CrossRoadsNews, January 24, 2015 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COMMUNITY

SCENE

INSIDE

Volunteers chose to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by picking up litter in Lithonia and Arabia Mountain and with other service projects in DeKalb. A2

DeKalb County Schools’ student-driven variety show “The Bridge” has won four Aurora Awards. A6

CrossRoads News will celebrate 10 years of healthy info, screenings and fun at its Health & Wellness Expo on Jan. 31. Section B

Answering the call to service

Award-winning production

A decade of wellness info

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

January 24, 2015

www.crossroadsnews.com

Volume 20, Number 39

May proposes ‘Downtown DeKalb’ for Memorial Drive By Ken Watts

DeKalb’s interim CEO Lee May makes his second State of the County address at the Maloof Auditiorium on Jan. 22.

through tourism and office, commercial and residential development that will take advantage of Memorial’s proximity to Stone Mountain Park and the State Capitol. “This is about giving attention to a part of the county that has felt neglected for decades,” May said. “I believe once completed, this vision will create [jobs] and bring hundreds of thousands of new visitors to DeKalb.” May, who delivered his second State of the County address since becoming interim CEO in July 2013, said “multitudes of new families” will buy homes in the area and “a new generation of active retirees will have

Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May wants to turn long-neglected Memorial Drive into a revitalized “Downtown DeKalb” anchored by a new government center surrounded by new businesses and residential neighborhoods. May unveiled the plan on Jan. 22 in his State of the County address that he delivered in separate speeches to a paid DeKalb Chamber of Commerce and Council for Quality Growth luncheon in Atlanta and to residents in a free event at Maloof Auditorium in Decatur. May called the redevelopment of Memorial Drive essential to the future of DeKalb. He envisions transforming the corridor Please see SPEECH, page A2

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Suspect sought in Fairington Elementary fire Kindergarten teacher Margaret Veira-Allen works with her students in the Miller Grove High auditorium. A Jan. 17 fire destroyed her classroom at Fairington Elementary.

Rehab to cost $722,000; school to reopen soon By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

The Jan. 17 fire at Fairington Elementary School caused $722,000 in damage and destroyed Margaret Veira-Allen’s kindergarten classroom. It also covered the rest of the Lithonia school in soot and smoke, forcing the DeKalb School District to temporarily relocate the children and their teachers after the King Day holiday. Veira-Allen was watching the charred ruins of a Fairington Elementary classroom on her television Saturday evening when she realized it was her kindergarten classroom. “I saw the easel I had and the chart with my handwriting,” she said. The fire set by an arsonist made her very sad. “Especially for the kids,” she said. The teacher of 30 years also lost teaching materials in the classroom she had occupied for 12 years at the school on Phillip Bradley Drive. She lost cherished out-of-print teaching books she held onto from her college days and teaching supplies and aids she had for her students. “A lot of stuff was mine,” she said. “Twenty-five years of work down the drain. Now I have nothing. I will have to start from scratch again.” Veira-Allen’s classroom, which looked out on the back of the school, was ground zero for the fire that left in its wake melted chairs and charred desks, books, toys and supplies. It also spread soot and smoke throughout the entire school and forced district officials to relocate the school’s 712 students to Miller Grove High School on the other side of I-20. School District spokesman Quinn Hudson said the $722,000 is just the cost of re-

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

habilitating the school so that students and teachers can return early next week. “That is just the damage from the fire,” he said. “It does not include the cost of relocating the students.” On Jan. 21, DeKalb School Police issued photos of a lone black male whose image was captured on the school’s surveillance camera around the time of the fire. Firefighters were called to the school about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday when smoke was seen billowing from the building. The 6-foot man wearing frame eyeglasses and dressed in a dark hoodie and camouflage pants was seen near a mobile classroom at the back of the school. Police say he weighs 180 to 200 pounds. They are seeking help identifying him. Detective M.E. Parks can be reached at 678-676-1810. Arson Detective H. Patterson

can be reached at 678-406-7773. Earlier in the day before the suspect’s photo was released, Veira-Allen said she is hoping the perpetrator is caught. “I would really like to know who did it,” she said. While they wait for the school to be rehabilitated by the Cotton Co., an Alpharettabased disaster restoration, construction and logistics firm, Veira-Allen and her class of 21 students are sharing the high school auditorium with the school’s other kindergartners and first- and second-graders. On Tuesday when they met at the high school for the first day back after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, she said almost all of them knew about the fire. “They watched it on the news,” she said. “One little boy wanted to know why they did that to his classroom.”

Jeffrey Jenkins, the school’s principal, said third-, fourth- and fifth-graders are in classrooms in the high school’s 700 hall. Jenkins said the children view the temporary relocation like a field trip. “They are excited,” he said. The older kids who are in the classrooms have been exposed to the high school’s video announcements. “They see the students on videos and they think that’s cool,” he said. “They keep asking, ‘Mr. Jenkins, why don’t we have that our school?’” In their section with “K” handwritten on a green 8.5-by-11-inch sheet of paper, some of Veira-Allen’s students sat in the auditorium seats while others lay on their bellies on the floor. On the stage behind her were boxes Please see FIRE, page A3

Community

CrossRoadsNews

January 24, 2015

“The community came together for a very appropriate project reflecting the message of King.”

Volunteers celebrate King with Day of Service across DeKalb By Ken Watts

Volunteers spread out across DeKalb County on Jan. 19 to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the national holiday that celebrates the late civil rights icon’s birthday. Hundreds of enthusiastic adults, teens and young children cleared brush and debris from the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve in Lithonia and nearby Panola Mountain, cleaned and painted at Indian Creek Elementary School in Clarkston, picked up litter in the city of Lithonia, spent time with seniors at Mountain View Personal Care Home in Decatur, and spruced up historic Shermantown Cemetery in Stone Mountain. Students from Georgia Perimeter College and members of VolunteerMatch trekked to the summit of Arabia Mountain in Lithonia early Monday morning to help preserve the site’s fragile ecosystem. Kimberly Estep, Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance public outreach coordinator, said volunteers’ help will go a long way in keeping the mountain pristine. “We helped remove debris from the top of the mountain in order to protect the solution pits, which are a habitat for federally endangered plants,” she said. The mountain and other nearby granite outcrops are home to dozens of rare and colorful plant species that bloom in the spring. Congress designated the mountain and adjoining features a National Heritage Area in 2006 in recognition of its cultural, historical and natural significance. GPC student volunteers also spent nearly four hours playing bingo with the residents at Mountain View Personal Care Home on Kensington Road. As one student called out letter and number combinations, others played at the tables

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

GPC student Gayle Sutton (blue shirt) plays bingo with Mountain View residents.

Kimberly Estep, Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance

Georgia Perimeter College students and VolunteerMatch members remove debris from the summit of Arabia Mountain, home to rare plant species.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Jack and Jill of America-Stone Mountain volunteers spruced up Indian Creek Elementary.

with the residents. Barbara Hamler, board chair of the home for the elderly, said the volunteers were providing far more than fun and games for the residents. “Social interaction with people from the outside is always of value to them,” Hamler said.

“Even though many of our residents have family members who visit them, the challenge, of course, is that those family members have to work to support their stay here at this facility and may not be able to spend much time with them. Other residents have family who live out of town, so the interaction with the volunteers helps them stay connected to the outside community.” Nearly 100 children and adults from Jack and Jill of America-Stone Mountain helped clear dried bushes and debris from the campus of Indian Creek Elementary. The teens painted the school’s hallways while the students were out for King Day. Nearly three dozen Stone Mountain Village residents spent King Day cleaning up the historic cemetery in Shermantown where blacks have lived since before the Civil War. The community of tiny homes is named for Union Gen. William T. Sherman who camped there on his March to the Sea. Many slaves followed the Army to freedom.

Stone Mountain City Councilman Steve Wells had urged residents to turn out for the project, and they responded. “I was expecting maybe 20 people, and 35 showed up,” he said. “I was really happy that we got good support. The community came together for a very appropriate project reflecting the message of Dr. King.” The 19th-century burial ground was overgrown by trees and foliage. Volunteers trimmed back hedges, weeds and tree branches to reveal all of the cemetery’s nearly 75 gravestones. “There were about four stones that were not visible but are now and the cemetery looks a lot better,” Wells said. In the city of Lithonia, nearly 90 people, including Brownie Pack 21450 and Girl Scout Troop 12521, surprised Mayor Deborah Jackson with their presence and help. They picked up trash in the city-owned plaza on Main Street and then fanned out along Wiggins Street, Max Cleland Boulevard, Park Way and Lithonia Industrial Boulevard. Jackson said volunteers picked up 50 bags of trash over the two-hour cleanup. “It looked fabulous when they were done,” she said. “We wish it could look like this every day.”

CEO cites falling crime rate, improving fiscal outlook in State of County SPEECH,

from page

everything they’re looking for” in a quality setting. May didn’t say what it would cost or set a timetable for completion but said he is looking to bring the Downtown DeKalb concept to life through a public-private partnership with the business community. The catalyst for the proposed transformation will be the creation of a new government center across from the Kensington MARTA station and next door to DeKalb Juvenile Court. “This new government center will be the anchor of Downtown DeKalb,” May said. “We already have 200 acres in this location, so the ball is already rolling,” The county is running out of space in its current central government offices in downtown Decatur, and some facilities are in disrepair. An elevator in the main government

building across from Maloof Auditorium has been broken since November because a replacement part is being custom-made. May said the Downtown DeKalb project is closely related to plans for Emory University and the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He will appoint a task force of public and private professionals to develop a plan for a global education, health care and technology center network. The network will have Emory and the CDC as anchors with a goal of economic development and growth. “This vision has the capability to transform our county and region, bringing entrepreneurs, professionals and business from all over the world,” May said. May, the District 5 commissioner, was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to fill the office of suspended CEO Burrell Ellis, who is facing trial for alleged corruption. After a turbulent year and a half, May said

DeKalb is “turning the corner and moving in the right direction.” “DeKalb’s neighborhoods are safer, the county is living within its means and government is becoming more efficient,” he said. He cited a falling crime rate and an improving county fiscal outlook. May said the overall crime rate was down by 3.8 percent in 2014. Property crimes were down by 15.3 percent and violent crime was down by 3.6 percent. “But our police and firefighters need help,” May said. “That’s why I’m in the middle of a three-year plan to drastically increase the rate of hiring new sworn officers and firefighters.” Since his appointment, May said the county has graduated five police academies and three fire academies and he is following through on a 2013 commitment to hire 480 new officers and 300 firefighters by 2016. On the revenue front, May said the county

has seen improved property tax revenues and budgetary reserves of $74.2 million. In 2015, for the second straight year, there will be no property tax hike. He also said the county’s credit rating is improving and it has worked with the rating agencies and developed a management plan to financial stability. “It is working,” he said. “I’m glad to say our bond rating … is now stable.” The county has established an Economic Development Agency and is in the final stages of finding a president for the agency. Over the past year, May said the county has attracted and retained more than 2,300 jobs and investments through economic incentives and has taken steps to rebuild public trust after a series of corruption scandals. He said he supports the hiring of an independent internal auditor to conduct financial and performance audits in all departments and will call on commissioners to fund the position within 60 days.

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CrossRoadsNews

January 24, 2015

Community

A state senator, a state representative and a former State Court judge are among 25 attorneys seeking appointment to two vacant judicial seats.

25 seek appointment to DeKalb bench By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Twenty-five DeKalb attorneys, including a sitting state senator, state representative and a former State Court judge, are seeking appointment to two vacant seats on the DeKalb bench. Sen. Ronald Ramsey Sr., Rep. Mike Jacobs and former DeKalb State Court Judge Antonio DelCampo are among applicants who met the Jan. 16 deadline to apply for the appointment to fill the State Court seat vacated by Judge Eleanor Ross and the soon-to-be vacant seat of Superior Court Judge Cynthia Becker. Ramsey, who is the DeKalb School District’s legal counsel, represents Senate District 43 that includes DeKalb and Rockdale counties. Jacobs represents House District 80 in North DeKalb. DelCampo, who was one of two Hispanic judges on

the DeKalb bench, resigned in February 2011 to return to private practice. He had been on the bench for seven years. Ross was appointed to the U.S. District Court in November. Becker told Gov. Nathan Deal in November that she plans to resign early this year to get married. She did not give a departure date, but her wedding is planned for April. Also among the applicants are former DeKalb Assistant District Attorney Akintunde Akinyele, Chief Assistant District Attorney Nicole Golden, DeKalb Recorders Court Judge La Tisha Dear, and Lithonia attorney E. Noreen Banks-Ware. Brian Ross, who is married to Eleanor Ross, also is seeking a seat on the bench. It was unclear at press time Thursday when the state Judicial Nominating Commission would send the short list to Deal for him to make the appointment.

DeKalb bench applicants

Twenty-five attorneys have applied for vacant positions on the DeKalb State Court and Superior Court. J. Max Davis Lisa E. Chang E. Noreen Banks-Ware Jeffrey W. Stump Denise VanLanduyt La Tisha Dear Akintunde Akinyele Nicole M. Golden Ronald Ramsey Sr. Susan Coppedge Amato Rebecca Crumrine Rieder Robert F. Dallas Mike Jacobs Gregory J. Lohmeier Todd Boyce Brian K. Ross Janis C. Gordon Jonathan Granade Ronnie Dixon V. Natasha Perdew Silas Donna Coleman Stribling Christopher W. Timmons Kiesha Storey Tony DelCampo Jean-Paul Boulee Source: The state Judicial Nominating Commission

Police needs identifying arson suspect in Fairington Elementary fire FIRE,

from page

relocated from other teachers’ classrooms. There was nothing to be salvaged from her room, which she has only seen on television. Cotton has had a crew of 150 working round-the-clock at the school since Jan. 18. By Wednesday, Veira-Allen’s classroom was gutted, including ducts and tiles in the ceiling. An industrial pump was working nonstop to exchange the odor of smoke for clean air. Over the weekend, workers had wiped every leaf in every book in the library and cleaned the area of any scent of smoke. Ceiling tiles were removed and all the ducts are being cleaned. Stephen O’Neill, the Cotton Co.’s project manager, said they were awaiting deliveries to start replacing the ceiling.

A surveillance camera at the Lithonia school captured the image of a 6-foot-tall man on the school ground on Jan. 17 around the time of the fire.

He promised that by Monday, the building would be cleaned and deodorized and there would be no smoke odor. The School District expects the students to be back at Fairington by Monday or Tuesday, but Veira-Allen’s classroom will take much longer to repair. O’Neill said the insurance company was expected on Thursday, and after they get the go-ahead, the tiles in the classroom will be repaired and the blackened concrete walls will be addressed. Roxie Griffin, whose kindergarten class is on the same hallway, did not lose her supplies like Veira-Allen. Her room had smoke and water damage. Her students, like the others, have taken the disruption in stride, Six-year-old Justin Hardy said he was excited about going to a high school. “It’s huge,” he said. “But I miss my school. I miss my labs and locker.”

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Forum 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.

January 24, 2015

“Reading is a powerful tool that is needed every day of your life. It is like being able to breathe.”

More marchers, spectators put King in parade What a difference a year makes. Last year at the DeKalb NAACP Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade, it was like searching for a needle in a haystack to find any reference to the civil rights icon’s dream for our country or his legacy. This year, there was a good sprinkling. Still not what it ought to be, but progress is being made. Bravo to those who made the effort this year. Among those leading the charge of celebrating King were DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry and her large contingent of employees who volunteered to march with her. I think I counted more than 30 people. They had a large banner with King’s photo and carried posters quoting King. DeKalb Sheriff Jeff Mann and his staff also celebrated with a King banner. Georgia Piedmont Technical College also did King’s message proud. Throughout the march, other groups, including Chapel Hill Elementary School and Shy Temple CME Church, marched with banners and handmade signs, some with famous quotes from King and some just celebrated the dreamer and fighter for social justice for our country. And this year for the first time, I saw spectators who made their own King signs and waved them as the marchers went by. It is important to put King in the King Day Parade so we will not to forget the real reason for the celebrations. In recent years, the NAACP Parade, which marked its 13th year, had turned into a march of people, groups and businesses who seemed only interested in promoting themselves with nary a reference to King and his ideals. Last February in a column in this space, I bemoaned this fact and argued that the King Parade should be about King, too. Yes, we can promote ourselves, but the very fact that we hold the jobs and positions we do today and can attend the schools that we have is largely due to King and foot soldiers of the civil rights movement. Many of them were beaten bloody by the law enforcement officers of the day because they wanted

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s banner quotes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and bears a photo of him.

A spectator waves a flag celebrating King Day at the DeKalb NAACP’s annual parade on Jan. 19.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry (top), Chapel Hill Elementary students (center) and Shy Temple CME marchers kept focus on King.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

As I See It Jennifer Parker

“We have made great strides this year. Maybe next year we will have even more schools and civic, community, fraternal and faith-based organizations putting their creativity into interpreting King’s dream and legacy.” the right to vote. Some of their persecution is graphically portrayed in the movie “Selma.” It should be required viewing for all for us. For several years as I covered the NAACP Parade, I was in desperate search for someone – anyone – carrying a sign or banner about King.

Often I couldn’t find one, outside of the NAACP banner at the front of the march. During presidential election years, when most of our local elections are held, the march had become a parade of political candidates trolling for votes. They and their campaign literature dominated the parade and very few had any reference to the man, the visionary whom we acknowledge on the King holiday. Often state Rep. Ernest “Coach” Williams with his “Happy Birthday Dr. King” sign on his pickup was the lone parader with any reference to King. This year, he was the lone DeKalb state representative who bothered to march – maybe because it’s not an election year. I was at the march from start to finish and I also did not see any DeKalb commissioners or interim CEO Lee May. But there was a great turnout of South DeKalb Board of Education

members – Vickie Turner and Drs. Melvin Johnson, Michael Erwin and Joyce Morley. Superintendent Michael Thurmond was speaking at a King Day celebration at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Columbus and was absent. So we have made great strides this year. Maybe next year we will have even more schools and civic, community, fraternal and faithbased organizations putting their creativity into interpreting King’s dream and legacy. It will be a presidential election year, so we already know that the politicians will be out in full force for the 2016 King march. We can hardly wait to see how they will interpret King’s legacy even as they campaign for the votes that he helped make possible. But more importantly, I am looking forward to the day that if I stumbled upon the NAACP King Parade at any point along the way, I would not have to ask someone, “Hey, what are they marching for?” Jennifer Parker is editor and publisher of CrossRoadsNews.

Reading and writing – one way to ensure King’s ‘Dream’ By Miriam Knox Robinson

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s annual birthday celebration is a constant reminder for generations to come that we must do our part to “Keep the Dream Alive.” We must train our children and generations to come that no longer can we ignore our responsibility to ensure that they are aware of the accomplishments that have brought us thus far today.

These accomplishments did not happen overnight. It took years and years. Reading and writing is one way to ensure the dream which King died for. Reading and writing is free in public schools, and we take it for granted. Many students drop out in high school and do not value the necessities of life. Reading is a powerful tool that is needed every day of your life. It is like being able to breathe air … or having a

drink of water. We must value reading. One is the Bible, which is prohibited in school but every home should have one. While we prohibit the word God in our schools, guns have a way of getting in, causing harm. The Word of God is not harmful. I say bring God back. Miriam Knox Robinson lives in DeMiriam Robinson catur.

index to advertisers Circulation Audited By

Action Tax Service.........................................A7 Bobby L. Scott & Associates..........................A7 DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court....................A5 DeKalb Convention & Visitor’s Bureau..........A3 Fabric Joint, LLC............................................A7 Hancock Fabrics............................................A3 Johnson Hopewell Coleman LLC..................A7 Johnson’s Antiques & Flea Market................A7 Quenon Smith..............................................A7 Smiles for Less..............................................A7

Teen Reach Inc.............................................A7 Thrive Youth Development, Inc....................A2 Wright Vision Care........................................A2 SECTION B American Heart Association.......................... B3 Atlanta Gastroenterology..............................B4 Children’s Dentistry at Stonecrest.................B6 Children’s Healthcare at Hughes Spalding....B5 Combined Insurance................................... B12 Committee to Elect Henry “Hank” Johnson.B12

DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court....................B4 DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson...........B6 DeKalb Co. Dept. Watershed Management.B11 DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.................... B10 DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s Office......B9 DeKalb Medical........................................... B15 Dignity Memorial..........................................B8 Dr. Craig B. Williams, DDS............................B6 Georgia Piedmont Technical College.......... B15 Humana...................................................... B10

Johnny Harris CPA........................................B4 Kaiser Permanente......................................B13 Oakhurst Medical Centers, Inc...................... B7 Optimal Health Wellness Center...................B8 Woodruff Medical Testing & Training...........B6 INSERTS Best Buy Co. Inc......................................Inserts Holistic Health Management Inc.............Inserts Walgreens...............................................Inserts Walmart..................................................Inserts

CrossRoadsNews

January 24, 2015

Finance

“We make learning about money fun and easy to understand so people in every situation can benefit from the information.”

Job fair at Community Achievement Center draws 150 applicants By Ken Watts

Nearly 150 job hunters showed up for interviews with recruiters at a three-hour job fair hosted by members of Admiration Lodge No. 25 on Jan. 21. The event at the Community Achievement Center on Flat Shoals Parkway in Decatur featured four employers with vacancies to fill. The lodge was thrilled with the turnout at the inaugural event. “There is still a need for employment assistance,” lodge member Miguel Ramos said. The recruiters were IFS Securities, Grady Health System, Oakhurst Medical Centers and Primerica Inc. Belhaven University also attended to recruit job hunters interested in continuing their education. DeKalb Super District 7 Commissioner Stan Watson and the Rotary Stan Watson Club of South DeKalb

systems skills.” Applicant Billie Broadway of Decatur said she lost her job as a clinical trial finance analyst at the nonprofit Atlanta Research and Education Foundation on Dec. 31. She visited the Oakhurst Medical Centers’ table first. “They looked over my background information and told me to upload my resume at Oakhurst.org, where they’ve listed openings in billing and administration,” Broadway said. The longest line was at the Grady Health System’s table where human resources officials LaToya Evans and Christina Jones advised applicants about employment opportunities. Ramos was impressed by the steady flow of job seekers throughout the afternoon. “It’s encouraging to see people turn out on a weekday afternoon and they’re getting Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews good job leads,” Ramos said. A Jan. 21 job fair presented by Admiration Lodge No. 25 in conjunction with Super District 7 Watson said it was a good idea to hold the Commissioner Stan Watson and the Rotary Club of South DeKalb drew nearly 150 applicants. fair in January, which is normally a difficult supported the event. “They were folks who’ve been out of month to find jobs. “This was a beginning,” he said. “Next Watson said the job applicants were not work for months or longer,” he said. “A lot looking for extra income. of them have administrative and health year we’ll come back and do it even bigger.”

Financial class at ‘the Ray,’ Greenforest Diversity job fair on Jan. 29 Families and individuals can get help charting their financial future with best-selling author and financial adviser Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University at Ray of Hope Christian Church and Greenforest Community Baptist Church beginning in February. The nine-week course provides participants with practical tools to gain control of their finances and set themselves up for long-term Dave Ramsey financial success. Participants meet once a week for lessons taught by Ramsey on DVD. Sessions are followed by small-group discussions. Lessons include budgeting, relationships and money, getting out of debt, saving for emergencies, and investing. Ray of Hope’s sessions start at 7 p.m. on Feb. 2. The church is at 2778 Snapfinger Road in Decatur. To register, call Karria James at 770-696-5100. Greenforest’s classes begin at 7 p.m. on Feb. 4. The church is at 3250 Rainbow Drive

in Decatur. To register, call Michael Edwards at 404-486-1120. Ramsey says that his Financial Peace University uses common-sense principles and small-group accountability to help people change their behavior and succeed financially. “This isn’t a boring financial class,” he says. “We make learning about money fun and easy to understand so people in every situation can benefit from the information.” On average, families who complete the course pay off $5,300 in debt and save $2,700 in the first 90 days, Ramsey says. After the class, he says nearly 94 percent of families budget regularly. “FPU will not only transform the way you handle money, but also your marriage and other areas of your life,” he said in a Jan. 15 statement. Ramsey knows firsthand the pain of financial stress. After creating a net worth of more than a million dollars by age 26, he quickly lost it all. Since then, he has helped families and individuals nationwide learn how to get control of their finances and avoid debt. For more information or to purchase a membership, visit www.daveramsey.com.

Professionals, veterans, college grads, students and others can attend the Diversity Hiring Expo on Jan. 29 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. The four-hour event gets under way at 10 a.m. The dress code is business attire, and no jeans, sneakers or shorts will be allowed. Participants are asked to bring writing instruments, paper, résumés and a driver’s license.

Scheduled to participate are American Senior Benefits, Consort Institute, Emory University Continuing Education, Family Dollar, Georgia Army National Guard, Georgia Department of Labor, HBCUcareers.com, Humana, LegalShield, Manpower, Primerica, Trinity Broadcasting Network and Trugreen. The Cobb Galleria Centre is at Two Galleria Parkway. For more information, visit www.dol.state.ga.us.

Vendors needed for seniors expo Vendors and exhibitors can sign up for DeKalb for Seniors Inc.’s second annual Business and Community Expo on Feb. 4 at the Lou Walker Senior Center. Table rental for the 9 a.m.-to-2 p.m. event is $200 each. The deadline to reserve a table is Jan. 29. Space is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The event

includes entertainment, healthy eating demonstrations and door prizes. The nonprofit DeKalb for Seniors is the fundraising and advocacy arm for the Lithonia center, which serves more than 3,000 seniors throughout the year. The center is at 2538 Panola Road. For more information, contact Donna Dees at dekalbfs@gmail.com or 678-982-9805.

Petitioner, Pro se 2355 Boulder Springs Drive Ellenwood, GA 30294 404-423-5113 01/17, 01/24, 01/31, 02/07

Notice of Petition to Change Name of MINOR CHILD(REN)

Legal Notices 01/24, 01/31, 02/07, 02/14

AMENDED 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: Sheila Maria Bordenave to Bordenave De’Love Hope. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed.

Dated: Jan. 20, 2015 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++ 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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV11743-3++ Daniel Yilma filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Nov. 4, 2014 to change the name of the following minor child(ren) from: Nathaniel Daniel Yilma; Kidus Daniel Yilma; Adonait Daniel Yilma; Hebron Daniel Yilma to: Nathaniel Yilma Daniel; Kidus Yilma Daniel; Adonait Yilma Daniel; Hebron Yilma Daniel. 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: Dec. 9, 2014 Daniel Yilma Petitioner, Pro se 1281 Brockett Rd. Apt. #15A,

Where Customers Go for Neighborhood News

Clarkston, GA 30021 01/17, 01/24, 01/31, 02/07

Notice OF PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 15CV1302-7++ Tirrney D. Douglas Plaintiff Vs. Peter K. Nyaga Defendant To: Peter K. Nyaga 2600 Bentley Rd. Marietta, GA 30067 By Order of the Court for service by publication dated Jan. 15, 2015 you are hereby notified that on Jan. 09, 2015, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of the Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Tirrney D. Douglas, 4132 Conley Lane, Decatur, GA 30035. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Jan. 15, 2015. Witness the Honorable Daniel M. Coursey, Jr., Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 15th day of Dec., 2014

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CrossRoadsNews

Scene

January 24, 2015

“These talented, dedicated students have shared their talents with all of us and we are enriched with the experience.”

Student-powered ‘The Bridge’ receives four Aurora Awards The DeKalb School System’s studentpowered “The Bridge” TV program, which is in its second season, received four Aurora Awards – for editing, original score/music, music variety and educational programming. The talk and entertainment variety show, broadcast on the district’s cable channel PDS-TV24, features high school students from across the district discussing current topics from a teen perspective. The show also features celebrity guests and performances from artists like Whodini, Famous 2 Most, SalsAtlanta, Sydney Rhame and Zaviel Janae as well as experts and community leaders discussing domestic violence, school resources, social media and driver safety, and interacting with police officers. The Salt Lake City-based Aurora Awards program was created in 1996 to recognize

excellence in the film and video industries. Entries must meet high achievement in professional execution, quality content and great creativity. The international competition was judged by film and video professionals from all 50 states. DeKalb is the only school district to win these awards for fall 2014. Superintendent Michael Thurmond praised the PDS-TV24 program and its student talent. “These talented, dedicated students have shared their talents with all of us and we are enriched with the experience,” he said. School Board members recognized the students’ achievement at their Jan. 12 meeting, where the golden Aurora Awards were presented to the cast and crew. Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews For more information, visit www.dekalb. The cast and crew of the DeKalb School System’s “The Bridge” TV program were presented with k12.ga.us/www/pdstv-24. the Aurora Awards at the Jan. 12 DeKalb School Board meeting.

Jackie Robinson film ‘42’ at Stonecrest branch Workshops offer tips, The film “42,” the story of baseball legend Jackie Robinfeedback for writers son, will be screened on Jan. 26 at the Stonecrest Library. Show time is 6 p.m., and the screening is open to the first 175 patrons. The movie released in 2013 traces Robinson’s career from his signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1945 to his historic 1947 rookie season when he broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Chadwick Boseman stars as Robinson, and Harrison Ford plays Dodgers executive Branch Rickey. In “42,” which was also Robinson’s jersey number, Rickey recruits Robinson to break the unspoken color line as the first modern African-American Major League Baseball player. This proves a major challenge for Robinson and his family as they encounter unrelenting racist hostility on and off the field, from player and fan alike. As Robinson struggles to endure such abuse without complaint, he finds allies and hope where he least expects it.

Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) is recruited by Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) in “42.”

The biopic, which is rated PG-13, is written and directed by Brian Helgeland. The Stonecrest Library is at 3123 Klondike Road. For more information, call 770-482-3828.

Aspiring writers can get tips and feedback on their work at library sessions in Decatur and Lithonia. Writers can share their work and network at the Creative Writing Group meeting at the Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library in Decatur on Jan. 27. It takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The library is at 2861 Wesley Chapel Road. For more information, call 404-286-6980. On Jan. 31, members of the Savvy Six Authors will hold a writing workshop, Eliminating Writing Myths, for new and aspiring authors from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Stonecrest Library. The group of retired women, including a minister, homemaker, manager, supervisor, judge and entrepreneur, met at the Lou Walker Senior Center in the “Write My Story” class. They will offer writing tips and address “myths” that keep writers from reaching their full potential. The Stonecrest Library is at 3123 Klondike Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 770-482-3828.

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

CrossRoadsNews

January 24, 2015

Scene

Stevenson has represented capital defendants since 1985 when he was a staff attorney with the Southern Center for Human Rights. Bryan Stevenson, who was recently appointed by President Barack Obama to a task force on community policing, shares his coming-ofage story in “Just Mercy.”

NYU law professor to discuss best-selling memoir New York University law professor Bryan Stevenson will discuss his memoir, “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption,” on Jan. 28 at the Carter Library & Museum. The reading and book Bryan Stevenson signing, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7 p.m. in the museum theater.

of condemned prisoners, juvenile offenders, poor people, and others whose trials are marked by racial bias or prosecutorial misconduct. He has represented capital defendants and death row prisoners since 1985 when he was a staff attorney with the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta. The Carter Library & Museum is at 441 Freedom Parkway in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov or call 404-865-7100.

“Just Mercy,” a New York Times best seller, tells the story of an idealistic young lawyer’s coming of age. It offers a window into the lives of the people he has defended. The Times selected “Just Mercy” as one of the 100 Notable Books of 2014. Stevenson, who was appointed by President Barack Obama to a newly created task force on community policing, is a MacArthur “genius grant” recipient. He is executive director and founder of the nonprofit Equal Justice Initiative, which litigates on behalf

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CrossRoadsNews

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

January 24, 2015

CrossRoadsNews

January 24, 2015

www.crossroadsnews.com

Section B

A decade of education, empowerment

Join us at the Mall at Stonecrest Main Stage Lower Level near Sears

CrossRoadsNews

H&W Expo

January 24, 2015

Many exhibitors have come back multiple times to bring information and health screenings to our community.

A decade of thanks for expo’s supporters 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, Atlanta’s award-winning weekly newspaper.

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Graphics Editor Curtis Parker Reporter Jennifer Ffrench Parker Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough 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 © 2014 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

By Jennifer Parker

Milestones should be celebrated, and this year, we at CrossRoadsNews are marking the 10th anniversary of our Health & Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. When we held our first Health & Wellness Expo in 2006, we had Jennifer Parker no idea if it would succeed, but we were certain that our community needed an event to focus on health and wellness resources in the community and to celebrate the virtues of good health. With the reputation of our then 10-yearold weekly community newspaper behind us, we were able partner with the Mall at Stonecrest to offer the event at the 1.3 million-square-foot mall. We also convincedDeKalb Medical, which had just opened its new Hillandale campus in Lithonia, and Kaiser Permanente, which was eyeing expansion at Stonecrest and in Conyers, to be among our first title sponsors and help us bring the event to our growing community. The other sponsors of the inaugural event were Spectacles Plus, Peachstate Health Plan and Pfizer. In 2010, Children’s Healthcare at Hughes Spalding came on board and has been an ardent supporter ever since. The hospital, which is located next door to Grady Hospital downtown Atlanta, is actually more convenient and easier to get to from South DeKalb than Children’s Egleston campus near Emory. Our special thanks to Children’s Healthcare, DeKalb Medical and Kaiser Permanente. When you see them at our 2015 expo on Jan. 31, please let them know that you appreciate

Sponsors and exhibitors who have attended six or more of CrossRoadsNews annual Health & Wellness Expos at the Mall at Stonecrest will be recognized during the Jan. 31 expo.

their support of this event. Over the decade of hosting this expo, our exhibitors have ranged from 25 to 50. Organizations and individuals like Oakhurst Medical Centers; Dr. Shoanmarie Seals of Optimal Health Wellness Center; Decatur orthodontist Craig Williams; U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson; and the DeKalb Board of Health – who are here with us again this year – have attended this expo six or more times. There also are many other exhibitors who have come back multiple times to bring information and health screenings to our community. We thank them for their support. Throughout the noon-to-5 p.m. expo and at our 10th Anniversary Recognition Ceremony from the Main Stage at 4 p.m. we will celebrate some of these sponsors and exhibitors. If you have ever benefited from

this expo, please join us to cheer for them. Over the years, participation has fluctuated with the economic fortunes of our community. In good years we have more, and in bad, fewer. But always there is enough information, demos, screenings and entertainment to remind us that good health is priceless. Over the last decade, I have spoken with plenty of people who testify to transforming their poor health with the embrace of more physical activity/exercise and watching what they eat and how much. So some of the power resides with us. All we have to do is take charge of our lives. Our Health & Wellness Expo can help – if only to encourage you. Jennifer Parker is editor and publisher of CrossRoadsNews

10th Annual Health & Wellness Expo Grand Prize Entry Form Visit at least 15 of these exhibitors* at the Mall at Stonecrest and enter to win a “Rejuvenating Spa Gift Basket” at the 2015 Health & Wellness Expo. Drawing takes place on Jan. 31, 2015, at 4:45 p.m. at the Main Stage in front of Sears on the lower level of the Mall at Stonecrest.

_____ American Heart Association _____ Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates _____ Body by Vi _____ Children’s Dentistry @ Stonecrest _____ Children’s Healthcare at Hughes Spalding _____ Combined Insurance _____ Congressman Hank Johnson _____ Craig B. Williams, DDS _____ CrossRoadsNews _____ DeKalb Board of Health

_____ DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court _____ DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson _____ DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Name Here Dept. of Watershed Mgmt _____ DeKalb County _____ DeKalb County Solicitor General _____ DeKalb Medical _____ Dignity Memorial _____ Georgia Dept. of Community Affairs _____ Georgia Piedmont Technical College

_____ Humana Inc. _____ Johnny Harris, CPA _____ Kaiser Permanente _____ Oakhurst Medical Centers Inc. _____ Optimal Health Chiropractic Wellness Ctr. _____ Rae Rae Clark, Fitness Motivator _____ Rotary Club of South DeKalb _____ Utley Chiropractic & Wellness _____ Woodruff Medical & Testing

Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City _____________________________________________ Email_______________________________________________________________________ Home phone _________________________________________________ Cell ___________________________________________________________ * Eligible entries must be validated by at least 15 exhibitors and must include your complete name, address, email 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.

CrossRoadsNews

January 24, 2015

H&W Expo

10th Annual Health & Wellness Expo Program Jan. 31, 2015 • Noon to 5 p.m. • The Main Stage in front of Sears Lower Level, The Mall at Stonecrest

Noon

Cupid Shuffle with Rae Rae

1 p.m.

Kangoo Jumps with Fitness Diva LaWanda Brokenborough

1:30 p.m.

Gordon Burkette, Keep DeKalb Beautiful

Rae Rae Clark

2 p.m.

Beulah Boys

2:30 p.m.

Gordon Burkette Healthy Food Demo with Life Chef Asata Reid

3 p.m.

DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston

3:30 p.m.

Conservatory of Dance

4 p.m.

10th Anniversary Recognitions

4:45 p.m.

Grand Prize Drawing

LaWanda Brokenborough

Beulah Boys

Chef Asata

5 p.m.

Expo Ends

Sherry Boston

Conservatory of Dance & Fine Arts

H&W Expo

CrossRoadsNews

January 24, 2015

“Some of them didn’t have a doctor and didn’t know where to get help.”

DeKalb Medical, Oakhurst, GPTC to offer free screenings Free screenings for diabetes and hypertension will be available at the 10th Annual CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest on Jan. 31. DeKalb Medical, Oakhurst Medical Centers and Georgia Piedmont Technical College will offer screenings from their tables on the mall’s lower level. The expo takes place from noon to 5 p.m. at the Lithonia mall. Medical experts say that early diagnosis of most health issues can usually lead to a good outcome, but many African-Americans don’t find out about their illnesses until the disease is in its late stages and more difficult to treat. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often called the silent killer because most people don’t have symptoms. It can lead to stroke and other debilitating illnesses. Doctors say that nearly a third of people don’t know they have high blood pressure. Regular checkups and blood pressure checks are the only way to diagnose it early. Blood pressure is checked by inflating a cuff around the arm. Diabetes, the body’s inability to regulate blood sugar levels, afflicts millions of people who also don’t even know they have the disease. Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, is the most common form. Prolonged high blood sugar can affect the pancreas and damage the kidneys and eyes, leading to kidney failure, blindness, heart attack, stroke and arterial blockage in the legs, which can result in amputation. Diabetes afflicts more than 25 million people, and another 40 million have prediabetes. Symptoms include frequent urination,

Connie Wallace (green shirt) gets her blood sugar checked by DeKalb Medical nurse Carol Gericke at the 2008 expo. In 2014, an Oakhurst Medical Center nurse, at right, checks an expo goer’s blood pressure. DeKalb Medical, Oakhurst Medical Centers and GPTC will offer free heath screenings at the Jan. 31 CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest.

excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss and fatigue. To help residents stay on top of their health, DeKalb Medical will screen for high blood pressure and offer a sugar shocker demonstration. Beth Jansa, the hospital’s community outreach manager, said the sugar shocker demo teaches adults and children how to read food and drink labels. She said expo-goers will pick a drink from their display and count out the number of teaspoons of sugar in it. “They place the sugar on a plate and can’t

believe how it adds up,” she said. outreach manager, said that over the seven DeKalb Medical will be located near years Oakhurst has participated in the Health Macy’s. & Wellness Expo, the center has identified people with elevated blood pressure and ACA enrollment help also available blood sugar. Oakhurst Medical Centers will offer “Some of them didn’t have a doctor and blood pressure and blood sugar screenings as didn’t know where to get help,” she said. well as Marketplace enrollment for residents “We are able to tell them about our sliding who lack health insurance. scale service or refer them to primary care The open enrollment deadline for this service.” year is Feb. 15. GPTC nursing students will offer blood Oakhurst will be located near Kohl’s on pressure checks from their table during the the mall’s lower level. expo. Tarri Johnson, the center’s community The mall is at I-20 at Turner Hill Road.

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January 24, 2015

CrossRoadsNews

H&W Expo

January 24, 2015

Rarely do you hear people wax poetic over brussels sprouts or rutabagas, but winter crops deserve notice and affection.

Long ignored, winter’s superfoods gaining centerpiece status

Kale remained a tremendously popular vegetable in 2014, but I predict its distant relative, cauliflower, will continue to rise as a shining star in the produce department. Thanks largely to the proliferation of the Paleo Diet and other low-carb eating trends, the utilitarian cauliflower had quite a few culinary hits in 2014 like rice, mashed potatoes and pizza crust all made from the cruciferous vegetable. Whole roasted cauliflower was elevated to centerpiece status, cauliflower steaks took center of the plate on Meatless Mondays, and cauliflower Buffalo bites made game day almost guilt-free. I’m sure 2015 will showcase more of the versatile vegetable’s culinary potential. I’ll show you how to prepare a quick warm cauliflower salad with a Mediterranean influence at CrossRoadsNews’ 10th annual Health & Wellness Expo on Jan. 31 at the Mall at Stonecrest. It’s interesting to note that both kale and cauliflower are traditionally cool-weather crops, as are other popular members of the Brassica family: collards, broccoli and turnips. The produce that make the headlines are typically warm-weather crops. Someone right now is reminiscing nostalgically about last summer’s succulent tomatoes or daydreaming about the spring’s first sweet strawberries. Rarely do you hear people wax poetic over brussels sprouts or rutabagas, but winter

Bok choy (left) can be sauteed, steamed or simmered. Sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin D, which can help kick the winter blues.

lar Brassicas kale and cauliflower. There are over 400 varieties of cabbage and it is one of the oldest vegetable plants. High in fiber, rich in vitamins A, C and K, cabbage is also a good source of the amino acid glutamine, which helps combat inflammation.

Brussels sprouts Yet another member of the cruciferous family, brussels sprouts have been shown to help lower cholesterol due to their high fiber content (15 percent RDA). Brussels sprouts contain vitamins C, E and A as well as the mineral manganese and flavonoid antioxidants that fight oxidation, one of the primary sources of disease. Several compounds that fight inflammation are highly concentrated in brussels sprouts as well. Carrots are famous for their vitamin A content, known for improving night vision. They have a compound called falcarinol that may be largely responsible for anti-cancer benefits.

crops deserve just as much notice and affection, packed with nutrients and easy on your wallet during the peak of their season. Let’s take a look at some of the winter produce that’s begging for your attention.

Bok choy Asian cabbages flourish in Georgia’s temperate winters. If you are browsing at a farmer’s market and come across a vegetable with choy in its name, it’s in the family of Asian cabbages like the popular bok choy. Generally speaking, they have a crisp white or light-green

stem or stalk with dark green leaves. They can be sauteed, steamed or simmered and pair well with traditional Asian ingredients like ginger, garlic and chilies.

Cabbage I suspect more cabbages are purchased in January due to the enduring popularity of the Cabbage Soup Diet and folks trying desperately to keep their New Year’s resolutions. Cabbage lends itself to so many preparations, and yet it doesn’t shine in the spotlight along with more popu-

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Carrots There are over 100 varieties of carrots, which are beloved the world over for their natural sweetness. Carrots contain vitamins B-1, B-2, B-6 and K; biotin; fiber; potassium; and thiamine. Carrots have a compound called falcarinol that may be largely responsible for anti-cancer benefits. They are famous for their vitamin A content, which is responsible for carrots’ reputation for improving night vision, but it turns out a diet high in beta carotene (which is converted to vitamin A in the liver) also can reduce macular degeneration. Sweet potatoes Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin B-6, which helps reduce the chemical homocysteine that has been linked with degenerative diseases, including heart attacks. Their high vitamin C content not only boosts the immune system, but it can help fight that dry winter skin because vitamin C is essential in producing collagen. Sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin D, which can help kick the winter blues and fight seasonal affective disorder. They also contain iron, essential for red blood cell production, metabolizing protein and resisting the effects of stress. Rich in magnesium and potassium, sweet potatoes can support a healthy cardiovascular system. Their high beta carotene content can help fight the signs of aging and help prevent cancer. Chef Asata Reid is based in Decatur. For more information, visit www.LifeChef.net and follow her on Facebook/Chef Asata for healthy eating tips and recipes.

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CrossRoadsNews

H&W Expo

January 24, 2015

Expo-goers view fitness and health demos and participate in dances from the floor or the stage.

A look back at a decade of

Members of the audience dance on the Main Stage during the 2012 Health & Wellness Expo.

DeKalb Health Director Dr. Sandra Ford (right) dances during the 2008 Health & Wellness Expo.

Dr. Neil Shulman tends to a tiny “patient” during his “What’s In A Doctor’s Bag” A Conservatory of Dance performer moves gracefully at the 2009 expo.

The audience cheers during lively performances at the Health & Wellness Expo at Stonecrest.

Grady Health Care nurse Vivienne Creary helps an expogoer determine Commissioner Larry Johnson and “Newslady” his BMi at the 2007 Health & Wellness Expo. Steen Miles take the stage at the 2007 expo.

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H&W Expo

CrossRoadsNews

January 24, 2015

Since 2006, the annual CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expo has expo participants to fun ways to stay fit.

f Health & Wellness Expos A Samson Fitness team demonstrates a workout routine at the 2012 Fitness Faceoff held during the Health & Wellness Expo.

” presentation at the 2007 CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expo.

Former DeKalb State Court Judge Eleanor Ross (center) agrees with fellow 2012 Fitness FaceOff Judges from Left Larry Bobo and Elgin Key.

Dr. Eddie Whitehead spoke about diabetes at the Decatur orthodontist Dr. Craig Williams Office has participated in six of 2006 H&W expo at Stonecrest. the 10 CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expos.

Kaiser Permanente’s tables at the expo is always a popular destination because of its giveaways. Kaiser was an inaugural sponsor of the 2006 Health & Wellness Expo.

Tracie Champion of Decatur was the Grand Prize Winner at the 2011 Health & Wellness Expo.

Healthy Relationships Make a Safer DeKalb ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS DON’T JUST HAPPEN TO ADULTS. 1 in 3 young people will experience some form of abuse. February is Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Month.

JOIN ME ON JANUARY 31, 2015 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 follow us on facebook and twitter

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H&W Expo

CrossRoadsNews

January 24, 2015

Oakhurst Medical Centers will have two navigators at the Mall at Stonecrest to help people enroll or change their provider.

Healthcare Marketplace enrollment available at Jan. 31 expo The deadline for 2015 open enrollment for the Healthcare Marketplace is Feb. 15, and Oakhurst Medical Centers will help consumers sign up for the first time or re-enroll in better options at the 10th Annual CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. The Stone Mountain-based medical center, which has locations on Candler Road in Decatur and on Taylor Street in Conyers, will help people sign up from noon to 5 p.m. at its table near Kohl’s on the mall’s lower level. Tarri Johnson, Oakhurst Medical Centers’ community relations manager, said two navigators will be at the mall during the expo. To sign up, adults should bring: n Social Security cards for everyone in their households who need coverage. n The birth dates of everyone needing coverage. n Proof of current coverage if they have insurance from their job or are looking for better options. n Proof of income, which can be a pay stub or W-2 form. “We will work with them to find the best coverage for them,” Johnson said. Georgians have been embracing the federal health care market, and thousands have signed up through Jan. 16. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said they are among 7.2 million consumers who have selected a plan or were automatically re-enrolled in the Federally Facilitated Marketplace. “With just four weeks before the Feb. 15 deadline and the end of open enrollment, 425,927 Georgia consumers are counting on the Marketplace for affordable health coverage,” Burwell said. She said that consumers who need coverage need to act now. “Time is running out,” Burwell said. “If you don’t have health coverage, visit HealthCare.gov or contact the Marketplace call center to learn about your options and the financial help that is available.” Consumers should visit HealthCare.gov to compare health plan options and find out if they are eligible for financial assistance, which can help pay monthly premiums and reduce out-of-pocket costs when receiving services.

Oakhurst navigator Brenda Pace helps a resident enroll in the Healthcare Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act. Navigators will be on hand at the expo.

Open enrollment in Georgia: n Since Nov. 15 when open enrollment began, 425,927 consumers have selected a plan or were automatically reenrolled in the Federally Facilitated Marketplace. n In the first month of open enrollment, 89 percent of consumers who selected health insurance plans were determined eligible for financial assistance to lower their monthly premiums. n For 2015, consumers can choose from nine issuers in the Marketplace, up from five in 2014. n They can choose from an average of 41 health plans in their county for 2015 coverage, up from 22 in 2014. n 81 percent of Marketplace enrollees as of December 2014 could obtain coverage for $100 or less after any applicable tax credits in 2015.

For enrollment help:

n Visit the Oakhurst table at the CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expo on the lower level of the Mall at Stonecrest, noon to 5 p.m. on Jan. 31. n Visit HealthCare.gov or CuidadoDeSalud.gov. n Call the Marketplace call center at 1-800-318-2596. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325. Assistance is available in 150 languages. The call is free. n For local in-person help, visit Localhelp.healthcare.gov. n To sign up for individual and family coverage, visit https:// www.healthcare.gov/apply-and-enroll. For more information about the Health Insurance Marketplace, visit www.healthcare.gov/marketplace.

January 24, 2015

CrossRoadsNews

Working Together to Bring You a Cleaner, Greener, Healthier DeKalb Remember, you can make a difference!

DeKalb County's Department of Watershed Management Reminds You of the Best Practices for Proper Disposal of FOG What are Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG)? FOG is composed of the animal and vegetable fats and oils that are used to cook and prepare food. Where does FOG come from? • Baking goods • Food scraps • Dairy products • Butter and margarine • Sauces • Meat fat • Lard • Cooking oil • Shortening What happens when FOG is not properly disposed of? FOG should be properly disposed of or recycled. It enters the plumbing system through home garbage disposals, kitchen sinks and toilets, coats the interior of pipes, and empties into the County's sewer system. Excessive accumulation of FOG in the sewer system will result in sanitary sewer overflows and sewage backup in homes and businesses. Sewage overflow repairs are costly for the County and its citizens, and can result in increased costs for water and sewer services. Here are three simple practices to help keep FOG out of our pipes and sewers: 1. POUR cooled fats, oils or grease into a sealable container and throw it in the trash. Do not pour down the sink or toilet. 2. SCRAPE plates and cookware before washing. Do not throw scraps of any kind down the sink. Instead, place them in waste containers or garbage bags. 3. WIPE excess grease from all plates, pots, pans, utensils and surfaces with a paper towel before washing. Throw the greasy paper towels away. Visit the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management's FOG Program Online! www.dekalbwatershed.com/FOG • 1580 Roadhaven Drive • Stone Mountain, GA 30083 • (770) 621-7200

DeKalb County Public Works Department Sanitation Division Did you know that recycling in DeKalb is free? Simply request the service and we will provide blue bins and the initial set of blue bags at no charge. What can be recycled? Our Single Stream program recycles more materials than any other program in Georgia. This includes paper, cardboard, aluminum, plastics 1-7, glass and tin. What does SingleStream mean? Everything goes in one container. In the past and in other communities, people who recycle separate paper, plastics and glass. However, we will accept all recyclable materials in a single bag or bin.

How do I get started? You can get started in one of three ways: 1. Visit keepdekalbbeautiful.org and sign up today. We will deliver your container and bags to your home. 2. Call our Sanitation Division at 404.294.2900 and request to join the recycling program. We will deliver your bin and bags to your home. 3. Sign up and pick up your materials in person by visiting us at 3720 Leroy Scott Drive, Decatur, GA 30032, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Please join other DeKalb County residents, commercial institutions and schools currently participating in our recycling program.

Roads and Drainage Overview The Roads and Drainage (R&D) Division of Public Works is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the county's sidewalks, roads, stormwater drainage structures, traffic control devices, traffic signs and road markings. This work is done by the Road Maintenance, Construction, and Stormwater Drainage sections. They are supported by the Production, Engineering & Inspection Services, Stormwater Utility, Traffic Engineering and the Resources and Support sections.

What Can I Do? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Place all yard debris in containers like a paper bag or a trash can with a lid. Wash your car on the grass, not in the street or on the driveway. Do not put trash (tires, mattresses, shopping carts) in a pond, creek or river. Put smaller trash (cigarettes, fast food bags, etc.) in a trash can. Check your vehicle for fluid leaks and fix them

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H&W Expo

CrossRoadsNews

January 24, 2015

“The expo has speakers, demos and performers. It exposes people to forms of exercise the heart must have.” Rae Rae Clark, known as the Fitness Motivator, has warmed up CrossRoadsNews expo audiences since 2006. Clark also is an exhibitor this year and will share information about the classes she teaches around the county.

Rae Rae to rev up expo audience with fun warm-up routine There is a reason Rae Rae Clark is known as the Fitness Motivator. Twenty-nine years ago when she became a fitness instructor, she made it her mission to do more than teach exercise. She was going to motivate people to move it, move it. Clark, who has kicked off every CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expo since

2006 with a warm-up exercise, says good health starts with movement. “Our body is like a car,” she said. “For a car to drive, it must have gas, oil and a tune-up. For our bodies to move, we need exercise, water and stimulation. If we are consistent with it, we don’t have this obesity epidemic.”

Clark, who teaches seniors to stay fit at the YMCA and churches, said she supports the Health & Wellness Expo to help expose as many people as possible to the wellness information and education that CrossRoadsNews helps to bring to the community. “The expo has speakers, demonstrations and performers. It exposes people to all

forms of exercise that the heart must have.” Clark will kick off the 10th Annual Health & Wellness Expo at noon on Jan. 31 with a warm-up demonstration. She will be on the Main Stage near Sears. This year, she also is an exhibitor and will share information about the classes she teaches at locations around the county.

How the 4th District benefits from the Affordable Health Act • Provides coverage for 153,000 uninsured residents* • Provides health care credits for up to 166,000 households • Reduces costs of uncompensated care by $98 million • Improves employer-based coverage for 349,000 residents • Improves Medicare for 65,000 beneficiaries/Closes donut hole • Allows 15,400 small businesses to obtain affordable coverage

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January 24, 2015

H&W Expo

CrossRoadsNews

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Over the past nine years, expo-goers have seen presentations from many top doctors in various fields.

Nutrition, recycling, healthy relationships – expo covers it all Expo-goers who frequent the annual CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expo know that the presentations and demonstrations are always top-notch. Over the past nine years, they have seen presentations from many of DeKalb’s top doctors in internal medicine, women’s health, men’s health, pediatric, and cardiovascular care and nutrition. Presenters have included Drs. Eddie Whitehead, Clyde Watkins, Cornelius Flowers, Kenneth Harper, Kelvin Belcher, Timothy Milner, Al Scott, Yolanda Wimberly, Lynn Gardner, Kristy Kinsey and James Benton. They also have heard from Kaiser Permanente nutritionist Ricia Taylor who passed around a realistic-looking clump of body fat so the audience could see the byproduct of overeating and inactivity. During her 2008 presentation, Taylor taught expo-goers to read food labels and got children and teens to measure the amount of sugar in the sodas they drink and to scoop from a can of lard the amount of fat that was in a bag of popcorn and chips. At the 10th annual Health & Wellness Expo on Jan. 31, expo-goers will hear presentations on recycling, healthy cooking, and healthy relationships from the Main Stage near Macy’s. At 1:30 p.m., Keep DeKalb Beautiful Director Gordon Burkette will speak about caring for the environment through recycling and keeping streams and rivers healthy for swimming and fishing by not dumping fats, oils and grease down the kitchen sink drain. At 2:30 p.m., Life Chef Asata Reid will demonstrate a healthy dish that is both tasty and quick and easy to make. At 3 p.m., DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston will speak about healthy relationships and invite her audience to take the pledge. The expo takes place from noon to 5 p.m. on Life Chef Asata Reid (above) will demonstrate a quick, nutritious dish the lower level of the Mall at Stonecrest, 1-20 and at 2:30 p.m. Top right, expo-goers examine a body fat replica. Solicitor General Sherry Boston (right) will discuss healthy relationships at 3 p.m. Turner Hill Road in Lithonia.

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H&W Expo

CrossRoadsNews

January 24, 2015

“We will talk about what [Single Stream Recycling] is and how residents can sign up for the service.” Rolling Forward to One, Keep DeKalb Beautiful’s proposed one-day-aweek recycling initiative, features new roll carts for recycling and solid waste.

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

DeKalb Watershed Management to share latest initiatives Expo-goers will find out about some of the latest initiatives of the county’s Watershed Management and Sanitation departments. Pauline Andreas, the departments’ public information officer, said they will be promoting one of the division’s most critical initiatives, Single Stream Recycling. “We will talk about what it is and how residents can sign up for the service,” she said. Keep DeKalb Beautiful Director Gordon Burkette will do a 10-minute Gordon Burkette presentation on the county’s free recycling program and its Rolling Forward to One program, its proposed one-day-a-week recycling initiatives. He will speak at 1:30 p.m.

from the expo Main Stage near Sears and take questions from the audience. Under the proposed plan, county residents will get new roll carts for recycling and solid waste. Under the plan, residents will no longer separate recyclables. Everything – paper, cardboard, aluminum, plastics 1-7, glass, and tin – will go in a single container. Residents can sign up at www.keepdekalbbeautiful. org.

County to promote FOG program Watershed Management will promote its Fats, Oils and Grease Program, which educates residents about proper disposal of FOG and discourages them from dumping grease down their drains where it clogs the county’s sewers and contributes to sanitary

spills and overflows. FOG is animal and vegetable fats and oils used in cooking. They come from baking, sauces, shortening, meat fat, cooking oil, lard, dairy products, and butter and margarine. When dumped down the kitchen sink and garbage disposals and toilets, they coat the interior of the pipes and empty into the county’s sewer system. Instead of dumping it down the drains, the county wants residents to pour, scrape and wipe. n Pour cooled fats, oils and grease into sealable containers and dispose of them in the trash. n Scrape plates and cookware before washing and dispose of scraps in the garbage. n Wipe excess grease from all plates, pots, pans, utensils and surfaces with paper tow-

els before washing and throw greasy paper towels in the trash. Roads & Drainage will promote the county’s Stormwater Utility project, which addresses stormwater drainage issues and concerns. Stormwater is rainwater that enters the storm drain system and empties into streams, rivers and lakes. To reduce pollutants from the stormwater drainage structures, the county suggests that residents: n Place yard debris in containers like paper or trash bags. n Wash cars on the grass and not in the driveway or street. n Dispose of cigarettes, fast-food bags and other small trash in a trash can. n Check vehicles for fluid leaks and fix them.

H&W Expo

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CrossRoadsNews

January 24, 2015

“We want to introduce this revolutionary show to enable continuing high-intensity workouts at greatly reduced impact.”

Fitness diva leaps at Kangoo Jumps low-impact workout

LaWanda Brokenborough, who demonstrated Zumba at previous Health & Wellness expos, will show the Kangoo Jumps routine with rebound boots on Jan. 31 at the Mall at Stonecrest.

Fitness diva LaWanda Brokenborough is now jumping for health. Brokenborough is now an aficionado of Kangoo Jumps, a low-impact fitness program. Exercisers jump up and down kangaroostyle in Kangoo Jumps rebound boots that absorb up to 80 percent of the shock of landing. Brokenborough, a personal trainer who has been teaching more than 30 fitness classes a week across metro Atlanta, says Kangoo Jumps is a fun and easy way to burn up to 20 percent more calories than exercising in sneakers. Brokenborough, who demonstrated the high-intensity Latin-inspired Zumba workouts at the 2012, 2013 and 2014 CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness expos, said that while her cardiovascular system is in tiptop shape, her knees have taken quite a beating.

She rejoiced when she discovered Kangoo Jumps rebound boots that eliminate knee stress. She had so much fun exercising with them, Brokenborough became the owner of Kangoo Club Atlanta, Georgia’s only authorized distributor of Kangoo Jumps rebound boots. She offers Kangoo Jumps classes all over metro Atlanta. “We want to introduce this revolutionary show to enable continuing high-intensity workouts at greatly reduced impact,” she said. Brokenborough will demonstrate the jumps at the 10th annual Health & Wellness Expo on Jan. 31 at the Mall at Stonecrest. She and her team will be on the Main Stage near Sears on the mall’s lower level at 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.kangooclubatlanta.com or call 678-575-4748.

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4. RUN. A heart-healthy step up from walking. 5. HULA HOOP. Not just for children, and a huge calorie burner.

6. GARDEN. In addition to harvesting delicious and nutritious fresh vegetables and fruits, you also burn calories digging, weeding and planting.

7. TAKE A BIKE RIDE. Make it short or long. 8. PLAY WII. Play your favorite dance game, and before you know it, you have burned 600 calories while getting your groove on. 9. ROLLERBLADE. A fun and great family activity, even with the scooters and bikers alongside. 10. TAKE A HIKE. Get out there! 11. KEEP YOUR MIND ACTIVE! Enroll at Georgia Piedmont Technical College! 97% of our graduates secure jobs.

www.gptc.edu 404-297-9522

Where doctor meets neighbor A doctor who is familiar with your medical history brings peace of mind. We have more than 100 physicians in 30 locations specializing in internal and family medicine and multiple specialties such as ENT, OB/GYN and orthopedics. Our physicians are able to seamlessly utilize the resources and consultations that our three hospital network provides to give you the best care. Our physicians groups are in your neighborhood to provide you a personal healthcare experience. Call today to find a physician near you or to schedule an appointment.

To finD a phYsician in YouR neighboRhooD

www.dmpg.org | 404.501.MYDR

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CrossRoadsNews

January 24, 2015

Educating & Empowering

Expos at the Mall at Stonecrest Summer Camp Expo March 28, 2015

Back by popular demand, the Summer Camp Expo features dance & karate schools, cheerleading squads, churches, tutors, YMCAs, and other summer activity providers who offer innovative and interesting programs for area children. Organizations offering services and resources to families are also invited.

Family & Back to School Expo July 25, 2015

Businesses and organizations serving families will showcase goods and services to help students have a successful school year. The expo highlights services from afterschool to private schools, as well as options for adults looking to retool and sharpen their skills for new careers.

Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo October 17, 2015

The spotlight turns to seniors and the Baby Boomer generation in CrossRoadsNews’ ﬁnal expo for the year. Financial advisers, health-care providers, retirement communities and estate planners are among the vendors who can meet numerous potential clients during this excellent marketing opportunity.

Limited Signature Sponsorship Opportunities. Only 50 exhibitor spaces available. Book yours today. Call 404-284-1888 for more information.

CrossRoadsNews • 2346 Candler Road • Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 • Fax: 404-284-5007 • www.crossroadsnews.com