CrossRoadsNews, February 21, 2009 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

BLACK HISTORY

WELLNESS

YOUTH

Dancers from the DeKalb Academy of the Arts were among who helped the DeKalb NAACP celebrate the national organization’s 100th anniversary. 7

Registration is now open for the third annual Kiddie Olympics, which seeks to introduce preschool children to the benefits of physical activity at an early age. 11

Fifth-graders at Cedar Grove Elementary are bring Black History home by building a quilt with panels dedicated to their own family members. 12

Centennial celebration

Head start on fitness

February 21, 2009

Honoring family history

Volume 14, Number 43

www.crossroadsnews.com

Property tax increase averted this year, but coming in 2010 By McKenzie Jackson

Homeowners in Georgia won’t get an extra property tax bill of $200 to $300 this year. They were saved by President Barack Obama’s Stimulus Package, signed Tuesday. With the extra money headed to Georgia, Gov. Sonny Perdue, who had refused to fund the 2009 Homeowner Tax Relief Grants because of shrinking state revenues, signed legislation Tuesday so that counties will get the $428 million to pay for the homeowners tax relief grants this year.

But even as he signed the legislation, Perdue voiced his opposition to the tax relief program, saying that some loSonny Perdue cal governments have used the funds to pad their reserve accounts instead of reducing property taxes. He said he signed the bill only because his staff assured him that the state government will get at least $465 million from Obama’s economic stimulus plan.

“The Legislature believes strongly that we made a commitment to the people of Georgia,” Perdue said. “It’s appropriate for a chief executive, even when he disagrees with the Legislature, to bow to its will if it’s in the interests of the state.” Next year though, homeowners will see property taxes go up an additional $200 to $300 following the passage of House Bill 143 which eliminates the tax relief grants, which have been in place for a decade. The Senate approved the bill Feb. 6; the House of Representatives passed it on Jan. 30, and Perdue

signed it on Tuesday, preserving the property tax relief program in the 2009 state budget. The bill will only provide tax relief during years when the available revenues exceed the cost of grants by 3 percent plus the rate of inflation. Dismantling the tax relief grant was not popular among DeKalb Democrats. State Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield who was among the 19 members of the DeKalb House Delegation who voted against the bill, said its elimination would be the largest property tax increase in Georgia’s history.

Snapfinger Road upgrade under way

McKenzie Jackson / CrossRoadsNews

Demolition crews are tearing down trees and other construction in order to widen Snapfinger Road between Wesley Chapel Road and Flat Shoals Parkway.

Widening project expected to be completed by May 2012 By McKenzie Jackson

Commuters who use Snapfinger Road in Decatur will have to suffer inconveniences over the next three years, but it’ll be worth the hassle. The long-anticipated construction got under way last week, with work crews demolishing the Citgo station near the intersection with Wesley Chapel Road and clearing trees along the 1.78-mile project. The Georgia Department of Transportation says the $10.1 million project, which will be completed by May 2012, will expand Snapfinger Road from two to four

lanes between Wesley Chapel Road and Flat Shoals Parkway, with a 20-foot wide median and bike lanes, and add a traffic light at the intersection of Thompson Mill and Snapfinger roads. Mark McKinnon, a GDOT spokesman, said Snapfinger Road will be completely revamped. “They will be tearing out what is currently Snapfinger Road and replacing those two lanes as well as adding two more,” he said. “It’s being reconstructed and widened.” McKinnon said the new road will be a real benefit to the community and will help relieve rush-hour

congestion as thousands of motorists from Decatur, Lithonia and Henry and Clayton counties wend their way toward I-20 and I-285. “I know Snapfinger is a heavily traveled road and the widening is going to relieve that,” he said. Conyers-based Pittman Construction, which also replaced the Wesley Chapel overpass bridge at I-20, won the contract to do the work. Once the tree clearing and demolition is complete, McKinnon said utility lines will be relocated and that could take several months.

“We don’t have a specific timeframe on it, but in a project like this, it can take six months to a year,” he said. Once the construction gets under way, McKinnon said commuters should expect to see workmen on the street all hours of the day. “One thing people like to know is when is the work going to be occurring and there is going to be some work out there at night,” McKinnon said. “We try not to close lanes when there is traffic on it, so there will be some night work, but it will be several months before that begins.”

“This is during a time when families are worried about keeping their jobs a n d h o m e s ,” said Benfield, who represents S. Stuckey Benfield DeKalb’s House District 85. The Homeowner Tax Relief Grants funds were put into place in 1999 under former Gov. Roy Barnes. The grants are distributed to local governments as tax credits of $200 to $300 per property owner.

Readers can choose East Metro’s best Voting is now under way for CrossRoadsNews’ Best of East Metro Readers Choice Awards. The first annual contest is recognizing the best that DeKalb and Rockdale counties have to offer. More than 845 individuals, politicians, elected officials, churches, businesses and landmarks were nominated in 167 categories by the Jan. 31 deadline for entries. The contest seems to have tapped into a smoldering desire to recognize great service from our elected officials, community leaders and business operators. Nominees include perennial politician Joe Bembry for local character to Viola Davis for local activist, and Sheriff Thomas Brown for most loved public official. Many readers nominated our new president, Barack Obama, for Citizen of the Year, but in our desire to keep the contest local, we took him off the list. Some even nominated businesses that have fallen victim to our dire economic conditions and are no longer operating. All 845 nominees are counting on your vote, so use the ballot on pages 8 and 9 in this issue, or vote online at www.crossroadsnews.com. Whether online or on paper, the voting ends on March 20. – Jennifer Parker, Editor

Community

CrossRoadsNews

February 21, 2009

“As a whole, this plan will help poor and working Americans pull themselves into the middle class in a way we haven’t seen in nearly 50 years.”

Stimulus package to bring 7,900 jobs to 4th District By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

The 4th Congressional District will get 7,900 jobs from President Barack Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package signed Tuesday. Statewide, Georgia will get 106,000 jobs from the package that is expected to create or save 3.5 million jobs over the next two years Barack Obama nationwide. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is a nationwide effort to create jobs, jumpstart growth and transform the economy. But 4th District Congressman Hank Johnson, who voted for the plan, cautioned that it will “not be a cure-all” or “solve all our problems.” “The economic problems weren’t created in a day, and they won’t be solved overnight,” said Johnson, whose districts includes portions of DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties. “But with unemployment in Georgia rising above 8 percent and climbing, I cannot sit idly by while so many of my fellow Georgians struggle to pay bills, keep their homes or businesses and pay for college.” Georgia will get more than $1 billion in infrastructure spending, including $931 million for high-

“The economic problems weren’t created in a day, and they won’t be solved overnight. But with unemployment in Georgia rising above 8 percent and climbing, I cannot sit idly by while so many of my fellow Georgians struggle to pay bills, keep their homes or businesses and pay for college.” Congressman Hank Johnson

ways and bridges, $136 million for transit, $66 million for clean water projects and $7 million for fixedguideway modernization. “For low-and-middle income workers, it means a $400 payroll tax credit, $800 for couples filing jointly,” Johnson said. “For workers who lose their jobs, the plan extends middle-class families’ healthcare benefits for nine months. “It also will expand the scope of the child tax credit and boost the food stamp assistance by $20 billion.” It was not clear at press time where the 4th District’s jobs would be created or how many would be new jobs. In December, more than 30,000 workers or 7. 1 percent of DeKalb’s laborforce was unemployed. Under the plan, states will receive about $53.6 billion to avoid further budget cuts, and $40.6 billion will be earmarked for school construction, renovations and the prevention of teacher layoffs. While signing the plan into law in Denver, President Obama said

the day did not mark the end of the nation’s economic troubles or constitute all that must be done to turn the nation’s economy around. “But it does mark the beginning of the end,” he said, “the beginning of what we need to do to create jobs for Americans scrambling in the wake of layoffs; to provide relief for families worried they won’t be able to pay next month’s bills; and to set our economy on a firmer foundation, paving the way to long-term growth and prosperity.” The president said the package’s aid to state and local governments will prevent layoffs of firefighters or police recruits and provide help for the nearly 18 million Americans who will get larger unemployment checks in the mail. He said that about a third of the package comes in the form of tax cuts that will spur job-creation and put money in the pockets of 95 percent of all hardworking families. “As a whole, this plan will help poor and working Americans pull themselves into the middle class in a way we haven’t seen in nearly 50

Stimulus jobs Georgia is getting 106,000 jobs from President Barack Obama’s stimulus package. The 4th Congressional District, which includes portions of DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties, will get the seventh largest number of jobs. Here is where the Georgia jobs will go: District 7..........................9,900 District 6.........................9,200 District 13........................8,800 District 3.......................... 8,700 District 9.........................8,600 District 11........................8,500 District 4......................... 7,900 District 5......................... 7,900 District 10........................ 7,900 District 8..........................7,700 District 1.......................... 7,500 District 12........................ 7,500 District 2.........................6,800 www.recovery.gov.

years,” he said. The law includes $311 billion in investments for infrastructure, clean energy, transportation, healthcare and schools; $286 billion in tax cuts to individuals and businesses and $193 billion for benefit programs such as unemployment and food stamps.

Help for homeowners in new plan Up to 9 million families at risk of foreclosure will get help to restructure or refinance their mortgages from a $75 billion plan unveiled Wednesday by President Barack Obama. The Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, unveiled in Phoenix, Arizona, is part of the President’s broad, comprehensive strategy to get the economy back on track. The president said the plan, which offers incentives to encourage lenders to lower payments to affordable levels, focuses on rescuing families who have played by the rules and acted responsibly. “It will give millions of families resigned to financial ruin a chance to rebuild,” he said. “It will prevent the worst consequences of this crisis from wreaking even greater havoc on the economy. And by bringing down the foreclosure rate, it will help to shore up housing prices for everyone. The plan comes just as the 13-county metro Atlanta area logged its highest month ever for pending foreclosures. In January, Equity Depot, an Alpharetta foreclosure-tracking company, said 8,400 homeowners faced Please see HOMES, page 6

February 21, 2009

CrossRoadsNews

People

February 21, 2009

“His participation with Leadership DeKalb at this level greatly enhances our effectiveness and will help us achieve our goals for further growth.”

Bishop Paulk to face accusers again Stogner joins board 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker General Manager Curtis Parker Staff Writer McKenzie Jackson Advertising Sales Cynthia Blackshear

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Paulk. It said Archibishthat during the op Earl Paulk case, Paulk twice of Chapel admitted he was Hill Harvester t h e Brewers’ Church in Despiritual adviser, catur will have minister, pastor to face accusand reverend. ers Pastor BobMona Brewby and Mona Earl Paulk Bobby Brewer Mona Brewer er said last week Brewer in court that she is relieved not to have that again in their sexual misconduct $1 million judgment against her suit. and said she intends to pursue her In a unanimous decision on case against Paulk. Feb. 11, the Georgia Court of ApIn her August 2005 lawsuit, peals overturned the 2008 ruling Brewer said she had a 14-year sexof DeKalb Superior Court Judge ual relationship with Paulk because Mark Scott that Mona Brewer’s he told her that God wanted her to sexual coercion lawsuit against take care of his sexual needs. Paulk was “frivolous” and awardMark Scott In a legal maneuver, the Brewing Paulk’s lawyer more than ers dismissed the case handled by Scott and $1 million in attorneys’ fees. The appeals court ruled that Scott made refiled their case before a different judge. Scott’s ruling had come six days before a mistake when he said that the Brewers, former church members and employees, former DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones was did not have a confidential relationship with scheduled to be deposed in the case.

Former DeKalb CEO executive assistant Richard Stogner was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for Leadership DeKalb. Stogner, who retired from his role in the CEO’s office after eight years on Dec. 31, has also served as the county administrator for the DeKalb Board of Commissioners. Ken Jones, the board chair of Leadership DeKalb, said Stogner brings a legacy of strong business Richard Stogner and community leadership intelligence to the board, along with a broad knowledge of the metro area’s issues and resources. “His participation with Leadership DeKalb at this level greatly enhances our effectiveness and will help us achieve our goals for further growth and development,” Jones said. Leadership DeKalb is a nonprofit community leadership development group that seeks to train leaders committed to addressing and resolving issues that impact the quality of life in DeKalb.

Big payoff for lottery player

Library named for student

Ken Toussaint’s wallet is a little fatter these days. Toussaint, a Decatur resident, was one of three Georgia Lottery players to pocket $250,000 each in the Dec. 12 Mega Millions drawing. The 55-year-old purchased the winning Quick Pick ticket at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta while on his way to board a flight to California. Toussaint didn’t find out he had won the quarter-million dollars until he went on the Georgia Lottery’s website and checked the winning numbers on the ticket. He had been holding the ticket in his pocket for over a month. “I’ve had it in my wallet all this time,” he said. When he realized his ticket was

Seven-year-old Kameron Dunmore will be long-rememered at Princeton Elementary School. The Lithonia school has named its library the Kameron Michael Dunmore Media Center in Kameron Dunmore honor of the second-grader, who died after being hit by an SUV in the crosswalk outside his school on Feb. 2. Juanita Letcher, Princeton’s principal made the announcement at Kameron’s funeral service on Feb. 7. More than 300 friends, classmates and county officials attended the funeral service held

Ken Toussaint didn’t realize he had a winning ticket for over a month.

worth something, Toussaint said he went numb. “I’m still numb,” he said. “I’ll probably scream later.” Toussaint said he will probably use his winnings to further his education. “I feel very good,” he said. “Almost like a dream.”

Quick Read

Stimulus package to bring 7,900 jobs to 4th District

The 4th Congressional District will get 7,900 jobs from President Barack Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package.

A bill in the Georgia Legislature would outlaw the consideration of race and gender in the awarding of state contracts, college admission and other areas.

Stone Mountain’s first black mayor dies 5 NAACP centennial provides reasons for revelry 7 Chuck Burris, who became Stone Mountain’s first African-American mayor and lived in the house of the James Venable, the former Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, has died.

DA’s office collects stuffed animals for kids 5

Adults mentors needed

at Beulah Baptist Church. During the service, Kameron was remembered as a well-liked child who had a fascination for nature and reading. His classmates gave a single yellow rose to his mother, Karen Dunmore, and sister, Kiara. Police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said detectives are still investigating the accident and the SUV driver, Shirley Ogilvie, has not been charged in the case. Ogilvie faces charges ranging from vehicular homicide to failure to yield for a pedestrian crosswalk. Kameron was interred at Hillandale Memorial Gardens in Lithonia. His father, Michael Dunmore, released two doves in his memory on the banks of a nearby pond.

Bill seeks to eliminate race, Youth Olympics registering 11 2 gender in state contracts 6 Preschool kids who want to run, jump and

More than 315 stuffed animals collected by the DeKalb District Attorney’s office will end up in the arms of children across the county.

Circulation Audited By

of Leadership DeKalb

Adults looking to have a positive impact on young people can sign on for the Meeting of the Hearts mentoring program.

When the NAACP turns 100, it takes dance, song and erudite words from ministers to celebrate the occasion.

Youth, politics discussed

The ramifications of Barack Obama election and the contributions of college students during the 2008 election, will discussed at Georgia Perimeter College.

Breast cancer volunteers navigate community

sweat at the third annual Kiddie Olympics have until April 1 to register.

Black history quilt panels dedicated to family heroes 12 Three months ago, 10-year-old Chloe Lemon tried her hand at quilting, but didn’t finish the project.

Arts competition accepting entries 12 Student artists can enter the 2009 Congressional Art Competition and vie for $18,500 in art scholarships and the opportunity to have their work displayed at the U.S. Capitol.

Title holders leap ahead of 13 10 track competition

When Portia Cornelius was diagnosed with cancer in her left breast a year ago, she had more information than when the disease attacked her right breast in 1992.

With high school track season starting in March, defending state titleholders Damar Forbes and Sonni Austin have already leaped ahead of most of their competition.

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February 21, 2009

Community

CrossRoadsNews

“Chuck was not only an intelligent and conscientious servant, he was certainly a very good friend.”

Stone Mountain’s first black mayor dies

Reward offered for killer

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

New Birth MissionStewart was born ary Baptist Church is in the Bronx, N.Y., of offering a reward for Jamaican parentage. He information leading to graduated from Morean arrest and convichouse College in 1996 tion in the murder of with a B.S. in psychology, Marc A. Stewart of Stone and was president and Mountain. CEO of Island Coast EnGwinnett County tertainment. He was AtMarc Stewart Police found Stewart, lanta’s biggest promoter 36, dead in his Ford Explorer in a of Caribbean music shows, he also Duluth shopping center parking promoted shows in the Caribbean lot late on the night of Feb. 14. He and Europe, including acts like had been shot in the head. Elephant Man, Beenie Man, Beres The concert promoter was Hammond, Eddie Griffin and reported missing on Feb. 11. His comedian Earthquake. wife said the last time she head He is survived by his parents, from him was when he called her Glen and Patricia Stewart, and from Marietta to ask her what she a 2-year-old daughter, Kennedy wanted for dinner. Stewart. During his disappearance, his In a statement Monday, Stewbank card and cell phone were art’s family said it was greatly sadused. Three hours after he called ness by his death. home, Bank of America sent him “He was a beloved son, father, an e-mail saying it had noted “ir- friend and businessman who regular check card activity.” was known throughout the AtIn a Feb. 18 press release, the lanta community as hardworking, Lithonia church said Stewart was trustworthy and dedicated,” the a faithful member and that Bishop statement said. “His charm and Eddie L. Long, New Birth’s senior professionalism captured the atpastor, would announce the re- tention of many supporters, and ward live on Friday on the Frank the firm footprint he left behind and Wanda Morning Show from will not easily fade away.” the studios of WVEE FM-103 raThe family said that a celebradio station. The amount was not tion of Stewart’s life will be held in known at press time. Atlanta in the near future.

Chuck Burris, who became Stone Mountain’s first AfricanAmerican mayor and lived in the house of the James Venable, the former Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, has died. He wo u l d have been 58 years old on Chuck Burris March 5. A statement from Burris’ family on Tuesday said he died on Feb. 12 after battling cancer for years. Funeral services were held Feb. 19 at Parish of St. Monica and St. James Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. State Rep. Billy Mitchell, who served on the Stone Mountain City Council with Burris, said he will be missed. “Chuck was not only an intelligent and conscientious servant,” Mitchell said, “he was a certainly a

very good friend.” Burris had followed his wife, Marcia Baird Burris, to Washington where she had landed a job at the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum. He was employed at Lockheed Martin in Baltimore. He was elected to the Stone Mountain City Council in 1991. Six years later, he was elected mayor and served from 1997 to 2001. During his first term, Burris was invited to President Bill Clinton’s White House and in 1998 sat next to Hillary Rodham Clinton during president’s State of the Union speech. He also served as president of the Georgia Conference of Black Mayors. His last public service in DeKalb was in September 2006, when he was picked by the DeKalb County School Board to finish three months on the term of former school board Simone ManningMoon, who resigned her seat to take a job out of town. Burris was born in New Or-

leans, La., on March 5, 1951. In 1967, at the age of 16, Burris enrolled at Morehouse College as a Merrill Scholar. While at Morehouse he attended Saturday seminars, which were often taught by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be sent in Burris’ memory to The Amyloidosis Foundation. Amyloidosis is a group of diseases in which different types of proteins accumulate in the body’s organs and tissues. The deposits damage the structure and function of the tissues and cause serious disease, which is often fatal if it affects major organs and is not treated. For information on the foundation, visit www.amyloidosisresearchfoundation.org. Mitchell said Burris was in need of a kidney a year ago but was too ill to undergo the transplant. Condolences can be sent to: Marcia Baird Burris, c/o Johnson and Jenkins Funeral Home, 716 Kennedy St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20011. 202-882-8800.

DA’s office collects stuffed animals for kids More than 315 stuffed animals collected by the DeKalb District Attorney’s office will end up in the arms of children across the county. The stuffed animals – teddy bears, Pooh bears, Elmo dolls, and other cuddly animal toys – were collected for the Bearable Hugs for Georgia’s Children Campaign. The initiative is sponsored by the DA’s Interstate Child Support Prosecution Unit for the Office of Child Support Services and Fatherhood Program. For the statewide campaign, district attorney’s offices across Georgia collected new or gently loved bears and other stuffed animals. The toys will be donated to local children in foster care or

These new and gently used stuffed toys will be donated to children.

those receiving access and visitation services through OCSS and the criminal justice system. The DeKalb DA’s office is donating its toys to the Still Waters Youth Sinfo-Nia Orchestra and Dance Company, Georgia Center for Child Advocacy, Atlanta Child Care Resource Guide and the Children’s

Adults mentors needed Adults looking to have a positive impact on young people can sign on for the Meeting of the Hearts mentoring program. The Decatur-based program seeks to develop one-on-one relationships between children and teens – ages 4 to 18 years old – and supportive adults. Mentors interact weekly with the children, all of who have a parent who is incarcerated, and provide guidance and support to help them cope with the challenges of day-to-day life. The children all live in DeKalb County.

Mentors must be 18 years or older and commit to meet at least one hour weekly for the next 10 months. Training is provided. Mentors must also be clean and sober for the past five years and be able to pass a background check. The Meeting of the Hearts program is operated by DeKalb Human Development Department, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Children and Youth Coordination Council. For more information or to enroll, email hstemp@co.dekalb. ga.us or call 404-270-1178.

Food donations sought Food can be donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Decatur Cooperative Ministries during a February food drive sponsored by 6th District Commissioner Kathie Gannon. Canned goods, non-perishable food items a be donated at sites around the county. Financial donations can be made at www.kathiegannon.com. Gannon said in these tough economic times, she hopes constitu-

ents will “spread the love” with donations to the two charities. “It is my hope that by donating food items or making a donation via a secure link on my website, we can make a difference, in keeping with the challenge presented by President Obama,” she said, Food collection barrels will be located in lobbies of DeKalb County offices, at 1300 Commerce Drive and 330 Ponce de Leon Avenue in Decatur.

Room of the DA’s Office and the Fatherhood Initiative Program. District Attorney Gwen Keyes Fleming said that this is the first time the DeKalb office has participated. “We’re looking forward to continuing our support in the future,” she said.

Finance

CrossRoadsNews

February 21, 2009

“Any institution that wishes to receive financial assistance from the government, and to modify home mortgages, will have to do so according to these guidelines.”

Legislature seeking to eliminate race and gender for state contracts By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Moves are under way in the Georgia Legislature to outlaw the consideration of race and gender in the awarding of state contracts and college admission and in the awarding favorable bonding and insurance requirements by financial institutions. House Bill 291, titled an Act to establish “Georgia’s Antidiscrimination Act of 2009” seeks to amend the state law that prohibits the exclusion of people from educational institutions and government contracts on the basis of race or gender by eliminating all consideration of race and gender. “The time has come for all persons to treated equally under the laws of the State of Georgia,” the bill says after claiming that the laws and government practices of Georgia authorize and attempt to legalize discrimination on the basis of race and gender. The bill comes even as less than

3 percent of state contracts go to minority firms, even with the consideration of race and gender in place. If successful, House Bill 291 would prohibit most voluntary remedies for discrimination in Georgia. Opponents say it would make all voluntary efforts to foster diversity and inclusion illegal in the state. Janice L. Mathis, national vice president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, said the bill is insidious because it is masquerading as a civil rights legislation even as it seeks to increase discrimination in the state. “It is outrageous,” she said. “We already have a lot of race and gender discrimination in the state. Only three percent or less of state contracts goes to women and minorities when 70 percent of the state’s population is black,

Rainbow PUSH and the Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce are encouraging DeKalb residents and business people to call their representatives and senators and ask them to defeat the bill. They say the legislation would effectively roll back voluntary inclusion and diversity efforts and return to white male domination and control of state contracting, educational institutions and appointments. “This legislation is likely to spread to other states if it is adopted in Georgia,” Mathis said. HB291 has been assigned to the Judiciary Committee whose members include DeKalb lawmakers Pam Stephenson, Robbin Shipp and Mary Margaret Oliver. Provisions of the bill would require that federal economic stimulus and other funds be ap-

We do not have a level playing field. It ought to concern everyone including white men because they have wives and daughters, and in a democracy, we ought to play fair.” Janice L. Mathis

Hispanic and female.” She the bill is coming at a particularly sensitive time, when millions of dollars are headed to the state in the stimulus bailout package. “We do not have a level playing field,” she said. “It ought to concern everyone including white men because they have wives and daughters, and in a democracy we ought to play fair.” The bill is sponsored by Reps. Clay Cox of the 102nd, Melvin Everson of the 106th, Willie Talton of the 145th, Charlice Byrd of the 20th, Matt Ramsey of the 72nd, and Joe Wilkinson of the 52nd, all Republicans. Everson and Talton are African-American.

propriated without regard to state or local voluntary minority inclusion plans. It would also repeal sections of the financial institutions law relating to small minority business development corporations, require HBCU’s to admit non-minority students in greater numbers, outlaw more favorable bonding and insurance requirements for minority or disadvantaged firms, and voluntary efforts by state colleges, universities and technical schools to create diverse student bodies. The bill is also seeking to make consideration of compliance with voluntary minority business enterprise participation plan in awarding state construction contracts illegal, and repeal tax deduction allowed to firms that engage minority businesses. It is also seeking to prohibit the Georgia Lottery Commission from reporting the extent of minority business participation in lottery activities and contracts.

When house is damaged, the insurance adjuster is not on your side Dear Dave, A tree fell on our house yesterday and did quite a bit of damage. We’re talking with the insurance company now. Is there anything we should watch out for where they are concerned? - Ian Dear Ian, For openers, the insurance adjuster is not your pal. He works for a huge company that got that way by paying as little as possible. You have lots of rights under your policy, and you should insist on all of them. Let them know that you expect your house to be put back in exactly the same shape it was before the accident, and that you expect the work to be completed in a professional manner, and as quickly as humanly possible,

adjusters, but there are some that will stretch the truth and more. Don’t be combative, but don’t be a wimp, either. And don’t sign a release until both your head and your heart know that you have been treated fairly. - Dave Military buyback Dear Dave, My husband served four years in the military before becoming a state trooper. He now has the chance to buy back his four years from the military. This would enable him to retire four years sooner.

by contractors whom you get to approve. This is your home we’re talking about! You’ve paid premiums for years, and now it’s time for the company to make good on their promise to protect you. Adjusters are loyal to the company that pays them. There’s nothing wrong with that. Will some of them lie? You bet! Will some of them give you bad advice or send you down the wrong path? Oh, yeah! Certainly there are honorable HOMES, from page 2

The problem is that the buyback a survivor’s benefit for you, it just cost is $10,000 a year. Do you think disappears when both of you are gone. You can’t take it with you! it’s worth it? There are three things you can - Amy do with money. You can spend it, you can save it, and you can give Dear Amy, Mathematically it’s a bad idea. it away. I want you to make smart You’d be better off investing the decisions and live like no one else, so that later you can live like no one money. Now, if there’s a happiness fac- else! If the money just disappears, tor involved – if he hates his job, or you’ll have no chance to change something like that – it might war- your family tree or make a huge rant some additional consideration. positive impact on your commuOtherwise, you’re basically pouring nity through giving. money into a pension fund that - Dave dies when he dies. Even if there’s Visit www.davesays.org.

Refinancing help for at-risk homeowners

foreclosures. In January, DeKalb County had 1,239 pending foreclosures, metro-Atlanta’s highest number. Only Fulton County with 18,465 pending foreclosures had more. The Treasury Department estimates that the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan could stop the slide in home prices due to neighboring foreclosures by up to $6,000 per home. The plan will also ease restrictions on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are are generally not permitted to guarantee refinancing for mortgages valued at more than 80 percent of the home’s worth. Under the plan, up to five mil-

lion homeowners who owe more than 80 percent of the value of their homes, will have access to low-cost refinancing. “My plan changes that by removing this restriction on Fannie and Freddie so that they can refinance mortgages they already own or guarantee,” Obama said. “This will allow millions of families stuck with loans at a higher rate to refinance.” The plan also establishes clear guidelines for the entire mortgage industry to encourage lenders to modify mortgages on primary residences. “Any institution that wishes to receive financial assistance from the government, and to modify home mortgages, will have to do so ac-

cording to these guidelines – which will be in place two weeks from today,” the president said. But not everyone will get help. The President said that the plan will not rescue the unscrupulous or irresponsible by throwing good taxpayer money after bad loans. “It will not help speculators who took risky bets on a rising market and bought homes not to live in but to sell,” he said. “It will not help dishonest lenders who acted irresponsibility, distorting the facts and dismissing the fine print at the expense of buyers who didn’t know better. And it will not reward folks who bought homes they knew from the beginning they would never be able to afford. In short, this plan will not save every home.”

February 21, 2009

Black History

CrossRoadsNews

“Don’t get complacent now. The struggle is not over. Our future is bright, but there is much work for us to do.”

NAACP’s centennial provides reasons for revelry and call to action By McKenzie Jackson

When the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People turns 100, it takes dance, song and erudite words from ministers, old and young, to celebrate the occasion. On Feb. 12, the DeKalb NAACP brought all the ingredients together at Saint Philip AME Church as it joined more than 1,700 chapters across the country in celebration of the civil rights group’s centennial. The milestone anniversary came just three weeks after the nation inaugurated Barack Obama as its first African-American president. But the keynote speaker, the Rev. Herman “Skip” Mason Jr., told the audience that the centennial has to be kept in perspective. “Don’t get complacent now,” he said. “The struggle is not over. Our future is bright, but there is much work for us to do.” Since its founding on Feb. 12, 1909, the NAACP has worked tirelessly to promote equality in education, housing and politics for all minorities, often taking its fight to the U.S. Supreme Court. The first order of the business for the DeKalb branch, which was founded in 1955 at the Lily Hill Baptist Church in downtown Decatur, was to register more than 4,000 black DeKalb residents to vote. Mason, a noted historian and “Tonight we thank God that black history professor, said that the NAACP has been part of this Obama’s election is an accom- movement,” he said. plishment that NAACP members Reginald Sharp, a student at nationwide should revel in. M.L. King Jr. High school and

(Clockwise from left) Gospel singer Shirley Diamond, historian and pastor Herman “Skip” Mason Jr., DeKalb Red Hatters, and dancers from DeKalb Academy of the Arts were among those helping celebrate the NAACP’s 100th anniversary.

a preacher at Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church in Decatur, read his award-winning “I Have a Dream” speech that recognizes the contributions of historical African American figures like Jackie Robinson, Booker T. Washington, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King. “I have a dream that our forefathers’ vision will not be stopped by an ignorant society,” he said. “Blackness is still great.” Natalie Cook, a 10th-grader at DeKalb School of the Arts, read her poem “Saving Every Country.”

Photos by McKenzie Jackson / CrossRoadsNews

Both young people received standing ovations from the audience. Gospel singer Shirley Diamond and students from the DeKalb Academy of the Arts also performed. John Evans, who was the chapter’s first president, said the NAACP is even more relevant today and needs and deserves the community’s support.

“This is where the rubber meets the road,” Evans said. “We need money to run our organization. Now, more than ever, the NAACP is needed.” Yvonne Hawks, the DeKalb’s chapter’s president, said the celebration will be year-long. “One hundred years deserves more than one day,” she said.

Blacks in film to be explored at Underground events Youth and politics The classic 1972 film “Lady Sings The Blues,” starring Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams, will be screened Feb. 21 as part of Underground Atlanta Black History Month events. It will be followed by an open floor discussion on “The Untold Story About a Place Called Black Hollywood” led by Len Gibson, president and founder of African American Cinema Gallery (AACVB) and executive producer of the Peachtree Village International Film Festival. The Diana Ross (left) and Billy Dee Williams starred in “Lady Sings the Blues,” which will be the springboard screening starts at noon. for a discussion about blacks in Hollywood. At noon on Feb. 28, a panel of actors, film producers and “Somebodies.” than 100 actors and actresses in sitcoms, distributors will discuss “Cast Me If You Both events will be at AACVB Wel- dramas and full-length films, pays tribute Can.” Panelists will include actor Michael come Center theatre on at the corner of to African-American actors, actresses and Beasley, whose credits include “The Great Upper Alabama and Pryor Street, across authors whose creativity has inspired the Debaters,” “One Tree Hill” and “Army the street from Quizno’s. nation throughout history. Wives”; film producer and actress SharThe AACVB Visitors Center Theater They are offering film enthusiasts an lene Falls of “Grapes on a Vine,” “Trust,” inside look in cinema and African Ameri- at Underground Atlanta is at 50 Upper and Bottom of The Net Filmworks; Urban can film history captured in the gallery’s Alabama St. S.W. Home Entertainment film distributor ongoing exhibit, “Behind The Camera For more information, visit ww.blackBarrett Dungy; and actress Karen Ceesay – Another Avenue Into Hollywood.” cinema.org or call Len Gibson at 678of “Chalk Line,” “One Tree Hill,” and The exhibit, which portrays more 472-4666.

to be discussed The historic ramifications of Barack Obama becoming the United States’ first AfricanAmerican president, and the contributions of college students during the 2008 election season will be discussed Feb. 24 at Georgia Perimeter College’s Decatur campus. “The Political Transformation Barack Obama of the American Mind – Young Adults Reflect Inward, Outward and Beyond” will be moderated by Alexis Scott, publisher of The Atlanta Daily World. Panelists will include Antwaun Griffin, Georgia director of the “Obama for America” campaign, and Ross King, the deputy director of the Associa- Alexis Scott tion County Commissioners of Georgia and Georgia Civic Awareness for Students. The discussion takes place 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. It is part of the college’s Black History Month observations. Dr. Anthony S. Tricoli, GPC’s president, will host a reception afterwards. Georgia Perimeter’s Decatur campus is at 3521 Panthersville Road. For more information, call 678-891-2300.

CrossRoadsNews

February 21, 2009

Readers C

Vote online at www.crossroadsnews.com Please vote for your favorites below (one vote per category), or cast your vote at www. crossroadsnews.com. Winners will be featured in an upcoming Best of East Metro special section.

Public Affairs Best Local Activist r Alvin Dollar r Colet Odenigbo r Ernest Brown r George Turner r Gil Turman r Hank Stewart r John Evans r Joyce Dorsey r Karen Adams Anderson r Michael Armstrong r Peggy Smalls r Susan Keith r Viola Davis Best Local Character r Alphonso Mallory r David Milliron r Hank Stewart r Joe Bembry r Josie Dean r Marion Garvin r Stan Watson Best Local Entrepreneur r Bonnie Kallenberg, Finders Keepers r Brenda Jackson, Brenda Jackson Assoc. r Darrius Green ( D’maestro) r Donald A. McMichael r Greg Levett, Levett & Sons Funeral Home r Gregory Baranco, Mercedes-Benz of Buckhead r Lorraine Harrison, About Conyers Publisher r Lu Woodson, Alpha Climate Control r Malcolm Cunningham, Cunningham Automotive Group r Mattie Rock, Rock’s Networking Unlimited r O’Keefe, Avondale Pizza r Tony & Leslie Royal, Chick-fil-A Turner Hill Road & South DeKalb Mall Best County Commissioner r Connie Stokes r Kathie Gannon r Larry Johnson r Lee May r Richard Oden Best School Board Member r Eugene Walker r Frances Edwards r Jay Cunningham r Tom Bowen r Zepora Roberts Citizen of the Year r Ann Brown r Brenda Jackson r Camille Harvey r Donald A. McMichael r George Johnson r Hank Johnson r Kerwin B. Lee r Larry Johnson r Leslie E. Royal r Peggy Smalls r Renee Ranson r Rev. Marvin L. Crawford, MD. Best East Metro Landmark r Arabia Mountain r Berean Christian Church r Flatiron Building in Oakhurst r Gallery at South DeKalb r Olde Town Conyers r Stone Mountain Most Beloved Politician r Hank Johnson r Commissioner Lou Walker (posthumous) r Lee May r Pam Stephenson r Stan Watson r Thomas Brown r Vernon Jones Most Beloved Elected Official r Burrell Ellis r Gwen Keyes Fleming r Hank Johnson r Johnny Isakson r Larry Johnson r Oz Nesbitt r Stan Watson r Thomas Brown r Vernon Jones Most Beloved Public Official r Chris Morris r Crawford Lewis r David Milliron r Gregory Adams r Larry Johnson r Thomas Brown Best State Legislator r Billy Mitchell r Gloria Butler r Howard Mosby

r Pam Stephenson r Ron Ramsey r Stan Watson r Stephanie Stuckey-Benfield Best Civic Organization r AKA - Lambda Epsilon Omega Chapter r American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) r ARThink r DeKalb NAACP r East Lake r FACAA - Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority r Fairington Park Homeowners Assoc. r Howey Hudson Lowe Foundation, Inc. r League of Women Voters of DeKalb Co. r Pride Rings in Stone Mountain (PRISM) r South DeKalb Neighborhood Coalition (SDNC) r Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) r The Saturday School r The Stewart Foundation Community of Faith Best Large Church (More than 5,000 members) r Berean Christian Church r Beulah Baptist r Destiny Metropolitan Worship Center r Divine Faith Ministry International r Elizabeth Baptist Church r First Baptist Atlanta r Greenforest Community Baptist Church r Hillside Chapel & Truth Center r New Birth Missionary Baptist Church r New Life Community Baptist r Ray of Hope r Saint Philip AME r Springfield Baptist Conyers r Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church r Total Grace Missionary Baptist Church r Voices of Faith r Word of Faith Family Worship r World Changers Best Small Church (5,000 or less) r Body of Christ Ministries r Divine Circle of Enlightment r Exousia Lighthouse Christian Ministry r First Afrikan Presbyterian r First Saint Paul AME r Grace Pentecostal Tabernacle r Greater Heights Christian Church r Greater Love Baptist r Greater Piney Grove r Hillcrest Church of Christ r New Hope Christian Ministries r New Piney Grove Missionary Baptist r Power of Faith r Snellville Church of God r St. Joseph’s Maronite Church Best Outreach Ministry r Angel Food Ministry r Dollie’s Pantry of Exousia Lighthouse r First African r JAMS Worldwide Minisry New Birth Missionary Baptist Church r New Life Community Impact Day r South DeKalb Center for Healthy Living r The Saturday School Best Dance Ministry r Berean Christian Church r Midnight Hour r Moore Arts Ministry r NPG Dance Ministry r Sabrina McKenzie r Saint Philip AME r Tamba Issa r Word of Faith Family Worship Best Church School r Greenforest/McCalep Academy r Faith Academy r Children for Christ Academy r Kilombo Pan-Afrikan Institute r Sts Peter & Paul Catholic School Best Gospel Choir r 1st Saint Paul AME Choir r D.F.M.I. Recording Choir r First Afrikan Church Choir r Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church r New Life Gospel Choir r Saint Philip Griffin Choir r Total Praise r World Changers Church International Best Gospel DJ r Brian Clay r Coco Baby r Larry Young r Reggie Gay Best Gospel Singer r Byron Cage r Celina “SoulDivine” Crawford r Charlena the Soulful Psalmist r Darwin Hobbs r Euclid Gray r Lashawn Pace r Leon Timbo r L’Tanya Moore r Maxine Veerdre r Yolanda Adams

Dining Best New Restaurant r Atlanta Best Coffee r Borage Grille r Mables r Parker’s On Ponce r Turkey Base r Wondrous Works-Fairburn Best African Restaurant r Atlanta Best Coffee r Island Cafe Best American Restaurant r Applebee’s r Arizona Steakhouse r Avondale Pizza Café r Chick-fil-A at Turner Hill Road r Jim ‘N Nick’s BBQ r Marlows Tavern r Taco Mac r Wahoo Best Asian Restaurant r China Dragon r Chou Lee’s r Kampai r Mint r Mu Lan r SpiceThai Palace (Conyers) Best BBQ Restaurant r Harold’s BBQ r Jim ‘N Nick’s BBQ (Conyers) r Old Hickory House r Smokey Bones r This Is It r WW the Boss Best Caribbean Restaurant r Chanan’s Restaurant r Eat Right r Golden Spoon r Island Café r Maracas Cafe/Covington r Peach’s r Royal Caribbean r Taste of Jamaica Best Family Dining Restaurant r Applebee’s r Avondale Pizza Café r Golden Corral r IHOP r Longhorn’s r Piccadilly r Pizza Hut/Candler Rd r Red Lobster r Roberts Restaurant r Ruby Tuesday r Sycamore Grill Best Italian Restaurant r Cafe Milano’s r Cappozi’s r Carraba’s r Chianti’s Italian Restaurant r Joe Carrinos r Maggiano’s r Michelangelo’s r Milanos r Olive Garden r Vini Vidi Vici Best Mexican Restaurant r El Pollo Loco r El Ranchero (Old National Hwy) r Frontera r La Parilla r Los Bravos r Los Chorros r Mexico City Gourmet r Pacho’s Best Restaurant for First Date r Arizona Steakhouse r Bugaboo Creek r Café Circa r Nans r Papadeaux r Parker’s On Ponce r Red Lobster r Spondivits r Sun Dial r Surin of Thailand r Sycamore Grill r Wahoo Most Romantic Restaurant r Arizona’s r Bugaboo Creek r Cappozi’s r Cheques r Michelangelo/Conyers r Milanos r Oceanaire r Steak & Shake r Sycamore Grill r Take 2 Best Soul Food Restaurant r Beautiful Restaurant r Gladys Knight’s Chicken & Waffles r Hodges r Kings Southern Delight r Mammie’s r Mudea’s r Robert’s r This Is It r WW the Boss

Best Sports Bar r Applebee’s r Buffalo Wild Wing r Corner Pub r Dugans r Fox Sports Grill r Scores r Stats r Zanzas Best Restaurant When Someone Else Buys r Arizonas r Atlanta Fish Market r Daruma/Conyers r Gladys Knight Chicken & Waffles r Kam Pai r New York Prime r Olive Garden r Red Lobster r Sambuca r Spundivits r Taste of Brazil Best Appetizers r Applebee’s r Blue Pointe r Bugaboo Creek r Chili’s r Red Lobster Best Bakery r Atlanta Best Coffee r Cakes By Coco r Publix Best Buffet r Asian Buffet r Golden Corral r Mandarin Garden Best Burger r Applebees r Backyard Burgers r Burger King r Checkers r Chili’s r Five Guys r Gutbusters r Honey Creek Wings r Sonics r Ted’s Montana Grill r The Vortex r Three Brothers r Turkey Base r Wendy’s Best Breakfast r Chick-fil-A at Turner Hill Road r IHOP r James Joyce Irish Pub r Java Delight r Thumbs Up r Waffle House Best Cheap Eats r Avondale Pizza Café r Chick-fil-A r Popeyes r Subway r Taco Bell r Turkey Base r Wendy’s Best Late Night Eats r Chou Lee’s r McDonald’s r Taco Bell r Taco Cabana r Waffle House Best Pizza r Atlanta Pizza & Gyro r Avondale Pizza Café r Davido’s r Dominos r Fellinis r Johnny’s Pizza and Subs r Mellow Mushroom r Nancy’s r Papa John’s r Pies on Pizza r Pizza Hut r Pizza Man in Gwinnett r Tava’s Pizza r Vintage Pizzeria r Whole Foods r Zo’s Best Takeout r $3.75 Pizza r American Deli r Chick-fil-A r Fellinis r Mandarin Garden r Piccadilly Best Chicken Wings r $3.75 Pizza r American Deli r Atlantas Best Wings r Buffalo Pizza & Wing Company r Crossroads Cafe & Grille r Davido’s r Dugan’s r Hard Luck Conyers r Honeycreek Wings r JR Crickets r Lovejoy Wing Cafe’ r Mo Better Wings

r Seafood and Wings r Susie’s Best Wings r Wal-Mart r Wild Wing Café r Wing Depot r Wingin’ It r Zaxby’s Best Chicken Sandwich r Chic-fil-A r Wendy’s Best Chicken Salad r Carraba’s r Chick-fil-A r El Pollo Loco r Outback r Zaxby’s Best Coffeehouse r Java Delight r Kaiteur Coffee House r Lattetude Coffee Lounge & Bistro r Starbuck’s r Town Center Breads Coffee House Best Farmers Market r College Park Farmers Market r DeKalb Farmers Market Best Fish Market r DeKalb Farmers Market r Spundivits Best Grocery Delicatessen r DeKalb Farmers Market r Jason’s Deli r Publix Best Supermarket r Aldi r Ingles r Kroger r Publix r Super Save Foods r Walmart Best Doughnuts r Dunkin Donuts r Krispy Kreme Best Fish Fry r Bar B Que Works r Ishlah’s r James Joyce Irish Pub r Natalie’s Fish House r Red Lobster r Supreme Fish Delight r Yasins Best French Fries r American Deli r Checkers r Chick-fil-A r Depeaux r McDonald’s Best Hot Dogs r Checkers r QuikTrip r Sam’s Club r Skip’s r The Varsity Best Ribs r Arizona’s r Jim N Nicks r Old Hickory House r This is It r WW The Boss Best Soups r Olive Garden r Panera Breads r Roly Poly Conyers r Town Center Breads Coffee House/Covington r Whole Foods

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Choice Awards Best Steakhouse r Smokey Bones r Bugaboo Creek r Longhorn’s r Outback r Parker’s On Ponce Best Sub Sandwiches r Avondale Pizza Café r Blimpie r Firehouse Grill r Maracas Cafe/Covington r Publix Deli r Quiznos r Subway Best Sushi r Benihana’s r Blue Fin r I Love Sushi r Kampai r Nagoya r RuSan’s r Sushi Avenue Best Sunday Brunch r James Joyce Irish Pub r Marlow Tavern r Sycamore Grill Buy and Sell Best Antique Store r Faye’s Alabaster Box r Finders Keepers r Glitz and Glam r Lingering Memories Best Auto Dealer / New Domestic r Car Connection, Inc. r Malcolm Cunningham Ford r Stone Mountain Chrysler Best Auto Dealer / New Import r Car Connection, Inc. r Cunningham Mazda r Mercedes Benz of Buckhead Best Auto Dealer Used r Alexis Motors r Car Connection, Inc. r Malcolm Cunningham Auto Gallery Best Tire Store r NTB r NTRW r Sears r Tire Deal r Tires Plus r Walker Tires Best Car Wash r $4 Car Wash r $5 Car Wash r Baker’s on Covington Hwy r California Gold r CarNett r Eastside Detailing & Carwash r Sparkling Auto Bath r Super Suds Car Wash/Conyers r The Finish Line Best Bookstore – New r Barnes & Noble r Books A Million r Borders r Tall Tales Best Bookstore – Used r Aspen Book Store r Eagle r The Book Nook Best Beauty Supply Store r Angie Beauty at Northlake r C & C Beauty & Beyond r Sally’s r Weeta’s Beauty Supply

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CrossRoadsNews

February 21, 2009

Best Eyewear Store r Eyeworks of Decatur r Fashion Optique r Lenscrafters Best Financial Institution r Bank of America r Best Bank r Best Tax Services r CDC Federal Credit Union r Citizens Trust Bank r Decatur First Bank r Edward Jones Investments r SunTrust Bank r Wachovia r WaMu Best Florist r Bloomland r Bussey’s Florist r Dream Florist r Flowers of Conyers r Gloria’s Flowers & Gifts r Gresham Park r Hall’s Flower r Maud Baker Best Furniture Store Home r Finders Keepers r Haverty’s r Rooms To Go Best Garden Center r Home Depot r Lowes Best Insurance Agency r Don Harris State Farm r KJ Insurance r Les Kemp Allstate r Liberty Mutual Best Jewelry Store r Alexander’s – Toco Hill r Jared’s Best Law Firm r Betty Williams-Kirby LLC r Burroughs Johnson & Hopewell r Deming Parker r Moulton and Tarrer r Winfrey & Winfrey Best Music Store r Moods Music r Wal-mart Best Pet Store r Petco r PetSmart Best Real Estate Agency r InTouch Realty, Inc. r Jenice Brinkley r Metrobrokers r Pam Holmes Realty r Prudential r Pulte Mortgage Best Travel Agency r Brock Tours and Travel r Come Cruise With Us & Tours Best Women’s Clothing Store r Barami’s r Belk r Dots r Finders Keepers Consignments r JC Penney r Juicy Couture r Kohl’s r Macy’s r Simply Fashions r TJ Maxx Best Men’s Clothing Store r Bachrach r Burlington Coat Factory r D&K r K&G r Kohls r Men’s Wearhouse r Shoe Shack Best Children’s Clothing Store r JC Penney r Kid to Kid r Limited Too r Old Navy r Ross r Sprouts Children’s Resale Best Thrift Store r Finders Keepers r Goodwill Best Shoe Store r Bakers r DSW r Famous Footwear r Finish Line r K&D Shoes r Liz Claiborne Shoe Store r Payless Shoes r Shoe Land r Shoe Time Services Rendered Best Auto Detailing r Baker’s Auto Car Detail r Cartopia r Eric England’s East Side Detailing r Sparkling Auto Bath

Vote online at www.crossroadsnews.com Best Auto Repair r Drummer Imports r Far East Motor Works r Lionheart Auto Repair r Ultimate Benz r Vol-Maz r Whitlow’s Auto Center Best Health Club r 24/7 Fitness r Anytime Fitness r Beulah Family Life Center r D Renard’s Personal Training Facility r Gold’s Gym r Jeanne’s Body Teck Buckhead r LA Fitness r Lou Walker Senior Center r Samson’s r South DeKalb YMCA Best Day Spa r Kai Spa r La Vie r Spa Sydell r Travis Salon & Spa/Conyers Best Barber Shop r $5 Barber Shop r 1st Class Barber Shop r Afrorama r Exodus Barber Shop r Lion’s Den r Pro Don r Regency Barber Shop r Rick’s Barber & Beauty Salon r Tru Kutz r Walmart Best Hair Salon r $5 Barber & Beauty r Capelli Salon r Don Janelle’s r Favor Hair Studio r Fazeeks r FrostHair Rendition - Veronica Jackson r Honey Creek Hair/Conyers r Mix r Results Hair Studio r Rick’s Styles & Cuts Salon r Salon Milan r Shades of Brown r Shear Perfections II-Debra Valore r Shine Salon and Spa r The Purple Door r Touched by an Angel Best Nail Salon r Beauty Nails r C & A Nails r Diane’s Nails Spa/Covington r Georgia Nails r Immix r Nail Shop on Rainbow r Rick’s Hair & Nail Salon Best Dentist r Best Care Dental r Children’s Dentistry at Stonecrest r Dan Hodges r Dental One r Diane Stephens r Elise Ashpole r Heard & Heard Dental Associates r Jimmy Blount r Lithonia Restoration & Dental r O’Shea & O’Shea Denistry r Sharn Shepard Best Orthodontist r Craig Williams DDS r Dental One r Dr. Eric Echols Best Pet Grooming r Fur Side r Petco r PetSmart Best Free Wi Fi r Atlanta Best Coffee r Chick-fil-A Turner Hill r Panera Bread r Starbucks Best Internet Provider r AOL r AT&T r BellSouth r Comcast r Earthlink r Yahoo! Best Mobile Service Provider r AT&T r Metro PCS r Sprint r T-Mobile r Verizon Best Tattoo Parlor r City of Ink r Karmic Tattoo Best Martial Arts Dojo r Adrian Spellen r AKJ Karate r Jim Fullers Best Children’s Attraction r Beyond Beauty Camp r Celebrate r Chuck E Cheese r Dixie Land

r Fernbank r Golden Glide Skating Rink r Maxx Fun Center r Sherwood Forest Best Youth Performing Arts Group r A Step Ahead Art Studio r Callanwolde r Moore Arts Ministry r Still Waters Youth Sinfo-Nia Best Dance School r Conservatory of Dance & Fine Arts r Dominy School of the Performing Arts r Starbound r Stone Academy of the Arts r Stone Mountain School of Performing Arts r Susan’s Dance School of Performing Arts Best Private School r BaSix Academy r Excell Preparatory Academy r Hope School Of Excellence r Wilson Academy r Young Americans Best Day Care r Beverly’s Angels r Excell Preparatory Academy r La Petite r Love in Action r Visions Child Care r Wings Of A Dove Christian Academy Fun for All Best Bicycle Trail r Arabia Mountain r Callaway Gardens r Silver Comet Trail r Stone Mountain Park r Stonecrest Best Hiking Trail r Arabia Mountain r Panola Mountain State Park r Silver Comet Trail r Stone Mountain Park Best Walking Trail r Arabia Mountain Trail r Callaway Gardens r Fernbank r Silver Comet Trail r Stone Mountain Park r Stonecrest Best Running or Jogging Track r Arabia Mountain r Chapel Hill Elememtary r Stone Mountain Park r Towers High School Best Bowling Alley r Atlanta Fun Center r Glenwood Lanes r Loganville Hwy 78 r Suburban Lanes r Tin Pin Alley at Dolce Best Pool Hall r Barleys r Stroker’s r Twain’s Best Art Gallery r Neighborhood Gallery and Arts Center r The High Best Museum r Fernbank r The High Scene & Be Seen Best Place to People Watch r Centennial Park r Hartsfield Airport r Mall at Stonecrest r Mall of Georgia r Stone Mountain Best Place to Meet New People r Church r East Atlanta Divers r Evening at Emory r Hairston’s r Starbucks on Lake Lucern Drive r The Wine Loft Best Female Vocalist r Algebra Blessett r Candi Staton r Celina “SoulDivine” Crawford r Chantae Cann r Charlena Nutal r Jeanne Brown r Keri Hilson r Trei Taylor Best Male Vocalist r Euclid Gray r JAMM r John McCutcheon Best Jazz Artist r Antonio Allen r Baatin r Delores Major r Herman Mitchell r Kem r Ken Ford

Best Local Artist r Algebra Blessett r Baatin r Chris Cauley r Hank Stewart r Herman Mitchell r Jon McCutcheon r Oorrin Morris Best Local Radio Personality r Coco Baby r Coco Brother r Frank Ski r Larry Tinsley r Lorraine Jacques White r Reggie Gay r Ryan Cameron r Steve Harvey Best Local TV Personality r Fred Blankenship r Jovita Moore r Karen Greer r Mark Hayes r Monica Pearson Best New Artist r Algebra Blessett r Antonio Allen r Chantae Cann r Crisette Michelle Best Jazz Band r Crisette Michelle r Herman Mitchell & the All-Stars r Jaspects Best Movie Theater r Carmike Crossroads 16/Conyers r Cobb Cinema r Galleria r Midtown Landmark r Screen Works (Gallery at South DeKalb) r Starlight Drive In r Stonecrest AMC r Tavern at Northlake r Torch Theater Best Live Theatre r Academy Theatre r Alliance Theatre r Fox Theatre r Horizon Theatre r Renaissance Theater Best Live Music Venue r Apache Café r Center Stage r Chastain r Encore r Lithonia Amphitheater r Schwarz 21-Plus Best After Work Watering Hole r Arizonas r Crickets on Camp Creek r Hairston’s Best Bar Food r Applebee’s r Artistry r Hairston’s r Hot Wings/Shrimp r Ruby Tuesdays r Tangueray Best Bar or Club to Be Seen In r Barley’s r Hairstons r Luckie Lounge r Sugarhill Best Dance Club r Hairston’s r Sugarhill r Taboo 2 r Tongue & Groove r Velvet Room Best Happy Hour r Arizonas r Dugans (Memorial Drive) r Hairston’s Best Cocktail Lounge r Beluga r Gallery Theater r Hairston’s r Sambuca Best Comedy Club r Hairston’s r Jay’s Place r Uptown Comedy Club Best Jazz Club r Hairston’s r Kennedis r Sambuca Best New Nightclub r Ambiance r Artistry Best Karaoke Bar r Buffalo Wild Wing r Dugans Most Romantic Bar r Hairston’s r Ray’s on the River

Wellness

CrossRoadsNews

February 21, 2009

“When we called the National Cancer Institute they sent us materials that didn’t look like us. We both took it on as a mission to help our people understand more about breast cancer.”

Breast cancer volunteers navigate community to reach women all over By McKenzie Jackson

When Portia Cornelius was diagnosed with cancer in her left breast a year ago, she had more information and support than when the disease attacked her right breast in 1992. “I have more people in my corner to encourage me,” said the 54-year-old Decatur resident. “I was in more pain than the first time, but I knew I had to keep going.” Portia Cornelius Cornelius said she got through the pain and six weeks of radiation treatments with the help of her friends and the information she got from Georgia State University’s Women’s Health Navigators Program. The breast cancer prevention initiative seeks to increase awareness among Atlanta’s African-American women ages 40 years and older, because they are 50 percent more likely to die from the cancer than Caucasian women. Cornelius, a four-year volunteer with the program, is one of more than 10,000 metro Atlanta African-American women that have out breast cancer in our been helped by the group between 2004 and lifetime.” January 2009. Baldwin, who is a Cornelius said the high numbers of womnursing professor at en reached with information is wonderful. Georgia State, founded “That means there are 10,000 more the program in 2002. She people who are aware of the importance of was inspired by her best mammograms,” she said. friend Yvonne Nixon, Dr. Dee Baldwin, the program’s founder who died in 2004 from and operator, considers the number of Dr. Dee Baldwin an infection while unwomen reached a major milestone. dergoing radiation treat“We are excited about the serious inroads ment for breast cancer. we have made through educating AfricanBaldwin said Dixon shared her view that American women about breast cancer,” African-American women were not getting she said Monday, “and we hope to wipe

Navigators often go where women are, including malls, churches, schools and community events. At a visit to Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta, Jean Ford-Austin (right), a Fulton County Navigator, collects information from a woman.

enough information about breast cancer. She said that when Dixon was diagnosed with breast cancer in the early 1980s, they could not find any information geared toward African-American women. “They had a lot of material for white women, but they didn’t have a whole lot for us,” she said. “When we called the National Cancer Institute they sent us materials that didn’t look like us. We both took it on as a mission to help our people understand more about breast cancer.” Breast cancer causes the breast cells to grow abnormally and form tumors, which can be fatal. Womenshealth.gov says that black women are more likely die from breast cancer because their tumors are often found later, when cancer is more resistant to treatment. The reasons for late diagnosis include lack of access to health care and health insurance, not following up after abnormal test results, distrust of the health care system, and a belief that mammograms are not needed. The Navigators Program battles the myths and problems by sending its 25 women volunteers, called “navigators,” across metro Atlanta to spread information about the dangers of breast cancer and the importance of getting a mammogram. The women go to shopping centers, malls, churches, schools and community events to meet women in the counties where they live. Alicia Cardwell-Brown, a Rockdale County navigator, said they approach women, give them information and try to persuade them to get a mammogram. “With earlier detection being the key with

breast cancer, by the time many of us get to the doctors it’s already in an advanced stage,” she said. “That is why more of us die from breast cancer than Caucasian women.” Cardwell-Brown, who works with the DeKalb Board of Health, said that black women do not go to the doctor as much as women of other races for a myriad of reasons, including lack of insurance or myths surrounding A. Cardwell-Brown getting mammograms. “This is life-saving information we are giving them,” she said. Carolyn Johnson, a Decatur navigator since 2002, said that African-American women have historically had low access to healthcare. “Our mothers and grandmothers are very touchy-feely types of women and they don’t take well to strangers,” Johnson said Monday after a Navigators meeting at Ponce de Leon Library in Atlanta. “So it’s going to take someone of like skin color saying, ‘This why you need to go do. It can help you live longer.’ ” Baldwin, who has taught at GSU for 25 years, said that access to information is key to fighting breast cancer. “You’ll pick up something if you see an African-American woman on it,” she said. “You get more curious about things versus if you see a brochure that doesn’t look like you.” For more information, visit www.womenshealthnavigators.org or call 404-4131198.

CrossRoadsNews

February 21, 2009

Wellness

“We teach them about fitness now, so they will live fit. A day of physical fitness and awareness is just what these kids need.”

Daycare and pres-school students compete in the annual Kiddie Olympics at Pathersville Stadium in Decatur. April 1 is the deadline to register for 2009.

Kiddie Olympics registering Preschool kids who want to run, jump and sweat at the third annual Kiddie Olympics at Panthersville Stadium in Decatur have until April 1 to register. The May 6 Olympics is open to children ages 3 to 5 years old, who must be registered by their daycare centers and pre-schools. Derrick McClendon, one of the event’s organizers, said the annual event combats childhood obesity. “We teach them about fitness now, so they will live fit,” he said. “A day of physical fitness and awareness is just what these kids need.” The Kiddie Olympics features kids competing for medals in the

20-yard dash, pogo ball race, sack race, bicycle race and tug-ofwar. McClendon said preschools need to sign up now. In 2007, 500 kids participated in the event and nearly 800 kids showed up last year. This year, McClendon said he expects 2,500 to 3,000 to compete. “ W e ’ v e got kids from DeKalb, Atlanta, Newton, Cobb County,” he said. “I think we got centers located in Clayton County coming.” For more information or registration, contact Derrick McClendon at kiddieolympics@aol.com or 770-377-5585.

Family bereavement camp Up to 30 families can share their feelings of loss and grief over the death of loved ones at the March 13-15 Camp STARS for Families in Rutledge. The bereavement camp, which is sponsored by the nonprofit Visiting Nurse Health System, helps families cope with their loss. It will take place at Camp Twin Lakes, 45 minutes from Atlanta. This is the third year for the camp for families. This year’s is sponsored by the Billie S. Been Foundation, an Atlanta-based nonprofit group that provides support activities that heal and enrich the lives of families who have experienced the death of a family member. At the three-day bereavement

camp, families can share their feelings with trained counselors and with other families in a safe environment. Group sessions will be facilitated by Denise Greenberger from Hospice Atlanta and Dr. Felissa Goldstein, a child and adolescent psychiatrist from the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta. During the camp children, parents, grandparents and other relatives can also participate in fun activities including canoeing, boating, fishing, field sports and arts and crafts. Admission is $40 per family. For more information or to register, visit www.vnhs.org or contact Barbara Moore at Barbara_moore@ vnhs.org or call 404-869-3086.

Atlanta hospital has new name After 78 years, Crawford Long Hospital no longer exists. In its place is the Emory University Hospital Midtown. The 511-bed acute care teaching institution got its new name on Feb. 13 with the unveiling of a 19-foot sign at a renaming ceremony. This is not the first time the institution, which opened in 1908, has undergone a name change. It began operation as the DavisFischer Sanatorium. Then in 1931, it became the Crawford W. Long Memorial Hospital in honor of Georgia physician Dr. Crawford W.

Long. Dr. James W. Wagner, Emory University’s president, said the new name emphasizes the importance of the hospital to Emory’s sixhospital health system. “Being more clearly affiliated with Emory in the public eye will help expand upon the hospital’s 100-year tradition of providing outstanding care to people in metro Atlanta and throughout the region,” he said. The Emory University Hospital Midtown is at 550 Peachtree St. N.E. in Atlanta. For more information, call 404-727-8599.

Youth

CrossRoadsNews

February 21, 2009

“It gives them a chance to see how people right in their own circle, right in their own families, actually make contributions that we don’t see every day.”

Black history comes home in quilt panels dedicated to family heroes Quilter Mildred Bethel worked with Jonathan Tuff and other fifth-graders at Cedar Grove Elementary to make a quilt in honor of their everyday heroes.

By McKenzie Jackson

Three months ago, 10-yearold Chloe Lemon tried her hand at quilting, but didn’t finish the project. On Feb. 12, the Cedar Grove Elementary School fifthgrader went all Chloe Lemon the way when she and her a dozen classmates completed a quilt as a Black History Month project. It took the Discovery Learning class – who worked with quilter Mildred Bethel from the Threshing Floor Academy Children’s Art Gallery in Atlanta – two hours to create patches honoring important people in their lives. Bethel, a quilter for more than 40 years, is going to sew the pieces together and create a quilt that will be displayed at the downtown Atlanta gallery Feb. 27 to March 14. In class, Chloe dedicated her piece to her uncle, Doug Dew, who died February 2008. “I chose him because he really encouraged me to always be responsible,” she said. “On my pattern I made a military jacket, his name tag, a national flag and baseball, because he really loved baseball.” Instead of making quilts about historical African-American figures such as Fredrick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, the students honored their grandparents, parents, siblings and other

McKenzie Jackson / CrossRoadsNews

important people in their lives. Teacher Valerie Shorter said the quilting project is a different take on Black History Month for the class. “It gives them a chance to see how people right in their Valerie Shorter own circle, right in their own families, actually make contributions that we don’t see every day,” said Shorter, a teacher for 16 years.

During the session Bethel, who started quilting at age 10, taught the students how to place their drawings on the quilting fabric and she also told them a little bit about the history of quilting. “It’s very relaxing and it’s something that can be used to record their family histories,” she said. “So down through the generations they can show their grandchildren and maybe great-grandchildren what they did.” “I told them that it is very important to pass things down through the generations,” Bethel

added. Sophie Valladares, 10, made a quilt piece in honor of her grandfather, Edward Cargile, who is an electronic technician and former military officer. She drew a picture of her grandfather and a football, which was his favorite sport. Sophie said that her grandfather was an inspiration to her, too. “Someone you love or precious types of things can crafted onto the quilt,” she said. Jonathan Tuff, 10, said he thought the class would be studying a famous African American this

month but he preferred making a quilt patch honoring his grandmother, Anne Barker. “I thought that this would be very fun and easy,” he said. “I knew I had someone to write about.” Meisha Card, Threshing Floor Academy’s founding director, said that they did the quilting project because they wanted kids to have conversations with their family members about individuals in their own family who have done significant things. “So often, during Black History Month, we celebrate the lives and accomplishments of a limited number of African Americans that have gone down in history as accomplishing extraordinary things, failing to research and recognize Meisha Card the accomplishments of individuals within our own families and communities,” she said. Card said the quilt will be returned to the school when the gallery exhibition ends. Shorter said it will be really special to see the finished quilt representing the students’ family members. Ten-year-old Jordan Cherry said he is just happy that his 18-year-old brother, Michael Jackson, is represented on the quilt. “I think he’ll be surprised,” he said. “I look up to him.”

Arts competition accepting entries Student artists can enter the 2009 Congressional Art Competition and vie for $18,500 in art scholarships and the opportunity to have their work displayed at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The competition is open to all high school students in Georgia’s 4th District, which includes portions of DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties. Entries can be computer-generated art, photography and collage as well as traditional media such as painting, drawing, prints and mixed media. The winners from the 4th District will be eligible for $10,000, $5,000, and $2,000

college scholarships from the Art Institute of Atlanta and $1,500 from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Individuals and schools can enter the competition. Schools are allowed up to five entries. For guidelines and application forms, visit http://hankjohnson.house.gov. All entries must be received in Congressman Hank Johnson’s district office at 5700 Hillandale Drive, Lithonia, GA 30058 by March 31. For more information, call Eric Hubbard in the Lithonia office at 770-987-2291, or Oliver Spurgeon in the Tucker office at 770-939-2016.

Input sought on student conduct code DeKalb County Schools is seeking input from parents on its Code of Student Conduct for the 2009-2010 school year. The code of conduct covers dress code, chronically disruptive students, options for minor offenders, bus information, code of sportsmanship, electronic communication devices, violence against students, school personnel and other student responsibilities.

Students receive and sign for the Code of Student Conduct, which contains the discipline rules and regulations of the School System. Students are taught and tested on the contents of the handbook. The current code is at www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/administration/ safety/studentconduct.html. Comments and recommendations should be sent to Student Relations, 5823 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain, GA 30083.

February 21, 2009

Sports

CrossRoadsNews

“Everybody is out to beat me now because I have two state titles in my event. So that makes me work harder.”

State title holders leap far ahead of competition for 2009 track season By McKenzie Jackson

With high school track season starting in March, defending state titleholders Damar Forbes and Sonni Austin have already leaped ahead of most of their competition. Forbes, a long jumper at M.L. King Jr. High School, signed a track scholarship with LSU on Nov. 4, while Austin, a hurdler and sprinter at Miller Grove High School, signed with Clemson on Feb. 12. Austin’s signing with the Tigers resulted from the team atmosphere the 18-year-old felt when she visited the South Carolina school, and faith that she has in Clemson track coach Lawrence Johnson’s coaching ability. Johnson had been recruiting Austin since he was an assistant coach at Virginia Tech. Austin is entering the season as the twotime AAAA state champion in the 400-meter hurdles. In 2007 she posted a time of 43.6 seconds to claim the championship, then dropped her time to 42.9 last May to win her second title. Austin, who also runs the 100m hurdles and relays, said that being the reigning champion makes her work harder. “Everybody is out to beat me now because I have two state titles in my event,” she said. “So that makes me work harder, so I will be able to repeat what I’ve done the past two years.” Austin started running track in the ninth grade and was almost immediately a standout. Her freshman year ended with a fourthplace finish in the 400m hurdles in the state meet, after she fell on the sixth hurdle. Austin said she had an early lead before the fall. “When I fell everybody passed me and I caught up with a few people,” she said. “It was a learning experience. It made me have the

Damar Forbes (left) of MLK Jr. High and Sonni Austin of Miller Grove are preparing to defend their state titles in long jump and hurdles, respectively.

determination and drive to excel.” After that fall, Austin began to blaze a successful trail with her Miller Grove team and summer track club, the D.C. Express. Some of her notable performances are placing fourth in the 2008 USA Track & Field Junior Olympics 400m hurdles and placing third in

the 2008 Nike Outdoor Nationals.

State record is goal Forbes, 18, has also had several standout performances during his high school career, including jumping 23 feet, 10.5 inches to win the state AAAAA long jump title last year,

and holding on to the nation’s top ranking among high school long jumpers during the 2009 indoor track season. Eric Merriweather, Forbes’ indoor track coach, said Forbes has really blossomed since he won the state title that carried him to long jump win in the Junior Olympic games. “He has just been more focused,” said Merriweather, who also coaches the Sprint Athletics Track Club. “He has just progressed so much.” Forbes’ Junior Olympic jump of 24-8 is currently his personal best. Merriweather said he knew that Forbes was capable of making the jump. “I was just like ‘That’s it, that’s it, that’s it,’” he said. “Because I had been trying to get him to do a particular jump and float with it and he finally got a taste of it. Now he is doing what he needs to do to make it happen.” Forbes said that he now thinks he can beat his personal best. “I’m trying to break the Georgia high school record of 25 feet 7 inches this year,” he said. “Ultimately I’m trying to get to 26 feet.” Forbes, who has wanted to sign with Louisiana State University since he was a child, won the 2009 LSU High School Indoor Classic at the Baton Rouge-based school with a jump of 24-6.50 – two feet farther than his nearest competition – on Jan. 10, four weeks before he signed with the Tigers. Merriweather said he is expecting Forbes’ leaps to grow in distance. “He is already out-jumping a lot of the college athletes,” he said. “He is just a phenomenal athlete.” Forbes said he is an up-and-comer in track and field. “I was never really that good coming up,” he said. “I just started getting better gradually.”

CrossRoadsNews

February 21, 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

February 21, 2009

LEGAL NOTICE IN THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF RICHMOND, STATE OF GEORGIA

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IN RE: PETITION OF WILLIE H. EDWARDS, JR. AND ALICE EDWARDS, FOR THE ADOPTION OF A MINOR CHILD, RAQUEL SASHA EDWARDS, DOB: May 19, 1993.

FOR RENT/LEASE

LANDSCAPE/LAWN CARE

MOVERS

Room for rent in my home. $440 mthly. Ideal for single mature adult. Wesley Chapel Area. On bus line. 404-289-1171.

Lawn Care Early Bird Special $99.00 per month. Landscape: Maintenance, Design, Installation, Vegetable Garden. Senior Citizens Discount. Call 770-593-1382

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public notice 1963 Chevy C10 to highest bidder. Black. Need restoration. VIN# 3C144A129856 (no plate). Bidding starts 3/9/09 10 am ends 12 pm. Minimum 75% cash deposit required for highest bidder. Abandoned car removed from Dacula & currently located in Lithonia. Call 770-657-7161 to set up time for inspection.

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 Thursday one week prior to publication, unless otherwise noted.

) ) ) ADOPTION NO ) ) ) 2008-RCA-0075 ) ) ) )

TO: RONALD WHITE, the alleged Biological Father of the minor child, RAQUEL SASHA EDWARDS. You are hereby notified that a Motion To Terminate Parental Rights has been filed in the Richmond County Superior Court on the above-captioned child. Pursuant to Official Code of Georgia Annotated Section 19-8-10, 19-8-11, 19-8-12, and other pertinent laws, you are advised that you will lose custody rights to this child, and you will neither receive notice of, nor be entitled to object to the custody and adoption of the child, unless, within thirty (30) days of your receipt of this notice, you file an Answer to this Petition pursuant to O.C.G.A. 19-7-22, and give notice in writing of the filing of such Petition to this Court and to the attorney listed below. You must prosecute the action to Final Judgment. You are further advised that if you intend to object to this Petition, you must file an Answer to the within thirty (30) days in the Superior Court of Richmond County, Georgia. You are urged to immediately retain legal counsel to assist you in this matter. You should contact the attorney for Petitioner, Helen W. Yu, 3540 Wheeler Road, Suite 509, Augusta, Georgia 30909, telephone: (706) 736-3020, for further information. All notices to or correspondence with the Petitioner and copies of all pleadings or proceedings you may file in any Court in regard to the above-referenced Child should be served upon him. Dated this 5th day of February, 2009. 3540 Wheeler Road, Suite 509 Augusta, Georgia 30909 GSBN: 783555 (706) 736-3020

Elaine C. Johnson Clerk Of Superior Court Richmond County, Georgia Helen W. Yu

Request for Proposals DeKalb County Government requests qualified individuals and firms with experience in project management, preliminary design/design and construction management services to submit proposals for NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM (NSP) IMPLEMENTATION (RFP No. 09-500104). A copy of the Request for Proposals is available on the county website at the following address: http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/purchasing/index. htm and at DeKalb County Purchasing and Contracting Department, The Maloof Center, Room 202, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030 (telephone number 404/371-6400) Proposals will be received at the above address until 3:00 pm on March 31, 2009 Pre-Proposal Conference and Site Visit: A mandatory pre-proposal conference and site visit will be held at 10:00 a.m. on March 11, 2009 at Decatur Library Auditorium, 215 Sycamore Street, Decatur, Georgia 30030. Interested responders are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in the pre-proposal conference and site visit. For information regarding the pre-proposal conference and site visit, please contact Joseph Patterson at 404-371-6243.

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Questions: All questions concerning the project shall be submitted to the Director of Purchasing and Contracting, The Maloof Center, Room 202, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030, in writing no later than 5:00 pm on March 20, 2009. Questions received by the Director of Purchasing and Contracting after this date will not receive a response. Addenda: Request for Proposals are available on the County’s website and all addendums issued for this project may be found on DeKalb County’s website, www.co.dekalb.ga.us/purchasing/index.htm. LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE ORDINANCE