CrossRoadsNews, August 22, 2009 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COMMUNITY

WELLNESS

SPORTS

Adoption and foster care agencies met with potential clients at the Adoption & Family Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. Scenes from the event on page 2

Whether you’re getting them a good start to the day with a healthy breakfast, or making sure they pack a healthy lunch, fresh fruits and veggies should be part of the mix. 6

DeKalb County’s high school football teams are getting ready for the regular season with scrimmages and preseason games. 8

Focus on family

Healthy eating

August 22, 2009

Pigskin prep

Volume 15, Number 16

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May contemplating run for 4th Congressional District By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

DeKalb Commissioner Lee May is mulling a run for Congress. May, who represents District 5 on the Board of County Commissioners, said he is thinking about running against Hank Johnson for the 4th Congressional District in 2010 but hasn’t yet made any plans. “I would love to do it,” he said Wednesday. “I think I can provide the kind of leadership the district needs. I think I would be good at it.” May succeeded Johnson on the County Commission in 2006 when

Lee May

Hank Johnson

he won the Special Election to fill the seat Johnson left vacant to run for Congress. He won a full fouryear term in November 2008. Johnson, who made history last year when he became the first 4th District incumbent to be returned to the office unopposed, said it’s no

surprise that he will have opposition this time around. “I can’t expect to keep being returned unopposed,” he said. “I am preparing for opposition. I will be running on my record.” News of May’s interest in the congressional seat surfaced this week after he asked the ministerial team at New Birth Missionary Church, where he is an elder, to pray for him. May said it was a private meeting of deacons and elders at the Lithonia church, but he knew once he uttered it, it would get around. “I didn’t want it out, but I wanted the prayers more,” he said.

“I asked for prayer from our ministerial team in terms of helping me make my decision. I want to make sure that it is something that is pleasing to God.” May, 33, said he has no timetable to decide but won’t make a decision without buy-in from his wife, Robin, and the support of family, friends and supporters. “I don’t have a timeline right now,” he said. “The election is 11 months a way. It’s a good thing I am young, I am not looking to hurry up and run.” He said he wasn’t looking for bigger office because his work on the county commission is done.

“I don’t think I will get to the point when my work will be done on the commission,” he said. “Working on the local level is very important work. We make decisions you can see the results of the next day. I even think it should be mandatory that you serve at the local level and understand it before running for other office.” Because he is young, May said he is not just looking “to hurry up and run.” “If I decided to run it’s about winning,” he said. “I will not run unless I could win. “I am not into being symbolic. I would be in it to win it.”

Rapist attacking women at South DeKalb bus stops By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

More than a dozen men are now patrolling a number of South DeKalb streets targeted by a rapist who has been attacking women at MARTA stops. The men signed up for the nightly patrol at an August 17 community meeting to draw attention to the series of attacks dating back to April in the Wesley Chapel Road, Rainbow Drive and Snapfinger drives area and along Glenwood Avenue. DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson who hosted the meeting is providing the orange vests that the volunteers will wear. “We want to make sure we are not afraid to take back our streets,” Johnson said. Wendell Muhammad, who is coordinating the patrols left the meeting with 16 names. He said five of the volunteers came from the Church Hill Downs subdivision on Rainbow Drive. Others came from a variety of subdivision including Columbia Crossings, the his own, Newberry Down subdivision off Columbia Drive. “I have a wife and two daughters,” Muhammad said. “We have to take responsibility to make our communities safe and decent places to live.” Muhammad, a member of the Nation of Islam, said crime is like a virus. “It will take hold if there is weakness,” he said. “When the community come out, criminals know they don’t want to come her because we won’t allow it.” The meeting at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center attracted a large turnout of wom-

Women flocked to the stage at the end of a Aug. 17 community to talk with DeKalb Police officers after being updated about a serial rapist on the lose in South DeKalb County.

en, some of whom complained about “He is moving around at night dark streets, loi- and looking for an opportunity. tering youths, pan If he can catch you walking handlers and lack alone in a darkened areas he of police follow up. will attack.” They also heard upDetective F.L. Walker dates from DeKalb police investigators and county officials, including Dis- because media coverage of the early trict Attorney Gwen Keyes Fleming attacks. During the attacks in April and Commissioner Sharon Barnes attacks, the suspect used a knife and Sutton. attempted to force the women into Since April, the suspect has a light-color van. attacked four women, and sexuIn the later attacks he has not ally assaulted two of them. All the use a weapon and attacks his vicattacks took place near MARTA tims on the spot. He is now drivbus stops while the women were ing a family sedan that is white or alone. champagne-colored and could be Det. Freddie L. Walker, who is an Infiniti, Mazda or Lexus. leading the investigation, said that “He is moving around at night they believe the same man is re- and looking for an opportunity,” sponsible for all the attacks but that Walker said. “If he can catch you he has changed the way he operates walking alone in a darkened areas

he will attack.” Walker and the other speakers asked the women to travel with a buddy and be aware of their surroundings and to call the police with tips. “I want to solves this case,” Walker said. “ I really do. I will continue to work hard until this suspect is in custody but I need your help.” The victims described their attacker as a muscular African American man 30 to 35 years old, 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 200 to 220 pounds. “He is very strong,” Walker said. “They said they couldn’t get away once he gets a hold of them.” Barnes Sutton said that its very frightening when a predator is on the loose but that it is important for residents to stay involved. “We have to be nosy neighbors.”

Series of attacks led to sexual assaults April 13 – A 34-year-old woman was attacked around 6 a.m. at MARTA bus stop at 4460 Glenwood Road. He forced her at knifepoint into a minivan. She was able to escape without physical arm. April 28 – A 24-year-old woman was attacked at a MARTA bus stop near the intersection of Wesley Chapel Road and Riverwood Circle around 8:30 a.m. The man armed with a paint scraper was ordering the woman into a mini-van when a neighbor in a nearby yard came to her rescue. She escaped unharmed. June 4 – A 19-year-old female was walking near a bus stop at 12:35 a.m. when the man grabbed her and raped her on the side of the roadway near 3907 Rainbow Drive. July 28 – A 26-year-old woman was attacked at 10: 45 p.m. at a bus stop in the 2000 block of Snapfinger Road. The suspect forced her to perform a sexual act on him behind an abandoned home. Anyone with information on suspect and the attacks is asked to call the Special Victims Unit at 770-724-7710.

She said. “We may not want to be a hero and tackle someone, but we can blow our horn if we see something and make that call,” she said. Since the meeting, Walker said leads have been pouring in. “We have heard from people who think they have seen him,” he said. “We are getting a lot of information.”

CrossRoadsNews

Community

August 22, 2009

Quest for Forever Families

Scenes from the 2009 Adoption and Family Expo Saturday, August 15, 2009

The audience shows its appreciation for a performance from the stage.

Dancers from the Conservatory of Dance and Fine Arts in Decatur take off during their performance on the Main Stage.

CrossRoadsNews Photos by Jennifer Ffrench Parker, McKenzie Jackson and Curtis Parker

Elizabeth Lemmon of Lithonia celebrates after winning the grand prize trip of a three-day, four-night hotel stay at Sunset Resorts Jamaica.

Together RX Access offered free blood pressure checks to expo goers.

Foster and adoption advocates talk about ways to get involved during a panel discussion.

Adoptive mother Terri Newsom (left) and foster mother Angela Moore discuss atheir passion for helping Georgia’s children who are in state custody awaiting “forever” families during the panel discussion.

Debbie Sheadel of My Turn Now talks with a prospective foster or adoptive parent.

Karen Jackson (left) and Theresa Hoffman (right) of Community Connections chat with Dawn Davis of Conyers.

Community

CrossRoadsNews

August 22, 2009

“I feel the intense media scrutiny on me, personally, is becoming a hindrance to this Board’s ability to continue to achieve its objectives.”

Hearing officer upholds Bolton firing; insubordination, conduct cited Fired former DeKalb Police Chief Terrell Bolton won’t be getting his $162,000 job back. In an Aug. 17 ruling, hearing officer Phyllis Williams upheld his Feb, 28, 2009 dismissal for insubordination a n d con du c t unbecoming a Terrell Bolton chief of police. In her 13-page decision to the county on Monday, Williams said that no evidence was presented at the four-day hearing, held June 10-12 and July 15, to substantiate

an “error in fact,” or that the action of the department was motivated by any non-job related factor that would authorize a reversal of the action of the department. Instead, she said that evidence reveals that Bolton was insubordinate when he attempted to interfere with CEO Burrell Ellis’s directive to terminate Keisha Williams, when he attempted to conduct county business while on leave, and when he failed to meet with Ellis immediately upon his return from leave. Williams also found that Bolton engaged in improper use of county equipment when he purposefully kept his county-issued vehicles out

of his center in county records. “Finally, the Apellant (Bolton) engaged in conduct unbecoming a Chief of Police by ordering assistant Chief Anderson not to follow a directive of CEO Ellis; by encouraging assistant chief [Karen] Anderson and Keisha Williams to call in sick to avoid following the directive of CEO Ellis; by encouraging Deputy Chief Frank to assist Assistant Chief Anderson in not following the direction of the CEO Ellis; by making remarks in conflict with CEO Ellis in an open forum; and by failing to follow the directive from the office of CEO Ellis regarding the compensatory

time policy.” Ellis, whose fired Bolton during his first two months in office, said Monday he was pleased with Williams’ decision. “The DeKalb County Police Department, under the leadership of Chief William O’Brien, is moving forward in its mission of fighting crime and provide the best services that we are possibly can to protect our citizens and ensure them the quality of life that they expect and deserve,” he said in a statement. Bill McKenney, Bolton’s lawyer, said his client was disappointed by the ruling, but not surprised by it. He said Bolton would fight it.

Williams heard testimony from 15 people, including Bolton and former CEO Vernon Jones, who hired him in December 2006. The charges that led to Bolton’s dismissal stemmed from a number of incidents that began in 2008 under the former county administration. At one point, the evidence showed that Bolton had seven county vehicles set aside for his use or the use of his drivers. The vehicles at his personal residence from May 2008 to November 2008 included two luxury – a Mercedes and a Range Rover – vehicles seized in drug raids.

Reward offered in Lithonia killing

Walker leaves development seat

Parish said that Qureshi was shot Crime Stoppers Atlanta has eight times while she was sitting issued a $15,000 reward for inforin her car after backing into her mation about the person or perdriveway around 4 p.m. sons who gunned down mother “There is no suspect, descripof four Jameelah Qureshi in her tion or motive in the case,” she Lithonia driveway. said. Parish said Qureshi’s fiancé Qureshi, 40, who was enwas not a suspect in the case. She gaged to a DeKalb County Police sergeant, was murdered in her Jameelah Qureshi would not release information driveway in the 700 block of Kilkenny Circle about the officer due to safety concerns. Qureshi’s profile on Classmates.com, Saturday on her way home from work. Dave Wilkinson, CEO of the Atlanta lists her as a 1987 graduate of Gordon High Police Foundation, said Crime Stoppers School, now McNair High School. Her classmates, shocked at the news want to help catch the culprits. “Citizens can either phone in informa- of her untimely death, have been leaving tion anonymously or donate to the reward memorial messages on her profile. To donate to the reward pool visit pool,” he said. Most reward funds are $2,000, but be- www.atlantapolicefoundation.org or www. cause of the heinous nature of this crime, crimestoppersatlanta.org. To give a tip, visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org or call 404the reward amount was increased. DeKalb Police spokesperson Mekka 577-8477.

personally, is becoming a hindrance Dr. Eugene “Gene” Walker has to this Board’s ability to continue resigned as chairman of the DeKalb to achieve its objectives,” he said. County Development Authority. In June, Walker was at the eye of Walker stepped down Aug. 18 a storm over a proposed 20-year in the wake of controversy over tax break for the Sembler Co., potential conflict of interest with and the $19,200 in campaign his service on the authority and his donations its principals and their elected position as a member of the family members had made to his DeKalb County School Board. Eugene Walker election campaign for the School In an email to CEO Burrell Ellis and DeKalb County commissioners, he said it Board District 9 seat last year. The money was with a heavy heart that he was tendering represented about a third of all the funds he raised for the race. his resignation “effective immediately.” Over the 20 years, the tax-break would He said that he has always fought for what is highest and best for DeKalb County have saved Sembler $51.7 million in propand that during his tenure, the Development erty taxes. The seven-member authority was reportAuthority had tremendous success in recruiting businesses, promoting capital invest- edly set to approve the 20-year tax break for ment, and perhaps most importantly in this Sembler’s large mixed-use development in the Brookhaven area when the campaign economy, creating jobs for our citizens. “I feel the intense media scrutiny on me, contributions came to light.

DeKalb County District Attorney Gwen Keyes Fleming, Solicitor-General Robert D. James, Sheriff Thomas Brown, and Commissioner Lee May

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Saturday, August 22, 2009

EarthCents programs from Georgia Power benefit the environment.

Breakfast 8:30 a.m. / Meeting 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church 6400 Woodrow Wood, Lithonia

Join us for the next installment of the Crime Prevention Tour, which will focus on ways to fight crime and put you face-to-face with your local elected officials and law enforcement agencies. Workshop topics include: Gangs • Juvenile Justice • Domestic Violence • Elder and Disabled Adult Abuse • Community Prosecution • Abandonment • Criminal Justice 101 • DeKalb County Police Department Interactive Community Policing

For more information please contact Dana Lawrence at 404-371-6342 or Latrese Nunnally-Young at 404-371-4745

CrossRoadsNews

Forum

August 22, 2009

I am thankful for the military. Otherwise, it is likely that I would have been in prison or dead.

Military themed schools could have a positive impact 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

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In the recent past I not instill discipline, manread an article by Mr. Tim ners, order, self-respect Franzen expressing his and a strong sense of disapproval of military achievement. based public high schools. I also submit that pubI believe it is unfortunate lic schools in black comthat DeKalb citizens – espemunities – with a few cially blacks – bought into exceptions – are as guilty the views of Mr. Franzen Bob Miles as the parents. They have and others. In my opinion, military weak administrators, weak stanexposure would give our youth a dards, and they are too tolerant of positive option. misconduct. It is obvious that the other soluIt is interesting that DeKalb has tions that Mr. Franzen referred to instituted a school dress code. Yet have yet to be found. Too many of a child can violate the code three our black youth continue to drop times and not be expelled. What out of school. They continue to get kind of leadership is that? the lowest paying jobs, if any. We need public military schools They continue to choose crimi- to correct the inefficiency and inefnal careers and inflict crime on fectiveness of too many parents, other blacks. They continue to be school administrators (not teachover represented in prisons because ers), politicians and undisciplined they commit the greater portion of citizens. If our youth are to have a crimes. The majority of these black chance to live quality lives, students people come from homes that did must be taught order, discipline,

do” attitude. This is not bragging, but a statement of fact; the military structure enabled me to obtain four degrees, complete two successful careers and retire. I passed the same military structure to my children, which has resulted in six of eight college graduates and three with master’s degrees. The Army has also given my granddaughter a six-year scholarship to Florida A&M University. She will be commissioned in the Army and receive a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Many of our youth would lead better and safer lives if recruited into the military rather than if they leave high school, get a common job and have a greater chance of being killed by another black than being killed in any war. I am waiting to read about Mr. Franzen’s “other” solutions. Bob Miles lives in Decatur.

Established relationships suffer in police leadership shake-up It amazes me that when educated, so-called qualified individuals land management positions in DeKalb County government, they think they have to shake up the present staff to be effective. The prestigious Wharton Business School does not say you must shake up the staff to be effective.

William Miller, the county’s new safety officer, arrived in April and within four months he’s promoting and demoting. Some very effective community relations were cultivated and were working well. Now this new set of moves requires both the community and the assigned officers to

develop new meaningful relationships. Reducing five assistant chiefs to three but increasing the number of deputy chiefs from three to five is a wash. What is disturbing and clear is that Mr. Miller is doing the same thing Chief Bolton did when he

came in: promote and demote. This adds unnecessary chaos. I’d like to see Mr. Miller visit New York and come back and institute their plan that reduced crime, or come up with a plan other than the “Shake Up Plan.” A. Jean Richardson lives in Decatur.

Cure for nation’s ills found in adherence to God’s will them alone. And at one As America faces ecopoint, from an industrialnomic challenges and soized standpoint, it did. cial uncertainty, people But the tables have are getting stressed out and turned and America is physically and mentally at a crossroad in definsick. ing what she will be in However, I would subthe new global economy. mit that one good medicine Kevin Oliveira The power brokers and could cure our national illdecision-makers are not sensitive nesses: The Word of God. The Good Master always gives to the blight of the poor, so God is wisdom to people who seek His going to have to step in. America’s saving grace has been guidance with their whole hearts. Americans had this idea that the that America has more Bibles that world revolved around them, and any other nation on the planet.

However, Americans are living like heartless heathens. Many of us have to now choose God’s way and the destructive way. National leaders and private citizens have to reflect on their individual and collective decisions that have damaged this country. We have to look at where we’ve been, where we’re at, and where we’re going. Once we have reflected, the process of restoration begins – restoring and purging ourselves and gaining clear spiritual vision and national strength.

Repentance brings about rejuvenation, along with a renewed reverence for the living God. Once our personal and national reverence returns, and the process of rejuvenation is in line with God’s plan for mankind, the Lord will give us the revelation of His divine grace. Revival is the cornerstone of rebuilding a person’s life and a nation’s character and reputation. People simply have to choose to do God’s will for their lives. Kevin Oliveira lives in McDonough.

Quick Read

Hearing officer upholds Bolton Registration open for South Hope Clinic close to home this firing 3 DeKalb tour 5 year 7 Fired former DeKalb Police Chief Terrell Bolton won’t be getting his $162,000 job back.

Reward offered in Lithonia killing

Business people and investors who want to get on the bus for the annual Tour of South DeKalb on Sept. 8 must sign up now.

Free access to quality health care will be available on Aug. 29 at the Hope Clinic at Southwest DeKalb High School in Decatur.

Jobs program puts military Stephenson, MLK game to be 3 personnel to work 5 on national TV 8

Crime Stoppers Atlanta has issued a $15,000 reward for information about the person or persons who gunned down mother of four Jameelah Qureshi in her Lithonia driveway.

BBQ restaurant to occupy C’est Bon site Circulation Audited By

respect and accountability. Their behaviors and attitudes would be modified in a positive manner. I grew up in the ghetto or slums of Savannah. I saw several people killed by the time I was 10 years old. Those of us who joined the military experienced behavior and attitude changes. We were blessed to escape the destructive jungle of the streets. Many friends earned the GI Bill and obtained college degrees. They became school principals, businessmen, politicians and good citizens. They used the GI Bill to buy homes and raised their kids in a middleclass environment. I am thankful for the military. Otherwise, it is likely that I would have been in prison or dead, as happened to many friends. The Army helped me to achieve what I could not have achieved without the teaching of military discipline, structure, accountability and a “can

The Plaza at Panola, a 9,500-square-foot development, is rising from the dust of the former C’est Bon restaurant at the corner of Panola Road and I-20 in Lithonia.

More than 350 veterans and their eligible spouses began work Aug. 20 in the DeKalb County “Armed Forces Employment Recruitment Initiative.”

When the Martin Luther King Jr. Lions and Stephenson Jaguars take the field at Hallford Stadium on Oct. 16, they will be playing in front of a national audience.

Nutritious breakfast plays key Kingdom Builders Covenant role in school performance 6 Church expanding 10 Now that the kids are settled into the routine for the new school year, it’s time to think about keeping them engaged all year, and a good place to start is with the first meal of the day.

By next April, the congregation of Kingdom Builders Covenant Church in Decatur will have enough space to hold weekly youth service and accommodate everyone who comes to their doors.

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CrossRoadsNews

August 22, 2009

Finance

Johnson will be the tour guide and will highlight new and proposed development in the corridors of South DeKalb.

BBQ restaurant to occupy C’est Bon site retail space for rent. The Plaza at Panola, a The $3 million project 9,500-square-foot develwill include a 92-seat This opment, is rising from the Is It! restaurant and 2,800 dust of the former C’est square feet of retail space. Bon restaurant at the corIt will also have 90 parkner of Panola Road and ing spaces and is expected I-20 in Lithonia. to open in Spring 2010. Shelly “Butch” AnthoAnthony’s restaurant ny, founder of This Is It! Shelly Anthony chain has six locations BBQ & Seafood, is building the small shopping plaza, to be across metro Atlanta, including in anchored by his fourth DeKalb Decatur, East Point, Smyrna and restaurant. He will also provide Fayetteville.

The Panola location will be his fourth in DeKalb, joining restaurants on Memorial Drive, South Hairston Road and at Stonecrest. Anthony, who grew up in Tampa, Fla., helping his parents operate their family-owned restaurant, opened his first restaurant,“Butch’s Slide In BBQ,” in Atlanta in 1977. He sold it in 1980 and in 1983, he and his wife, Barbara, founded This Is It! BBQ & Seafood featuring Southern and home-style cuisine.

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Registration open for South DeKalb tour Business people and investors who want to get on the bus for the annual Tour of South DeKalb on Sept. 8 must sign up now. The four-hour business development tour which is co-sponsored by the South DeKalb Business Asocciation and DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson will depart the Gallery of South DeKalb at 11 a.m. and will tour Johnson’s district and

portions of Commission District 5 including Turner Hill, Stonecrest Mall and Panola areas. Johnson will be the tour guide and will highlight new and proposed development in the corridors of South DeKalb. Check-in starts at 10 a.m. at the rear of the mall and includes a tour of the movie theater. The bus will depart promptly at 11 a.m.

The mall is at 2801 Candler Road in Decatur. The tour is free for members of the South DeKalb Business Association. Visitors pay $20. Lunch will be at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center. Seats are filling up fast. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.sdba-inc.org or call 678-4763727 or 678-418-9104.

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Jobs program puts military personnel to work More than 350 veterans and their eligible spouses began work Aug. 20 in the DeKalb County “Armed Forces Employment Recruitment Initiative.” The six-week jobs program is the second phase of DeKalb County Workforce Development’s Youth Summer Employment. It wraps up Sept. 30 and is designed to provide short-term employment for active duty military personnel who are on leave, reservists, veterans and their

eligible spouses. It follows DeKalb Workforce’s $1.3 million summer youth program that put 650 high school and college students to work over the summer. Both programs are funded by the Workforce Investment Act and American Recovery Reinvestment Act stimulus funds. Phase II of the program is helping DeKalb’s veterans, 18 to 24 years old, and their spouses who have reported difficulty locating

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CrossRoadsNews

Wellness

August 22, 2009

“One of the reasons I made this film was to help educate people about the history of safe sex, so that we can learn from our mistakes in the past.”

Eating a nutritious breakfast plays key role Now that the kids are settled into the routine for the new school year, it’s time to think about keeping them engaged all year. Experts, including the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, agree that the foods kids eat play an important role in their performance at school. Giving kids a healthy start to the day by encouraging them to eat breakfast is an important part of powering-up for the day. Eating a balanced breakfast can help your kids stay Whole-grain and fiber-rich cereals are are a healthier alternative to sugary varieties. Fresh fruit with a dollop of low-fat or fat-free is a great way to start the day. alert. Experts say people who eat breakfast are less likely to be “students who ate breakfasts before a lot of sugar and have been stripped of obese and diabetic than those who starting school had a general in- their natural nutrients, so just eating a usually don’t. Children who eat crease in math grades and reading bowl of cereal may not be very helpful. breakfast are more likely to have scores, increased student attention, For best results, avoid frosted and better concentration, problem- reduced nurse visits, and improved chocolate cereals, donuts, white bread solving skills and hand-eye coor- student behaviors.” and high-sugar breakfast bars. Instead dination. Still parents have to be careful of sugary juices, provide your children A recent breakfast study by about what they serve their chil- with 100 percent fruit juices or low-fat the state of Minnesota found that dren. Many breakfast foods contain or fat-free milk.

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Focus on variety and make sure all food groups Packing a healthy lunch for your children is a great way to get them the nutrients they need to power through the school day. Unfortunately, lunch boxes are often filled with packaged “convenience” foods like full-calorie soda, chips, and cookies. This can add up to a lot of excess fat, sugar, sodium and calories that may contribute to long-term health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. These extra calories may also make kids sluggish or cranky in the afternoons. When deciding what to put in your child’s lunch box, it’s a good idea to include foods from different groups. Focusing on variety not only makes lunches more interesting, but also helps your children enjoy a balanced lunch that will provide the energy and nutrients they need to grow, play, learn and stay healthy. The basics for a healthy lunch box: n One serving of vegetables or sal-

ad and one serving of fruit (fresh, canned or dried can all count). n One serving of a low-fat or fatfree milk or dairy item such as a low-fat cheese stick, a yogurt cup, or some cottage cheese. n One serving of meat, chicken, fish, eggs, peanut butter, beans or another protein source. n A healthy drink such as water or 100 percent juice.

Sandwich is there With a little thought, making healthy sandwiches can be easy. n Swap the white bread for whole wheat varieties for added boosts of fiber. Whole-wheat bread can also be more filling. n If your kids are bored with the traditional sandwich, try wholewheat pita or flatbread/tortilla wraps that you can quickly turn into sandwich swirls. n Switch from bologna, salami, pastrami or corned beef, and other fatty luncheon meats to low-fat alternatives such as lean turkey or

A healthy lunch will include servings of vegetables and fruit, dairy, proteins and juice or water.

chicken breast. n Sneak veggies like lettuce, cucumbers, or shredded cabbage in between slices of lean turkey or ham on a sandwich or in a wrap. n Use peanut butter in moderation: 2 tablespoons (about the size of a ping pong ball) provides about 190 calories and 16 grams of fat.

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Director Daryl Wein’s documentary “Sex Positive” will be screened at the Rialto Center for the Arts in Atlanta on Aug. 29. The film, which discusses the early history of AIDS, begins at 7 p.m. at the center, located on the Georgia State University campus. It tells the story of a little-known chapter in the history of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome before scientists knew its cause or how it was transmitted. Richard Berkowitz, the film’s subject, was a hustler in New York City who became an unlikely safe-sex advocate and co-author of the first safe sex manual, “Stayin’ Alive: The Invention of Safe Sex.” The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes a condition in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections such as AIDS. More than 14,000 people with AIDS die each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says someone in the U.S. becomes HIV positive every nine-

CrossRoadsNews

August 22, 2009

Wellness

“We thought that it would be good for us to offer a ministry of services in our own community to help alleviate some of the stress people may be feeling. The Ray of Hope’s free clinic, which offers health screenings and services, food, housing assistance and clothing, is being held in DeKalb County for the first time.

in children’s performance at school Eating only sugary foods may cause your child to have erratic energy levels. Eating a balanced breakfast will help get them going and sustain their energy until lunch time. A healthy breakfast does not have to take a lot of time. Stick to the basics and serve simple foods that are nutritious and quick. For ideas, follow these tips: n Oatmeal in an instant – Instant oatmeal is great and contains fiber and vitamins. Choose oatmeal that isn’t already pre-sweetened. Sweeten served it with raisins, applesauce or fresh fruit. Fresh berries like blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are still available. Buy now and freeze to use in the winter when they are not readily available and are more expensive. n Smoothie madness – Blend frozen fruit (bananas and berries are great), lowfat or fat-free milk, and 100 fruit-juice for a quick, tasty breakfast smoothie with lots of nutrients.

n Go whole grain – 100 percent whole-grain, fiber-

containing cereals served with low- or fat-free milk are a healthier alternative to sugary cereals. Wholewheat muffins with smashed banana are easy and tasty as well. n Eggxactly! Boil, scramble or poach eggs and serve on whole-wheat toast. They’re packed with nutrition and, in appropriate portions, are great for kids. n Toaster treats – Frozen whole-grain waffles take almost no time to make. Instead of syrup, top them with berries, low-sugar applesauce, or sliced bananas. n Go nutty! Spreading peanut or almond butter on whole-grain toast is a great to get both protein and fiber. n Go fruity. Fresh fruit cut up with a dollop of low-fat or fat-free yogurt is a great way to start the day. Apples contain fiber and bananas contain potassium. n Try all-fruit spreads. Instead of butter or margarine on toast, try all-fruit spreads, fruit butters, or even sliced bananas or strawberries. n Bagel classics. Try a whole-wheat or sunflower seed bagel with low-fat cream cheese or peanut butter. n Breakfast on-the-go. Don’t have time to eat breakfast at home? Keep whole-grain mini bagels on hand or muffins, nuts and dried and fresh fruits that can be taken in the car. Apple slices and bananas are also easy and not too messy. For more information, visit www.healthiergeneration.org/

are represented when packing a lunch n Try using a thinner layer of peanut butter and shredded lean meat for a high dose of protein

substituting jelly with banana or thin apple slices for a healthier spin on an old favorite. n Skip high-fat mayonnaise. Consider a small serving of reduced fat mayo or try something with more flavor and fewer calories like mustard.

Salad days n Make it colorful: start with a base of dark greens then load up on bright veggies such as pepper, cucumbers, tomatoes and carrots. n A salad can be more than just a side item. To make it the main entrée, include a lean protein like hard boiled eggs, beans or grilled chicken. n Pack low-fat or fat-free dressing in a separate container. Kids can drizzle it right on the salad before eating. n If you’re not a fan of washing, chopping, and preparing salad, consider making it easier by buying bags of lettuce or precut carrots or make extra salad for dinner and just pack the leftovers for lunch the next day.

and fiber.

n Include low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese

with carrots, cherry tomatoes, fresh berries, or melon. This makes for a calcium-rich, high-protein lunch.

Healthy drinks n If you pack juice, make sure it’s 100 percent juice. All fruit drinks are required to list the “percent juice” on the label. Many juice drinks contain no more than 10 percent juice and are mixed with a lot of sugar. n Water and low-fat milk are the best drinks for children. They can be frozen to help keep foods in the lunch box cool and will usually be defrosted by lunch time.

Hope Clinic close to home this year unemployment and lack of health Free access to quality health benefits,” she said. “It made sense care will be available on Aug. 29 to offer it at home this year.” at the Hope Clinic at Southwest Since its inception in 2002, the DeKalb High School in Decatur. clinic has been held in Cuberth, The “Hope Through Health Ga., Kenya and for the past three Clinic,” sponsored by the Ray of years in Sparta. Staffed by doctors, Hope Christian Church’s Outdentists, nurses, teachers, social reach Department, will be 9 a.m. workers and childcare specialto 5 p.m. Helen Branch ists, the clinic offers dental care There will be free health screenings and services, food, housing as- and ophthalmology services, audiologists, health screenings, low- or no-cost prescripsistance and clothing. The Rev. Helen Branch, coordinator of tions, food assistance, clothing and minor the free clinic, said it’s the first time that it is home improvement help through Senior being offered in DeKalb County. In the past, Connections Inc. Branch said she is expecting the clinic the church has taken the clinic, which is in its seventh year, to areas in south Georgia to draw 300 people. “People need a sense of hope that others and overseas where residents have limited access to health care services. She said the care about them that the community they church realized this year that the economic live in cares about them,” she said. “I’m rechallenges are hitting people hard in DeKalb ally excited that we are able to offer this.” Southwest DeKalb High School is at County like other parts of the state. “We thought that it would be good for 2863 Kelly Chapel Road in Decatur. For more information or to volunteer, us to offer a ministry of services in our own community to help alleviate some of the visit www.rayofhope.org or call 770-696stress people may be feeling as a result of 5100, ext. 201.

Energy snacks n Swap traditional fried chips for baked potato or corn chips. n Pack salt-free, dry-roasted almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts to provide kids with a dose Easy entrées of heart-healthy essential fatty acids, but cap n Make a cold pasta salad from whole-wheat the serving at ¼ cup since nuts are high in noodles leftover from the previous night’s din- calories. ner — put in a portable container. n Try a lowfat or light yogurt in exchange for n Mix plain brown rice with canned beans or the full calorie varieties targeted at children.

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and-a-half minutes, and approximately 56,000 Americans become newly infected by the deadly virus each year. Half of the infections are in people under age 25. Wein, an award-winning filmmaker, said “Sex Positive” contains a timely message. “One of the reasons I made this film was to help educate people about the history of safe sex, so that we can learn from our mistakes in the past and continue to make improvements in the future,” he said.

A pre-event reception begins at 7 p.m., with portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt on display.The film will be shown at 8 p.m. Berkowitz will be in attendance. The documentary is rated “R,” so attendees must be at least 17 years old. Admission is $10 to $50. The Rialto Center of the Arts is at 80 Forsyth St. N.W., Atlanta. For more information or tickets, visit www.positiveimpact-atl.org or call 404-589-9040.

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CrossRoadsNews

Sports

August 22, 2009

“I liked everything about them. The school, the team, the coaching staff, academics, everything.”

Preseason games wrapping up as teams prepare for regular season By McKenzie Jackson

Two South DeKalb high school football teams will play in preseason contests on Aug. 22 in preparation for the regular season, which kicksoff on Aug. 28. The McNair Mustangs will play Carver-Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. at Panthersville Stadium, 2817 Clifton Springs Road, Decatur, and the Miller Grove Wolverines will play the Washington Bulldogs at 8 p.m. at Lakewood Stadium, 70 Claire Drive, Atlanta. In games involving North DeKalb teams, the Cross Keys Indians, Druid Hills Red Devils and Lakeside Vikings will be in a doubleheader at Adams Stadium, 2383 North Druid Hills Road, Atlanta, on the last day of preseason scrimmages. Cross Keys will play Our Lady of Mercy at 12 p.m., followed by Druid Hills vs. Lakeside at 2:30 p.m. The four games wrap up 16 preseason games featuring DeKalb teams that began on Aug. 14. M.L. King Jr. and Cedar Grove tied 14-14 in their contest; Chamblee beat South Cobb 20-3; Cherokee beat Dunwoody 35-28; and Duluth knocked off Arabia Mountain 21-6. Also, Marietta beat Columbia 19-6 and Lee County defeated Towers 48-7. Avondaled played Holy Inno-

Dominic Knight (right) and the Clarkston Angoras will start their season against Wesleyan on Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

cent on Thursday and Lithonia, Stephenson, Tucker, Clarkston, Stone Mountain and Southwest DeKalb had scrimmages on Friday. DeKalb’s newest team, the Arabia Mountain Rams, will open their first regular season by hosting Locust Grove on Aug. 28 at 5:15 p.m. at Panthersville Stadium. Lithonia will host Avondale at Avondale Stadium, 1192 Clarendon Road, Avondale Estates, at 7:30 p.m. Stone Mountain will

host Cedar Grove at 5:15 p.m. at Hallford Stadium, 3789 Memorial College Ave., Clarkston; Columbia will host Lakeside at 7:30 p.m. at Adams Stadium; and Clarkston will host Wesleyan at 7:30 p.m. at North DeKalb Stadium, 3688 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Chamblee. Also on the season’s first day, Decatur will host Druid Hills at 7:30 p.m. at Decatur Stadium, 310 North McDonough St., Decatur; Miller Grove will host Redan at

8 p.m. at Panthersville Stadium, and M.L. King will host Southwest DeKalb at 8 p.m. at Hallford Stadium. On Aug. 29, McNair will host Stephenson at 7:30 p.m. at Hallford Stadium and Tucker will play at Brunswick, 3920 Habersham St., Brunswick at 7:30 p.m. Towers is off the first week. The Titans’ first game will be against North Atlanta on Sept. 5 at Avondale Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

Stephenson, MLK game to be on national TV When the Martin Luther King Jr. Lions and Stephenson Jaguars take the field at Hallford Stadium on Oct. 16, they will be playing in front of a national audience. The DeKalb County Schools Athletic Department announced on Aug. 14 that the 6 p.m. contest between the DeKalb County and Region 2-AAAAA rivals will be broadcast on ESPNU-TV as a High School Game of the Week. Stephenson, which leads the all-time series 2-1, won the 2008 contest by a score of 27-7. The game, which is also M.L. King’s homecoming, was originally scheduled for 8 p.m., but the start time was moved up for the television broadcast. Clarkston and Cedar Grove, who were originally scheduled to play at Hallford before the Stephenson/M.L. King game, will instead play at Avondale Stadium at 5:15 p.m., followed by Avondale vs. Greater Atlanta Christian at 8 p.m.

Standout players with local ties make college basketball choices By McKenzie Jackson

Two highly recruited basketball players with South DeKalb roots have cemented their college basketball futures. Former Southwest DeKalb High School guard Christian Rateree signed with Tallahassee, Fla.- based Florida A&M University on Aug. 14, and on Aug. 16 former Greenforest Christian Academy forward Jamel Jones committed to Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisc. Jamel, 17, who is attending Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., this year, averaged over 20 points a game for the Christian Eagles during his junior season. He chose the Golden Eagles over programs such as Wisconsin, Xavier, Cincinnati and Mississippi State. Jamel said he fell in love with Marquette during an unofficial visit to the school. “I liked everything about them,” he said. “The school, the team, the coaching staff, academics, everything.” Rateree, 21, who played junior college basketball the past two seasons at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Fla., averaged 11.6 points a game last year. She said she is excited to play for the Lady Rattlers because she will be a more of a combo guard for the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference team. “It is an HBCU, too,” she said. Since Greenforest was knocked out of the state playoffs on March 7, Jamel has sprouted another two inches to 6-foot-7, and he has increased his weight to a muscular 210 pounds. A wing player at the shooting guard and small forward positions, Jamel is known for his explosive,

Jamel Jones (left) will play college basketball with Marquette University, and Christian Rateree will play for the Rattlers of Florida A&M.

40-inch vertical leap and jumpshooting ability. For the past two years, Jamel was on the radar of coaching staffs all over the country. He said all of the letters and calls he received from coaches was nice at first, but became tedious after a while. “As I became a senior it kind of got crazy,” he said. “They would be like, ‘When are you going to commit,’ ‘You need to come here,’ ‘You need to go there,’ ‘You need to do this,’ ‘We want you.’ All that type of stuff.” Jamel’s dad, Tyrone Jones, said a lot of times the whole household would be fielding calls from college

programs. “There would be times when I was on the phone with a recruiter, his mom was on the phone with the coach, and then Jamel would be on another phone with another coach,” he said. “He is a special kid though, and works real hard.” Signing with Marquette, who had been recruiting him since the end of last season, ended a whirlwind summer for Jamel, who played in tournaments and camps including the King City Classic, Real Deal on the Hill, Wallace Prather Memorial Classic, Bob Gibbons Tournament, the AAU Super Showcase, Vince Carter Skills Academy and the Lebron James

Skills Academy. Jamel had a few 30-point games this summer while playing in tournaments with his Georgia Hoops AAU team, then scored 40 points in two contests during the Super Showcase in Orlando, Fla. Jamel said he was a fan of Marquette’s freewheeling playing style. “I will fit in real good because the things I do fit in perfectly in their coaching scheme,” he said. “I can shoot the ball, I’m a pretty good passer, I can put pressure on the defense and I can get my teammates involved in the game.” Tyrone said he favors Jamel’s choice to attend Marquette because they are going to give his son a

chance to play during his freshman year, and because of the school’s focus on academics. “During our unofficial visit there, they didn’t talk about basketball at all until the last 10 minutes,” he said. “We like what they stand for.” During Jamel’s one-year stint at Montverde he will play against some of the top high school players in the country and take an SAT class to increase his score from the 1350 he scored when he first took the test. The 5-foot-7 Rateree, a 2007 Southwest DeKalb graduate, will play point guard and shooting guard for the Lady Rattlers when their season kicks off on Nov.9. She chose to attend FAMU over colleges such as Florida Atlantic, East Tennessee State, North Dakota State, UTC and the University of Illinois. Rateree’s decision nearly came down to the last minute, but she said she was in no hurry to pick a college and just wanted to take her time. During her sophomore year at Northwest Florida, she was named to the Florida Community College Activities Association’s all-tournament team and all-conference team. She also helped lead the Lady Raiders to a 20-7 record. Rateree said she hopes to show more of her scoring ability while with the Rattlers. “I can shoot,” she said. “As a point guard I’m real physical and tenacious on defense. I can drive to the lane.” Rateree’s father, Leviski Wray, said his daughter is a very humble basketball player and takes nothing for granted. “She just wants to play ball,” he said.

CrossRoadsNews

August 22, 2009

Youth

“There is nothing more important to us in DeKalb County than our students reaching their full academic potential.”

DeKalb Schools cut annexes for savings The cash-strapped DeKalb School System says it has saved more than $1 million dollars in operational costs with the closing of two school annexes in South DeKalb county. In an Aug. 19 press release, the school system announced the closings of the Southwest DeKalb High School Annex at McNair High School and the Redan High School Annex at Elizabeth Andrews High School because of low student enrollment. The annexes were supposed to open under the federally mandated No Child Left Behind legislation that offers students attending

“Needs Improvement” schools the option to transfer to a school that has met Adequate Yearly Progress standards. But only 33 students in ninth and tenth grades took the AYP option and transferred to the Redan Annex. At the Southwest DeKalb Annex, only 41 students transferred. School Superintendent Dr. Crawford Lewis said the school system cannot ask DeKalb taxpayers to spend $1.2 million for 19 employees to teach only 74 students. “We earn the dollars to pay for staff based on the number of students served,” he said, “Because

Fastest boy wins three medals

the number of students who exercised the transfer option was so much lower than what we planned, this option is no longer fiscally sound.” Crawford Lewis He said the students will be accommodated on the main campuses of both schools. The annexes were to house students with adequate classroom space but they would remain students of their home schools.

way Elementar y Marcellus Boykin School in Decatur, of the Mark Trail won the 100-meter Flying Eagles Track dash national chamClub can now claim pionship in the subto be one of the fastbantam boys division est kids in DeKalb, with a time of 13.39. and he has the medHe also finished als to back him up. second in the subMarcellus, 9, won bantam’s 200 meter one gold and two dash and he was part silver medals in the of the Flying Eagles Aug. 1-8 AAU Na- Marcellus Boykin 4x100 meter relay tional Junior Olymteam that came in second. pics in Des Moines, Iowa. Kiesha Boykin, his mother, was He led the Decatur-based track club, which came home with nine brimming with pride. “I’m so proud of him,” she medals. Marcellus, who attends Mid- said.

Abstinence speaker wants parents to speak up Parents have until ing waiting until marriage Sept. 1 to register for to have sex. “Parents Speak Up,” a The iniative teaches Sept. 3 meeting that will parents to talk to their encourage them to talk kids about sex, their valto their children about ues, and how waiting abstinence. can contribute to future Cliff Baskerville, an success. abstinence speaker from A Centers for Disease the Parents Speak Up Control and Prevention National Campaign, will Cliff Baskerville 2005 survey found that be the evening’s keynote one out of every three speaker. ninth graders had sexual interParents Speak Up is a national course at least once. public education campaign of the A 2007 survey by the National U.S. Department of Health and Campaign to Prevent Teen PregHuman Services. nancy found that 60 percent of It provides parents with teens who have had sexual interthe information and tools at course, wish they had waited. www.4parents.gov to help their Baskerville will discuss the teens make healthy choices, includ- positive impact of teens waiting to

have sex and the value of parents spending quality time with their children. The 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. meeting is hosted by District Three Commissioner Larry Johnson. Stephanie Wilson, a Johnson aide, said it will offer parents different ways to talk to their teenagers and encourage better communication and dialogue. Admission and registration is free and the first 40 people who register for the workshop will receive a free dinner. The meeting will take place at Java Delight Café, 4153C Flat Shoals Parkway, Suite 310, in Decatur. For more information, call Larry Johnson’s office at 404-3712425.

Class of 2013 focusing on success

DeKalb County School System Announces NCLB

Supplemental Educational Services (SES) ROUND I 2009-2010

FREE TUTORING As part of its requirements under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, DeKalb County School System is offering free tutoring in the areas of math and reading/language arts.

Tucker High ninth and tenth graders modeled graduation gowns at their first DeKalb Graduates program last year. All 19 DeKalb high schools are hosting graduates night on Aug. 27.

DeKalb ninth-graders and their parents can find out how to ensure their success in school at the second annual “DeKalb Graduates” Communication Night on Aug. 27. The 6 p.m. event will take place simultaneously at all of the school system’s 19 high schools. It will feature presentations from every school’s principal, graduation coaches and counselors. Margie Smith, the program’s director, said the school system is excited about the event, organized by the Office of School Improvement. “Many of our schools have devised unique approaches to make the night special, so I believe at the close of the event, all of our ninth-graders and their parents will share in our excitement,” she said. Educators will discuss diploma choices, scheduling models, special programs, career technology academies, advanced placement courses and mentoring programs.

Exhibitors and English Language Learners (ELL) interpreters will be present At each of the schools, the ninth-graders will receive “commitment to graduate” scrolls as keepsakes for their 2013 graduation dates. Superintendent Dr. Crawford Lewis said the purpose of the DeKalb Graduates program is to captivate young high school students and present them with details of all the resources available to them through the school system. “There is nothing more important to us in DeKalb County than our students reaching their full academic potential, and that involves successfully earning a high school diploma in four years,” he said. “‘DeKalb Graduates’ is our way of showing students and parents how it can be done effectively.” For more information, call Margie Smith at 678-678-0466.

Free tutoring is available for your child if he or she attends a Title I elementary, middle, or high school that is included on the “Needs Improvement” list and receives free or reduced-price meals

Eligible Schools Avondale Middle Avondale High Bethune Middle Cedar Grove High Clarkston High Columbia Elementary Columbia High Cross Keys High

Eagle Woods Academy Fairington Elementary Flat Rock Elementary Freedom Middle International Student Center Lithonia High Martin Luther King, Jr. High

McNair Middle McNair High Salem Middle Shadow Rock Center Stone Mountain Middle Stone Mountain High Towers High

Open Enrollment Begins August 28, 2009 and ends September 25, 2009 A brochure containing an application will be mailed to each eligible student or you may obtain one from your local school. Applications must be returned to the local school by September 25, 2009 For more information call DeKalb County School System Office of School Improvement at 678-676-0309 or by contacting your local school counselor

Ministry

CrossRoadsNews

August 22, 2009

“We are seeing these seniors and grandparents and people with disabilities come to the emergency pantry, but they need food every month.”

Kingdom Builders Covenant Church expanding By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

By next April, the congregation of Kingdom Builders Covenant Church in Decatur will have enough space to hold weekly youth service and accommodate everyone who comes to their doors. K. Francis Smith, the church’s pastor,said membership at the three-year-old church should be 800 to 1,000 but that they lost a lot of people. “We would run out of chairs and people would walk in and walk right back out because we have no place to put them,” he said. On Aug. 2, the church, which is located at 3355 Columbia Drive broke ground on a 12,000 squarefoot sanctuary and multi-purpose center. They are expecting to move in on April 1, in time for their month-long fourth anniversary celebration. The new $1 million-building Commissioner Larry Johnson (right) helps break ground Aug. 2 on Kingdom Builders’ new $1 million church will seat 1,000 people. Smith says it will open lots building. of opportunities for the growing tionships and had the oppor“It’s the grace of God. It’s loving church. tunity to serve.” “We are going to have so much good people and serving people. When the new building stuff,” he said. is completed, Smith said the There was nothing there when Kingdom Builders Covenant Church church’s current 8,000-squarewe started. We had to put in the grew from the fragments of the Christian foot sanctuary that seats 300 infrastructure.” Evangelican Fellowship Church started in people will become a family life Pastor K. Francis Smith 1992 by Pastor Joshua Sands and his wife center for youth and children. Denise. Smith said the church is Smith said the Sands returned to their to the more than a dozen new ministries that about serving the community in which it native Bahamas in 1999 and Perry Smith they implemented and to the nurturing of is located. When the new building is comsucceeded them as pastor in 2001 and the leadership teams within the congregation. pleted, he plans to adopt Columbia High changed the church’s name to New Fellow“It’s the grace of God,” he said. “Its lov- School, which is two miles up the street from ship in 2003. ing people and serving people. There was their location on Columbia Drive near Flat He left the church a year later and after a nothing there when we started. We had to Shoals Parkway intersection. two-year search for a pastor, the dwindling put in the infrastructure. We started men’s At this Sunday services at 9 a.m. and 11 congregation tapped K. Francis Smith, who ministry, women’s ministry, youth ministry, a.m., Smith said they will give 50 families was youth pastor under a Perry Smith and is outreach ministries.. Now we have at least food for a month and will distribute hunno relations to him, to be their new pastor. 15 ministries.” dreds of new clothes, donated by Annette When Smith preached his first sermon Smith said the turning point also came Wilson of United Youth of America. as pastor in August 2006, the church had 35 when he stopped doing everything himself. The church is at 3355 Columbia Drive. members. Today it has 500. ”We developed leadership through the For more information, visit www.kbcc.tv or Smith credits the growth in membership church,” he said. “The members built rela- call 404-244-8181.

Big Bethel celebrates women ble fellowships, an Aug. The Rev. Marie Phil8 back-to-school event, lips Braxton, associate and an Aug. 15 worship pastor of Metropoliservice at Parkview Nurstan African Methodist ing home on Auburn AvEpiscopal Church in enue inAtlanta. Washington, D.C. will The church is also be the keynote speaker hosting a “Sisters in Spiron Aug. 23 at Big Bethel it Inter-Generational AME Church’s Women’s Marie Braxton Luncheon” on Aug. 22 at 11 a.m. Emphasis Month Celebration. Linda T. Eason, Big Bethel’s at Big Bethel Village, 500 Richard first lady and WEM chairperson, Allen Blvd. That event will include said church is delighted to have a 21st century dramatization of women in the Bible. Braxton as a speaker. On Aug. 26, Big Bethel mem“She is such an anointed and inspiring communicator of the ber Loretta Green will lead the 7 gospel,” said Eason, whose hus- p.m. Wednesday Women’s Bible band Rev. Gregory Vaughn Eason Fellowship service, titled “Gospel Sr. has been the church’s senior Yoga.” For more information, visit pastor since December 2005. The 19-day WEM celebration, www.bigbethelame.org or call which began Aug. 5 and ends on Andi McDaniel at 404-827-9707, Aug. 26, included Wednesday Bi- ext. 102.

Decatur church celebrates 50 years in diocese Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church is celebrating its 50th anniversary and Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory will be the featured speaker at the Aug. 29 anniversary Mass at the Decatur church. During the noon service Gregory, who has been Atlanta’s archbishop since January 2008, will highlight the church’s long history in the diocese. Rev. Eric Hill, the Wilton D. Gregory church’s eighth and current pastor, will lead a special 7 p.m. Mass at the church on Aug. 27. Hill, who has been pastor for four years, said that for five decades the church has been a place of worship and service for the communities of South DeKalb and metro Atlanta. “In recognition of this historic achievement we’re inviting all parishioners and area Catholics to be a part of the festivities,” said Hill. Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church was founded in 1959 by Bishop Francis E. Hyland of the Diocese of Atlanta. Its first pastor was Rev. Michael Manning. Before it relocated to Tilson Road in 1960, Mass was held in the chapel of Horis Ward Funeral Home and McNair Middle School, which was then known as Gordon High School. The church founded and still runs a school and been involved in the Candler Road Redevelopment, the South DeKalb Business Incubator and other civic projects. “I hope our teachings and legacy will continue to inspire future generations for many years to come,” Hill said. The anniversary celebration will be year long and will include spiritual, service and social events. Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church is at 2560 Tilson Road in Decatur. For more information, visit www.stspandp. com or call 404-241-5862.

New food co-op keeps seniors pantries full DeKalb senior citizens and disabled individuals can become members of the Decatur Cooperative Ministry Food Co-op which will provide food twice a month to people on fixed income. The 40-yearold nonprofit Decatur Cooperative Ministry and First Baptist Church of Decatur launched the Food Co-op on Aug. 11 with a dozen families who pay a small monthly fee to get supplies. Cliff Richards, a DCM program manager, said the food co-op are for people facing difficult financial situations. “These individuals are on a fixed income or a small pension, they make too much money to get food stamps, but every month they are having to struggle between buying medicine, food or paying the electric bill,” he said. “These are

Co-op member Don Hammonds helps unpack food supplies.

folks who have worked their butts off for 30 years.” The nonprofit started the coop after seeing the large amount of people returning monthly to it emergency food pantry. Richards said the emergency

food pantry is designed to give food assistance to people in temporary crisis like losing their home in a fire. “We were seeing these seniors, grandparents and people with disabilities coming to the emergency pantry, but they need food every month,” he said. The food co-op is based on the successful formula of the Georgia Avenue Community which operates five co-ops in Atlanta’s Grant Park serving 250 families. DCM Food Co-op members meet on the second and fourth Tuesday monthly at First Baptist Church of Decatur and receive a box of groceries appropriate to the size of their household. For more information, visit www.decaturcooperativeministry. org or call 404-284-3648.

CrossRoadsNews

August 22, 2009

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Reader Notice As a service to you – our valued readers – we offer the following information: This newspaper will never knowingly accept any advertisement that is illegal or considered fraudulent. If you have questions or doubts about any ads on these pages, we advise that before responding or sending money ahead of time, you check with the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Line and/or the Better Business Bureau. They may have records or documented complaints that will serve to caution you about doing business with those advertisers. Also be advised that some phone numbers published in these ads may require an extra charge. In all cases of questionable value, such as promises or guaranteed income from work-at-home programs, money to loan, etc., if it sounds too good to be true – it may in fact be exactly that. This newspaper cannot be held responsible for any negative consequences that occur as a result of you doing business with any advertisers. Thank you.

CrossRoadsNews

August 22, 2009