COMMUNITY
YOUTH
SPECIAL SECTION
Marching bands, civic and political leaders and groups will join parades in DeKalb and Atlanta to celebrate the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr . A5
The wait is over for those who look forward to the return of Girl Scout Cookie season. Scouts will be taking orders through Feb. 8. A8
Healthier outcomes will take center stage at the annual CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expo on Jan. 26. Section B, Inside
Commemorative treks
Sweet treats return
Focus on better health
EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER
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January 19, 2013
State gives school board time By Ken Watts
of this county to a position today that is dangerous.” The accreditation probation places the district one step from loss of accreditation. Georgia law 20-2-73, enacted in 2011, gives the state board the authority in such cases to call a hearing and possibly recommend to the governor that a local board be suspended with pay. An overflow crowd at Thursday’s hearing at the state board’s downtown Atlanta office and others listening online heard lawyers for the two sides argue their points as if in a trial. Jennifer Hackmeyer, attorney for the Georgia DOE, said she there is good reason to consider removing the school board. “I believe that evidence will show that good cause exists for the state Board of Education to move forward with a
DeKalb School Board members will stay in office for now after the Georgia Board of Education voted on Jan. 17 to delay its hearing to Feb. 21. The state board had summoned board members to a hearing in the wake of Southern Association of Colleges and Schools putting the school district on probabtion on Dec. 17. It rejected a “consent order” worked out by the school district’s lawyers and the Georgia Department of Education at a Jan. 10 pre-hearing. Board members wanted more time to show a good faith effort to improve its performance and address deficiences in the schools. SACS put the board on probation for poor and ineffective leadership governance, describing the school district as being in “a state of conflict and chaos” with “declining student performance” and a “depletion of the financial resources Please see HEARING, page A3
www.crossroadsnews.com
Volume 18, Number 38
Remembering Dr. King The community celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 84th birthday and the 50th anniversary of his “I Have a Dream” speech with marches, speeches, exhibits and volunteering. Pages A5-A7
Flu outbreak is worst in a decade Reported cases 4 times more than last season By Ken Watts
After a week with a sore throat, fever, body aches and fatigue, Chris Philips showed up in the emergency room at DeKalb Medical at Hillandale on Jan. 12, worried that his symptoms might be the flu. “I didn’t get a flu shot.” said the 27-yearold audio engineer, who lives in Lithonia. “I’m nervous about needles.” In Georgia, there have been 20,000 reported cases since the flu season started in October. This season’s reported cases are nearly four times more than last flu season. Dr. Patrick O’Neal, director of the state Division of Health Protection, said we may not have seen the worst yet. “We are still at epidemic level and the flu is unpredictable,” O’Neal said. The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this is the worst flu season in a decade, and that 47 states including Georgia reported widespread influenza activity for the week ending Jan. 5. “Widespread” means more than 50 percent of geographic regions in a state – counties for example – are reporting flu activity. At DeKalb Medical, ER doctors and nurses have been much busier than usual treating a wide range of ailments. Hospital spokeswoman Cheryl Iverson said there’s annecdotal evidence that the flu is a factor in the upswing in emergency cases. “Of the 23 people tested by just one of our doctors here last week, 10 were positive,” said Iverson, the hospital’s vice opresident of business development and marketing. Kaiser Permanente, which has three Medical Centers in DeKalb County, says it has been busy at their centers even though 75,000 members received flu vaccines in
Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews
Chris Philips of Lithonia (left) was suffering from flu-like symptoms when he visited the emergency room at DeKalb Medical at Hillandale on Jan. 12.
metro Atlanta this year. Dr. Peggy Harris, Kaiser’s director of urgent care, said from the last two weeks of December through the first two weeks of January they saw three to four flu patients a day at Kaiser’s Panola Road center. “It’s the busiest we’ve seen in the last five years,” she said. The flu is so dangerous because it can lead to life-threatening complications such
as pneumonia and congestive heart failure. Children and the elderly are especially at risk. Flu statistics aren’t broken down by county, but in the eight-county metro Atlanta area, 56 people have been hospitalized with flu symptoms, much higher than normal according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. “And we haven’t even hit peak season yet,”
said Nancy Nydam, spokeswoman for the the Georgia Department of Public Health. In Georgia, the season usually peaks at the end of January and carries over into February and March. The CDC has reported 20 deaths of children under the age of 18 since the flu outbreak began. While the agency does not Please see FLU, page A4
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January 19, 2013
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January 19, 2013
Community
“For a long time we were charging rock-bottom rates, but we had to make upgrades to the system to keep it viable.”
Engineering supervisor sentenced to two years in kickback scheme Former DeKalb County engineering supervisor Neacacha Joyner is going to prison for two years and three months for extorting $9,500 from a private construction contractor. Her prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. Joyner, 40, was an engineering supervisor in the DeKalb Department of Public Works until she was caught in an FBI sting operation in May 2011. Her Dec. 19 sentencing capped an investigation dating back to March 6, 2012, when a federal grand jury indicted her on bribery and extortion charges. Joyner pleaded guilty
on May 17. U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said Joyner was sent to prison for violating the law and the public’s trust. “Ms. Joyner abused her position as a DeKalb County Public Works employee by shaking down a local contractor for payoffs,” she said. The charges and other information presented in court show that Joyner exploited her position by imposing a “pay to play” scheme in September 2010. Her target was a private construction company that was building sidewalks for the county near South Hairston and Wesley Chapel roads under a
MARTA hosts hearings into route change Bus riders and stakeholders can talk to MARTA about proposed changes in 10 routes at public hearings on Jan. 22 and 24. To improve service and respond to customer and community feedback, the transit system is modifing bus routes 6, 15, 21, 51, 67, 86, 95, 110, 172 and 186. The Jan. 22 takes place at the Adamsville Recreation Center, 3201 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive S.W. in Atlanta. The Jan. 24 hearings will be held at the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive in Decatur, and at MARTA headquarters building, 2424 Piedmont Road N.E. in Atlanta. The hearings start at 7 p.m. and MARTA staff will be available at 6 p.m. to provide
information about the proposed changes and answer questions. Copies of the proposed bus service modifications are available for review at www. itsmarta.com or at MARTA’s Piedmont Road headquarters during business hours. The proposed changes also will be available for public inspection before each hearing. Commuters and stakeholdere who cannot attend the public hearings can provide comments to MARTA’s Office of External Affairs through Jan. 27 by leaving a message at 404-848-5299; writing to MARTA at 2424 Piedmont Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324-3330; completing an online comment card at itsmarta.com; or faxing comments to 404-848-4179.
Board members committed to change HEARING,
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recommendation to the governor to suspend with pay all eligible members of the DeKalb County Board of Education,” she said. School Board chairman Dr. Eugene Walker, who was the first witness called, said the board understand, the seriousness and gravity of the situation. Eugene Walker “We are wholeheartedly committed to taking the appropriate steps necessary to address each of the issues raised by SACS with plans and progress before this board reconvenes,” he said.
Walker repeated a promise to get the county schools off probation. “This is a sincere, conscious and collective decision the board made to accept and work successfully to satisfy the actions required by SACS,” he said. Each board member spoke and state officials peppered them with questions about how the district got into this situation. District 4 board member Dr. Pamela Speaks said she was disappointed, angry and embarrassed at the board’s plight. “I’m disappointed that my number one goal of ensuring a quality education to all of DeKalb County students has taken a back seat to adult problems.” The State will review the county’s efforts to improve at the Feb. 21 meeting.
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federally funded contract. The total bid was more than $1.4 million. Joyner was assigned to be the DeKalb County construction inspector on the project. In early April 2011, the contractor’s employees told him that Joyner wouldn’t allow them to continue working on the project. He then went to the site where she demanded to be paid off in order for construction to continue. The contractor notified law enforcement of the demand, then acting at the direction of the FBI, the contractor met with Joyner in Decatur and gave her a $2,500 bribe payment.
On May 20 and May 31, 2011, the contractor met with Joyner again in Decatur and paid her two separate $2,000 bribe payments. On June 8, 2011, Joyner asked the contractor for another $3,000. She instructed him to submit a fraudulent bill to DeKalb for the removal and relocation of four fire hydrants that would not actually be removed or relocated. Joyner then told the contractor to give her the money from the fraudulent billing scheme. Acting on Joyner’s instructions, the contractor billed the county for the bogus project and gave Joyner the $3,000 on June 16, 2011.
Water rates going up for 2nd year By Ken Watts
For the second year in a row, DeKalb residents will have to pay more for water service. The county’s water rates jumped 11 percent on Jan. 1, part of a three-year rate hike approved by county commissioners in 2010. Customers saw the first hike in January 2012. Customers who use 5,000 gallons of water monthly and paid $64.92 last year will pay $72.06 beginning this month. County spokesman Burke Brennan said DeKalb’s water rates are still competitive, ranking in the middle range for the metro area. “For a long time we were charging rock-bottom rates, but we had to make upgrades to the system to keep it viable for our children and grandchildren,” Brennan said. The higher rates are to fund improve-
ments to the county’s aging water and sewer system. Under a consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the county is making $1.35 billion in infrastructure improvements. Much of the county’s 52,000 miles of water and sewer lines are 40 to 50 years old. Joe Basista, director of DeKalb’s Watershed Management, said the county spent about $20 million on the first phase of water system improvements in 2012. “Those projects generated more than 100 jobs and are still active,” Basista said. They include repairs to the county’s combined water and sewer works, replacing and repairing water mains, and improvements to a water-sewer pump station. CEO Burrell Ellis has said the capital improvement plan could generate more than 4,000 jobs over the eight- to nine-year life of the program. DeKalb’s water and sewer system serves 730,000 people and 20,000 businesses.
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“This is a tragic event and we have to make sure this six-year-old get the help he needs.”
6-year-old started fatal fire that killed 4 in Conyers 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com
Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Graphic Design Curtis Parker Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Jessica Smith Ken Watts Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Advertising Sales Kathy E. Warner CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsNews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.
Advertisements are published upon the representation that the advertiser is authorized to publish the submitted material. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless from and against any loss or expenses resulting from any disputes or legal claims based upon the contents or subject matter of such advertisments, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement.
By Ken Watts
In a stunning twist to a tragic story, Rockdale County investigators now believe the 6-year-old survivor set the fire that killed his older sister and three brothers and seriously injured his mother earlier this month. Law enforcement officials made the announcement at an evening news conference Jan. 11. Investigators believe the boy was playing with a lighter before the fire. Rockdale County Fire Chief Dan Morgan said he will not be prosecuted because of his age, but will be referred for counseling. “This is a tragic event and we have to make sure this 6-year-old gets the help he needs,” Morgan said. He said that they have had preliminary discussions with the Rockdale County district attorney. “It’s his belief that this 6-yearold, and any 6-year-old, cannot form the criminal intent to be prosecuted in Juvenile Court,” Morgan said. The fire chief said the boy is
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believed to be with relatives in the Conyers area. “We’re limited in what we can say because the child is a juvenile,” he said. Morgan said investigators’ case notes will be turned over to the Department of Family and Children Services for possible counseling and treatment. The mother, Reeba Glass, is still hospitalized with severe burns over 40 percent of her body, including
her forehead, stomach, arms, back and legs. Flames erupted late Jan. 8 on the second floor of the family’s duplex at 1149 Pinedale Circle in Conyers. Glass managed to toss the 6-year-old out a window to safety, but suffered severe burns while trying to reach her four other children – Ah’Dariya Glass, 9; Dar;Shawn Glass, 7; Armoni Roberts, 3; and 8-month-old Deon Glass. They
were sleeping in an upstairs bedroom and all perished in the fire. Reeba Glass’ mother, Rosetta Mitchell, who was sleeping downstairs, escaped unharmed. Morgan said investigators interviewed “several family members numerous times this week, including the three survivors. The interviews support the findings of the investigation. Lab results show no accelerants were found in the samples submitted and all accidental causes have been eliminated.” Earlier, the chief said the home’s only smoke detector wasn’t working because it didn’t have a battery. The family lost everything in the fire. Its church, Macedonia Baptist in Conyers, is collecting emergency clothing, shoes and household goods for the family, and a Glass Family Fund has been established at Wells Fargo bank. Donations can be made to account number 1009683226 at any branch of the bank. A memorial service was being planned for Jan. 19 at Macedonia Baptist, 1052 Barton St., for the four children who died.
Signs point to slowing of outbreak, but too early to tell FLU,
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Take precautions to help prevent spread of disease
count the number of adult fluThe Georgia Department of related deaths, some states do and Public Health recommends the the data suggest there have been following to keep yourself and dozens of deaths. those around you from getting With possibly the worst yet to sick: come, public health officials said n Frequent and thorough hand it’s not too late to get a flu shot, washing with warm water and which is recommended for every soap. healthy individual over the age of n Use alcohol-based gels if you 6 months. The predominant strain don’t have access to soap and of flu circulating in Georgia is the water. H3N2. n Cover your nose and mouth Back in the waiting room at with a tissue or the crook of your DeKalb Medical, Tira Alexander, elbow or arm when coughing or 25, of Lithonia wears a surgical sneezing. mask for protection against the n Avoid touching your face as flu. Like other visitors to the ER, flu germs can get into the body she chose not to get a flu shot this through mucus membranes of season. the nose, mouth and eyes. “I got real sick the last time I got n If you are sick, stay home from one, “ she said. school or work. Flu sufferers Health officials say the flu vacshould be free of a fever without cine is made with a dead virus and can’t make you ill. This year’s flu vaccine is a close takes 10 to 14 days for a healthy match, making it effective in pre- person to build up immunity after venting the flu or minimizing its a shot, health experts said. symptoms or duration. It typically Health officials think it may
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L CA LO ODS! GO
Reeba Glass of Conyers is shown with four of her five children. Glass, a 6-yearold son, and her mother, Rosetta Mitchell, survived the Jan. 8 fire in their duplex.
the use of a fever reducer for at least 24 hours before returning to
work or school. n If you are caring for a sick individual at home, keep them away from other people as much as possible. n Keep the sick person away from common areas of the house. n If you have more than one bathroom, have the sick person use one and well people use the other. n Clean the sickroom and the bathroom once a day with household disinfectant. n No one should visit the sick person other than the caregiver. n Clean linens, eating utensils, and dishes used by the sick person thoroughly before reusing. You do not need to wash items separately.
take another two weeks to determine whether the flu season has peaked. The CDC said that there are signs that the flu rate may
be slowing in Georgia and other southeastern states, but that the virus is unpredictable and is known to “ebb and flow.”
Cover your nose and mouth in the crook of your elbow or arm when coughing or sneezing.
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January 19, 2013
Celebrating King
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CrossRoadsNews
Marching bands, churches, community associations and elected officials will participate in the NAACP parade, which has a new route this year.
Children of civil rights icons to discuss key events in struggle By Ken Watts
Sons, daughters and a niece of civil rights icons Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Hosea Williams and Andrew Young will discuss “Children of the Movement: 50 years after the ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech and March on Washington” on Jan. 19 at Ebenezer Baptist Church’s Heritage Sanctuary in Atlanta. The panelists are the Rev. Bernice King and Dr. Alveda King, King’s daughter and niece, respectively; Andre Williams, son of Hosea Williams; Andrea Young, daughter of former U.S. ambassador and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young; and Khobi Hall, son of King adviser Leon Hall. The discussion, which starts at 11 a.m., is
volved or witnessed the movement firsthand. A National Park Ser vice statement calls them the first generation beneficiaries of their parents’ Bernice King Alveda King Andrea Young Khobi Hall work. part of the annual King Day celebrations that Dr. Vicki Crawford, director of the mark King’s Jan. 15 birthday. Had he lived, Martin Luther King Jr. Special Collection he would have been 84 years old. at Morehouse College, will moderate the The national King Day holiday is Jan. discussion. 21. Visitation to the National Historic Site The discussion will highlight experiences on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta peaks annually of the children who were either actively in- during the King Week, Jan. 11-21, 2013.
V ALENTINE S D like AY S PECIAL Headline goes’ here this
Marchers to mark King birthday Marchers can honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in two separate marches in Decatur and Atlanta on Jan. 21, the national King Holiday. At 12:30 p.m., the DeKalb NAACP’s 11th annual parade will go down Snapfinger Road, which was designated Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway by the Georgia General Assembly in honor of the late civil rights leader. Almost simultaneously, at 1 p.m., the National Martin Luther King Day March and Rally will proceed down Auburn Avenue in Atlanta. In Decatur, a number of school marching bands, churches, community associations and elected officials will participate in the NAACP parade, which has a new route this year. The civil rights organization relocated the parade from Stone Mountain to Snapfinger, which was designated in King’s honor this year.
Park Superintendent Judy Forte said the panel discussion is part of a year-long series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and the March on Washington. “This year the park has created a dynamic, powerful and relevant program for our visitors,” she said. On the King holiday on Jan. 21, the park is hosting an open house at King’s Birth Home on Auburn Avenue with extended visitation hours until 6 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public. Ebenezer’s Heritage Sanctuary is at 407 Auburn Ave. For more information, visit www.nps. gov/malu or call 404-331-5190.
$159 The DeKalb NAACP moved its 2013 parade to the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway in Decatur.
The parade will go from the Ray of Hope Church in Decatur to Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Lithonia. Paraders should line up at 10:30 a.m. in the church’s parking lot. There will be a rally at the school after the parade. The Atlanta parade will go from the intersection of Peachtree and Baker streets to the King Center on Auburn Avenue.
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January 19, 2013
- Dr. martin luther king, jr.
macy’s is proud to salute the legacy of
dr. martin luther king, jr.
we honor the man who taught the world that faith in each other is our greatest strength.
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January 19, 2013
Celebrating King
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This year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day also marks the 50th anniversary year of his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Volunteers fan out to remember King with ‘a day on, not a day off ’ By Jessica Smith
More than 3,000 volunteers of all ages will be putting work into the national Martin Luther King Jr. Day by giving of their time cleaning up and beautifying schools, community centers and theaters, and doing projects for seniors and shut-ins on Jan. 21. This year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service also marks the 50th anniversary year of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Hands On Atlanta, in partnership with the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, has organized over 100 volunteer projects to celebrate King’s legacy of service. In Decatur, volunteers will build picnic tables, plant flowers, paint, and clean the grounds of Snapfinger Elementary School and Clifton Springs Mental Health Center. They will also clean Chapel Hill Park and construct a small wooden kiosk for the grounds. At Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center, volunteers will build fixtures and backdrops to support museum exhibits, as well as construct an Underground Railroad scene. Volunteers in East Lake will lend a hand at the East Lake Community Garden. At the
Inspiring speaker to keynote King Day observance By Jessica Smith
A dynamic and inspiring preacher and Christian saxophonist will headline the 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service at historic Ebenezer Baptist Church on Jan. 21. The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, the senior pastor at New Season Christian Worship Center in Sacramento, Calif., will be the featured speaker, and acclaimed recording artist Angella Christie the Samuel Rodriguez featured performer at the service celebrating the late civil rights leader. This year’s service will be at 8 a.m. King was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis, Tenn., at age 39, while in that city to support striking garbage workers seeking better pay and working conditions. This year’s King Day observances coincide with the 50th anniversary of his “I Have a Dream” speech on the National Mall in Washington D.C., on Aug. 28, 1963. Rodriguez, who is president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, will be the first Hispanic to address the gathering. He joins the likes of President Bill Clinton, Harvard Professor Cornel West, and “The Purpose Driven Life” author and senior pastor of California’s Saddleback Church, Rick Warren, who have addressed the nation’s premier King service. Christie, a Christian saxophonist, is a 2009 Stellar Award winner who has ministered before both civic and religious leaders. Her published CDs include “Hymn & I,” which reached 24th on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums in 1998. The Anointed Pace Sisters, Lydia and Latrice, will sing their popular gospel ballad “Somebody.” The Commemorative Service, which is normally held at 10 a.m., starts two hours early this year because of the inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., around 11:30 a.m. After the service, worshippers can attend an Inauguration Viewing Party in the Ebenezer Horizon Church Sanctuary, across the street. The Ebenezer Horizon Sanctuary is at 407 Auburn Ave. N.E. in Atlanta.
Georgia Perimeter College students and faculty will volunteer from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The service day is one of four held annually by GPC.
East Lake Highrise, part of the Atlanta Housing Authority, helpers will perform landscaping and paint a mural of the community. Tucker volunteers will get creative with arts and crafts and small construction projects, and cleaning and painting at Tucker High School. In Dunwoody, outdoor lovers will build a new trail at the Dunwoody Nature Center and line the sides of the trail with downed tree branches, spread mulch and remove invasive plants.
In Lithonia, volunteers will clean and organize the retreat house at Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve and mulch walking trails at Wilburn Farm. They will also create an outdoor recreation area for clients of the East DeKalb Health Center, and landscape and paint staff offices. At Kittredge and LaVista parks, volunteers will pick up trash, landscape, plant bulbs and spread mulch. At each location, hospitality workers will give their fellow volunteers a warm reception
and support their efforts. They will assist with registration, hand out refreshments, take pictures and collect feedback surveys. At Georgia Perimeter College campuses, hundreds of students and faculty will volunteer from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. cleaning up the Clarkston Community Center, and will also create herb gardens for the elderly, work on projects at the Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, and help with the Newton Community Garden with Hands On Newton. A charter bus will serve volunteer sites at the Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, Lyons Farm, the AWARE nature center and the Flat Rock Archive, but volunteers are encouraged to drive directly to their volunteer sites. The service day, one of four held by GPC annually, is sponsored by the college’s EDGE initiative. Volunteers looking for projects can help paint and spruce up the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center in Decatur. To find out how to turn your day off into a day “on,” visit www.handsonatlanta. org/mlk2013, or contact Genora Crooke at gcrooke@handsonatlanta.org or 404-9792820. Ken Watts contributed to this story.
“I HAVE A __________” How you fill in the blank is up to you. Because Dr. King had a dream, our options are infinite. There’s no greater testament to his life and work, than using this holiday to pursue them. Please visit our Facebook page to view pictures of community service projects posted by Georgia Power, or to upload your own.
georgiapower.com
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January 19, 2013
“It allows them to experience things they wouldn’t normally be exposed to, and they can be introduced to it in a safe environment.”
Girl Scouts hitting the streets for annual cookie sale season A summer trip to Disney World in Orlando, Fla., is on the minds of members of Girl Scout Troop 4105 in Ellenwood. To get there, the 55 girls in the troop must each sell 500 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies. Pam Johnson, whose daughter Aliyah Johnson is a senior Girl Scout in the troop, said the girls are very motivated to sell. Troop 4105 and Scouts across North Georgia are taking cookie orders through Feb. 8. Cookie lovers can place orders for Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Do-Si-Dos and Savannah Smiles. Cookies are $3.50 per box. Troops have been taking orders since Jan. 4; they get 62 cents for each box of cookies they sell. Johnson said proceeds will help cover the motor coach to Orlando and Disney ticket expenses. Parents will pay hotel costs for the girls. Last year Troop 4105, which meets at the Fairview Recreational Center, sold 11,280 boxes or 940 cases of cookies. With the $6,993.60 the troop made, the girls went to Wildness Lodge Water Park Resort in Tennessee. To help boost orders, some South DeKalb Girl Scouts in the 12-troop Henriettes Service Unit will attend a cookie rally on Jan. 19 at Bethel Fellowship Hall in Stockbridge. During
The Girl Scout Cookie Sale program helps teach important life skills such as basic financial literacy, the development of goals and budgets, and the implementation of a plan.
the 1:30-3:30 p.m. pep rally, girls will engage in a variety of events to energize them about cookie selling. This year, Girl Scouts will be using smartphones to process credit card payments for cookies for customers who don’t have cash. They also have a Cookie Locator app for iPhone or Android telephones that allows customers to find Girl Scout Cookies on sale close to them. Cookies will arrive between Feb. 8 and 10 and Johnson said that troops will have booths at Kroger on Flat Shoals
Baseball registration at Gresham Park Youngsters and coaches at all levels can register beginning Jan. 26 for Gresham Park’s spring baseball and softball season. Children will learn baseball fundamentals, including hitting, throwing and fielding. Registration will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 26, Feb. 2, Feb. 9 and Feb. 16 at the Gresham Park Baseball and Softball Association office at the sports complex, 2466 Bouldercrest Road S.E. in Atlanta. Returning players must register by Feb.
2 to secure a spot on the team. First-time players must present a certified copy of their birth certificate at time of registration. Baseball fees include a Major League Baseball replica T-shirt, a baseball cap and socks. Fees range from $90 for 3-year-olds to $140 for those 7 to 14 years old. Family discounts are available for qualified applicants. Applications can be found at www.gpbsa. org. For more information, e-mail registration@gpbsa.org or call 404-244-9660.
Parkway in Decatur starting Feb. 11. Shanese Mark, leader of Troop 22408 at Narvie J. Harris Elementary School in Decatur, says her girls will do about four booth sales this year. She says the annual cookie sales support educational field trips, service projects and other leadership activities for the girls. “It allows them to experience things they wouldn’t normally be exposed to, and they can be introduced to it in a safe environment,” said Mark, who has been troop leader for four years. She said her troop has been to Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium, and last year, the girls raised enough money to take a trip to Chattanooga, where they visited Ruby Falls, Rock City and the Incline Railway, one of the steepest passenger railways in the world. The annual Girl Scout Cookie Sale program helps teach girls important life skills such as basic financial literacy, the development of goals and budgets, and the implementation of a plan. The program also provides marketing and merchandising skills, the development of presentation skills and team building among other business training. For information on cookie booth locations around the metro area, visit www.showmethecookies.com.
Workshop on artistic expression Youth can explore “The Power of Music and Poetry” and the role of artistic expression in their lives on Jan. 19 at Stonecrest Library. The 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. workshop is for youth ages 12 and up. Activities Adia Winfrey include a youth discussion panel, rap ciphers, and spoken word and musical performances. Discussion topics include honoring your legacy, loving yourself, healthy lifestyles and finding your voice. The free workshop is a collaboration between Adia “Dr. Dia” Winfrey and Backbone,
a.k.a. Dr. Bartholomew, founding father of the 1st Generation Dungeon Family. Winfrey, a health professional and author, developed H.Y.P.E.– Healing Young People Thru Empowerment– a youth curriculum fusing hipBackbone hop and psychology. Backbone is associated with many hits behind OutKast, Goodie Mob and other Dungeon Family members. The library is at 3123 Klondike Road in Lithonia. For more information, visit www. letsgethype.com or call 770-482-3828.
Drama delves into modern challenges The production follows the “Who Cares?” a dramatic prolives and interactions of Jason duction about the modern-day Mathis and his students, who try challenges young people face, will hard to blend in with the popular be on stage at Greenforest-McCalep crowd when being themselves Christian Academic Center in Decadoesn’t work. tur on Jan. 26. For tickets and more informaIt takes place 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in tion, visit www.teenswhatstherush. the Genesis Room, and is presented org, or call 678-960-9248. by the nonprofit Teens: What’s the Sherrell Anderson Greenforest-McCalep ChrisRush and TeenStylz Productions. It is written and directed by the group’s tian Academic Center is at 3250 Rainbow founder and CEO, Sherrell Anderson. Drive.
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January 19, 2013
CrossRoadsNews
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January 19, 2013
education / training
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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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Business Opportunities Eat Jerky? Get Paid! $12 Biz Opp. Simple. Real. Profitable. Make Money at Home. Call Now: 404-975-0460
FOR RENT/LEASE Rainbow Drive Area Decatur, GA. 3BR, 2BA, Den, LR/DR, 2 Car Carport, Fenced Backyard w/ Patio. Available immediately. 404-281-3415. House for Rent. 5bd, 2 1/2bth, I-285 Bouldercrest, Section 8 considered, $950 mth. Call 404216-1433.
Marketplace The Highlands at East Atlanta is located at 2051 Flat Shoals Road, Atlanta GA 30316.
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MUSIC LESSONS Love Divine Music Conservatory offers lessons on piano, organ, voice, band instruments, more. Reading and ear. Contact Sue Hampton, 404-244-7420.
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Place your MarketPlace line ad here – up to 20 words for $25. Additional words are $3 per block of five words (maximum 45 words). Boxed Ads (with up to 3 lines bold headline): $35 plus cost of the classified ad. Send ad copy with check or credit card information and contact phone number (if different from ad) to MarketPlace, CrossRoadsNews, 2346 Candler Road, Decatur, GA 30032, or e-mail to marketplace@crossroadsnews.com. Our deadlines are at noon on the Friday one week prior to publication, unless otherwise noted.
ministry CALLING ALL SABBATH KEEPERS! Are you looking for a wholesome spiritual home that serves God's truth, balance and love? Come on down to The Potter's House where the table is spread and the feast of the Lord is going on. We are located at 2997 South Rainbow Drive in Decatur, Ga.
health / wellness
Are you or a loved one diabetic and have Medicare Part B?
The Potter’s House Apostle Harold Purvis & Elect Lady Robbin Purvis
Sabbath School Saturdays @ 11:00 a.m. Hour of Power Tuesdays @ 7:00 p.m. Divine Worship Saturdays @ 1:00 p.m.
"Learn from the burn, but forgive to live"
public notice
home services
APPLIANCE SERVICE
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CrossRoadsNews
January 19, 2013
2013 Spring Baseball & Softball Registration
Jan 26th • Feb 2nd • Feb 9th 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Age 3................. $90 Age 4: .............. $120 Ages 5-6.......... $130 Ages 7-14: ...... $140
Health Resources and Services Administration NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT for Oakhurst Medical Centers
DIABETIC WITH MEDICARE PART B? In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing NEPA (44 CFR Parts 1500 through 1508) and the The Diabetic Therapeutic Shoe Benefit may provide those with I X Administration X HHSN General Manual Part 30 Environmental Protection (February 25, Medicare Part B one pair of extra depth shoes and 3 pairs of M E C H A arch supports per calendar year.
FOOTFITTR
2161 BRIARCLIFF ROAD • ATLANTA, GA 30329 • 404-325-9944 footfittr@yahoo.com • www.footfittr.com
2466 Bouldercrest Rd SE Atlanta, GA 30316
404-244-9660
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2000), HRSA has determined that Oakhurst Medical Center proposed by Oakhurst Medical Centers, Inc. will have no significant adverse impact on the quality of the human environment. As a result of this FONSI, an Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides discretionary grant and cooperative agreement awards to support health centers expand their capacity to provide primary and preventive health care services to medically underserved populations nationwide. Oakhurst Medical Centers, Inc. in Stone Mountain, Georgia has applied for HRSA grant funding. The applicant proposes to use grant funds to demolish an 11,000 square foot structure and associated site improvements, then construct a 24,000 square foot facility at 5582 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain, Georgia. The applicant has submitted an Environmental Assessment (EA) that documents impacts of the proposed action. This EA is incorporated by reference into this FONSI. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Assessment for this project, which is on file at the following address for public examination upon request between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Oakhurst Medical Centers 770 Village Square Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083 Attn: Jeff Taylor Phone: 404-298-3250 No further environmental review of this project is proposed prior to final approval from HRSA.
Public Comments Any individual, group, or agency disagreeing with this determination or wishing to comment on these projects may submit written comments to the Jeff Taylor, CEO, at the above referenced address. HRSA will consider all comments received within 15 days of this “Notice” prior to final approval from HRSA.
Winner of the 2012 MillerCoors Messenger Award and 8 Awards for Journalistic Excellence in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists’ 30th Pioneer Black Journalists Awards Competition* * Print Category - Under 100,000 circulation
East Metro Atlanta’s Best Source for Local News
ce ellen c x E gory rd of Awa ws Cate chools” g n i S Ne lish Pub reaking Going to B wers l To “Cel
• • • • • • •
Best Community / Public Affairs Reporting Best Deadline Reporting Best Non-Deadline Reporting Best News Series Best Hard Feature Story Best Soft Feature (2) -- Tie Best Photojournalism
2346 Candler Road • Decatur, GA 30034 • 404-284-1888 • www.crossroadsnews.com • www.facebook.com/crossroadsnews
A12
CrossRoadsNews
January 19, 2013
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Health & Wellness Expo - Jan. 26, 2013 January 19, 2013
www.crossroadsnews.com
Get Fit, Feel Great!
Health, fitness take center stage during CrossRoadsNews’ 2013 Health & Wellness Expo Noon to 5 p.m., lower level, the Mall at Stonecrest n Free health screenings
n Dancers
n Fitness demonstrations
n Elected officials
n Musical performances
n Door prizes
n Informative presentations by doctors and nutritionists
Section B
B2
CrossRoadsNews
Wellness Expo
January 19, 2013
“Staying active and eating food that is good for you has to be a lifestyle change.” Expo-goers will be entertained and informed at the Main Stage in front of Sears, site of events like the popular Fitness FaceOff, Life Chef Asata Reid’s food demonstrations, and the highstepping, hipswagging Beulah Boys.
2346 Candler Road Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.CrossRoadsNews.com editor@CrossRoadsNews.com
The Health and Wellness Expo Special Section is a publication of CrossRoadsNews Inc., East Metro Atlanta’s award-winning weekly newspaper. Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Graphics Editor Curtis Parker Reporters Jessica Smith Ken Watts
CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsNews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.
© 2013 CrossRoadsNews, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without written permission of the publisher.
Expo puts focus on fitness, food and early detection People who stay active and eat healthy portions know how good they feel all the time. Their bodies work better, they have less pain, and they sleep better. At the 2013 CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expo on Jan. 26 at the Mall at Stonecrest, adults and children will find nearly two dozen exhibitors, lots of good information, fitness demonstrations, free health screenings, and performances that will energize them to keep their New Year’s health resolutions. Jennifer Parker, CrossRoadsNews editor and publisher, said the goal of the expo is to show residents just how easy it can be to get started on a fitness regimen or maintain the one you are already on. “Staying active and eating food that is good for you has to be a lifestyle change,” Parker said. “Every year, this expo reminds us that it’s a no-brainer to integrate some form of exercise in our lives, and select healthy foods to eat.”
The noon-5 p.m. expo will be on the lower level of the Lithonia mall between Dillard’s and Kohl’s. Exhibitors include hospitals, health centers, physicians, chiropractors, other health care professionals, health insurers, and government agencies. Expo-goers will have their pick of free screenings including diabetes, hypertension and HIV/AIDS. The 2013 Health & Wellness Expo is being staged in partnership with title sponsors Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, DeKalb Medical, and 100 Black Women Decatur-DeKalb Chapter. It is one of four annual community expos that CrossRoadsNews has sponsored at the Mall at Stonecrest since 2006. The others are the Summer Camp Expo in March, The Family & Back to School Expo in August, and this year, The Senior/Baby Boomer Expo in September. The Senior Expo replaces the Small Business Expo that was held in April. Among the highlights of this year’s
Health & Wellness Expo are the popular Fitness FaceOff at 1 p.m.; Life Chef Asata Reid’s demonstration of Food That Heals at 3:30 p.m., and the high-stepping, hip-swagging Beulah Boys at 4:15 p.m. For the FaceOff Competition, eight fitness instructors and personal trainers have created fun, three-minute exercise routines to show how they motivate their clients to burn calories and tone their bodies. Vince “the Voice” Bailey will emcee the Expo, and there will be giveaways, door prizes, and the chance to win a $250 Mall at Stonecrest Shopping Spree. Parker said this is an expo with lots of goodies for everyone. “If you want to make a change in your life, there will be lots of people and ideas to help you,” she said. “You don’t want to miss this one.” The Mall at Stonecrest is at I-20 and Turner Hill Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 404-284-1888.
2013 Health & Wellness Expo Exhibitors and Grand Prize Entry Form Visit at least 15 of these exhibitors* at the Mall at Stonecrest and enter to win a $250 Mall at Stonecrest Gift Card at the 2013 Health & Wellness Expo. Drawing takes place on Jan. 26, 2013, at 4:45 p.m. at the Main Stage in front of Sears on the lower level of the Mall at Stonecrest.
___ Amerigroup ___ Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates ___ Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta ___ CrossRoadsNews ___ Commissioner Larry Johnson/Let’s Move DeKalb ___ Daffodil Pediatric ___ DeKalb Co. Dept of Watershed Mgmt ___ DeKalb Co. Solicitor-General’s Office
___ DeKalb Medical ___ Fruitgrass – Ultra Super Food Blend ___ Full Body Loving Care Chiropractic ___ ICI Financial Services ___ Injury 2 Wellness Centers ___ Kaiser Permanente ___ Oakhurst Medical Center ___ Optimal Health & Wellness
___ Organic Root Stimulator ___ Premier Women’s Healthcare ___ Rae Rae Clark, Fitness Motivator ___ South DeKalb Rotary Club ___ STAND Inc. ___ Stella Shampoos & Conditioners ___ Utley Chiropractic & Wellness Center ___ WellCare of Georgia
Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City _____________________________________________ E-mail_______________________________________________________________________ Home phone _________________________________________________ Cell ___________________________________________________________ * Eligible entries must be validated by at least 15 exhibitors and must include your complete name, address, e-mail address and telephone number. Employees and immediate family members of CrossRoadsNews and the Mall at Stonecrest are not eligible to win. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. You MUST be present to win.
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January 19, 2013
Wellness Expo
2013 Health & Wellness Expo Program Highlights
Emcee:
Jan. 26, 2013 • Noon to 5 p.m. • The Main Stage in front of Sears Lower Level, The Mall at Stonecrest Noon
Expo Kickoff 3 p.m.
12:30 p.m. DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston
Sherry Boston
1 p.m.
Sankofa
Vince “the Voice” Bailey
3:30 p.m. Food that Heals with Life Chef Asata Reid
Fitness FaceOff Competition
2:20 p.m. Jenae’s Dance Experience (J’DE)
Life Chef Asata Reid
Fitness FaceOff
The Beulah Boys
4 p.m. Beulah Boys Line Dancers
4:45 p.m. Grand Prize Drawing
Jenae’s Dance Experience
5 p.m.
Expo Ends
2:45 p.m. 100 Black Women of DecaturDeKalb, Norma Johnson, president
The last thing the community needed was “just another hospital.” Sure a state-of-the-art facility close to home would be appreciated. But what was equally important was building a place that would remind patients of the care that had disappeared from healthcare. So beyond simply launching the first all-digital master planned hospital in Georgia, we set out to give patients everything from access to a talented pool of doctors and dedicated support staff, who would engage them in their treatment, to free parking and amazing food. See, before DeKalb Medical at Hillandale was even established, we asked ourselves, “What can we do differently? What can we do better than them?” And we still ask ourselves those two questions every day. Because as far as we’re concerned, good could never be good enough.
To learn more, visit www.dekalbmedicalhillandale.org
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CrossRoadsNews
Wellness Expo
January 19, 2013
There are a lot of food options to choose from to create a healthy menu of delicious meals.
‘Heal thyself ’ with nutrient-dense, simple-to-prepare food The phrase “Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food” has been attributed to Hippocrates, also known as the father of Western medicine. Combine that thought with the ever-popular parental spiel that “You are what you eat,” and you have a great recipe for healing what ails you. From the common cold to diabetes, there are magazines and Web sites full of foodbased cures. The best medicine is prevention, and food plays a role in that, too. At the Jan. 26 CrossRoadsNews Health and Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest, I’ll demonstrate recipes that feature socalled “superfoods” that can give your body a much-needed boost to heal itself. If you start out with a balanced diet, you’re well on your way to wellness. Certain nutrient-dense foods can expedite recovery and boost immunity. Check out these easyto-find and simple-to-prepare foods.
Lower cholesterol naturally These foods made Prevention Magazine’s list of cholesterol-lowering foods because they help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol, maintain “good” HDL cholesterol, and help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke: n Oats n Nuts n Red wine n Beans n Chocolate n Spinach n Avocado n Garlic n Salmon and fatty fish n Olive oil Balancing blood sugar These foods made Real Age’s list of 10 Foods for Diabetics and Blood Sugar because they have a low impact on blood sugar fluctuations, which help diabetics maintain even
their immune-building properties, such as high-antioxidant content and nutrient density. n Elderberry n Button mushrooms n Acai berry n Oysters n Watermelon n Cabbage n Almonds n Grapefruit n Wheat germ n Low-fat yogurt n Garlic n Spinach n Tea n Sweet potato n Broccoli
“Life Chef” Asata Reid will demonstrate recipes featuring “superfoods” and answer questions.
insulin levels: n Spinach and leafy greens n Sardines n Chia seeds n Lentils n Whole grain pasta
n Nuts n Hummus n Cinnamon n Quinoa n Olive oil
Immunity boosters Chicken soup for the common cold? Absolutely. Studies have shown that it reduces some of the symptoms of a cold, even if it won’t exactly cure it. These foods made WebMD’s list of 15 Immune Boosting Foods due to
Inflammation fighters Inflammation is famous for causing pain, but did you know it is also a precursor to other major illnesses? Internal systemic inflammation often goes undetected until it triggers other more noticeable symptoms such as an organ or glandular malfunction. Dr. Andrew Weil, author and integrative medicine expert, says: “It is becoming increasingly clear that chronic inflammation is the root cause of many serious illnesses – including heart disease, many cancers, and Alzheimer’s disease.” His Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid, released on Oct. 12, 2012, suggests these foods, from greatest to least quantities, be consumed to fight inflammation (view the full pyramid at www.drweil.com): n Vegetables (4-5 a day) n Fish and seafood (2-6 a week) n Fruits (3-4 a day) n Whole and cracked
grains (3-5 a day) n Beans and legumes (1-2 a day) n Whole soy foods (1-2 a day) n Pasta (2-3 a week) n Cooked Asian mushrooms (unlimited amounts) n Other sources of protein like eggs, poultry, lean meats, cheeses (1-2 a week) n Healthy fats like olive and other expeller pressed oils, nuts, avocados and seeds (5-7 a day) n Herbs and spices like garlic, ginger, tumeric and cinnamon (unlimited amounts) n Tea, white, green and oolong (2-4 cups a day) n Supplements (daily) n Red wine (optional) n Healthy sweets (sparingly) As you can see, there are lots of food options to create a healthy menu of delicious meals. We’ll tackle this topic and answer some of your questions around healthy eating at the Health and Wellness Expo, noon to 5 p.m. on the mall’s lower level. I will be on the Main Stage in front of Sears at 3:30 p.m.
Follow the Life Chef Chef Asata teaches a “What’s Cooking?” healthy eating class at Sevananda Natural Foods Market (www.sevananda.coop) at noon on the second Saturday monthly. She also is leading a “How to Feed a Kid” seminar series for parents at Charles R. Drew Charter School for the 2012-2013 school year. She also has a healthy cooking series at the Truly Living Well Urban Farms (www.trulylivingwell. net) and the Villages of East Lake community in spring of 2013. For more information, visit www.LifeChef.net and follow her on Facebook/ ChefAsata for daily healthy eating tips and recipes.
Healthy Relationships Make a Safer DeKalb abusive relationships don’t just happen to adults. One in three young people experiences some form of dating abuse.
{
February is teen dating violence prevention and awareness Month.
}
join Me on january 26, 2013 12 noon to 5 p.m. at stonecrest Mall and take the pledge to stop teen dating violence.
Sherry Boston dekalb county solicitor-general
www.dekalbsolicitorgeneral.org 404.371.2201
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January 19, 2013
CrossRoadsNews
IN AN EMERGENCY
WHEN MINUTES
MATTER,
REMEMBER HOW CLOSE WE ARE. If your child has a medical emergency, experience is crucial. So it’s good to know that the emergency department at Hughes Spalding is staffed by board-certified emergency medicine pediatricians who can handle everything from fevers to broken bones. To learn more, visit choa.org/hughesspalding.
©2013 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding is owned by Grady Health System® and managed by HSOC Inc., an affiliate of Children’s. Some physicians and affiliated healthcare professionals on the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta team are independent providers and are not our employees.
CHILDREN’S AT HUGHES SPALDING - 35 JESSE HILL JR. DRIVE SE, ATLANTA
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January 19, 2013
“Fitness happens inside and outside the gym. You have to change your sleeping habits, your eating habits. You have to commit to it.”
Faith helps athlete turn life around
Judges bring experience, p
By Jessica Smith
The judges for the 2013 Fitness FaceOff are familiar faces. DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson, author and fitness buff Larry “the Outstanding Man” Bobo, and 2012 Fitness FaceOff Champion Tamisha Cosby will be offering thumbs-up and -down on the popular competition in which personal trainers and fitness instructors showcase the routines they use to motivate their clients to be active and healthy. Johnson and Bobo have been judges in the competition before. Johnson helped judge the inaugural
When childhood basketball star JoAnna Ward was growing up, she never experienced the esteem horrors of baby weight. At Crim High in Atlanta, her athletic skills quickly earned her a basketball scholarship to South Carolina State University. Being an athlete, she had no idea what a weight issue was until she graduated, became inactive, and packed on weight on her 5-foot-10inch frame. She went to the gym in 1996 and weighed in at 192 pounds – 30 pounds over her ideal weight. “At that point,” she said, “I declared I would be 200-nothing. Period.” She was at a low point. Her son, Dontre, was about to turn 3, her marriage was falling apart, and she had no money. Ward, who grew up in a strong Christian home, knew where to look. “I was drifting, lost, going nowhere,” she said. “After a really trying season in my life, I turned my faith back to God and sought his plan for my life. Fitness was only one of the many positive turns that came next.” She signed up and unsuccessfully attempted an aerobics class, losing only 4 pounds after four months of stationary equipment workouts. After consulting with other women, Ward concluded that her diet and exercise routine would change. She went back to aerobics, stayed until she got the hang of it, and dropped more than 30 pounds in six weeks. She realized that her metabolism had been working but her diet was canceling it out. By 1998, Ward had gone back to college, finished her master’s in edu-
Larry Bobo
Tamisha Cosby
Fitness FaceOff in 2011, and Bobo was a judge for the 2012 competition. Cosby, a fitness instructor at New Birth’s Samson Fitness Center in Lithonia and Anytime Fitness in Conyers, vied in both competi-
Trainer favors hatha yoga to By Jessica Smith
JoAnna Ward, who appeared on “Survivor: Amazon,” will compete in the Fitness FaceOff on Jan. 26 at the Mall at Stonecrest.
cation, and got a job as a guidance counselor in Orangeburg, S.C. She taught fitness classes at her school, where some teachers were fans of “Survivor.” They submitted her tapes to CBS, and in 2002 she was chosen to compete on “Survivor: Amazon.” People began asking her to be their personal trainer. Ward, who lives in Lithonia, launched Hallelujah Productions dba JoAnna Ward Fitness in 2003. She teaches at Berean Christian Church’s Kerwin B. Lee Family Life Center. She combines strength training, cardio and nutrition counseling
for more than 300 clients. Ward will be among eight fitness instructors and personal trainers competing in the 2013 Fitness FaceOff at the Mall at Stonecrest on Jan. 26 during CrossRoadsNews’ annual Health & Wellness Expo. It starts at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage in front of Sears on the lower level. She says faith and fitness are a great fit. “It sets the enduring foundation that is needed to go from fat to fit to fabulous and stay there.” For more information, call 770873-2497or visit joannawardfitness. com.
Michelle Barnard was born to move. At age 3, she took up ballet and plied, tapped and waltzed her way through her childhood. But in 2001 when she began teaching dance at the age of 22, she found out that she wasn’t as agile as she thought. “I realized I wasn’t as young as the young folks,” Barnard said this week with a laugh. I’ve To recapture her flexibility and exp burn a few extra calories, she yog took an aerobics class. It was love at first step. Two years later, she became a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor through the Aerobics & Fitness Association of America. At her peak she taught 20 classes per week, including yoga, kickboxing, Pilates, weight training and water aerobics. In 2009 she started Michelle Barnard Fitness, a mobile fitness company that travels to clients. She also teaches yoga classes at the East Lake YMCA and the Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta. She created Tone & Tuff Small Group Training Camp that offers personal training to seven clients at a time. But of all the training she offers, her favorite is yoga. “Yoga is close to my heart,” said Barnard, who lives in Grant Park. “It
Desert Storm veteran motivates others to achieve fitness goals Darnell Reed is no stranger to fitness. At age 11, he began wrestling, a sport that he continued throughout his adolescence and well into his 20s, even after he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. As if basic training weren’t enough, the Desert Storm vet took up mixed martial arts fighting, which opened doors for him with a career as a personal trainer. Reed trained for 10 years at mega gyms like L.A. fitness and Bally and picked up a healthy knowledge of nutrition. Suffice it to say, an active, healthy lifestyle is his passion. On Jan. 26, Reed will showcase some of the exercise routines he uses to motivate clients in their quest for fitness. He is one of eight personal trainers, fitness instructors and coaches competing in the 2013 Fitness FaceOff competition at the CrossRoadsNews annual Health & Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia. The competition starts at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage in front of Sears.
After years of successfully helping clients meet their wellness goals, Reed said he began noticing that people are becoming more health-conscious overall. In 2012, he translated his passion into his own personal training service, ProQual Fitness, based in Sandy Springs. Reed said his goal is to help people achieve their health goals. “It’s about helping people become more conscious and aware of what they’re putting in their bodies and what they’re doing with their bodies,” he said. Reed, who lives in Sandy Springs, says taking care of your body means changing your lifestyle. He says that staying healthy doesn’t just happen with a casual three-day-a-week workout. “Fitness happens both inside and outside the gym,” he said. “You have to change your sleeping habits, your eating habits. You have to commit to it.” For more information, visit proqualfitness.com, e-mail proqualfitness@gmail.com or call Reed at Darnell Reed translated his passion for fitness into his own personal training service, 770-710-4541. ProQual Fitness based in Sandy Springs.
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CrossRoadsNews
January 19, 2013
Wellness Expo
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“When you’re not fit, it creates a plethora of health problems. The human body was made to move.”
passion for fitness to table K.T.O.’s positive hip-hop fights obesity tions. She came in a close second in the first and claimed the Championship Trophy in the second. The three will judge the compeLarry Johnson tition that begins at 1 p.m. on Jan. 26 during CrossRoadsNews’ annual Health & Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. It takes place on the Main Stage in front of Sears on the lower level. Johnson, who represents District
3 on the Board of Commissioners, is in his third four-year term. He is a Fulton County public health manager and creator of DeKalb Walks, an initiative he launched in 2004 to encourage residents to “walk to better health” in county parks. Bobo, author of “How to Find an Outstanding Man” and “Becoming an Outstanding Man: Marriage, Family and Relationships,” is host of the Web-based Beef Up & Go Fitness Show. He created the Stackand-Rack 60-Day Challenge for men who struggle to gain weight because of high metabolism.
By Jessica Smith
In the fight against childhood obesity, K.T.O. has a solution. Kids Taking Over, a group of children led by 21-year-old Ivern Morgan, trains students to translate popular dance moves into fitness moves. Morgan, whose stage name is Lil’ Uno, was a hip-hop fanatic and aspiring lyricist when his mother laid down the law. “I told him if he wanted to do this, he needed to do something positive,” she said. Elvis Morgan, who lives in Grant Park with her son, has polycystic kidney disease and comes from a family history of diabetes. She knew that she wanted to effect change in the overwhelming number of health problems facing her community and Kids Taking Over includes children ages 5 to 16 who have performed at the nation. After brainstorming with recreation centers, summer camps and senior centers. Popular dance moves Ivern and close friend Carla Jones, become fitness moves. who owns a multimedia studio, Hip Hop 2 Fitness was born. “Obesity is killing our nation right now,” Morgan Morgan said that as a country, we must fight RICO. said. She said many parents are passing on poor eating “We’re fighting against him for a healthy future.” habits to their children. Kids Taking Over will bring their message of transWhen parents go to the grocery store and buy the formation to the 2013 Fitness FaceOff competition on same sugar- and fat-laden foods week after week, a Jan. 26 at the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia. vicious cycle develops, but Morgan said children can The group will be one of eight personal trainers and lead the way. If a child comes up and asks for a healthier fitness instructors competing at the 2013 CrossRoadalternative, Morgan believes parents will follow suit. sNews Health & Wellness Expo. “The best way to change eating habits right now is K.T.O., which includes children ages 5-16, performs to go through the children,” she said. “Like it or not, at metro recreation centers, summer camps and senior parents do what their kids want them to do. Once the facilities. They hope to bring Rico into the public school kids change their minds, the adults will follow.” system along with a three-month fitness program they In 2008, Ivern Morgan created Kids Taking Over created for children. Morgan and Jones also are working when he called on 10 of his cousins and close neighbor- on a TV pilot – “Hip Hop 2 Fitness With K.T.O.” – they hood friends to help promote Hip Hop 2 Fitness. would like to broadcast on public television for latchkey K.T.O.’s mascot Rico is an overweight kid who kids. The show will offer an exercise routine as well as a loves to eat junk food and performs hip-hop dances segment that teaches healthy meal preparation. like the Cat Daddy, Stanky Legg, the Dougie, and even For more information, contact Elvis Morgan at elthe Bump. RICO stands for respiratory illness, cancers vis.morgan@hotmail.com or 678-789-3722 and Carla and obesity. Jones at ugqinc@gmail.com or 561-275-6144.
boost flexibility, spirituality
has helped a lot of people, especially in becoming more spiritual. I’ve seen a lot of people grow from experiences they’ve had through yoga.” On Jan. 26, she will highlight her favorite hatha yoga techniques and some very advanced poses in the 2013 Fitness FaceOff Competition at the Mall at Stonecrest. Barnard is one of eight instructors competing at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage near Sears on the mall’s lower level during CrossRoadsNews’ annual Health, Wellness & Beauty Expo. e seen a lot of people grow from Barnard, who believes in all periences they’ve had through facets of fitness, stresses the imga,” says Michelle Barnard. portance of maintaining not only cardiovascular health and strength, but also spirituality. It is only then, she says, that we can have a completely fit body. “Staying fit keeps me sane,” she said. “We all have to deal with paying the rent and problems at work. Practicing yoga keeps me grounded and gets me through what I’m going through. It puts me in a better mood.” Through her demonstration, Barnard is hoping to inspire people to try yoga. “Yoga keeps growing with you,” she said. “You can practice it until your last days.” For more information, call 404-931-5252 or visit michellebarnard. wix.com/transcendfitness.
Follow Zumba Crew, leader out of comfort zone and into shape By Jessica Smith
News’ 2013 Health & Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. When LaWanda Brokenborough started her mobile Brokenborough, who favors the high-energy workpersonal training business from the ground up, comfort out that mixes Brazilian, Latin and African dancing, was the last thing she was feeling. will be one of eight fitness instructors and personal Brokenborough, then 216 pounds, was bartending, trainers who will showcase how they keep clients fit waiting tables and miserable. “I was overweight and unand motivated. derpaid,” she joked. This is her second attempt to claim the crown of FitNow affectionately known as “the Fitness Diva,” Broness FaceOff Champion. She also competed in 2012. kenborough decided to step out on a limb involving some The Fitness FaceOff begins at 1 p.m. on the Main serious life changes. Her “aha” moment came when she Stage in front of Sears. realized that by teaching aerobics, she could have a job she Brokenborough said being healthy and active should liked, lose weight and make money at the same time. be everyone’s goal every day. “When you’re not fit, it “When I got the idea, I had never taken a single fitness creates a plethora of health problems. The human body class before. The extent of my workouts included me in was made to move.” the living room with my mom watching Jane Fonda,” she To be beneficial, she said the movement has to be LaWanda Brokenborough favors Zumba, the high-energy workout that mixes said. purposeful. Brazilian, Latin and African dancing. Eleven years later, she leads an average of 32 group “I see so many people working out in classes and fitness and dance classes per week. She teaches at Pera 10 certifications, leads weight-loss support groups for teens staying comfortable,” she said. “They can lift a 10-pound Dance Studio and Athletic Club Northeast in Atlanta, Just and adults, and conducts fitness and dance choreography dumbbell, but because it’s easier they reach for 5 pounds Fitness 4 U in Roswell, and Riverdale Community Center. workshops and lectures. instead. That only keeps you right where you are.” Her repertoire includes kickboxing, step, salsa, yoga, boot On Jan. 26, she and her Zumba Crew will demonstrate For more information, call 1-877-697-6249 or visit www. camp, aerobics, and water aerobics. She also holds more than an energetic routine in the Fitness FaceOff at CrossRoads lawandathefitnessdiva.com.
WellCare is a health plan with a Medicare contract. Y0070_NA013857_WCM_ADV_ENG File and Use 11082010
35710
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January 19, 2013
“Seeing my friends on top of the epidemic of childhood diabetes and obesity in our community really put me into action.”
Stroke survivor shares energy, line dancing with young, old By Jessica Smith
“Mr. CardioTone” Dwight Calhoun will bring his line-dancing fitness routine to the Jan. 26 competition.
In his urban line-dance fitness classes, instructor and personal trainer Dwight Calhoun is all about sharing the good vibes. Calhoun, 46, who started line dancing in 2008, says he fell into it by accident when a cousin and a few friends wanted to lose some weight. “Seeing my friends on top of the epidemic of childhood diabetes and obesity in our community really put me into action,” said Calhoun, who is known as the “line dance king” and “Mr. Cardio-Tone.” Dancing for Calhoun was nothing new. He began at age 4, aspiring to move like Michael Jackson and James Brown. It was in 1991, however, when he suffered a disabling stroke as an adult that dance took on new meaning. His short- and long-term memory was
damaged. Doctors told him he would develop dementia. After 20 years of on-andoff recovery, the left side of his body is still weaker than the right. Despite his cognitive impairment, Cal-
“Part of my brain was closing down, but dancing forced me to think and use my brain,” said Calhoun, who boasts that few can outdance him, “but none can outlast me.” On Jan. 26 at 1 p.m., he will compete with seven other personal trainers and fitness instructors in the Fitness FaceOff at CrossRoadsNews’ annual Health and Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest on the Main Stage in front of Sears on the lower level. This will be his second entry. Last year, he excited the audience with a lively routine. When he is not competing, he shares his energy with kids and adults at Spelman College, Torch Fitness, Southwest Arts Center, Decatur Family YMCA and day care centers. houn was determined to stay healthy. He teaches about 30 hours per week and his “Constant movement became therapy for students sweat through hour-long but fun me,” he said. “I have to do certain things on workouts that include 10 to 12 line dances. task, like count and follow the rhythms, so it For more information, e-mail mrcardio forced me to concentrate. tone@yahoo.com. Kim Broadus will introduce Piloxing, which fuses Pilates, boxing and dance and can burn 400 to 900 calories an hour.
Maverick to demonstrate Piloxing at competition By Jessica Smith
“I was like, wow … I want to do that.” That cathartic moment transformed a shy corporate drudge into a vivacious returning college student, successful business owner and fiercely independent mother who does it all. “Anything is possible,” she said. Broadus was raising her young daughter, now 7, while working full time as a quality assurance analyst at Harland Clarke in Decatur. She also was managing her business, Keep It In Motion, which she started in 2012. “For me, there is no excuse,” she said. “To the woman who tells me, ‘I had a Caesarean a year ago’ – I was teaching two weeks before I had my daughter. To the woman who says ‘I don’t want to mess up my hair’ – you have
Throwing punches and sweating bullets in front of a room of people is the last place Kim Broadus ever thought she’d be. But these days, that’s right where she is. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. A personal trainer and group fitness instructor for 10 years, Broadus got her start as a student in a step aerobics class. Several family members were overweight and suffering from a myriad of health issues, and she was determined not to follow in their footsteps. She struggled at first but was mesmerized by the instructor’s energy and skill. Once she got her feet wet, she fell in love.
time for your hair appointment, you can make time to get your nails done, you can make time to work on your body.” Broadus works on more than 150 bodies in 11 classes every week using boot camp, Pilates, step and body sculpting. But when she developed heel spurs in 2006, she wanted to teach a class that was low impact. That’s when she discovered Piloxing, which she will demonstrate on Jan. 26 at the Mall at Stonecrest as she competes against seven other fitness instructors in the 2013 Fitness FaceOff at 1 p.m. during CrossRoadsNews’ Health, Wellness & Beauty Expo. For more information, e-mail kimbtrainer@gmail.com or call 404-399-8006.
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January 19, 2013
Wellness Expo ‘Change is uncomfortable’ By Jessica Smith
Thirteen years ago, 5-foot-11-inch Wesley Franklin tipped the scales at 350 pounds. Franklin, then 19, said he struggled with being overweight his whole life. “I didn’t know what it felt like not to be fat,” he said. But in 1999 during his sophomore year at Morehouse College, Franklin went to Bally’s Total Fitness and started walking on a treadmill. After a few weeks, he enrolled in a step aerobics class and started seriously shedding pounds. Today, the Smyrna resident weighs in at 210. His initial transformation was so dramatic that his instructor persuaded him to become a trainer. When he got down to 280 pounds, he taught his first step aerobics class. Franklin, who is now a personal trainer and fitness instructor, teaches about 45 students in 15 classes per week. His specialties include step aerobics, kickboxing, yoga, Pilates, cycle and dance. Franklin says a person’s health is not determined by their size, but that if they are willing, they can move their size. “So many people look at fitness as a chore. They want something quick, that they don’t have to put that much effort into.” He knows there are no quick fixes. “When they don’t see immediate results, they think, ‘It’s not a good return on their investment,’” he said. “But they’re investing incorrectly.” On Jan. 26, he will demonstrate correct investing with a step aerobics routine in the 2013 Fitness FaceOff at the Mall at Stonecrest. He is one of eight trainers and instructors competing in the annual CrossRoadsNews Health and Wellness Expo.
Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Wesley Franklin, who once weighed 350 pounds, will demonstrate step aerobics.
This is his second time. In 2011, Franklin gave a heart-pumping performance in the inaugural Fitness FaceOff and promises more of the same for this year’s competition, which begins at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage in front of Sears on the mall’s lower level. Franklin encourages clients to drink plenty of water and eat six small meals per day instead of three large ones. He also tells them to be patient and not to give up. “Change is uncomfortable, but so is being out of shape,” he said. For information, call 678-296-0868 or e-mail wjf25@hotmail.com.
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Wellness Expo
January 19, 2013
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Blood pressure tests will be offered at the expo by Kaiser Permanente, DeKalb Medical and Oakhurst Medical. Other screenings will be provided by Amerigroup, the Rotary Club of South DeKalb, STAND Inc., Injury 2 Wellness Chiropractic Center and Premier Women’s Healthcare.
Early diagnosis may help outcome Free health screenings for diabetes, hypertension and HIV/AIDS will be available at the CrossRoadsNews 2013 Health & Wellness Expo on Jan. 26 at the Mall at Stonecrest. The annual expo takes place from noon to 5 p.m. on the lower level of the Lithonia mall. Early diagnosis of most health problems often can lead to a good outcome, but many African-Americans don’t find out about their illnesses until they are late stage, when they are more difficult to treat.
DeKalb Medical, Oakhurst Medical, Amerigroup and the Rotary Club of South DeKalb will offer diabetes screenings. Screenings for hypertension, or high blood pressure, will be offered by Kaiser Permanente, DeKalb Medical and Oakhurst Medical. STAND Inc. will offer rapid HIV/AIDS tests with results ready within 20 minutes. The Health & Wellness Expo takes place in the mall’s lower level, between Dillard’s and Kohl’s.
Free screenings at the 2013 Health & Wellness Expo Blood Spinal Provider Diabetes Pressure Screens BMI Amerigroup 3 DeKalb Medical 3 3 Kaiser Permanente 3 Rotary Club of South DeKalb 3 STAND Inc. Oakhurst Medical 3 3 Injury 2 Wellness 3 Premier Women’s Healthcare 3
HIV/AIDS
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CrossRoadsNews
January 19, 2013
Wellness Expo
Miller Grove Middle School’s Sankofa dance team will demonstrate steps at the expo. Spanish teacher Lucinda Gaddis is their sponsor.
Sankofa bridges past, present By Jessica Smith
Lucinda Gaddis knows the importance of preserving her heritage. For the past 15 years, the DeKalb School System Spanish teacher has been moonlighting as a West African dancer. In 2009, she became a sponsor of a dance team at Miller Grove Middle School in Lithonia, where she is a Spanish teacher and Connections Department chair. She named it Sankofa, which in the Ghana Akan language means “go back and fetch it.” For Gaddis, that means learning from the past. “It’s about going back to get the knowledge that our ancestors have put into place. For us, that knowledge is dance, song, rhythms and music in general,” she said. She learned to dance under the tutelage of Abdoulaye Camara of the National Ballet of Senegal and has been imparting what she knows to students.
Her Miller Grove team of three dancers will demonstrate how dancing can help keep people fit. The sixth- to eighth-graders meet for biweekly rehearsals and learn steps that are connected to daily life in ancient Ghana. Gaddis said that the simple task of leaning over and planting a seed becomes elevated when it is repeated in a performance setting. The rhythms and movements have been passed down through the generations, Gaddis said. She said studying tradition is very important, especially in a predominantly African-American community. “We learn these things as an expression of our pride and culture,” Gaddis said. Sankofa will be on the Main Stage, in front of Sears on the mall’s lower level, at 3 p.m. The Mall at Stonecrest is at I-20 and Turner Hill Road in Lithonia.
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January 19, 2013
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