORDABLE INTERNET

$

9

95

a month + tax

A LOW-COST

COMPUTER

149

$

To learn more or apply, visit: InternetEssentials.com Or call: 1-855-8-INTERNET (1-855-846-8376) Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Limited to XFINITY® Internet Economy Plus service for new residential customers meeting certain eligibility criteria. Advertised price applies to a single outlet. Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. After initial participation, if a customer is determined to be no longer eligible for the program but continues to receive Comcast service, regular rates will apply. Subject to Internet Essentials program terms and conditions. Call 1-855-846-8376 for restrictions and complete details, or visit InternetEssentials.com. ©2013 Comcast. All rights reserved. Internet Essentials is a program to provide home Internet service for families. It is not a school program, and is not endorsed or required by your school. Your school is not responsible for Internet Essentials accounts.

99

+ tax

Available at initial enrollment

No price increases No activation fees • No equipment rental fees • •

FREE

INTERNET TRAINING InternetEssentials.com/learning Online, in person and in print

6

CrossRoadsNews

Wellness

August 17, 2013

Sebelius said health care reform will succeed in states run

by Democrats who have embraced the law.

HHS secretary fights ‘misinformation’ on Obamacare

By Ken Watts

With the clock ticking toward the Oct. 1 launch of open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is blasting Georgia and other states led by Republican governors for allegedly spreading “misinformation” about the new health care law.

Sebelius was in Atlanta this week for a meeting of the National Conference Kathleen Sebelius of State Legislatures. She complained of having to commit resources to offset distortions being circulated as the Affordable Care Act is about to be implemented.

Sebelius said health care reform will succeed in states run by Democrats who have embraced the law.

But in states such as Georgia where the governor’s office and the legislature are in Republican hands, “the job is made doubly difficult,” she said.

It’s the latest flare-up in the continuing war of words between the Obama administration and Republicans who opposed the 2010 health care system overhaul and are still fighting the scheduled Jan. 1, 2014, implementation.

Starting Oct. 1, customers can log on to www.healthcare.gov during open enrollment and choose from a variety of plans under the new insurance “marketplaces” also known as health care exchanges set to open in every state.

Republicans in Indiana, Ohio, Georgia and Florida have warned that people who buy insurance for themselves will face huge premium increases.

Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens said in a July 30 letter to Sebelius that the increases could be “as much 198 percent for some individuals.”

Hudgens backed away from that figure in later interviews, saying the 198 percent increase was “the highest one” and other premium increases would be lower but still hefty.

“We know that there will be states where things will go very well because the states are all in,” said Sebelius, who is responsible for implementation of Obamacare.

For residents in other states, “getting correct facts to them, drilling down through the misinformation, is going to be more complicated. That’s where a lot of my time and effort is going to be spent, on the markets that are really federal markets.”

Sebelius’ trip to Georgia is one of several she’s making through the end of the year to encourage uninsured Americans to sign up

for the Affordable Care Act’s new coverage options.

The federal government has said it wants at least 7 million Americans who don’t get health insurance coverage at their jobs to sign up for plans by early next year.

In Georgia and 26 other states, the exchanges will be run by the federal government with little or no involvement by state officials.

But customers who fall below the federal poverty line won’t be eligible for subsidies to buy insurance in the exchanges unless their state governments expand Medicaid to cover them.

Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves said after a meeting with Sebelius that he will lobby Gov. Nathan Deal for a Medicaid expansion even though Deal has said that he’s staunchly opposed to such a move.

Nathan Deal Eaves said Medicaid expansion would save Fulton County $50 million to $100 million a year in spending on indigent uninsured patients at Grady Memorial Hospital.

DeKalb, the only other Georgia county to support Grady, also could benefit if lowincome patients were covered.

Margaret Britton, a spokeswoman for District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson, said expanded Medicaid coverage would save DeKalb up to $18 million a year in spending on uninsured emergency room patients.

“To just leave people without health coverage at all – who will continue to come through the doors of emergency rooms, continue to be unproductive workers, continue to be in jails or under bridges – is really a scenario that just makes no sense,” Sebelius said.

Through his spokesman Brian Robinson, Deal fired back that he has said all along that “we can’t afford expansion and the administration has refused to work with Republican governors on a workable path.

Unlike the secretary’s boss, the governor of Georgia can’t and won’t print money and deficit spend.”

Deal says Medicaid expansion would cripple the state’s budget. He estimates that even with federal help, the expansion would still cost the state $4 billion over 10 years.

Sebelius said the federal government would pay the full cost for the first three years and no less than 90 percent after that.

In turning down the expansion, Sebelius said Georgia has turned down $40 billion over 10 years and left health insurance coverage out of the reach of its low-income residents.

State plans new vaccine rules for sixth-graders in 2014-15 year New school vaccine rules are being planned for Georgia’s sixth-graders next year.

Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, all students entering the sixth grade will be required to get Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) and meningococcal vaccines before the start of the school year.

Steven Mitchell, immunization director at the Georgia Department of Public Health, says this will lead to greater protection from a host of dangerous infectious diseases for Georgians of all ages.

“Adding these new school requirements will lead to an increase in immunization coverage levels; reduce the burden of disease; and protect the com- Steven Mitchell munity against meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis,” Mitchell said.

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that children be immunized against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis by age 18 months with the DTaP vaccine. But evidence indicates the protection provided by this series of shots wanes with time.

Immunization with one dose of the Tdap vaccine at age 11 or 12 provides the best protection against the diseases, the department says.

DPH also is working to increase Georgia’s rates of immunization against meningitis, a dangerous disease that is a particular risk for adolescents and young adults.

The CDC recommends children get their first dose of the MCV4 vaccine against meningitis at age 11 or 12.

The new vaccine rules for sixth-graders add to a list of shots already required for Georgia schoolchildren before enrolling in kindergarten, including DTaP, hepatitis B, polio, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and varicella as well as hepatitis A for children born after Jan. 1, 2006.

All students entering sixth grade in Georgia in 2014-15 will be required to get Tdap – tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis – and meningococcal vaccines.

FILE

Mitchell said the department also hopes that the new school vaccine requirements will help Georgia improve its immunization rates compared with other states.

According to the National Immunization Survey, Georgia ranks 39th in Tdap vaccination rates and 22nd in meningococcal vaccination rates.

The Department of Public Health is still formulating its

statewide implementation plan for the new vaccine rules.

The department and the Georgia chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics urge parents to talk with their child’s pediatrician to ensure proper vaccination prior to the 201415 school year.

For more information, visit http://health.state.ga.us /programs/immunization.

New council to guide Georgia’s efforts to combat childhood obesity A 16-member team of leaders in the fields of health, education, business and nutrition from across the state will guide Georgia’s efforts to combat childhood obesity.

The Governor’s Advisory Council on Childhood Obesity met for the first time on Aug. 7.

It will advise Gov. Nathan Deal on the best ways to reduce childhood obesity and overweight, which affects 43 percent of children in the state. Council members also will champion Deal’s Georgia SHAPE initiative by making childhood obesity a priority for all business, academic and philanthropic groups and leaders.

Georgia was once known as the state with the secondhighest rate of childhood obesity in the United States. But in April, government statistics showed a 5 percent decrease in the state’s childhood obesity rate, dropping Georgia to the 17th spot on the list.

The council includes Deal; Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle; and state Public Health Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, who says she is extremely grateful for the dedication of the diverse group of people to making the monumental changes needed to improve the health of Georgia’s children.

Georgia SHAPE also is working to lower obesity rates.

Since 2011, the program worked with children, parents and schools to increase physical activity and promote healthy, active lifestyles statewide.

In 2013, SHAPE launched Power Up for 30, a voluntary program that encourages Georgia’s elementary schools to add an extra 30 minutes of physical activity into each school day. The program also introduced the FitnessGram to Georgia schools, a tool that evaluates five different areas of health-related fitness.

The Governor’s Advisory Council on Childhood Obesity will For more information, visit www.georgiashape.org. champion Gov. Nathan Deal’s Georgia SHAPE initiative.

7

CrossRoadsNews

August 17, 2013

4975 Jimmy Carter Boulevard Norcross, GA 30093

5025 Winters Chapel Road Peachtree Corners, GA 30360

N O O S G N I M O C tions a c o l w e n 2 to

Fresh low prices for all your groceries. And more.

Ad match means unbeatable prices. Guaranteed.

SM

* Our stores will match the price of any local competitor’s printed ad for an identical product. Not applicable to Walmart.com . Restrictions apply. See store for details. Š2013 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

8

Scene

CrossRoadsNews

August 17, 2013

“Due to the Democrats’ fear of standing up for me as I had stood up for them, in 2002, I was defeated for the first time in a decade.”

McKinney’s book dishes on Georgia and national politics

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Former 4th District U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney has penned an autobiographical tome titled “Ain’t Nothing Like Freedom.”

The book dishes on Georgia politics – both Democratic and Republican, the pro-Israel lobby, “milquetoast blacks” and global politics – and outlines her experiences in the House of Representatives and running for Cynthia McKinney president.

McKinney also opened her family and political photo albums for the 289-page book, sprinkling it with photographs of her parents, Billy and Leola McKinney, and photos of her at protests and on the campaign trail.

Chapters include “How to Steal an Election”; “America the Beautiful”; “The Politics of Love and Hate”; “What Hurricane Katrina Exposed”; “I Am Still Grieving”; and “Stone Mountain, Israel and Gaza.”

On her 2002 defeat by Denise Majette, whom she does not call by name, and the Republican “crossover” vote, McKinney says that state and national Democrats did nothing to help her and that the Georgia Democratic Party, led by Gov. Roy Barnes, whom she also does not call by name, refused to even question the legitimacy of “such a candidate” running as a Democrat.

“Needless to say, Georgia went Republican for the first time in its history in November 2002 and has lined up solidly behind the Republican Party every since,” she writes in the chapter titled “The Life I Live.”

“Timid Democrats, afraid of supporting a Black woman and of offending the pro-Israel lobby are the reason Georgia, with better than 30 percent Black (and Democraticvoting) population, remains in the Republican column. Due to the Democrats’ fear of standing up for me as I had stood up for them, in 2002, I was defeated for the first

Cynthia McKinney’s penchant for straight talking is captured in this cartoon in her book.

time in a decade by a Black candidate who was supported by Republicans, had given campaign contributions to Republicans, and to whom Republicans had given campaign contributions.”

McKinney, who used to live in Stone Mountain, represented the 4th District, which includes DeKalb County, for six terms.

She was re-elected to Congress in 2004 but was defeated by Hank Johnson in 2006.

On that election she writes: “My 2006 re-election campaign had all the hallmarks of a stolen election. But what could I do about it? My situation was just like that of Blacks during the Civil Rights Movement and pre-Civil Rights Movement era: unsympathetic Whites were the judge, jury, and executioner. And very few people recognized the massive manipulation that has taken place, as far as the pro-Israel Lobby

operating through the Democratic Party was concerned: one less vote against war.”

In 2008, she was the Green Party’s first African-American female candidate for U.S. president.

“I see Georgia’s shift to the Republicans, despite its very large Black population, partially as the result of White Democrats sitting in back rooms and studying which milquetoast Blacks will be useful tools for White Democrats’ political aspirations,” she writes.

McKinney describes surveillance by “white people” who cruised by her house taking photos and videos of her and she thanked DeKalb Police and former DeKalb Solicitor General Robert James (now the county’s district attorney) by name for getting a guilty conviction of a perpetrator.

McKinney, who became a lightning

rod for controversy during her sojourn in Congress, holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Southern California and a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

She is nationally known for her readiness to speak out on issues ranging from human rights abuses abroad to social inequities at home.

In the chapter “I Am Still Grieving,” she speaks lovingly of her late father, who died in July 2010.

“He taught me the kind of love that would risk his job to challenge police brutality; that would challenge racism and discrimination; that would give away my Christmas ‘Etcha-Sketch’ the day after Christmas to a needy child in Bowen Homes.”

In his foreword, Mike Ruppert said Mc­ Kinney was controversial because she dared to speak truth to power.

“When so few people actually stand up and speak out in Congress on the issues of war, poverty and social justice, she stood out as its conscience,” he writes.

“And in their embarrassment, the powers and politicians she challenged and exposed, responded by attacking; and those who knew what she says was right but were afraid to bear the political cost of saying it themselves, retreated.

“In that isolation, she was sometimes singled out as ‘controversial.’”

Mairead Corrigan MaGuire, 1976 Nobel Peace laureate, praised McKinney’s candor in the book.

“Cynthia McKinney’s passion to bring about social and political change through peace and politics is very inspirational to all who have the honor, like myself, of knowing her or will come to know her by reading something of her life in this challenging book,” MaGuire said.

“Ain’t Nothing Like Freedom” is published by independent book publisher Clarity Press. It is available on Amazon.com and www.claritypress.com/McKinneyII.html.

Men’s Day service at Ousley UMC The United Methodist Church Mississippi Episcopal Area Bishop James E. Swanson will be the featured speaker at Ousley United Methodist Church’s Men’s Day 2013 on Aug. 25.

Swanson, who is president of the General Commission of United Methodist Men, is a former pastor of St. Mary’s Road United

Methodist Church in Columbus, Ga. He is known as a preacher, teacher and mentor, and in late 2012 Swanson became the first black bishop of Mississippi’s United Methodists.

The church is at 3261 Panola Road in Lithonia. For more information, visit www. ousleyumc.org or call 770-981-0180.

Auditions for the multicultural choir will take place on Sept. 7 and 14 at the Heiskell School in Atlanta.

Worship Services: .... Sundays - 7:45 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Church School: ........ Sundays - 9:30 a.m.

Victory Chapel:......... Sundays - 11:00 a.m. (Ages 5-16) Prayer Service: ........Tuesdays - 6:30 p.m. Sanctuary Family Bible Study: ..Tuesdays - 7:00 p.m.

Mid-Wk Communion: Wednesdays B4 First Sunday - 11:30 a.m.

Child Development Center

404-371-0777

“God has a vision for our lives that is greater than any vision we can have for ourselves or that others can have for us.”

Georgia Boy Choir holding auditions Boys ages 5 to 12 who love to sing can audition for the Georgia Boy Choir.

The Georgia Boy Choir, founded by David White in 2009, is holding tryouts for its Training and Apprentice choirs for its 20132014 season on Sept. 7 and 14.

The multicultural choir sings in concerts around the world representing Georgia and the United States as ambassadors of culture and goodwill.

The Training Choir is seeking youngsters 8 to 12. Members learn the basic fundamentals of good singing – posture, breathing, diction, music notation and theory.

Boys ages 5, 6 and 7 can audition for the Apprentice Choir. It focuses on building the foundation of knowledge and experience needed to advance through the choir’s system.

In both choirs, boys discover the beauty and joy of singing in an environment where fun, hard work, and excellence are encouraged and expected. They meet once a week for one hour.

No experience or preparedness is necessary to audition. Each boy will be asked to sing any song he likes, followed by repeating musical phrases and responding to notes played on the piano. Tryouts take a few minutes and are intentionally low pressure so that instructors can discern a boy’s natural ability.

Auditions take place at the Heiskell School, 3260 Northside Drive in Atlanta.

To schedule an audition, visit georgiaboychoir.org/auditions.

For more information, call 404-4024083.

9

CrossRoadsNews

August 17, 2013

Schools

“We’re going to increase parental involvement this year, and we will raise achievement standards throughout the school system.”

DeKalb off to smooth start for 2013-2014 school year

By Ken Watts

Nearly 100,000 students heard a cheery “Good morning, welcome back!” as they shook away the summer cobwebs and returned to class at DeKalb’s 127 elementary, middle and high schools on Aug. 12.

Principals, teachers and administrators stood ready at the entrances and in the halls of Salem Middle School as parents began dropping off their kids at 7:45 a.m.

The first buses arrived at 8:15 delivering the rest of the Lithonia school’s 1,141 students. Most of them were dressed in the school’s mandatory uniform – black, burgundy or gray polos and black, burgundy or gray skirts or pants. This is the second year for mandatory uniforms, and Michael Thurmond this fall, students’ shirts and jackets will have the school’s logo, the letter “S” with a lion’s head.

The first-day-of-school scene was repeated across the district, but faculty, administrators and students at Midvale Elementary in Tucker also got to hear directly from interim School Superintendent Michael Thurmond about his goals for the 2013-2014 school year.

He told them that he is very encouraged about the district’s improving financial picture.

“We’re going to increase parental involvement this year,” he said, “and we will raise achievement standards throughout the school system.”

Thurmond said the district wants to improve instruction in reading, math, science, social studies, language arts and

Salem Middle School students wearing mandatory uniforms return to class on Aug. 12 in Lithonia. District officials said no major problems were reported on the first day of school.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

vocational education. Thurmond said he also wants to give students better access to technology.

“Right now we’re about 74 percent wireless,” he said. “I want us to be at 100 percent by November.”

DeKalb continues to be a magnet for immigrants with students hailing from 150 countries and speaking 140 languages. The most prominent international languages are Spanish, Burmese, Nepali, Vietnamese, and dozens of African languages and dialects.

Parents and guardians of immigrant students can take their children to the DeKalb International Welcome Center in Stone Mountain where they are tested and placed in the most appropriate academic programs.

Central administrators say the DeKalb School District’s 945 buses rolled out from the transportation centers to their routes on schedule and picked up students on time Monday.

DeKalb spokesman Quinn Hudson said no major problems were reported.

New leadership at MLK as campus undergoes transformation PRINCIPAL,

from page

1

Schools with new principals

But we need someone with a strong track record as principal to make changes in the culture at our school.”

Cunningham said on July 24 that MLK, built in 2001 on Snapfinger Road in Lithonia, was a School of Excellence in its first six years under original Principal Horace Dunson but has declined steadily ever since.

“We’ve had six principals in 12 years, 14 assistant principals in 12 years, 13 new school counselors in five years, 85 or more teachers have left in the last five years,” she said. “We had six science and six math teachers leave in 2012 and five years of not making Adequate Yearly Progress.”

Cunningham believes student performance has suffered because of the high turnover in faculty and leadership positions.

“MLK dropped from the 98th percentile to 59th on the College Ready Performance Index, third or fourth from the bottom,” she said. “And out of 493 seniors that graduated in June, only 90 students receive the HOPE scholarship.”

“We’ve had some challenges,” Bullard said. “But having been here gives me a unique perspective not only on what needs to be done but how to achieve it.”

MLK’s 86 percent graduation rate is higher than the state and national average, he said. “We can build on that.”

Bullard said the key components of his 90-day turnaround plan are accountability and communication.

“We need to do a better job of making everyone in the building accountable, includ-

MLK is one of 18 DeKalb schools where students and parents were greeted by new principals when classes began Aug. 12.

Elementary n Briar Vista................ Cammie Neill n Canby Lane.............. Kershier Smikle n Hawthorne............... Lisa Limoncelli n Murphey Candler..... Angelique Smith n Oak Grove............... Mindee Adamson n Pine Ridge............... Annette Maclin n Rockbridge.............. Culisha Curry n Shadow Rock........... Karen Williams Middle n Cedar Grove............ Candace Alexander n Champion Theme.... Yolanda Turner n Columbia................. Keith Jones n Druid Hills................ Jacqueline Taylor n McNair..................... Ron Mitchell High n Druid Hills................ Brittany Cunningham n Lakeside................... Jason Klyne n McNair..................... LouKisha Walker n MLK Jr...................... Kerby Bullard n Towers..................... Ralph Simpson

ing myself,” he said.

Bullard said the school has been struggling with student performance in the physical sciences and biology.

“But we also have pockets of academic excellence in English, economics and writing,” he said. “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

We do need to work on replicating our best

“Come on and be a part of the vision”

Join us for Bible Study Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Ousley United Methodist Church

Men’s Day 2013

“Christian Men, Stepping Out on Faith” Sunday, August 25 • 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary

“This year’s message is not only for the men of our community. It is relevant and timely for one and all – male and female, young and old. It is time for each of us to step out on faith in our lives!”

– Dwayne Bynum, Men’s Day 2013 Chairman

5197 Salem Road Lithonia, GA 30038

Bishop James Swanson

The church will host a reception in the Tom Curtis Christian Life Center immediately following the service.

770-981-2601 “We are building far beyond our years.”

the 2013-2014 school year.

The two-story, 76,728-square-foot building under construction will have 31 new classrooms and a science and IT room along with a ninth-grade academy that will include drama and chorus rooms and a cafeteria.

Cunningham said it is a great new facility. “And it will be wonderful to get our kids out of overcrowded trailers and into a new building,” she said.

“But we have a high pupil-teacher ratio, about 35-40 students per class, and it looks like that situation will still be with us when we move into the new building because we don’t have enough teachers in place.”

Bullard said the new building will have an immediate positive impact by providing a space where ninth-graders will be better able to transition into high school life.

District officials say they are aware of the challenges and will not shortchange MLK. Spokesman Jeff Dickerson said on July 25 that Bullard participated in a competitive interview process against many strong candidates for the job and won it.

“He has completed a 90-day plan for improving MLK’s academic performance and we have every confidence in his ability to create a great learning environment.”

Join United Methodist Men of Ousley for a soul-stirring message from Bishop James E. Swanson, preacher, teacher, visionary leader and mentor

First Afrikan Church is an Afrocentric Christian Ministry that empowers women, men, youth and children to move from membership to leadership in the church, community and the world.

Praise & Devotion Worship Service Sundays at 10 a.m.

practices from the successful programs.”

MLK will have four new instructional coaches to work with the faculty and promote consistency throughout the curriculum.

Bullard said communication between the school and parents will improve under a pilot program called “School Connects,” similar to the CallingPost mass voice mail system.

“It’ll send quick alerts to parents on their children’s academic status by voice or text message,” Bullard said. “If a student is having trouble with a subject, his or her parents will instantly know and we can begin to correct the problem. We can contact every parent in the school within 15 minutes.”

MLK parents say Bullard will need a top-notch administrative staff and teachers behind him to have a chance of succeeding.

With the leadership change, MLK also is undergoing a physical transformation.

As reported in the July 12, 2013, edition of CrossRoadsNews, the high school is one of three in South DeKalb receiving $50.2 million in expansions to their campuses. The others are Miller Grove, also in Lithonia, and Southwest DeKalb in Decatur.

A $17 million addition under way at the school will dramatically change its look and create a new front by the spring semester of

Rev. Dr. Mark A. Lomax

Ousley United Methodist Church

3261 Panola Road, Lithonia • www.ousleyumc.org

Rev. McCallister Hollins, Sr. Pastor

10

CrossRoadsNews

Youth

August 17, 2013

Clark said he is indebted to the 100 Black Men of DeKalb for the priceless skills their Leadership Academy taught him.

Decatur ‘go-getter’ broadens horizons with trip to Italy

By Jessica Smith

“Mi scusi, parli inglese?”

As 22-year-old Wesley Clark sat opposite classmate Rachel Peterson at the Italian trattoria on May 25, he found himself in very unfamiliar territory.

Just a few short weeks ago, “Posso avere un po di più, per favore?” were the last words that he could have ever imagined himself saying. Never mind knowing what they meant.

Yet, here he was, in Italy. Asking the very Florentine waitress for more creamy Margherita pasta for himself and his confused American friend.

In proper Italian.

This May, the rising fifth-year double biology/pre-dentistry and broadcast journalism major traveled nearly 5,000 miles away from his Decatur hometown to explore a world of possibilities in Cortona, Italy.

Clark and Peterson are two of 24 University of Georgia students who participated in the school’s Cortona Studies Abroad 2013 Science Maymester Program.

In addition to seven credit hours of Biology for Medicine and Introduction to Italian Art, from May 8-June 4 Clark got schooled on the importance of communication – a lesson the aspiring dentist first learned in 2005 as a high school student in the 100 Black Men of DeKalb’s Leadership Academy.

A 2009 graduate of Druid Hills High, Clark got involved with the DeKalb 100 Black Men during his freshman year.

Chapter President Matthew Ware remembers him as an ambitious self-starter.

“I remember him, even leaving the program, he pulled together some of the other students to organize ways they could stay involved in the community,” said Ware, who has led the club since 2011. “He was one of

University of Georgia student Wesley Clark of Decatur used Google Translate to navigate the language barrier in Italy during Maymester.

the real go-getter young people.”

As a Leadership Academy participant, Clark was up to his ears in etiquette classes, resume writing workshops and skill-sharpening courses in a previously undiscovered talent: public speaking.

The 100 Black Men recruited local members from public speaking club Toastmasters to coach the teenage boys on effective communication to an audience.

“I was involved with Toastmasters from my sophomore year to my senior year, and I learned so much,” said Clark, who won first place in his division at the DeKalb 100 Black Men’s annual Leadership Academy Youth Oratorical Competition in 2008 and 2009.

He said he is indebted to the group for the priceless skills their Leadership Academy taught him.

“The best thing our program does is train young men and women to be better

young men and women,” Ware said. “We try to make them aware of what people expect out of them in life and show them how they can go about systematically achieving those things.”

For Clark, the networking and communication skills he learned are essential in helping him reach his goals.

“Now that I’m slowly getting into the real world, I found out that it’s extremely important to learn how to talk to somebody,” he said last month.

Even with his ace speaking skills, it was Clark’s 12th-grade English teacher who propelled him into the on-camera world of broadcast journalism. Until then, his sights were set firmly on being a dentist.

After reading an article in Men’s Health magazine about the consequences of improper oral care, he became obsessed with dentistry and hooked on syndicated medical

talk shows like “Dr. Oz” and “The Doctors.”

“My ultimate goal is to be the next Dr. Sanjay Gupta,” he said.

“Except I want to tap into other minority groups that may not know how important it is to maintain oral hygiene. These shows discuss a lot of great health topics, but I feel like oral health is always glossed over. I want to change that.”

After landing a 2013 summer health internship at Fox 5 with medical team reporter Beth Galvin, he is well on his way.

But before beginning his summer in the newsroom, Clark traveled to Lo Stivale (“The Boot”) for some studying and sightseeing.

His $7,000 trip to Cortona was made possible with a $1,000 scholarship from UGA’s study aboard program, donations from family and friends, and a loan from his older sister.

To navigate the language barrier, Clark used Google Translate.

While in the Tuscan hilltown, Clark took two courses whose credit hours count toward his dual degree. When he wasn’t hitting the books, he and Peterson were out seeing the sights.

The two and their trip mates visited Siena, Florence, Rome and Tivoli where he saw the Tivoli Gardens; Fountain of Joy; Piazza del Campo; Siena Cathedral; Palazzos Pubblico, Vecchio and Pitti; Ponte Vecchio; the Boboli Gardens; the Uffizi Gallery; the Pantheon; the Trevi Fountain; the Sistine Chapel; Vatican City; the Colosseum; and the Statue of David.

He said his trip has brought him a step closer to achieving his goals.

“It opened up my horizons of what I can have in life,” he said. “And what I can ultimately become in life. It opened up my horizons to culture.”

One-order, one-invoice, multi-newspaper placement service!

Reach more than 15 million households served by over 1,020 suburban and community newspapers around North America and Canada. 25-word ad starts at $240 weekly.

Discount Contact Rates Available.

For more information, call 404-284-1888 Adoption ADOPTION- A loving alternative to unplanned pregnancy. You chose the family for your child.

Receive pictures/info of waiting/ approved couples. Living expense assistance. 1-866-236-7638

Autos CASH FOR CARS! Any Make, Model or Year. We Pay MORE! Running or Not. Sell Your Car or Truck TODAY. Free Towing!

Instant Offer: 1-888-545-8647 SAVE $$$ on AUTO INSURANCE from the major names you know and trust. No forms. No hassle.

No obligation. Call READY FOR MY QUOTE now! CALL 1-877890-6843 Got junk cars? Get $ PAID TODAY. FREE towing. Licensed towers. $1,000 FREE gift vouchers! ALL Makes-ALL Models! Call today 1-888-870-0422

Business Opportunity Make Up To $2,000.00+ Per Week! New Credit Card Ready Drink-Snack Vending Machines.

Minimum $4K to $40K+ Investment Required. Locations Available. BBB Accredited Business.

(800) 962-9189 **ATTENTION: JOB SEEKERS!** MAKE MONEY! Mailing Postcards! www.PostcardsToWealth. com NOW ACCEPTING! ZNZ Referral Agents! $20-$60/Hour! www.FreeJobPosition.com HOME WORKERS! Make Money Using

Your PC! www.SuperCashDaily. com Earn Big Paychecks Paid Every Friday! www.LegitCashJobs.com

Education & Training AIRLINES ARE HIRING - Train for hands on Aviation Career.

FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified - Job placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 877-8180783

Employment Opportunity PAID IN ADVANCE! MAKE $1000 A WEEK mailing brochures from home! Helping Home-Workers since 2001.

Genuine Opportunity! No experience required. Start Immediately! www.working-central.com NOW HIRING! LOCAL PEOPLE NEEDED- Men & Women In Demand For Simple Work. P/TF/T. Can Be Done From Home.

Acceptance Guaranteed- No Experience Required, All Welcome! www.EasyPayWork.com NOW HIRING!!! $28/HOUR. Undercover Shoppers Needed To Judge Retail and Dining Establishments. Genuine Opportunity.

PT/FT. Experience not required.

If You Can Shop- You Are Qualified!! www.AmericanShopperJobs.com

Financial Cut your STUDENT LOAN payments in HALF or more Even if Late or in Default. Get Relief

FAST Much LOWER payments.

Call Student Hotline 877-2950517 GET FREE OF CREDIT CARD DEBT NOW! Cut payments by up to half. Stop creditors from calling. 877-858-1386 Guaranteed Income For Your Retirement Avoid market risk & get guaranteed income in retirement! CALL for FREE copy of our SAFE MONEY GUIDE Plus Annuity Quotes from A-Rated companies! 800-669-5471

Health & Fitness Canada Drug Center is your choice for safe and affordable medications. Our licensed Canadian mail order pharmacy will provide you with savings of up to 90% on all your medication needs. Call today 1-800-4188975, for $10.00 off your first prescription and free shipping.

ATTENTION SLEEP APNEA SUFFERERS with Medicare. Get CPAP Replacement Supplies at little or NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, prevent red skin sores and bacterial infection! Call 1-866-993-5043 Medical Alert for Seniors - 24/7 monitoring. FREE Equipment.

FREE Shipping. Nationwide Service. $29.95/Month CALL Medical Guardian Today 866992-7236 CASH for unexpired DIABETIC TEST STRIPS! Free Shipping,

Friendly Service, BEST prices and 24hr payment! Call today 877 588 8500 or visit www.

TestStripSearch.com Espanol 888-440-4001

Home Improvement All Things Basementy! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing ? Finishing ? Structural Repairs ? Humidity and Mold Control FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1-888-698-8150 Appliance Repair - We fix It no matter who you bought it from!

800-934-5107 One call, does it all! Fast and Reliable Electrical Repairs and Installations. Call 1-800-908-8502 One call, does it all! Fast and Reliable Plumbing Repairs. Call 1- 800-796-9218

Misc. For Sale KILL ROACHES! Buy HarrisRoach Tablets. Eliminate Roaches- Guaranteed. No Mess, Odorless, Long Lasting. Available at Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, homedepot.com KILL BED BUGS & THEIR EGGS! Buy a Harris Bed Bug Kit, Complete Room Treatment Solution. Odorless, Non-Staining.

Available online homedepot.com (NOT IN STORES) 100% Guaranteed Omaha Steaks - SAVE 69% on The Grilling Collection. NOW ONLY $49.99 Plus

2 FREE GIFTS & right-to-thedoor delivery in a reusable cooler, ORDER Today. 1- 888-697-3965 Use Code:45102ETA or www.

OmahaSteaks.com/offergc05 DirecTV - Over 140 channels only $29.99 a month. Call Now! Triple savings! $636.00 in Savings, Free upgrade to Genie & 2013 NFL Sunday ticket free!! Start saving today! 1-800-279-3018

Miscellaneous My Computer Works Computer problems? Viruses, spyware, email, printer issues, bad internet connections - FIX IT NOW! Professional, U.S.-based technicians. $25 off service. Call for immediate help. 1-866-998-0037 Advertise your product or service nationwide or by region in up to 12 million households in North America’s best suburbs! Place your classified ad in over 750 suburban newspapers just like this one. Call Classified Avenue at 888-486-2466 or go to www. classifiedavenue.net DISH TV Retailer. Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 mos.) & High Speed Internet starting at $14.95/month (where available.)

SAVE! Ask About SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now! 1-877992-1237 *REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL! * Get a 4-Room All-Digital Satellite system installed for FREE and programming starting at $19.99/

mo. FREE HD/DVR upgrade for new callers, SO CALL NOW. 1-800-699-7159 SAVE on Cable TV-InternetDigital Phone-Satellite. You`ve Got A Choice! Options from ALL major service providers. Call us to learn more! CALL Today. 877884-1191 Alone? Emergencies Happen!

Get Help with one button push! $29.95/month Free equipment, Free set-up. Protection for you or a loved one. Call LifeWatch USA 1-800-357-6505 TotalCareMart.com - Safe and affordable medications. Save up to 90% on over 2000 drugs! Call 1-800-267-2688. Viagra 16tab $79.99 / Cialis 16tab $79.99 / Levitra 30tab $94.99 - (CODE CL33) Families needed to host international high school exchange students. Students have full insurance & spending money.

Open your Home and Heart. www.icesusa.org *OLD GUITARS WANTED!** Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico, Stromberg, and Gibson Mandolins/Banjos. 1920’s thru 1980’s. TOP CASH PAID! 1-800-401-0440 ADOPTION- A loving alternative to unplanned pregnancy.

You chose the family for your child. Receive pictures/info of waiting/approved couples. Living expense assistance. 1-866-2367638

Land for Sale 20 Acres FREE! Own 60 acres for 40 acre price/payment $0 Down, $198/mo. Money Back Guarantee, No Credit Checks. Beautiful Views, West Texas. 1-800-8437537 www.texaslandbuys.com

11

CrossRoadsNews

August 17, 2013

pear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the petition was filed.

Dated: July 24, 2013 Ruth Santos Petitioner, Pro se c/u Stan Singleton 4956 Leisure Drive Dunwoody, GA 30338 404-316-9350

Legal Notices Court.

This the 12th day of August, 2013.

8/17, 8/24, 8/31, 9/7

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

8/17, 8/24, 8/31, 9/7

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION

Civil Action # ++13CV6916-10++ Grace Zanule Vaye Plaintiff Vs. Kovassi Kovakov Florent Defendant TO: Kovassi Kovakov Florent

By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated August 12, 2013, you are hereby notified that on June 21, 2013, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Divorce.

You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is Grace Vaye, 1406 Summer View Dr, Stone Mountain, GA 30083.

Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, August 12, 2013.

Witness the Honorable Tangela M. Barrie Judge of the DeKalb Superior

In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action # ++13CV5019-10++ Diane Latrice Ragland Plaintiff Vs. Malyke Valdez Chestnut Defendant TO: Malyke Valdez Chestnut 2133 Blue Creek Court Conley, GA 30288

By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated August 12, 2013, you are hereby notified that on April 26, 2013, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Complaint for Divorce with no minor children.

You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name

and address is Diane Latrice Ragland, 3063 Stonebridge Creek Dr, Lithonia, GA. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of August 12, 2013.

Witness the Honorable Tangela M. Barrie Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 12th day of August, 2013.

8/17, 8/24, 8/31, 9/7

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Debra DeBerry Clerk of Superior Court

8/10, 8/17, 8/24, 8/31

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION

You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is Sheriah Jeffery, 1203 Treecrest Pkwy, Decatur, GA 30035.

Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, August 12, 2013.

Witness the Honorable Tangela M. Barrie Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 12th day of August, 2013.

8/10, 8/17, 8/24, 8/31

Civil Action # ++13CV7431-10++ Sheriah R. Jeffery Plaintiff Vs. Deraus B. Jeffery Defendant TO: Deraus B. Jeffrey

By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated August 12, 2013, you are hereby notified that on July 9, 2013, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Divorce.

Notice of Petition to Change Name of Adult in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 13CV7853-9++ Ruth Santos Valencia filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on July 24, 2013 to change the name from: Ruth Santos Valencia to Ruth Santos Ortiz.

Any interested party has the right to ap-

In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action # ++13CV5372-4++ Harriet Bundley-Reyes Plaintiff Vs. Hector Reyes Defendant TO: Hector Reyes 12404 Chelton Lane Bowie, MD 20715

By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated July 23, 2013, you are hereby notified that on May 7, 2013, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Divorce.

You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is 361 Colchester Drive, Stone Mountain, Stone Mountain, GA 30088.

Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, July 23, 2013.

Witness the Honorable Gail C. Flake Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 24th day of July, 2013.

7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action # ++13CV7080-3++ Lonnel Gumble Plaintiff Vs. Mockeysha Diggs Dashan Herrings Defendant TO: Mockeysha Diggs Dashan Herrings

By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated July 22, 2013, you are hereby notified that on June 25, 2013, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Legitimization.

You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is Lonnel Gumble, 2788 Waters Run, Decatur, GA 30035. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, July 22, 2013.

Witness the Honorable Clarence Seeliger Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 23rd day of July, 2013.

legal

Marketplace

Zaneta’s House. Greenbriar area, new furnished room for single women or women with children. $500 per month, emergency situations welcomed, call 678775-8531.

Decatur Area Home 3BR 2BA 1,700 sq ft. Nice yard, two levels, W/D. $795/month.541-574-5905.

Rent Space. Office, Events, Meetings. Indoor or outdoor.

Stone Mountain 404-294-7185 Richard.

WANTED Drivers: Pam Transport! Company Drivers & Owner Operators

Wanted! No Touch Freight, 90% Drop & Hook, dedicated opportunities available. Call Doug 855-

891-0354. Also seeking Recent Grads. Call Lavonna 877-4407890 Apply Online: www.driveforpamtransport.com Drivers: Start up to $.40/mi.

Home Weekly. CDL-A 6 mos.

OTR exp. Req. Equipment you’ll be proud to drive! 877-705-9261 Drivers: Make $63,000.00yr or more, $2,500.00 Driver Referral Bonus & $1,200.00 Orientation Completion Bonus! CDL-A OTR Exp. Req. Call Now: 1-877-725824

education / training

Learn QuickBooks in 10 Hours

By Henry K. Mitchell CPA, CFE

Increase productivity and profit Produce professional looking reports Produce reliable business information Stand up to the taxman with confidence Know where your business is heading

Protecting Your Rights & Defending Your Future!

MARKETPLACE RATES Place your MarketPlace line ad here – up to 20 words for $25. Additional words are $3 per block of five words (maximum 45 words). Boxed Ads (with up to 3 lines bold headline): $35 plus cost of the classified ad. Send ad copy with check or credit card information and contact phone number (if different from ad) to MarketPlace, CrossRoadsNews, 2346 Candler Road, Decatur, GA 30032, or e-mail to marketplace@crossroadsnews.com. Our deadlines are at noon on the Friday one week prior to publication, unless otherwise noted.

financial

SAFE DRIVERS PAY TOO MUCH!!!

Exclusive Safe Driver Program Cuts Rates So Low The Competition Is Screaming!

We offer: • The Best Policies • The Best Prices • Wide Choice of Companies

Auto Insurance Specialist terry@bennagency.com

5526 Flat Shoals Parkway Decatur GA 30034 www.bennagency.com

Johnson Hopewell Coleman, LLC

ARTHUR’S CONTRACTING

The Samuel Group, Inc. Loans for Churches, Restaurants, Day Care Centers, Multi Family Properties, Office Buildings and other commercial properties. Purchases or refinancing. All credit considered.

Closings as quick as 7 days.

“EXPERIENCED LAWYERS, EXPERIENCED MINDS”

• Handyman Services • Plumbing - Water Line Repair & Fixture Installation • Unclog & Repair Sewer and Drain • Concrete Driveways • Wood & Chainlink Fence

Call Arthur 404-838-6541

404-870-9070

Bankruptcy • Personal Injury & Workers Comp • Family Law/Divorce/Custody Wills/Probate/Trusts • Criminal Defense • Corporate & Business Law

www.thesamuelgroupinc.com

Landscaping / Lawn care

4262 Clausell Court | Suite A | Decatur, GA 30035 P:404.289.2244 F:404.289.2888 www.bjhlawyers.com

Retail

Maintenance • Design • Installation Commercial & Residential Licensed & Insured

Wardell Branch P.O. Box 360367 Decatur, GA 30036

Soul Discount Fabrics & Upholstery

770-593-1382

Email: WBranch580@aol.com Website: lawnmaxandassociates.com John Is Back!

legal Call 678-964-7291 For Your Free Consultation!

Open Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

404-963-6485 • 404-966-8320 ✓ Dress Fabric ✓ Designer Fabric ✓ Upholstery Fabric ✓ Drapery Fabric

NOW TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU BETTER! MEMORIAL DRIVE SE

• Chapter 13 Bankruptcy • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy • Personal Injury • Criminal Defense / DUI www.mjsawyerslaw.com 3013 Rainbow Drive • Suite 200H • Decatur, GA 30034

ALSTON DRIVE SE

AD R RO

Terry Benn

BJH

DLE

Terry Benn Insurance Agency

CALL 770–593–2758 NOW!

legal

CAN

Save Up To 37% by Combining Your Auto & Home Insurance

Former Senior Prosecutor • Hablamos Español Email: tunde@tundeakinyele.com • www.tundeakinyele.com

home services

Call Henry at (678) 663-6229

insurance

• Aggressive Criminal Defense • Felonies & Misdemeanors • Immigration & Personal Injury

GLENWOOD ROAD

279 Candler Road Atlanta, GA 30317 (near Memorial Drive)

FREE FABRIC with

D

ON LLT

ROA

PBE

CAM

DELOWE DRIVE

FOR RENT/LEASE

• • • • •

Free Consultation!

678- 281-1567

Upholstery OFFER EXPIRES AUGUST 31, 2013

2052 Cambellton Road Suite B

Atlanta, GA 30311

12

CrossRoadsNews

August 17, 2013

one

day sale

Free shippinG at macys.com with $99 online purchase. no promo code needed; exclusions apply.

saturday, august 17, sHoP 9aM-11PM (It’s a sale too BIg to FIt In a day!) also sHoP today, august 16 FroM 9aM-1oPM hours may vary by store

IntroduCIng one day sale

deals oF tHe day

sPeCIally seleCted IteMs PrICed so low you don’t need a savIngs Pass! avaIlaBle all day, BotH days!

4 Hours only! 9aM-1PM FrI & sat

doorBusters get Here early, wHIle tHey last

one day Sale priceS in effecT 8/16 & 8/17/2013.

OPEN A MACY’S ACCOUNT FOR EXTRA 20% SAVINGS THE FIRST 2 DAYS, UP TO $100, WITH MORE REWARDS TO COME. Macy’s credit card is available subject to credit approval; new account savings valid the day your account is opened and the next day; excludes services, selected licensed departments, gift cards, restaurants, gourmet food & wine. The new account savings are limited to a total of $100; application must qualify for immediate approval to receive extra savings; employees not eligible.

N3070204F.indd 1

8/5/13 3:34 PM