CrossRoadsNews, January 16, 2010 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COMMUNITY

FINANCE

Two advocacy groups for disabled people are meeting with legislators in an effort to get MARTA to change some aspects of its paratransit service. 5

Georgia Power cut the ribbon Wednesday on its new South DeKalb office, in a former Wachovia Bank building on Flat Shoals Parkway. 6

Service changes sought

New power structure

January 16, 2010

Volume 15, Number 37

www.crossroadsnews.com

Groups to help Haiti Crowded field for 4th District seat In the wake of the earthquake that devastated Haiti on Tuesday, CrossRoadsNews has joined with a number of metro Atlanta community newspapers to collect donations for the non-profit CARE. The 7.0 magnitude quake, destroyed Port-au-Prince, the country’s capital city. The improverished CaribPlease see HAITI, page 3

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

It’s now official. Congressman Hank Johnson is seeking re-election to his seat and Vernon Jones and Connie Stokes will be among the Democrats seeking to unseat him. Johnson said Thursday that he will announce his plans for a third term at 11 a.m. on Jan. 16 at his Lithonia campaign office on the second floor of the Burroughs Building, 6440 Old Hillandale Drive.

Hank Johnson

Liz Carter

Vernon Jones

Connie Stokes

Johnson, who was elected to term. After dramatic weight loss last Congress in 2006, made district history in 2008 when he was returned unopposed for a second Please see CONGRESS, page 3

School system facing tough choices to balance budget By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

More tough days are ahead for the DeKalb School System, and Superintendent Crawford Lewis says everything but layoffs is on the table. The district is facing deficits of $55 million to $60 million for the fiscal year that starts in July, and Lewis says its 2011 budget will have to be trimmed accordingly. With these latest cuts, the system will have chopped $135.3 million from its general operating budget in the past three years. The proposed 2011 general operating budget, which will be beCrawford Lewis tween $791.1 million and $796.1 million, will be down from the current budget of $851.1 million. Across the state and the country, school systems are grappling with deficits brought on by the economic recession. “What makes us different is that we have not sent teachers home,” Lewis said. By law, the DeKalb School Board must approve a balanced budget by its May 10 meeting. Property tax for the school system accounts for up to 67 percent of a DeKalb homeowner’s tax bill. While the school board has not increased the millage rate for its portion of the tax bill in seven years, Lewis said he does not know how much longer it will be able to do that. “Only the economy will dictate that to us, but at the same time we are making do with the existing dollars that we have,” he said. Lewis will unveil his budget recommendations to the school board at its Jan. 20 work session. At a Jan. 8 media briefing about the impending belt tightening, Lewis said the district’s organizational structure will be significantly affected. The school district employs 14,000 fulltime and 2,000 part-time employees, with about 1,300 employees in its central office, which is often called top-heavy by critics. Lewis said his proposals will include a “significant reduction” in central office staff and cuts in programs and services. He was mum on the program and service cuts.

Teachers and other DeKalb School System employees picketed the district’s central office on Tuesday to protest the superintendent’s new pay raise when employees facing more cuts.

The shrinking DeKalb School System general operating budget 2011 budget [proposed] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $791.1 million to $796.1 million 2010 budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $851.1 million 2009 budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $894.1 million 2008 budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $863 million 2007 budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $820.1 million

With his seven-member leadership team looking on, he discussed how the central office cuts will pan out. Lewis said they will hire fewer new people from outside the district, cut staff through attrition, and dispatch central office staff with teaching certifications into the classroom. “There is no way to sugarcoat this,” he said. “We are taking the position to keep income coming to everybody’s home. If you move from one job to one that pays less, you are going to take a reduction in pay.” Dr. Jamie Wilson Jr., the district’s chief human resources officer, said that last year they hired 375 teachers but will reduce the new hires from outside the district this year. “A number of our employees fortunately have a number of certifications,” he said. “As teaching vacancies come up,

the tax digest caused by mounting foreclosures and the state Legislature’s freezing of property tax assessments, and declining state funding. Together, those reductions make for a challenging budget year. “Obviously when you are not getting the dollars in, there are no new monies so you have to make the best of the existing dollars that you have,” Lewis said. The cuts will be on top of a 6.1 percent reduction in salaries and benefits and the reduction of 275 teachers last year. Teachers, who are already up in arms about the loss of their step and cost-ofliving increases, are angry that the school board has increased Lewis’ compensation package when they are facing more cuts. The last time teachers got both a costof-living and a step increase was in 2007. In 2008, they received a 2.5 percent costof-living increase and no step increase, and in 2009 they got no increases. On Monday, about 250 teachers and their professional group, the Organization of DeKalb Educators, protested the school boards approval of $15,000 increase for Lewis. They picketed the board’s work session and marched along North Decatur

we will look at their certifications and offer them the opportunity to go into those classrooms.” Wilson said the number of employees who will be impacted will be available at the Jan. 20 meeting. Lewis said the only protected groups – whose salaries and benefits won’t be impacted – will the district’s lowest-paid employees – bus drivers, custodians and food service workers. The school system’s announcements come on the heels of DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis’ Dec. 15 announcement that the county government is facing a $50 million deficit. Ellis has proposed eliminating 760 positions and increasing the millage rate for the county’s portion of the tax bill. Like county government, the school system gets the bulk of its funding from property taxes. This year, it too is facing reductions in Please see BUDGET, page 3

CrossRoadsNews

January 16, 2010

Community

“Serious times call for serious representation, and the Fourth District will be well served by a vigorous, positive debate that presents a diversity of views.”

Pastor to run for House 89 seat the heart of his campaign. The Rev. Kenneth L. Samuel “Democracy works best when is running for the Georgia House all citizens are informed and enDistrict 89 seat held by Ernest gaged in the processes of govern“Coach” Williams. ment,” he said. Samuel, who is pastor of VicIf he wins, Samuel said he will tory for the World Church in Stone fight to see that no one is left beMountain and former DeKalb hind and provide quarterly public NAACP president, announced his forums and an ongoing social netcandidacy for the seat on Jan. 1, Kenneth Samuel work that will allow the district to shortly after his church’s Watch stay informed and engaged with the issues Night service. Williams, a teacher, has represented the being decided in the Legislature. “I will also fight relentlessly to ensure that district since 2003. He was unopposed for two of his three re-elections bid but faced the issues which are important to the voters of the 89th House District of Georgia are not opposition in 2008. Samuel said that the issues of engage- neglected,” he said. Visit KennethSamuel4ga.com. ment, education and the economy are at

Candidates lining up for Congress CONGRESS,

from page

year, he announced Dec. 7 that he has been battling hepatitis C with an experimental treatment of the drug interferon. The one-year treatment for the viral liver disease ends on Feb. 4. Johnson says his health has not interfered with his work and that he has a 96 percent attendance in Congress. He said he will run on his record and is looking forward to a vigorous campaign and his re-election to a third term. “Serious times call for serious representation, and the Fourth District will be well served by a vigorous, positive debate that presents a diversity of views,” he said. “I am proud of my strong record in Congress and look forward to continuing to work for the people of the Fourth District.” Jones, the controversial former DeKalb CEO, was set to announce his bid for 4th District seat on Jan. 15 at a 2 p.m. press conference at 4153 Flat Shoals Parkway. Jones, who alienated many people during his eight-year tenure as DeKalb’s CEO, said he has learned humility and contrition.

Educators group offers ideas to help save money BUDGET,

from page

Road, in front of the central offices. On Jan. 7, they wore black to school to support ODE’s “black-out Thursday.” ODE President David Schutten said Wednesday that they are going to work with the school system on the budget. “Everybody needs to work together to resolve this crisis,” he said. “There are employees all David Schutten over the school district with ideas on how to save money.” Schutten suggested that the district establish a program to reward employees with money-saving ideas and that it look at selling some vacant properties it is not using. “I know that the International School is interested in buying the old Forrest Hill Elementary School building in Decatur,” he said. “There may be other buyers out there. They need to look at selling some properties.” Because of the belt tightening, Lewis said he is anticipating a “very, very rich discussion” with board members when he unveils 50 to 60 recommendations from his leadership team on Jan. 20. The meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. in the boardroom at 3770 North Decatur Road.

CrossRoadsNews

“I want to offer myself and let the people decide who can best represent them,” he said. “Georgia needs someone who can get the job done. Let the people make their decision this summer.” Stokes, who represents Super District 7 on the DeKalb Board of Commissioners, said she will announce on Jan. 30. In her statement Wednesday, Stokes said that “after many conversations and much encouragement,” she will announce at 1 p.m. at the DeKalb History Center in downtown Decatur. Stokes, who is a former state senator, also ran for the 4th District in 2004. She has been a commissioner for five years and chairs the Board of Commissioners’ budget and finance committee. District 5 Commissioner Lee May, who also expressed interest in the seat last year, said he is still contemplating running. “I am still very much interested,” he said. “I am going to make my decision soon so that I can run a good campaign.” Republican Liz Carter has also announced that she is running for the 4th District. She is an executive recruiter and an Atlanta resident.

Local groups to aid Haitian victims HAITI,

from page

bean country of 9 million people is the hemisphere’s poorest country. The exact number is unknown but aid groups estimate that three million people – a third of Haiti’s population – are affected and in need of assistance. CARE is a humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. Its proj- An injured woman is led to safety in Port au Prince, Haiti. ects in Haiti include HIV/ AIDS, reproductive health, maternal and The collection station is outside the child health, education, food security, and Sheriff ’s headquarters at 4415 Memorial water and sanitation. Drive in Decatur. It will be open Jan. 15, Joseph Francoeur Jean, CARE’s proj- from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Jan. 16 and 17 from ect manager in Haiti, called the disaster 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Jan. 18 from 7 a.m. Haiti’s darkest day. to 5 p.m. “In addition to the emergency, we also Checks should be made payable to Roneed to think about giving people psy- tary District Charitable Fund Inc. chosocial help, and assist them to rebuild their homes and their lives,” he said. MedShare need volunteers The community newspapers are reMore than 400 volunteers will be sortceiving checks on behalf of CARE. Cross- ing and packing medical equipment headed RoadsNews will publish the business to Haiti’s earthquake victim at MedShare cards of any advertisers or businesses that International this weekend. donate $25 or more to CARE. To qualify The Decatur-based nonprofit collects for the free business card ad, please drop and recycles surplus medical supplies and off card, and your check made out to equipment for distribution to healthcare CARE to our offices at 2346 Candler facilities in developing countries worldRoad in Decatur by Jan. 29. wide. Please put Haiti Relief on the memo Holly Frew, the nonprofit’s spokeperline. For more information, call 404- son, said items to treat trauma – sutures, 284-1888. oxygen masks, orthopedic equipment and For information on CARE, visit www. the like – were requested by three organizacare.org. tions on the ground in Haiti – Food for the Poor, International Medical Alliance, and Sheriff collection drive a hospital in north Haiti that is swamped The DeKalb County Sheriff ’s Office with the injured. will be collecting monetary donations for Frew said Thursday they were finalizing Haiti through Jan. 18. arrangements to ship three containers to It is working with Rotarians in Rotary the Caribbean country that was devastated Districts within Georgia to render aid to by a 7.0 quake on Jan. 13. the people of Haiti through the Rotary To volunteer with MedShare, register District Charitable Fund Inc. for available slots at www.medshare.org.

CrossRoadsNews

Community

January 16, 2010

“You can imagine how it feels to be in a cardboard box in the cold.”

Warm things need to help the homeless beat the cold 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 Advertising Sales Cynthia Blackshear-Warren

CrossRoadsNews is published every Thursday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsN ews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.

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Charae Braden, Suite 20 Salon coordinator, sorts donations of blankets. Warm items like gloves and scarves are also needed for the homeless.

Inger Coleman-Moses of Decatur knows how cold she gets just sitting in her truck before it warms up. And she thinks of how much worse it must be for a homeless person in the frigid weather plaguing metro Atlanta for weeks. “You can imagine how it feels to be in a cardboard box in the cold.” To provide a little comfort for those who battle the weather with no resources, Coleman-Moses’ Home Away From Home Family Resource Center is collecting clean blankets, coats, socks, hats, scarves, sweats and gloves to distribute to the homeless. Donations are needed by noon Jan. 22. Volunteers will comb the streets of Atlanta to give it all away starting at 10 p.m. Coleman-Moses, the nonprofit’s executive director, said many shelters are over capacity. “As many may not know, some of the homeless have to pay for the shelters and some are really sick.

Therefore, the only place to call home is a cardboard box.” In January 2009, Pathways, a human services nonprofit that counts the metro homeless population, found 7,019 people living unsheltered or sheltered in emergency and transitional housing in Atlanta and in DeKalb and Fulton counties. Coleman-Moses hopes to collect at least 1,000 blankets and has extended her pitch to local retailers. Donations can be dropped at the Suite 20 Salon at 1999 Candler Road in Decatur. It is open seven days a week. Salon owner Kristy Gaiters says it breaks her heart to see the homeless. “I just feel like everybody should have a warm place to sleep.” Founded in 2006, Home Away From Home helps the homeless recover Social Security benefits and manage finances, find stable housing, and navigate legal issues.

Volunteer recognized for work with black chamber For the past 10 years, Michael Walker has been an active volunteer with the Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce. He served on the group’s board for two years and also was its membership chairman, and back in 2004 when co-founder Lou Walker wanted to know about the state of economic black DeKalb, he worked with eight others on a study based on data from the 2000 Census. On Jan. 9, the Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce recognized his efforts with the 2010 Lou Walker Legacy Award, presented during its annual Legislative Prayer Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Atlanta.

Walker, who is no relation to Lou Walker, a former DeKalb commissioner who died while in office, said he is happy to get the award that recognizes people who help promote a level playing for small businesses. It has a prized place on the mantel over the fireplace in his Stone Mountain home. “It means that I have been about helping someone other than myself,” said Walker, storm water supervisor with the DeKalb Roads & Drainage Department. “That was what Lou was about, helping others to succeed. It means that I have been promoting and helping minority businesses Michael Walker (right) receives the 2010 Lou Walker Legagy Award from in the industry that I work.” Georgia Black Chamber’s Thersea Walker and gospel dj Reggie Gay.

Quick Read Pastor to run for House

3 Testing for census jobs on Bike in Olde Town Conyers 8 6 Families can bike around Conyers on The Rev. Kenneth L. Samuel is running Jan. 19

for the Georgia House District 89 seat held Aspiring census workers can take the Jan. 24 and help work off some of those by Ernest “Coach” Williams. 2010 census job test on Jan. 19 at the holiday pounds. Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church in Atlanta. Employment testing for DeKalb Flu week good time to get Volunteer recognized for residents will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. at work with black chamber 4 the church at 1879 Glenwood Ave. S.E. vaccine 8 For the past 10 years, Michael Walker National Influenza Vaccination Week is a has been an active volunteer with the Georgood time to get the H1N1 vaccine. Sales guru has tips for gia Black Chamber of Commerce.

businesses

Critics: Paratransit system insensitive to clients 5

Extras in superintendent’s

Antonio Smith will be pitching his “12 9 Keys to Generating More Sales in Any Mar- compensation package ket” at the monthly brown bag lunch hosted The $15,000-a-year raise for SuperinAdvocacy groups for the disabled are by DeKalb Contract Compliance. tendent Crawford Lewis is just a fraction of taking MARTA to task after a complaint that his three-year compensation package. paratransit riders were left in the cold.

Georgia Power opens new office in South DeKalb

Glaucoma attacks more African-Americans

8 Youth Commission offering 9 Middleton leadership training

A few years ago, Deanna began wondering why her eyes were always Sophomores and juniors in DeKalb Georgia Power customers in South red. The Lithonia resident asked her opti- public schools will be able to develop and DeKalb now have a more spacious office cian about it during her routine annual eye hone their leadership skills with a new Youth exam, thinking maybe it was allergies. to pay their utility bills. Commission.

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CrossRoadsNews

January 16, 2010

Community

“We expose the plight of the poor and this was kind of like the peak of an issue that continues to happen.”

Critics say MARTA’s paratransit system insensitive to clients’ needs By Donna Williams Lewis

Two local advocacy groups for the disabled are taking MARTA to task after a complaint from Lithonia paratransit riders that they were left out in the cold. Disabled in Action Inc. and Maat Helpers are calling for MARTA to become more sensitive to riders’ needs and have arranged a Feb. 15 public hearing on MARTA’s paratransit services in conjunction with several legislators. State Rep. Rashad Taylor (District 55) will co-host the hearing in conjunction with Sen. Ronald Ramsey (District 43) and Rep. Tyrone Brooks (District 63) at 4 p.m. in Room 514 at the state Capitol. The complaint stems from a Dec. 3 incident near Midtown’s Atlantic Station complex. The Rev. Calvin E. Peterson, executive director of Disabled in Action, was among four paratransit riders on two vans transported from Lithonia to a special performance for the disabled of the Cavalia equestrian arts show. Under MARTA’s Mobility service, eligible people with disabilities can schedule rides on lift-equipped “Lvans” on a curbto-curb basis. The one-way fare for the shared-ride system is $3.60. Regular transit riders pay $2 for one-way trips. Peterson, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, and the other riders from Lithonia were scheduled to be picked up after the show by two vans at 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. The other riders were Missi Davinah Pierce, who has multiple sclerosis; her 8-year-old child, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair; and Pierce’s attendant. Paratransit riders are told to expect

Calvin E. Peterson, who has cerebral palsy, wants MARTA to look at the way it handles disabled clients in its paratransit service.

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

pickups within a 30-minute window after the appointed time. So Peterson and the others knew they were in for a potentially long wait in the cold when the show ended an hour earlier than expected. According to weather records, the mean temperature that day was 46 degrees. Peterson said they called MARTA at 2:30 p.m. to ask that they be picked up early but were told that could not happen. At that point, they then traveled nearly a mile, Peterson said, to get to warmth in a coffee shop. Once there, they called MARTA again to ask that they be picked up from the coffee shop, Peterson said. He said they were told they could only be picked up from their originally scheduled location. So they had to maneuver back to the horse show, where the vans did not arrive until 4:45 p.m., Peterson said. Disabled in Action contends MARTA’s

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actions that day violate the “reasonable accommodations” required by the Americans With Disabilities Act. “We expose the plight of the poor and this was kind of like the peak of an issue that continues to happen,” said the group’s administrative staffer, Njere Alghanee. Peterson said he received an apology from MARTA, but the group wants MARTA to address what it called “poor service, late pickups and problems reaching help in dispatch.” Sharon Crenchaw, director of MARTA’s Mobility service, said she is sympathetic, adding that paratransit riders need to remember the policies they’re taught during the service’s orientation process. Dispatchers schedule rides for 1,700 to 1,800 trips on weekdays, Crenchaw said. They cannot change the time and location of pickups on the day of service because of the impact those changes could have

’s rica Ame rt Sale ho #1 S rvice Se

Paratransit service: How to speak your mind n A public hearing, “Transportation: Reasonable Accommodations for the Disabled, Living in Poverty,” will be held Monday, Feb. 15 at 4 p.m. in room 514 of the State Capitol’s Legislative Office Building (check if they’re one and the same building). n Comments can also be made by calling Disabled in Action at 770-987-7684 or by sending email to disabledinaction009@ comcast.net. nTo contact MARTA with paratransit questions or concerns, call 404-848-5000 and follow the prompts for Mobility and then Eligibility.

on other trips and because drivers are accountable for the people they transport, she said. “I’m so sorry that Mr. Peterson felt that dispatchers were not caring,” Crenchaw said, “but it’s disruptive to the entire schedule when we have to veer from the policies and procedures.” Crenchaw said paratransit drivers are sensitive to their riders. As temperatures dipped recently, they’ve been directed to knock on doors to look for riders who are not waiting for them on the street, she said. Regarding the Dec. 3 incident, Crenchaw said records do show the vans arrived outside the 30-minute window — the first at 4:32 p.m. and the second four minutes later. “I can tell you that there is no way we can run 100 percent on time because we travel the same roads and under the same conditions as other drivers,” Crenchaw said. MARTA officials acknowledged pa-

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CrossRoadsNews

Finance

January 16, 2010

“I really like that location. It’s closer to my home and everybody was so pleasant. I hope they keep it up.”

Georgia Power opens spacious new office for South DeKalb customers Georgia Power customers in South DeKalb now have a more spacious office to pay their utility bills. The electric company cut the ribbons Tuesday on its new South DeKalb business office at 4995 Flat Shoals Parkway in Decatur. The office is located in the former Wachovia Bank building. Rodney Perkins, Georgia Power’s business office manager, said he is happy to have an office where customers don’t have to stand outside on busy days to pay their bills. “On the first of the month, we just hated to have people out in the cold or inclement weather,” he said. “Now everybody can fit inside.” The South DeKalb Rodney Perkins office that was located at the Gallery at South DeKalb for 27 years closed there on Dec. 11. It opened in the new location on Dec. 15. Perkins said Georgia Power moved into the mall on Candler Road in May 1982. He said they remodeled at that location three times but it just wasn’t large enough to ac-

Jennifer Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Georgia Power customers pay their utility bills Tuesday at the new South DeKalb office.

commodate the 20,000 customers who do more than 23,000 transactions a month at the office. Perkins said Georgia Power had been looking for a new location for a while. “We were trying to keep it within a five-

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mile radius of the old office,” he said. Even though it took them more than a year to complete the purchase of the old Wachovia Bank building, Perkins said they stayed on it. “This was the spot we needed,” he said. “It has drive-through windows and lots of parking for our customers.” Dorothea Williams, who was paying her bill at the new location for the first time on Tuesday, said the site is a big improvement

on the old. “It’s very nice, more spacious,” said Williams, who lives in Lithonia. “I really like that location. It’s closer to my home, and everybody was so pleasant. I hope they keep it up.” The 3,200-square-foot building, constructed at a cost of $1.8 million near the then new Chapel Hill Commons shopping center, opened in November 2000. It closed in January 2006 after Wachovia and First Union banks merged and ended up with two branches less than a half mile apart. The bank kept the First Union building at the corner of Flat Shoals Parkway and Flakes Mill Road and put the nearly new Wachovia building on the market. Leonardo McClarty, president of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, praised Georgia Power for buying the building. “Whenever you can take a building that has been vacant and put people to work in it, it’s always a plus,” he said. Richard Holmes, a Georgia Power senior vice president, said the DeKalb office, which is one of 132 statewide, is a great location for the company because of its high volume of transactions. He said that opening a new location for customers and employees makes everyone happy. “We create a win-win for everyone,” he said. The office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www .georgiapower.com.

Testing for census jobs on Jan. 19 Aspiring census workers can take the 2010 census job test on Jan. 19 at the Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church in Atlanta. Employment testing for DeKalb residents will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. at the church at 1879 Glenwood Ave. S.E. Census Day is April 1, and the DeKalb Local Census Office is looking to hire 1,200

to 1,500 temporary workers. They will be part of a national work force of 1.4 million temporary workers who help count every U.S. resident. The positions pay $14.25 and $20.25 hourly. For information or to reserve a spot, call 404-239-2160.

Sales guru has tips for businesses Sellionaire.” He conducts semiAntonio Smith will be pitchnars across the country. Smith ing his “12 Keys to Generating has been featured on network More Sales in Any Market” at the television. monthly brown bag lunch hosted The presentation will include by the DeKalb Contract Complimarketing techniques and winance Division. ning in today’s market. The Jan. 21 event takes place Bring your brown bag lunch. 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the county’s Beverage and desserts will be Maloof Auditorium in down- Antonio Smith provided. The workshop is free, but restown Decatur. Smith, a sales trainer and business ervation is required. E-mail contract@co strategist, is author of the 2008 book “The .dekalb.ga.us or call 404-371-4730.

January 16, 2010

CrossRoadsNews

MACY’S BRINGS YOU THE GIFT OF MUSIC &THE POWER OF A DREAM In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream,

Macy’s is proud to sponsor The Boston Children’s Chorus 7th Annual Martin Luther King tribute concert, “From A Child’s Mind”, Monday January 18th. For more information or to support the Boston Children’s Chorus, visit bostonchildrenschorus.org A ch child’s hilild’ d s mi mind holds the p powerful owerfu full dr drea dreams eams ms ttha that hat ch changee the world. helping That’s why Macy’s and Reading Is Fundamental are h elping to make literacy a priority across the nation. Macy’s is a proud supporter of RIF’s Multicultural Literacy Campaign. Since 2004, Macy’s customers have helped raise over $13 million to help provide free books and literary resources for children nationwide. For more information on RIF, visit RIF.org.

Photography by Randy Goodman

9120136A.indd 1

12/31/09 9:41:44 AM

CrossRoadsNews

Wellness

January 16, 2010

“Even though there is no cure for glaucoma, with early detection and treatment, medication can slow the progression of the disease.”

Glaucoma attacks African-Americans more than anyone else Teacher Deanna Middleton of Lithonia caught her glaucoma early. With treatment, she is still able to grade papers.

By Donna Williams Lewis

A few years ago, Deanna Middleton began wondering why her eyes were always red. The Lithonia resident asked her optician about it during her routine annual eye exam, thinking maybe it was allergies. It wasn’t. She learned that she had glaucoma, an eye disease commonly believed to strike only the elderly. “Just the thought of it was unnerving,” Middleton, 40, recalled this week. “I do have some nerve damage, but my blessing is that it was caught early.” This month, which is observed as National Glaucoma Awareness Month, Middleton and other activists are spreading the message of early detection of the disease that afflicts nearly 2.3 million Americans age 40 and older, or about 2 percent of that population. A 2008 Prevent Blindness America report says that everyone, young to old, is at risk, but that African-Americans develop glaucoma six to eight times more often than Caucasians. Glaucoma also often occurs earlier in life for African-Americans, who have a much greater chance of going blind from the disease than other ethnic groups. Jenny Pomeroy, CEO of Prevent Blind-

ness Georgia, said early detection is key. “Even though there is no cure for glaucoma, with early detection and treatment, medication can slow the progression of the disease,” Pomeroy said. “I think the most important message is to get a regular dilated eye exam … and if you’re on medication for glaucoma, don’t stop taking it.” People at particular risk should be examined annually, she said. Beyond age and race, other risk factors include having a parent or sibling who has

glaucoma, severe nearsightedness, being diabetic, having had eye surgery or an eye injury, and extended use of steroids. Glaucoma causes loss of sight by damaging the optic nerve. When this happens, peripheral vision begins to diminish. If left untreated over time, glaucoma also may damage central vision. In the early stages, glaucoma has no symptoms, no noticeable vision loss and no pain, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation. It’s called the “sneak thief of sight” be-

cause usually the eye has been permanently damaged by the time symptoms appear. Once vision is lost to glaucoma, it cannot be restored. But vision loss can be lessened if glaucoma is treated early, Prevent Blindness Georgia says. Middleton, a first-grade teacher at Covington’s Ficquett Elementary School, is thankful to still have her peripheral vision. She said she sees normally, with contacts. Middleton has become an advocate for eye exams, persuading her three brothers to get tested, and hopes to be trained to conduct glaucoma screenings. She also has encouraging words for glaucoma patients. Those concerned about the cost of their medication should look for glaucoma studies they can join, Middleton said. Some provide free medication and free eye exams. “I’m often the youngest person in the studies,” she said. In the meantime, she faithfully uses eye drops each night to treat her glaucoma, hoping to prevent further damage to her eyes. “I wonder about the future, but I just pray about it,” Middleton said. “I just want to let people [with glaucoma] know they have to accept that it’s not the end.” For more information, call Prevent Blindness Georgia at 404-266-2020 or visit www.pbga.org.

HIV/AIDS conference in Atlanta Bike around Olde Town Conyers The sixth annual National African American MSM Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS takes place Jan. 21-24 in Atlanta. The event aims to strengthen HIV/ AIDS research, prevention and care strategies for African-American men who have sex with men, or MSM. Registration can be done in advance online or on-site. Participants can choose to attend a variety of workshops and discussion groups to

learn about new trends, studies, intervention strategies and research. The conference will be at the Renaissance Concourse in Atlanta. It’s sponsored by Atlanta-based National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities Inc. and by MBK, My Brothers Keeper, a national organization based in Jackson, Miss. For more information or to register, visit www.naesm.org.

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Decatur, GA

Riders of all ages and abilities are welcome. He said 10 to 80 people have shown up for the free rides. “We get folks in their 80s and kids on training wheels. Just make sure to bring your helmet.” Cyclists take off at 4 p.m. at 901 Railroad St. The route meanders through picturesque Olde Town Conyers and finishes at the Whistle Post Tavern for ice cream and refreshments. For more information, call Eddie Shirey at 770-365-0480.

Flu week good time to get vaccine

The Medley

5304 Panola Industrial Blvd., Ste 1

Families can bike around Conyers on Jan. 24 and help work off some of those holiday pounds. The monthly 45-minute ride, which takes place on fourth Sundays, is sponsored by “Olde Town Conyers Trail and Related Issues Subcommittee of the Economic Development Committee of the Conyers Mainstreet Program.” Chairman Eddie Shirey says he just calls it “the bike committee.”

•

404-914-0314

National Influenza Vaccination Week, observed Jan. 10-16, is a good time to get the H1N1 vaccine. President Barack Obama, who proclaimed the national week of activities to build awareness about the importance of immunization against the flu, says he is encouraging everyone to get the H1N1 flu vaccine if they have not already done so.

“Every American has a role to play in fighting the H1N1 flu,” the proclamation said. “Those not at high risk can protect themselves and prevent the virus from spreading to more vulnerable members of their families and communities by getting vaccinated as well.” Flu season typically lasts until May. Visit www.flu.gov to find vaccination sites.

January 16, 2010

Youth

“The tinderbox was already there and then came this pay issue. I told them it was going to explode.”

Extras in superintendent’s compensation package By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

The $15,000-a-year raise that the DeKalb School Board approved for Superintendent Crawford Lewis is just a fraction of his three-year compensation package. Lewis’ full compensation package, approved 8-1 by board members on Jan. 4, climbs to more than $300,000 a year when annuity payments and routine expense payments are included. Under his new three-year contract effective Jan. 4, 2010, to Jan. 3, 2013, Lewis’ annual base salary climbed to $255,000 from $240,000 and will be paid monthly in 12 equal installments. District 9 board member Eugene P. Walker was the lone dissenting voice. He said the time is wrong and that Lewis shouldn’t get an increase until those who make the least – bus drivers, food service workers and custodians – get increases. As part of the new contract, Lewis also gets $15,000 a year paid into his taxsheltered annuity in 2010, $23,999.96 in 2011, and $35,000.04 in 2012. The package also includes $30,000 to cover routine expenses that the contract

says “the Superintendent shall not be required to submit reimbursement requests for.” In addition, the board also will reimburse Lewis “for all other reasonable expenses in connection with the performance of his duties, as authorized by the board.” The annuity payment, which is in addition to the standard package of benefits provided all other 12-month certified administrative employees, will be made in monthly increments of $1,250, $2,083.33 and $2,916.67. Lewis also gets a “late model” car, defined as an automobile that will be replaced “whenever it reaches mileage of 60,000 or is three years old,” whichever occurs first. The board will pay to “fully maintain” the automobile in a safe and usable condition and will provide all expenses incidental to its usage. Lewis oversees a school district with about 100,000 students, and 14,000 fulltime and 2,000 part-time employees. He has been DeKalb’s superintendent since October 2004, and even with the increase he is still metro Atlanta’s third-highest

paid superintendent, behind Atlanta City Schools’ Beverly Hall, who tops the list with a $353,711 salary, and Gwinnett County’s Alvin Wilbanks, who makes $343,954. Hall manages a district with 52,000 students and Wilbanks has 155,000 students. Lewis should have been making $250,000 under his old contract, but last year he took a 2 percent pay cut and turned down his $10,000 cost of living increase in solidarity with the teachers and employees who lost their step increase and cost of living increases. The Organization of DeKalb Educators, which represents 4,700 school employees, says the raise sends a terrible message to employees, who were already frustrated by austerity measures adopted last year. In 2009, the school board suspended payments into the employees’ tax-sheltered annuity, did not give teachers any raises, reduced the number of teachers leading to larger classes, fewer breaks and more paperwork. “The tinderbox was already there and then came this pay issue,” ODE President David Schutten said. “I told them it was going to explode.”

Youth Commission offering leadership training Sophomores and juniors in DeKalb public schools will be able to develop and hone their leadership skills with a new Youth Commission launched by Commissioner Lee May. May, who developed the pilot for 10th- and 11th-graders, said the training program will prepare DeKalb’s youth for future leadership positions. Each participant will be assigned to work with either the DeKalb CEO or a

CrossRoadsNews

commissioner within one of the seven DeKalb Commission districts and will take part in county activities and workshops in addition to education and professional development elements of the program. May says the students will be actively engaged on local, national and global issues. “The program will expose the youth of our communities to new ideas and concepts, it will provide an opportunity for them to be of service to the commu-

nity, and will equip them with the valuable leadership skills and training.” Commissioners recently approved funding for the inaugural group. Application packets are available from the counselor/principal offices of local schools. Students must be currently enrolled in a DeKalb County public school. For more information, contact program coordinator Carolyn Frisby at 404370-8178 or cmfrisby@co.dekalb.ga.us.

Cash prize for green projects Students in middle school and high school can compete for a $1,000 cash prize for their school while raising awareness of local environmental issues, but they have to apply by Jan. 20. In a contest sponsored by the Georgia Conservancy’s 12th annual Youth Environmental Symposium, groups can identify an environmental factor affecting their community or school and carry out a project to address the issue. The symposium will host 10 groups as finalists to present their projects Feb. 26 at Zoo Atlanta. A panel of judges composed of environmental professionals will select the winner. A first-place winner will receive a $1,000 grand prize either to enhance the project or to purchase materials for the school library or science department. Second- and third-place winners and honorable mentions also will receive cash prizes. YES, which promotes environmental awareness among Georgia students, will cover finalists’ transportation costs, meals and a substitute teacher for the day. Karen Garland, the Conservancy’s environmental education senior manager, said 38 groups vied last year, including Renfroe Middle School in Decatur, which won first place for hosting its 2nd Annual Global Warming Action Conference, and Druid Hills High students who organized a benefit concert in support of Trees Atlanta and placed second. Teacher’s packet and entry forms are available at www.georgiaconservancy .org/index.php?page=education. Contact Karen Garland at kgarland@gaconser vancy.org or 404-876-2900, Ext. 113.

CrossRoadsNews

January 16, 2010

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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.

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CrossRoadsNews

January 16, 2010

MARKETPLACE RATES

Marketplace COMPUTERS WWW.JONATECH.NET. Laptops $199 & up. Parts, Adapters, Screen Replace, Spyware & Virus removal. Diag fee $40 Jonatech 678-918-4445

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special notice

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$55 PER 6 MONTHS. HOME/VOICE/MOBILE OR HOME/MOBILE/MOBILE $75.00 PER 6 MONTHS. OFFER EXPIRES 1/31/2010.

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ANY MECHANICAL REPAIR OVER $150

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NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS

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South Dekalb Mall

Opp. Dept. of Driver's Services

Corner of Memorial & Columbia Opp. Walmart on Columbia Dr.

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CrossRoadsNews

January 16, 2010