CrossRoadsNews, January 17, 2015 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COMMUNITY

FINANCE

MLK DAY

The median on Wesley Chapel Road between Snapfinger and Boring roads is looking up after county crews pruned its trees and shrubs. A3

Female and minority entrepreneurs with a focus on fashion can apply for the Workshop at Macy’s business development program. A5

Pre-k students at Greenforest McCalep Early Learning Center brought Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy to life on Jan. 15. B1

Stepping up on maintenance

Building skills at Macy’s

The legacy lives on

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

January 17, 2015

Volume 20, Number 38

www.crossroadsnews.com

Jury awards $72.7 million to girl mauled by pit bulls By Ken Watts

A DeKalb jury awarded $72.7 million to Erin Ingram who lost an arm in a pit bull attack nearly five years ago when she was 8. The award was the largest ever made by jury in a dog bite case. The jury made the award to make a statement to dog owners who allow their animals to roam neighborhoods. The jury took only 45 minutes on Jan. 13 to return the unanimous verdict in DeKalb State Court. It awarded Erin – now 13 years old – $36.6 million in compensatory damages and $36 million in punitive damages. But Judge Matthew Robbins reduced the total award to $36.9 million because Georgia law O.C.G.A. 9-11-55 caps punitive damages at $250,000. The dogs’ owner, Twyann Vaughn, has no insurance, so the Ingrams do not expect to actually receive any money from her. But family attorney Kevin Adamson told Twyann Vaughn WSB-TV that he plans to track down Vaughn and garnish her wages so that he can get something for Erin, who has more than $100,000 in medical bills from multiple surgeries.

Adamson also said the family is hoping the large jury award will have an impact in the community. “While it’s large enough to make one sit up and take notice, it is ultimately a symbolic victory for the Ingram family,” he said. “This verdict, we hope, sends an important message to those who allow their dogs to roam free and fail to protect others.” The two pit bulls mauled Erin on March 9, 2010, as she was playing in the driveway of her Lithonia home in a subdivision off Union Grove Church Road. Her left arm was so severely mangled that surgeons had to amputate it. She also has limited use of her right arm because of injuries from the attack. DeKalb Police Sgt. R.B. Peeler had to shoot one of the two dogs that attacked Erin to make it let go of the child. The other dog ran home and was later euthanized by DeKalb Animal Control. In addition to her arm injuries, Erin has scarring all over her body. Her father, Tommie Ingram, says she still has nightmares. Vaughn told the jury that the animals broke out of their kennel when she was away from home. She was found guilty on six misdemeanor counts, including reckless conduct and owning a vicious dog, and was sentenced to spend 16 months in prison.

Erin Ingram, 13, lost her left arm after a pit bull attack in the driveway of her Lithonia home in March 2010. Her right arm was also injured.

May pushing once-a-week trash pickup No rate hike, free containers for residents DeKalb interim CEO Lee May is proposing the implementation of one-day-a-week solid waste and recycling collection as a cost-saving Sanitation initiative. Co u n t y re s i den t s would receive free waste containers and there would be no rate increase. May is strongly recommending the initiative by the DeKalb Sanitation Lee May Division to pursue once-a-week collection and institute uniform, county-provided trash containers. The proposal comes after a three-month pilot program with more than 28,000 residents from across the county. If the new initiative is adopted by the board, May said it will ensure efficiency and keep neighborhoods cleaner and more attractive. “Our residential sanitation rates have remained constant for the last nine years, and with the launch of this initiative, we will continue that trend,” May said in a Jan. 7 statement. May’s recommendation comes in the wake of an analysis of customer feedback and internal data from a three-month pilot program that concluded in July 2014. The pilot included residents in the cities of Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody and Lithonia and unincorporated DeKalb. Customers in all parts of unincorporated DeKalb and the four cities support elements

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Under the proposal, garbage, recycling and yard trimmings would be picked up once a week at savings to both the county and residents.

of the initiative. Under the proposal: n Residential customers will not experience a rate increase. n Standardized containers. Sixty-five-gallon green county-provided trash containers will reduce loose trash and ensure that neighborhoods are cleaner and neater. n One-day-a-week waste pickup. Currently,

garbage is collected twice a week for DeKalb County residents. On the first collection day, Sanitation picks up more than 66 percent of countywide garbage. This leaves a much lighter second-day collection. n Consolidated collection, in which all waste – solid waste, recycling and yard trimmings – will be collected on the same day. n Additional benefits to county residents.

The program will include a renewed focus on recycling education for county residents and additional roadside litter collection by Sanitation employees. The proposal is expected to come for a vote before Board of Commissioners at an upcoming meeting. For more information, call 404-294-2900.

CrossRoadsNews

American Heart Association Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates Children’s Dentistry @ Stonecrest Children’s Healthcare at Hughes Spaldings Combined Insurance Congressman Hank Johnson Craig B. Williams, DDS DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court DeKalb County Dept. of Watershed Mgmt. DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office DeKalb County Solicitor-General DeKalb Medical Dignity Memorial Georgia Dept. of Community Affairs Georgia Piedmont Technical College Humana, Inc. Johnny Harris, CPA Kaiser Permanente National Coalition of 100 Black Women Oakhurst Medical Centers, Inc. Optimal Health Chiropractic Wellness Center Rotary Club of South DeKalb Utley Chiropractic & Wellness Woodruff Medical & Testing

January 17, 2015

Community

CrossRoadsNews

“The fall and winter maintenance program is undertaken October to March when mowing requirements are minimal.”

DeKalb taking orders to spruce up the neighborhood Keep DeKalb Beautiful Mowing and Herbicide group is sprucing up the county before the growing season starts this spring, and residents can still put their orders in for maintenance work along the public rights of way in their neighborhood. On Jan. 15, crews trimmed trees and outgrowth from their trunks along the Wesley Chapel Road median between the Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library and Boring Road. Projects for consideration may include other medians, tree trimmings, dead tree limb removal, mowing, curb bumping, litter pickup, removal of illegally dumped tires and furniture, and cleanup of abandoned cemeteries. The work is being done as part of the DeKalb Roads and Drainage Department’s annual Fall & Winter Work Program that provides additional maintenance services to county residents. The fall and winter maintenance program is undertaken October to March when mowing requirements are minimal. Residents can submit requests online at https://docs.google.com/forms/ Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews d/1upjsyUbFIgr4fBCOl4e1Wyhy7oQ_Hf7KFDeKalb Sanitation crews trimmed and prune trees in the Wesley Chapel median on Jan. 15. Residents can call in fixes through March. gsFOo1nFE/viewform. Volunteers will help count DeKalb’s homeless population where they are in storefronts, vacant buildings, under bridges and overpasses, and other gathering places.

“Come on and be a part of the vision” First Afrikan Church is an Afrocentric Christian Ministry that empowers women, men, youth and children to move from membership to leadership in the church, community and the world. Praise & Devotion Worship Service Sundays at 10 a.m. Join us for Bible Study Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

5197 Salem Road Lithonia, GA 30038

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

Rev. Dr. Mark A. Lomax

CLAUDIA G. LAWSON Tax Commissioner DeKalb County, GA

Volunteers needed to count homeless Volunteers are needed on Jan. 22 to help DeKalb County count its homeless population. The county’s Department of Human and Community Development will be taking its eighth annual count between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. in collaboration with Pathways Community Network Institute. If the weather is bad on that date, the count will be done on Jan. 29. Organizers say volunteers will check overnight for unsheltered homeless men, women and families living in storefronts, vacant buildings, under bridges and overpasses, and in ravines and other known gathering areas. The homeless count provides valuable information on the number and basic characteristics of people sleeping outdoors and in shelters. The information gathered is used by the

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to track the county’s success in ending homelessness. HUD also uses the data to allocate funding to local communities for homeless aid programs. Training will be provided. Volunteers will report at 9 p.m. to three deployment locations: nNorth DeKalb County – Center for Pan Asian Community Services, 3510 Shallowford Road in Chamblee. nCentral DeKalb County – Maloof Center, 1300 Commerce Drive in Decatur. nSouth DeKalb County – Salvation Army Peachcrest, 3500 Sherrydale Lane in Decatur. To sign up, register online at www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0f44aca82da1f85-2015 or submit the volunteer form to Dr. Josie Parker at josie.parker@pcni.org or call her at 404-704-2958.

Suspects in Texaco shooting nabbed Andre and Amanda Spriggs were arrested this week in connection with the shooting of a Texaco gas station attendant in Decatur four months ago. The DeKalb Sheriff ’s Office Fugitive Squad Andre Spriggs took Andre Spriggs, 20, and Amanda Nicole Spriggs, 26, into custody for allegedly shooting Rafrique Makani in the head during an armed robbery at the Texaco station on Flat Shoals Road on Sept. 2. The robbery and shooting was captured on a surveillance video in the gas station.

Makani, who was shot at close range, is still under medical care for his injuries. The Sheriff ’s Office said Andre Spriggs was arrested without incident on Jan. 7 on Burlington Gate Amanda Spriggs Drive in Lithonia. Amanda Spriggs was arrested two days later on Jan. 9 after she was identified as also being involved. Both suspects are charged with felony aggravated battery and felony armed robbery and are in custody at the DeKalb County Jail.

ATTENTION ALL DEKALB COUNTY HOMEOWNERS The 2015 Property Tax Exemption Deadline is Fast Approaching! If you owned and resided in a home in DeKalb County on January 1st, you may apply for a Basic Homestead Exemption and Property Assessment Freeze with the County by April 1st of this year. The home must be your primary domicile and legal residence for all purposes, including the registration of your vehicles and the filing of your Federal and State income taxes. Applications received after April 1st will be processed for 2016. In addition to the basic homestead exemption available to all homeowners, there are special exemptions available for residents 62 and older, disabled veterans or their un-remarried spouses, and other disabled residents. Eligibility for special exemptions is based upon age or disability, total household income, and must be applied for in person. When applying, please bring your State and Federal income tax forms, Social Security 1099, and any other forms of income you may receive, to one of our three offices across the County.

North Office

1358 Dresden Dr., NE Atlanta, GA 30319

Main Office

4380 Memorial Dr. Suite 100 Decatur, GA 30032

South Office

2801 Candler Rd. #66 South DeKalb Mall Decatur, GA 30034

Remember, the deadline for applying for all homesteads is April 1st! Apply for the Basic Homestead Exemption, the Property Assessment Freeze, or renew your tag registration online at: www.dekalbcountyga.gov/taxcommissioner Questions? Call (404) 298-4000 or email us proptax@dekalbcountyga.gov

4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 100, Decatur, Georgia 30032 (404

-298-4000)

CrossRoadsNews

Community

January 17, 2015

“This is not an issue of wanting to sell them. … We just want it back in its proper place so that it can be protected.”

King siblings still squabbling over dad’s Bible, medal 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts Graphic Design Curtis Parker Assistant Editor Brenda Yarbrough Advertising Sales Kathy E. Warner Front Office Manager Catherine Guy Circulation Manager Jami Ffrench-Parker CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of 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. Advertisements are published upon the representation that the advertiser is authorized to publish the submitted material. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless from and against any loss or expenses resulting from any disputes or legal claims based upon the contents or subject matter of such advertisments, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

By Ken Watts

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s children were back in court this week battling over his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize medal and the Bible he traveled with during the fight for voting and civil rights for African-Americans. Two days before their father’s 86th birthday on Jan. 15, Dexter Dexter King Scott King attended a pre-trial hearing before Fulton Superior C o u r t Ju d g e Robert McBurney. He and his older brother, Martin Luther King III, want to Martin King III sell the items, but their sister, the Rev. Bernice King, wants to keep them in the family. Dexter King was the only one in court on Jan. 13. McBurney listened to lawyers for both sides discussing procedural motions but did not offer a ruling. The King sons, who control the King estate, have been battling with their younger sister for more than a year about who owns the historic artifacts. The brothers filed suit against Bernice King on Jan. 31, 2014,

The children of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are battling over ownership of his Nobel Peace Prize medal and Bible.

asking the court to force her to relinquish the items. They want to sell them to raise money for the estate. Their sister, who is CEO of the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, wants to keep the items, which she says Bernice King are “sacred artifacts of the 20th century’s most important social movement and are not for sale.” Their father was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent efforts to secure voting and

civil rights for African-Americans. King was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis, Tenn. He was 39 years old. On Jan. 21, 2013, President Barack Obama took the oath of office on King’s Bible during his public inauguration for his second term. On Feb. 19, 2013, McBurney ordered Bernice King to turn over the Bible and medal to the court. The judge said the items will stay in the court’s custody in a safe deposit box until it decides who will have legal control of them. At Tuesday’s hearing, Dexter King refused to say that he wanted to sell the Nobel medal and Bible. “This is not an issue of wanting

to sell them,” he said. “This is an issue of ownership and retrieving property. An individual has sequestered property that belongs to the corporation. We just want it back in its proper place so that it can be protected.” A full trial is scheduled for Feb. 16, but attorneys for both sides say there’s still a possibility that the matter could be settled out of court. Attorney Nicole Wade, who represents the King estate, said the judge could still grant summary judgment or they can still go to trial. “But I am always open to a settlement,” she said.

Barrie is DeKalb Superior Court’s new chief judge Tangela Barrie is the new chief and administrative judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. Barrie, 41, was elected chief judge by her colleagues on the bench on Dec. 2. She also will serve as chief judge of the 4th Tangela Barrie Judicial Administrative District, which includes Rockdale County.

Her two-year term began on Jan. 1. Barrie says her goal for the term is to open the courthouse doors to the community. She plans to institute programs for self-represented litigants and initiate measures so that residents can easily navigate the courthouse. At age 35, Barrie was the youngest Superior Court judge elected to the Stone Mountain Circuit and only the second African-American female on the DeKalb bench.

Quick Read

As a Superior Court judge, she handles felony cases ranging from theft to murder, including death penalty cases. Her civil case load includes adoptions, child custody, divorces and other civil matters. She also voluntarily presides over drug court, an accountability court designed to rehabilitate offenders who use drugs. Barrie is a former assistant DeKalb district attorney who worked in the DA’s Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit. In 2007,

she was named Prosecuting Attorney of the Year for the successful prosecution of her cases. Barrie is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter, and the DeKalb Chapter of the National Council of Negro Women. She serves on the boards of multiple professional and civic organizations. Barrie is married to Dr. Mahmoud Barrie. They have three young sons.

Jury awards $72.7 million to girl mauled by pit bulls A1

MARTA increases commitment Daughter says nonviolent to small and DBE’s A5 message still relevant B3

A DeKalb jury awarded $72.7 million to Erin Ingram who lost an arm in a pit bull attack nearly five years ago when she was 8.

MARTA is boosting its commitment to Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises to support economic opportunity and job creation.

DeKalb taking orders to spruce up neighborhoods A3 Keep DeKalb Beautiful Mowing and Herbicide group is sprucing up the county before the growing season starts this spring, and residents can still put their orders in for maintenance work along the public rights of way in their neighborhood. Circulation Audited By

16 dead statewide as the flu takes toll on Georgians A6 Georgia’s flu-related death toll has risen to 16 as of Jan. 10, and the flu continues to spread throughout Georgia and 45 other states. The CDC says 26 children have died from the disease nationwide.

As the nation observes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, his daughter says violence by police against unarmed young African-Americans and other events make her father’s nonviolent legacy more relevant than ever.

Outdoor projects at Panola Mountain B4 From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., volunteers will spread mulch, remove invasive plants and clean mud from signs and fences, and paint picnic tables.

index to advertisers Action Tax Service.........................................A7 DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court....................A7 DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office...A3 First African Presbyterian Church..................A3 Johnny Harris CPA........................................A7 Johnson Hopewell Coleman LLC.................A7

Macy’s...........................................................A8 Quenon Smith..............................................A7 Seabright Homes, LLC..................................A7 Tax Roadmap................................................A7 Teen Reach Inc.............................................A7

Comcast........................................................ B3 Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton........... B7 Commissioner Stan Watson.......................... B7 DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court....................B4 DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson...........B4

Georgia Power..............................................B5 Macy’s...........................................................B8 Best Buy Co. Inc......................................Inserts Walgreens...............................................Inserts Walmart..................................................Inserts

January 17, 2015

Finance

CrossRoadsNews

“We want to give small and disadvantaged businesses, including minority and women-owned businesses, the opportunity to compete and grow their enterprise.”

Workshop at Macy’s seeks minority, women fashion entrepreneurs Fashion-related entrepreneurs who are ready to take the next step have until Feb. 1 to apply for the Workshop at Macy’s. The minority- and women-owned business development program takes place in New York City in late April/early May. The Workshop at Macy’s, which was created in spring 2011, mentors and fosters growth within up-and-coming minorityand women-owned businesses. The four-and-a-half day intensive training course was developed by a consortium of experts from Macy’s Learning & Development; its Multicultural Merchandising and Vendor Development; Babson College, the nation’s leading business school for entrepreneurship; and select Macy’s merchants and vendors. Participants build new vendor relationships with Macy’s and friendships among themselves. Shawn Outler, Macy’s group vice president of Leased Businesses, Vendor Collaboration and Multicultural Business Development, said the retailer can’t wait to see what

the new applicants have to offer. “Going into our fifth year, we are truly encouraged by the results so far with a number of graduates of the program now providing goods as Macy’s vendors and a host more in the pipeline for future opportunities,” she said. Eligible applicants Shawn Outler must own 51 percent or more of their company, be in business for at least two consecutive years and be its primary decision maker. Applicants must write a 250-word biographical statement, provide images of product including costs, resumes on all owners, financial statements for two years, and provide verification of the business as a legal entity, among other requirements. Applications must be submitted online or postmarked by Feb. 1 by 11:59 p.m. For more information, visit www.macysEntrepreneurs spend four-and-a-half days in New York learning from industry experts. inc.com/workshop.

MARTA increases commitment to small and DBE for next three years

Keith Parker

MARTA is boosting its commitment to Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises to support economic opportunity and job creation. The transit authority said that projects using federal dollars will now have a 30 percent DBE

participation goal from 2015-2017 up from 27.75 percent. The new goal was approved by the Federal Transit Administration for federally funded projects. For the first time in more than five years, MARTA surpassed its DBE goal with a 10 percent increase in DBE participation. MARTA GM/CEO Keith T. Parker said DBE participation bolsters the state and lo-

cal economy. “We want to give small and disadvantaged businesses, including minority and womenowned businesses, the opportunity to compete and grow their enterprises, which will help to boost our state and local economy,” Parker said in a December. Through its Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, led by Ferdinand L. Risco, MARTA has worked closely with regional

MARTA hiring police officers with signing bonus MARTA is hosting a Jan. 24 job fair to hire 18 police officers. Applicants must be at least 21 and are required to pass all tests related to the position, including a criminal history record check, physical and psychological examination, drug and alcohol screening, polygraph examination, and a credit check. The 9 a.m.-to-noon job fair takes place at its Atlanta headquarters, 2424 Piedmont Road N.E., across the street from the Lindbergh station. Georgia Department of Labor staff will pre-screen applicants before interviews with MARTA staff take place.

Successful candidates will have one of the following: n Two or more years of college – 60 semester hours/90 quarter hours. n One completed term of honorable military service. n Peace Officer Standards and Trainingcertified peace officer, corrections officer or jailer. n Completion of a pre-service academy. Professional/business attire is required. Candidates must pass the physical examination, including drug and alcohol screening, in addition to psychological testing. Potential employees must possess a valid

driver’s license. Salaries begin at $35,609 and range up to $54,787 for senior officers. In addition to company benefits, MARTA is offering a signing bonus of $3,000 for POST-certified officers and $1,000 for non-certified personnel who meet other qualifications. MARTA also provides all uniforms and equipment. For more information, visit www.itsmarta.com and click on Careers@MARTA or call 404-848-5544. For more information about the recruitment, contact GDOL’s North Metro Career Center at 404-679-5200.

Deal sets course for Georgia’s next four years Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has proposed a new transportation plan in his State of the State address to make the state more competitive. “This is our annual checkup exam on the body politic, where we measure our vitals, cel- Nathan Deal ebrate areas of great health and seek cures for what ails us,” Deal said in the Jan. 14 speech before state lawmakers. He said more Georgians are returning to work or getting their first job, hundreds of more businesses are opening or relocating here, and steady revenue growth has allowed the state “to slowly mend the ravages wrought by the Great Recession” over the past five years. “Now, our economy is seeing positive growth with thousands of new jobs added every month,” Deal said. “We’re seeing the telltale signs of cranes and bulldozers humming on newly cleared land. “We’re seeing home values recover and Georgia families rebuild their savings. And Georgia has been named the No. 1 place in the nation in which to do business by several major rating agencies and has repeated that designation by one of them already.

“In short, I’m here to report to you today that the state of our state is strong, and getting stronger every day.” Deal said the state’s “Rainy Day Fund” has experienced steady growth during his years in office. Addressing the state’s infrastructure and transportation needs, the governor said the state must ensure that its network of bridges, roads and other vital infrastructure are wellmaintained and that the increasing transportation needs of the population are met. “Since only three regions in the state invested in Plan A, a regional 1 percent sales tax for designated infrastructure projects, we acted to implement Plan B, which includes reprioritized funding and a focus on the most essential projects that will target our most congested areas,” he said. “For example, we are constructing new capacity express lanes along large stretches of I-75 and 575. We are also extending the managed lanes on I-85. “Over the next four years, we will open to traffic more than $1.1 billion worth of new, reliable interstate lanes in metro Atlanta, the largest interstate expansion since the 1980s.” In his response, Georgia Democratic Party Chair DuBose Porter said the facts clearly show that the state of Georgia is at

risk of getting even further behind. “Under Deal’s watch, Georgia’s middle class has withered, our school rooms are overcrowded, and the promise of opportunity has become a faded memory,” he said. “Instead of laying out a path forward for our state, what Governor Deal offered today are the same policies that crashed our economy and crushed our middle class.” Porter urged Deal to work with Democratic leaders in the state House and Senate and “craft a vision for Georgia that invests in our workers and grows our economy from the middle out.” Porter, a former state representative from Dublin, said the state “prospers when hard work pays off, responsibility is rewarded, and every single Georgian has a fair shot.” “If we’re to become competitive in the country once again, we need to invest in our teachers, keep our work force healthy, help send more students to college and provide them with job training, and tap in to the greatest resource we have – the talent and grit of the people of Georgia,” he said. Porter said that the state has tried the GOP’s top-down approach for more than a decade. “And while it has benefited a handful of folks at the top, it has wrecked our economy and devastated the middle class,” he said.

and state partners to support and cultivate small business growth in metro Atlanta. Risco said outreach efforts to small and disadvantaged businesses are showing results. “Exceeding our current goal with a 29 percent participation rate from these businesses shows our efforts are paying off,” he said. For more information, visit www. itsmarta.com.

Five companies for Jan. 21 Job Fair Admiration Lodge No. 25 is holding its inaugural Job Fair on Jan. 21 at the Community Achievement Center in Decatur. The three-hour event, which is being held in association with DeKalb Super District 7 Commissioner Stan Watson, starts at 2 p.m. Companies scheduled to participate include Boston Market, Grady Health System, Oakhurst Medical Centers Inc. and IFS Securities. The Community Achievement Center is at 4522 Flat Shoals Parkway. For more information, call 404-214-7400.

Help with heating bills on tap again Eligible seniors, home-bound and low-income residents can now apply for LIHEAP funds to help pay for their heating bills. Partnership for Community Action Inc. says it is again accepting applications after receiving federal funding for the annual energy assistance program. The program was suspended in midDecember when PCA ran out of funds after delays in the distribution of federal funding for the 2014/2015 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides energy assistance with home heating costs, weatherization and other home energy needs. The program is funded by the federal government and administered by the Georgia Department of Human Services. PCA, which serves clients in DeKalb, Gwinnett, Rockdale, Newton and Walton counties, said eligible residents can now apply for a one-time annual heating assistance payment of $310 or $350. The program reopened to eligible households on Jan. 15 and will continue until the funds are exhausted. For applications, visit www.pcaction.org or call 404-537-4300 to schedule an intake appointment.

CrossRoadsNews

Wellness

January 17, 2015

“We … hope that the Atlanta community will rally around [Jeff Teague] to assist our patients at Hughes Spalding.”

16 dead statewide as the flu takes toll on Georgians Georgia’s flu-related death toll has risen to 16 as of Jan. 10, and the flu continues to spread throughout Georgia and 45 other states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 26 children have died from influenza nationwide. The Georgia Department of Public Health weekly flu report includes one child among the 16 deaths statewide. CDC Director Tom Frieden said this flu season is shaping up to be a bad one, particularly for people 65 and older. The CDC recently sent an alert to doctors advising prompt use of Tamiflu and other antiviral medications for hospitalized flu patients and those at higher risk for complications such as pneumonia. CDC officials say a strain of flu is going around that is more dangerous to elderly people and very young children, and the flu vaccine doesn’t work well against the particular virus. Frieden said it’s more important than The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges a flu shot as a defense against influenza.

usual that physicians treat certain patients with Tamiflu or other antiviral drugs. The nation is about halfway through the flu season, he said. The flu vaccine can still benefit many people, the CDC says. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches and/or body aches, chills and fatigue. Some people, especially children, also may experience nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Flu and cold symptoms are similar, but the flu is usually more severe. Not everyone will have all symptoms. To avoid getting and/or spreading the flu, get a flu shot, wash or sanitize your hands often, cover your coughs and sneezes by coughing or sneezing into the inside of your elbow or a tissue, know the symptoms of flu, stay home if you feel sick, call your doctor if symptoms appear, and don’t visit people in the hospital if you are sick. For more information, visit www.flu. gov.

Health enrollment help

Hawks’ Teague seeks ‘assists’ for Children’s

Open enrollment for 2015 coverage in the Healthcare Insurance Marketplace ends on Feb. 15, and residents who need help signing up or renewing coverage can attend sessions on Jan. 21 and 22 at DeKalb Public Library branches in Atlanta and Clarkston. On Jan. 21 and Jan. 22, Gresham Library will host sessions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Navigators from Oakhurst Medical Centers will provide assistance. Call 404-298-8998, Ext. 371, for an appointment, and walk-ins also are welcome. Gresham Library is at 2418 Gresham Road in Atlanta. For more information, call 404-244-4374. On Jan. 22, consumer advocacy agency Georgia Watch will provide health care enrollment assistance from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Clarkston Library. No appointment is necessary, and some interpretation services will be available. Call 404-525-1085 for more information. The Clarkston Library is at 951 N. Indian Creek Drive in Clarkston. For more information, call 404-508-7175.

Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague is challenging metro Atlanta businesses and individuals to join him in raising funds for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding. Teague has developed the “Hoops 4 Hughes” promotion to support the hospital located in Jeff Teague downtown Atlanta. Each year, Teague, who is ranked among the top 10 players in the NBA in assists, will use his prior season’s assist total to serve as a baseline for his personal commitment of support. During the 2013-2014 season, he had 563 assists and will donate $20 for each for a personal commitment of $11,260 from the Team Teague Foundation.

Teague is looking for two donors to be the presenting sponsors of his J.T.’s All Stars. They will match Teague’s $20 per assist donation for a total of $11,260. He also is seeking 50 J.T’s Teammates to make a $2 per assist donation for a total of $1,126. Shelton Stevens, senior development officer and director of the Children’s Sports Network, welcomed the “assist.” “We are thrilled to be the recipient of Teague’s support and hope that the Atlanta community will rally around him to assist our patients at Hughes Spalding,” Stevens said in a Jan. 6 statement. J.T.’s All Stars and Teammates will be invited to an exclusive postseason dinner hosted by Teague and attended by current and former NBA stars. For more information, visit www.choa.org/jt.

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January 17, 2015

People

Venable was “a dedicated and faithful servant” who represented the highest standards of service to Lithonia and his church community.

Al Venable, Lithonia’s first African-American mayor, remembered Allison Edward Venable March 24, 1939 – Jan. 12, 2015 Al Venable, who became Lithonia’s first African-American mayor in 1984, has died. Venable, 75, passed away on Jan. 12. He will be remembered at a Jan. 17 homegoing service at the AnAllison Venable tioch Lithonia Baptist Church where he was a faithful member for 66 years.

The service starts at 11 a.m. Venable, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked at Lithonia Lighting for 40 years, was a musician/singer. He sang in Antioch Lithonia’s choir and was a member of the Gospel Harmonizers, a group he organized. At the church, where he became a member when he was 10 years old, he served in almost all of the ministries and was chairman of the Deacon Board until he was too sick to serve. The viewing was scheduled for noon to 8 p.m. on Jan. 16 at Tri-Cities Funeral Home on Main Street in Lithonia.

Venable was born in Lithonia on March 24, 1939, to the late Ora Merle Venable Tolbert and Roosevelt Wilson. He left his beloved Lithonia to enlist with the Marine Corps where he served three years traveling to several countries. When he returned from duty, he continued his employment with Lithonia Lighting where he worked for more than 40 years. While working for Lithonia Lighting, he was encouraged to enter politics. He ran for the Lithonia City Council and later became mayor. In a resolution to the family, Mayor Deborah Jackson and the Lithonia City

Legal Notices 01/17, 01/24, 01/31, 02/07

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

Civil Action Case Number:

++ 15CV1052-7++ Mrs. Bordenave De’Love Hope,filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Jan. 6, 2015 to change the name from: Mrs. Bordenave De’Love Hope to Mrs. Bordenav De’Love Hope. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objec-

tions within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: Dec. 29, 2014 Mrs. Bordenave D. Hope Petitioner, Pro se 2310 Treehills Parkway Stone Mountain, GA 30088 510-776-8403

01/17, 01/24, 01/31, 02/07

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 15CV1209-7++

Council said Venable was “a dedicated and faithful servant” who represented the highest standards of service to the city of Lithonia and his church community and that his work and contributions will continue to be an inspiration to the community of Lithonia and DeKalb County. Venable, who was married for 44 years to the late Juanita Starks, is survived by three sons, Kevin, Allison Jr. “Chico,” and Kimothy (Angela); a host of relatives and friends; and his new wife, Diana Williams, whom he married in May 2010. Antioch Lithonia Baptist Church is at 2152 Rock Chapel Road.

Martha Alejandra Magana, filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Jan. 8, 2015 to change the name from: Martha Alejandra Magana to Martha Alejandra Quinones Saavedra. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: Dec. 24, 2014 Martha A. Magano Petitioner, Pro se 3061 Oakcliff Rd., #38 Doraville, GA 30340 678-830-3036 01/17, 01/24, 01/31, 02/07

Notice of Petition to Change Name of MINOR CHILD(REN) in the Superior Court

of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 15CV1273-3++ Sheila Boyd filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Jan. 8, 2015 to change the name of the following minor child(ren) from: S’maya Boyd, M’lia Boyd, M’rya Boyd to Samaya Boyd, Malia Boyd, Mariah Boyd. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within the time prescribed in OCGA 19-12-1(f) (2) and (3). Dated: Jan. 8, 2015 Sheila Boyd Petitioner, Pro se 2355 Boulder Springs Drive Ellenwood, GA 30294 404-423-5113

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1/6/15 5:10 PM

Celebrating Dr. King January 17, 2015

www.crossroadsnews.com

Section B

Kids Voice MLK Ideals Four-year-old Chris Brady Jr. recites a line from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech during his pre-k’s annual celebration of the civil rights icon’s birthday on Jan. 15. Chris and his classmates also dressed up as doctors, lawyers, firefighters and other careers made easier for African-Americans by King’s fight for voting and civil rights.

Greenforest McCalep’s 4-year-olds bring King’s legacy to life By Ken Watts

When 4-year-old kids channel Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his ideals, it’s easy for parents, friends and other spectators to beam with pride. That’s what happened for the third year at Greenforest McCalep Early Learning Center when pre-k students brought the legacy of the civil rights icon to life on his actual birthday, Jan. 15. During the program, organized by teachers Patricia Hightower, Cee Bee Burns, Jackie Carr and Phillis Porter, the cute 4-year-olds displayed their knowledge and appreciation of King’s inspirational words. They took to microphones that towered over them to recite excerpts from King’s famous speeches, writings, and his historic “I Have a Dream” address before a crowd of 300,000 at the 1963 March on Washington. The children donned white lab coats, astronaut helmets, firefighter gear, business suits and police uniforms to symbolize their career dreams and King’s role in the fight for equal opportunity that makes it easier for them to be anything they want.

Pre-k students at Greenforest McCalep Early Learning Center in Decatur donned clothing and gear to symbolize their career dreams at the program on Jan. 15.

Behind them on the stage were “Voting Rights for All” and “The Living Dream” posters made by their teachers. The pint-sized doctors, lawyers, firefighters and the like also recited from the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” and sang the freedom anthems “Freedom

Ring” and “Dr. King Had a Dream.” Cameras were everywhere as the audience of nearly 100 parents, friends and relatives captured the moment. Dr. Gail Mitchell-Shields, the Early Learning Center’s director, said the annual King presentation just keeps growing

in popularity. “It’s phenomenal that families come from all over the community to see this presentation,” she said. The students prepared for about two weeks, reading stories about King and watching videos and other activities about the civil rights movement. Mitchell-Shields said it’s important to give kids early exposure to the King legacy. “We work hard to show parents that children in every home should be taught about King,” she said. “A lot of times they may hear grown-ups talking more about President Obama or celebrities, and Dr. King’s contributions can get lost in the pop culture noise. We want them to learn about how hard Dr. King worked to bring people together.” Dr. M.O. Clarke, the school’s headmaster, urged parents to answer King’s call to community service to create a personal heritage for their children. “King knew that the greatest gift you have is the package of talents that God has given you that should be shared to create a better community,” Clarke said.

By the numbers

1944

1983

1964

5.2

2000

The year when Martin Luther King Jr. began his studies at Morehouse College, following in the footsteps of his father, Martin Luther King Sr.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s age when he entered Morehouse College. He was admitted in September 1944 after his junior year in high school.

The year President Ronald Reagan signed legislation establishing the third Monday of January as the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday.

The year Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership of the civil rights movement.

The number of people in millions who visit the Martin Luther King Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The first year that the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was observed in all 50 states.

King Holiday

CrossRoadsNews

January 17, 2015

“Once we’ve secured the intellectual property rights, we can move full speed with statue design and fundraising.”

King Commemorative Service to feature Alabama State U’s president Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd, the first female president of Alabama State University, will deliver the keynote address at the King Center’s 47th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service on Jan. 19 at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The service marking King’s 86th birthday and the national holiday takes place in the Horizon Sanctuary beginning at 10 a.m. Actor David Oyelowo, who portrays King in the movie “Selma”; award-winning gospel artist Sandi Patty; and Mathilde Mukantabana, Rwanda ambassador to the United States, will be among the guests attending the service. Fox5 Atlanta will televise it live. King Center founder Coretta Scott King organized the first religious service commemorating King’s birthday in 1969 with the intention that it would become an annual tradition and the spiritual centerpiece of future observances. Boyd, an ordained itinerant elder in the

electorate during a time when blacks were systematically denied access to the ballot. King Center CEO Bernice King said Boyd’s Gwendolyn Boyd David Oyelowo Sandi Patty M. Mukantabana willingness to African Methodist Episcopal Church, has serve as the keynote speaker represents a been Alabama State’s president since Febru- continuation of the relationship between the ary 2014. She has served on the President’s King family and the university that was so Advisory Commission on Educational Excel- crucial to the civil rights movement. “Many people overlook the inseparable lence for African-Americans and as the 22nd national president of 250,000-member Delta connection between my family and Alabama State University. My father used the Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. The King Center said her participation university’s library while completing the in the annual commemorative service will dissertation requirements for the Ph.D. at be steeped in history and irony as the nation Boston University in 1954,” she said. “Almost prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of two years later, the university’s president, Dr. the passage of the Voting Rights Act – land- Harper Councill Trenholm, provided a safe mark legislation that expanded the national haven for my father in the official residence

on the campus after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church parsonage was bombed during the early phase of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.” Events in Alabama, particularly in Selma and Montgomery, the latter being the state’s capital and location of Alabama State, exposed to the nation the constitutional contradictions that characterized the South’s disregard for the Fifteenth Amendment. Alabama State alumni, including the Revs. Ralph D. Abernathy, Fred Shuttlesworth and Fred Reese, were on the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s steering committee that worked alongside King during the planning of the 54-mile Selma-toMontgomery march. Program participants also include federal, state and local elected officials; social change advocates; community leaders; and public figures from the arts, education and the faith community. For more information, call 404-526-8961.

State negotiating with King family for use of his image for statue By Ken Watts

The statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., approved by legislators for the Georgia State Capitol, is still a ways off from installation. Organizers have a spot picked out for the statue, but Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus), who is acting as liaison between the governor, state and the King Center, said they are still in talks with the King Center’s Intellectual PropMartin L. King Jr. erties Management Group for permission to use King’s likeness. The Intellectual Properties Management Group controls the legal rights to King’s image. Smyre said that legal hurdle has to be cleared before the project can move forward. “It’s a slow process but I don’t expect a problem,” he said on Jan. 7. “Once we’ve secured the intellectual property rights, we can move full speed with statue design and fundraising.” Smyre, who co-sponsored King Monu-

ment Bill 1080 with Rep. Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta) in the 2014 General Assembly, declined to identify officials involved in the talks. Smyre, who has served 40 years in the state Legislature, said “there is no timeline” yet for fundrais- Calvin Smyre ing, choosing an artist, completion of the project, or any of the other key details. The one thing that he is clear about is where he would like the statue to be placed – on a grassy area near the Capitol building’s east entrance on Capitol Avenue. Smyre, who is known as the “dean of the House,” noticed the spot while touring the Capitol grounds recently with officials from the governor’s office and the Georgia Building Authority. He said the open area to the left of the steps exiting the building would be ideal. “It’s a nice area where the monument could be angled so it could be seen from Martin Luther King Drive,” Smyre said. The spot also faces the new Liberty Plaza

assembly area that is in the final stages of construction across the street from the Capitol’s east entrance. The plaza is replacing a 60-year-old parking deck that was demolished. Smyre said he plans to Tyrone Brooks recommend the Capitol Avenue location to the Georgia Capitol Arts Standards Commission and to the Georgia Building Authority. Brooks said the placement of the monument at the Capitol near MLK Drive could be powerfully symbolic. “The statue would be positioned so it also appears to look toward Auburn Avenue, where King was born just a few miles away and where he and his wife, Coretta Scott King, are entombed,” he said. King, an Atlanta native, won international acclaim for his leadership of the U.S. civil rights movement. He was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., in 1968 at age 39. The monument bill to place a statue of King somewhere on the grounds “as soon

as is practical” passed the House 173-3 on March 3 in a rare show of bipartisanship in the Legislature. The Georgia Senate voted 49-1 on March 12. Gov. Nathan Deal signed the law on April 29. A portrait of King hangs inside the Capitol building, but there is no other memorial to him in or around the General Assembly. A bust of King is in the U.S. Congress in Washington. When the statue is installed, King will be the first African-American honored with a monument at the Capitol. Smyre said there is no price tag yet on the monument but that it will be built with private funds. The installation of the statue is part of a $17 million face lift to create a “front door” to the Capitol on Washington Street. Liberty Plaza on the other side will have enough green space to hold rallies for up to 3,000 people. Smyre said the King monument planners hope to meet in late January or early February to discuss how best to move the project forward.

CrossRoadsNews

January 17, 2015

King Holiday

“We’ve been busy in the vineyard working in Ferguson and other places around the country promoting my father’s message.”

Daughter says King’s nonviolent message still relevant today By Ken Watts

As the nation observes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with volunteer work, parades and speeches, his daughter says deadly violence by police against unarmed young AfricanAmericans, the recent slayings of two New York City police officers, and terrorism around the world make her father’s nonviolent legacy more relevant than ever. “Violence does not want to pass on quietly,” said the Rev. Bernice King, CEO of the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta. “Violence is still with us, but it’s struggling for survival and there’s a growing interest in the alternative.” The alternative of which she speaks is nonviolence, the ideology espoused and practiced by her father, who, had he lived, would have celebrated his 86th birthday on Jan. 15. The King Center, founded in 1968 by King’s late wife, Coretta Scott King, in her Atlanta home shortly after his assassination on April 4, 1968, is observing the civil rights icon’s birthday with a range of events. The 2015 theme is “Remember, Celebrate, Act: King’s Legacy of Courage for Our World.” The center actively works to encourage and develop young activists who are committed to carrying on the tradition of peaceful conflict resolution. During a Jan. 8 news conference kicking off the two weeks of activities celebrating her father, Bernice King said the center has been busy during the turbulent year 2014 teaching nonviolent protest techniques. On Jan. 6, it hosted an “Intergenerational Dialogue” between civil rights veterans and 300 young activists who learned the methods that worked in the movement in 1950s and ’60s. This year’s celebration culminates on Jan. 19, the national King holiday, with the annual King Day Service at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King was co-pastor with his father before becoming leader of the civil rights movement, and the King Day parade from downtown Atlanta to the King Historic District on Auburn Avenue. His daughter, one of his three surviving children, said the King Center is proud that the next generation has risen up to let their voices be heard. “They have been very persistent in their protests against

The Rev. Bernice King says there is great demand for nonviolent solutions to today’s social issues, hence the theme for this year’s King Day observance is “Remember, Celebrate, Act: King’s Legacy of Courage for Our World.”

systemic racism and economic inequities,” she said. After a St. Louis County grand jury declined on Aug. 9, 2014, to indict white Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of unarmed black teen Michael Brown and the death of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man, at the hands of white police officers in New York on July 17, a coalition of student leaders from the Atlanta University Center and Emory and Georgia State universities launched #It’sBiggerThanYou to organize several Atlanta demonstrations. The protests drew thousands of people to downtown Atlanta. The killings touched off weeks of sometimes violent protests across the country. On Dec. 20, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, a man with a history of mental illness, shot and killed two New York officers after a grand jury declined to indict officers in the Garner case. Bernice King said King Center volunteers traveled to Ferguson, Mo., four times since T:10.5” August to ease tensions after the Michael Brown shooting. She said the feedback they got tells

them they can nudge people toward nonviolent protest and help contain the destruction and keep it from spreading. “We worked with about 80 law enforcement, business leaders, the faith community and gangs about Nonviolence 365, our initiative that teaches my father’s philosophy and inspires participants to choose nonviolence as a lifestyle,” she said. Over time, King said that participants in the Nonviolence 365 sessions will become ambassadors, facilitators and trainers who will spread the message of nonviolent resolution of conflicts to others. She said a Ferguson gang leader who went through training is working to get 300 other young men and women trained. She’s noticed a growing demand for nonviolent solutions to today’s social issues. “So we’ve been busy in the vineyard working in Ferguson and other places around the country promoting my father’s message,” King said.

The weapons of a movement.

T:8”

The power of peaceful protest. Fifty years after the Selma to Montgomery March, we still remember the leadership of the man who marched his way into history. Comcast celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by honoring those who continue to march in his shoes.

Visit celebrateblacktv.com ©20 ©201 20 01 0 15 C Co om mca mcas ca castt.. Alll rright igh ight ght g htts re h r serv se sser er erved e ed. e d

CrossRoadsNews

Shermantown is a historically black neighborhood within the Stone Mountain Historic District named for Union Gen. William T. Sherman. GPC students, staff and faculty will do King Day Service projects in Decatur, Clarkston and Stone Mountain on Jan. 19

Five service projects for GPC Georgia Perimeter College students, staff and faculty will be volunteering in the Clarkston, Stone Mountain Park and at the Mountain View Personal Care Home in Decatur for their annual MLK Day of Service projects. The theme of the day of events is “Be a Service Superhero.” In Clarkston, college volunteers will clean up along North Indian Creek Drive and Memorial Drive and other sites and remove kudzu behind the Clarkston Community Center and Market Street. The projects, which start at 9 a.m., also will launch the first in a series of community conversations using a format called World Cafe. The Clarkston Community Center, at 951 N. Indian Creek Drive, is hosting the World Cafe, which begins at 11:15 a.m. Georgia Perimeter says the highly publicized killing of unarmed black men in Ferguson, Mo., and New York last year show

that healing is needed around aspects of race and culture and that residents can continue the work of building the Beloved Community of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At Mountain View, located at 3675 Kensington Road, volunteers will work from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to improve the personal care home for residents. At Stone Mountain Park and the college’s Decatur Campus Community Garden, GPC volunteers will work from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help maintain native plant populations. The community garden is at 3251 Panthersville Road. To sign up for the projects and for more information, visit http://newsroom.gpc. edu/stories/sign-volunteer-mlk-day-service or contact Mary Elizabeth Tyler-Boucebci at the Georgia Perimeter College QEP office at 678-891-3174. For more information on the World Cafe, visit www.theworldcafe.com/ leadership.html.

Volunteers to clean historic Shermantown Cemetery Residents of Stone Mountain Village and others can help clean up historic Shermantown Cemetery on Jan. 19 as a King National Day of Service project. The 19th-century cemetery is overrun by trees and foliage. The cleanup takes place from 9 a.m. to noon. Stone Mountain Steve Wells City Council member Steve Wells is encouraging residents to participate. “We would like to spend a few hours honoring the message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by working together as a community to clean up this historic resting place,” said Wells, who represents Post 2. Participants are urged to bring gloves,

clippers and water, and boots are recommended. Shermantown is a historically black neighborhood within the Stone Mountain Historic District. It is named for Union Gen. William T. Sherman who camped there on his March to the Sea, and many slaves followed the Army to freedom. The former slave shantytown features small frame houses on small lots, narrow streets and community landmarks such as churches and stores. The Shermantown Cemetery is at 5510 Stillhouse Road in Stone Mountain Village. For more information, contact Steve Wells at stonemountainwells@gmail.com or 803-447-1632 or Mechel McKinley at mmckinley@stonemountaincity.org or 770-498-8984, Ext. 137.

January 17, 2015

Dr. Martin Luth

A DAY ON – NO

Parades in South DeKalb, downto Marches in South DeKalb and downtown Atlanta will commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 19, the 30th national holiday honoring his memory and ideals. Community, civic, faith-based, fraternal and service organizations and school and college groups will march in the 13th annual DeKalb NAACP Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Decatur. In downtown Atlanta, hundreds will march down Auburn Avenue from Peachtree Street to Jackson Street. The NAACP march will be along portions of Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to MLK Jr. High Reggie Johnson School at 3991 Snapfinger Road/MLK Parkway in Lithonia. Former NBA player Reggie Johnson of the 1983 World Champions Philadelphia 76ers and WSB-TV news reporter Tom Jones will be grand Tom Jones marshals. Marching bands from MLK Jr., Stone Mountain, Clarkston, Cedar Grove and Cross Keys high schools will perform. The parade kicks off from the parking lot of Green Pastures Christian Ministries

at 12:30 p.m. It culminates with a rally at the high school. Marchers will begin lining up at 10:30 a.m. at Green Pastures. The church is at 5455 Flat Shoals Parkway in Decatur. For more information, contact Sarah CopelinWood at schoolsandcommunity@yahoo.com.

Outdoor projects at Panola Mountain Fans of the great outdoors can help beautify Panola Mountain State Park on Jan. 19 as a Hands On Atlanta Day of Service project. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., volunteers will spread mulch, remove invasive plants and clean mud from signs and fences, and paint picnic tables. The park is a 100-acre granite outcrop in Stockbridge. It is similar to Stone Mountain but smaller and more pristine. Park visitors can see the outcrop and its rare ecosystem just as it looked centuries ago. Panola Mountain State Park is part of the

Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area and is maintained by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Volunteers must be at least 8 years old with adult supervision. Court-ordered volunteers are permitted to serve. The project is partially accessible for wheelchair users. Full opportunity address and directions will be sent by email after sign-up. To sign up, visit http://www.handsonatlanta. org/mlkday2015.

Millennials Courage in Action for young adults Young adults from across metro Atlanta will participate in the Millennials Courage in Action Service Project on Jan. 19 as part of the King Day observance. They will engage in “Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous

people,” a three-hour project illustrating the first principle of nonviolence. For more information, contact Vonetta West at vwest@thekingcenter.org or 404526-8972.

Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a Day of Service “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Yours in service. Larry Johnson, DeKalb County Commissioner, District 3 www.facebook.com/DeKalbCountyDistrict3CommLJohnson

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King Jr. Day

OT A DAY OFF

own Atlanta honor MLK Groups and individuals should line up at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 19 for the DeKalb NAACP parade in Decatur. The downtown Atlanta march begins at 2 p.m. at Peachtree Street and Xernona Clayton Way.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

CrossRoadsNews

January 17, 2015

Children 6 and older and their families can write down their dream, drop it into the “Dreamin’” jar and pick from a basket of prizes.

Clean, beautify grounds Celebrate the Dreamer at Fairington Elementary Individuals and groups can help beautify the grounds of Fairington Elementary School in Lithonia on Jan. 19. The MLK Community Day of Service project takes place from 8 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are needed to rake leaves, cut grass, trim hedges, landscape and pick up litter. Cleaning supplies and light refreshments will be provided. Fairington Elementary is at 5505 Philip Bradley Drive. For more information, contact Terri Webb at FairingtonCares@yahoo.com or 678-676-8743 or 314-363-0469.

‘I Have a Dream’ activity at Lithonia-Davidson Library Families can celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision with an “I Have a Dream” activity at Lithonia-Davidson Library on Jan. 20 and Jan. 22. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., children 6 years and older and their families can write down their dream, drop it into the “Dreamin’” jar and pick from a basket of prizes. Funding is provided by the Friends of the Lithonia-Davidson Library. The library is at 6821 Church St. For more information, call 770-482-3820.

On Jan. 19, the nation will observe the 30th Martin Luther King Jr. Day with volunteer work, parades and speeches. The national holiday celebrates the 86th birthday of King, who was born on Jan. 15, 1929. The Baptist minister led the 1960s civil rights movement that opposed segregation and fought for voting and civil rights for AfricanAmericans. King, who grew up on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn. He was 39. He was in that city to support garbage workers fighting unfair working conditions and low pay. King Day, the third Monday in January, was first celebrated in 1986. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in the year 2000.

March ends in rally at King Center The downtown Atlanta King Holiday March and Rally begins at 2 p.m. at Peachtree Street and Xernona Clayton Way. It will conclude with a rally in front of the King Center. For more information, contact Jamida Orange at mlkmarchcommittee@yahoo.com or 770-5601959.

Decatur school service project Volunteers will help spruce up Columbia Elementary School in Decatur on Jan. 19 as a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service project with Hands On Atlanta. Volunteers will clean students’ desks and chairs; mulch flower beds; clean the courtyard; build compost boxes; and paint parking lot lines, the front marquee, and the front bench. They also will build a closet in the parent resource room. The project takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The nonprofit Hands On Atlanta promotes King Day as “A Day On Not a Day Off ” and provides opportunities for community improvement at local schools, community cleanups and raised gardens as well as an essay challenge in which each school will select the winner of an MLK essay contest to read at the service site on MLK Day. The essay topic demonstrates ways that King’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech still resonates in the challenges faced today. For more information about all MLK events, contact Genora Crooke at gcrooke@handsonatlanta.org or 404-979-2820. Georgia Power employees

VFW Post 4706 helping Gilgal House VFW Post 4706 is collecting toiletries, paper goods and cleaning supplies for the Gilgal House as a King Day community service project. The collection drive is in association with the Stone Mountain/Lithonia Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. The Gilgal House assists women who have experienced a hardship and need help with housing and re-entering the work force. Donations of toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, paper towels and cleaning supplies can be dropped off at the post at 362 Covington Highway in Decatur through Jan. 18. On Jan. 19, a program that includes the Gilgal House will begin at 11 a.m. at the post. For more information, email belvedere4706@ gmail.com or call 770-844-6276.

CELEBRATING A DAY ON AND NOT A DAY OFF

Georgia Power is proud to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day – a nationwide celebration of service to mankind and community – by encouraging its employees and customers to use their time off to serve others. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let us all come together to spend a “day on“ by extending a helping hand to help those who need it most.

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King Holiday

CrossRoadsNews

January 17, 2015

In 1956, Parks traveled to the segregated South on assignment for Life, creating a photo essay, “The Restraints: Open and Hidden.”

Diversity summit tackles progress since civil rights movement Female diversity officers will examine challenges and progress women and minorities have made since the civil rights movement at a free Workplace Diversity Summit on Jan. 26 at Georgia Power headquarters. “How Far Have Women Come Since King?” presented by Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine, takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. The summit includes a forum of audience/panel discussion with business, religious, nonprofit, education, civil and civil rights leaders. Panelists include Moanica Caston, vice president of Diversity and Inclusion for Georgia Power; Sandy

Cross, senior director of Diversity & Inclusion, PGA; Dawn Harris, director of Diversity Affairs, NASCAR; and Betty Marshall, Southeast regional vice president, Sam’s Club. A post-reception will immediately follow the discussion. Registration is required at http://diversityroundtable15.eventbrite.com. Georgia Power Co. is at 241 Ralph McGill Blvd. N.E. in Atlanta. For more information, visit www. atlantatribune.com/event/2015-workplace-diversityMoanica Caston summit or call 770-587-0501.

Sandy Cross

Dawn Harris

Betty Marshall

Photo exhibits chronicle South, segregation, Selma march The South, segregation and the Selmato-Montgomery march are chronicled in exhibits of photographs by Gordon Parks, Andrew Moore and Steve Schapiro at Jackson Fine Art in Atlanta. The gallery kicks off its 2015 season with a selection of provocative images that both interrogate and celebrate the South in solo exhibitions by Parks and Moore. Also exhibited in the viewing room will be a series of Gordon Parks Schapiro’s rarely seen photos of the Selmato-Montgomery march. An opening reception takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 23 for “Gordon Parks: Segregation Story,” “Andrew Moore: The South” and “Steve Schapiro: Selma.” The exhibition runs through March 14. The hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Parks, a writer, musician and director (“Shaft”), was the first African-American to work as a staff photographer for Life magazine and the first black artist to produce and direct a major Hollywood film with 1969’s “The Learning Tree.” In 1956, he traveled to the segregated South on assignment for Life, creating a photo essay, “The Restraints: Open and Hidden,” that chronicled the daily lives of an extended family in Alabama. The portfolio’s presentation in full color at a time when most photo essays were still being published in black and white lends further strength to Parks’ depiction of the Jim Crow South. Most of the photos for the Life series were presumed lost until they were rediscovered in 2011. A selection of the work, found in a folder labeled “Segregation Story,” was released upon discovery two years ago.

Parks threatened in South The Gordon Parks Foundation has made public a new selection of Parks’ color prints. Parks’ experiences as an African-American photographer exposing the realities of segregation are as compelling as the im-

The 54-mile march from Selma to Montgomery pushed President Lyndon B. Johnson to send voting rights legislation to Congress.

ages themselves. While traveling through the South, Parks was threatened physically, there were attempts to damage his film and equipment, and the whole project was nearly undermined by another Life staffer. The Causey family, headed by Allie Lee and sharecropper Willie, was forced to leave their home in Shady Grove, Ala., over their collaboration with Parks for the story. Parks’ segregation portfolio is currently on view at the High Museum and Jackson Fine Art in conjunction with the Gordon Parks Foundation. His work has been shown at the Studio Museum in Harlem and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Throughout Moore’s 35-year career, he has captured places of historical significance in all of their beauty and squalor. His interest has turned to a regional exploration of the United States, particularly the American South, an area that has fascinated him since he first began to take pictures. Moore’s Southern renaissance is a revisitation and a way of marking time, allowing the artist to reflect on changes to the landscape as well as in his own life. Moore, who was born 1957 in Old Greenwich, Conn., is best known for his

richly colored images of architectural and urban scenes particularly in Cuba, Russia, and Detroit. He teaches in the Photography M.F.A. program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. His work is represented in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Yale University Art Gallery, the Library of Congress, the Israel Museum, the High Museum, the Eastman House and the Canadian Centre for Architecture. Moore has received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the New York State Council on the Arts, and private foundations.

Schapiro captures historic march On the heels of current national attention on race relations and the Oprah Winfrey-produced Martin Luther King Jr. biopic “Selma” come Schapiro’s rarely seen photographs of the Selma-to-Montgomery march. An activist as well as a documentarian, Schapiro produced photo-essays covering some of the most turbulent and iconic movements of the 1960s, the golden age of photojournalism. Freelancing for picture magazines such as Life, Look, Time, News-

week and Vanity Fair, Schapiro covered many stories related to the civil rights movement such as the March on Washington, the Selma march for voter registration, and the climate in Memphis after King’s assassination. In his Selma photographs, marchers such as author James Baldwin, former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, King adviser Ralph David Abernathy, and U.S. Rep. John Lewis appear with nonviolent discipline. These previously unpublished images, recently rediscovered by Schapiro, commemorate Selma and its successful series of marches – the 54mile march to Montgomery pushed Lyndon B. Johnson to send voting rights legislation to Congress – and could serve as inspiration to a new generation of demonstrators. Schapiro, born and raised in New York City, attended Amherst College and graduated from Bard College. His photographs were included in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 1968 exhibition “Harlem on My Mind.” His work can be found in the collection of the Smithsonian, the High Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. Jackson Fine Art is at 3115 E. Shadowlawn Ave. For more information, visit www. jacksonfineart.com or call 404-233-3739.

Show Your PRIDE, South DeKalb! R Don’t Litter R Mow, Trim & Paint R Clean to the Curb A PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE FROM CROSSROADSNEWS

King Holiday

CrossRoadsNews

January 17, 2015

The celebration acknowledges King’s legacy and recognizes unsung foot soldiers in the community who continue to carry out his work.

New Bethel to honor five at Drum Major Award Celebration DeKalb NAACP President John Evans will be among five people honored at New Bethel AME’s 14th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award Celebration on Jan. 19. Evans, a civil rights trailblazer and former DeKalb County commissioner, will be presented with the Drum Major Award. The theme of the event is “We Are the Keepers of the Dream.” It starts at 2 p.m. and is free to attend. Dr. Cheryl Davenport Dozier, 13th president of Savannah State University, will be the keynote speaker. Dozier, who is from

Cheryl Dozier

John Evans

Earle Ifill

Stone Mountain, became Savannah State’s president in 2012. The other honorees are New Bethel’s church members Emirth and Cynthia Hodge, student Nkosie Kee, and the

Rev. Dr. Earle H. Ifill. The Hodges will get the Pillar of Strength award for their many years of service to the church. Nkosie, an 11th-grader and young scholar at New Bethel, will get the Ruby Bridges Dreamer award. Ifill, presiding elder of the Atlanta East District of the North Georgia Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, is the Community Service honoree. Special recognition also will be given to the caregivers – kinship and foster parents

Exhibit offers look into King’s Nobel Peace Prize The exhibit “1964 Martin Luther King Jr.,” which offers an overview of King’s Nobel Peace Prize, is on display at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta. The exhibit of more than 50 artifacts, letters and other documents includes the letters the Quakers wrote nominating King for the prize. It is on display through Sept. 27, 2015. The documents, which had been secret since 1964, are on public view for the first time. They include the award nominations, notes and reports that were kept under lock and key in the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s extensive archive in Oslo, Norway. “1964: Martin Luther King Jr.” opened Dec. 10 as part of a two-day celebration of the 50th anniversary of King’s Nobel Peace Prize at the King Center and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. The documents show that King was one of 44 people considered for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. The others included Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, and U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, who signed into law many

Yolanda Rene King, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s only grandchild, looks at his photo at the King Historic Site Visitors Center. She is Martin Luther King III’s daughter.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

civil rights initiatives. The short list of 13 finalists included President William Tubman of Liberia, UNICEF, Belgium Prime Minister Paul Henri Spaak, and SOS Children’s Villages founder Hermann Gmeiner. The exhibit also features documents from Coca-Cola Corporate Archives, Ebenezer Baptist Church Archival Collections, Auburn

Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, and Georgia State University Archival Collection. “1964: Martin Luther King Jr.” is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The King Historic Site Visitors Center is at 450 Auburn Ave. N.E. in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/malu.

King papers focus of ‘Where Do We Go From Here’

GSU College of Law associate professor Tanya Washington will moderate sioner Stan Watson & Dr. a discussion about a rare exhibition of King papers at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights’ Martin Luther 86th museum on Jan.King’s 20. let us recommit to Go his “Where Do We From Here: A Call to Ac- Tanya Washington tion” takes place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Washington is partnering with the center anity.and Commit yourself to the the law firm of Hunton & Williams for l rights. You will make a the event. She said that of in ayour speech delivered 47 lf, a greater nation to theDr. 10thMartin annual session of the rld toyears liveago in."? Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. posed the

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strategies for the way forward.” Panelists include Akinyele Umoja, GSU associate professor and African-American Studies department chair; University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law associate professor Laura McNeal; Hillside Chapel and Truth Center minister and founder the Rev. Barbara Barbara King Laura McNeal Akinyele Umoja Lewis King; Banneker High School salient question, “Where do we go from senior and student leader William Brand; and writer, activist and motivational speaker here?” “It is fitting that the panel will discuss Coleman G. Howard. The museum is at 100 Ivan Allen Blvd. how and whether insights and strategies employed during the civil rights movement in Atlanta. For more information, contact Renee inform efforts to address 21st century forms of injustice and inequality,” she said. “The Valdes at rvaldes@gsu.edu or 404-413goal of the discussion is to identify specific 9259.

and those providing elder care to family members – who are members of New Bethel. Shiloh High School Concert Choir under the direction of Craig Johnson will perform. The celebration acknowledges King’s legacy and recognizes unsung foot soldiers in the community who continue to carry out his work. The church is at 8350 Rockbridge Road in Lithonia. For more information, visit www.newbethelame.org or call 770-484-3350.

King family members host book signings Members of the King family, including Dr. Christine King Farris, will sign copies of their books on Jan. 19 at the King Center. The 90-minute event begins at 3 p.m. Farris will sign “My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up With the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Christine Farris Jr.” and “Through It All: Reflections on My Life, My Family and My Faith.” Dr. Angela Farris Watkins, a niece of the civil rights leader, will sign copies of “My Uncle Martin’s Words for America: Martin Angela Watkins Luther King Jr.’s Niece Tells How He Made a Difference” and “Love Will See You Through: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Six Guiding Beliefs (As Told By His Niece).” Alveda King, another niece, will sign “King Rules: Ten Truths Alveda King for You, Your Family and Our Nation to Prosper.” The event is free and open to the public. Only books purchased at the King Center will be signed. The King Center is at 449 Auburn Ave. N.E. in Atlanta. For more information, contact Barbara Harrison at programs@ thekingcenter.org or 404-526-8911. For more information about the King Center’s birthday observance programs, visit thekingcenter.org.

As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s 86th birthday on Jan. 19, let us recommit to his ideals.

“Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Commissioner Stan Watson, District 7 www.facebook.com/stanwatsondekalb

CrossRoadsNews

January 17, 2015

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