CrossRoadsNews, January 29, 2011 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

WELLNESS

YOUTH

SCENE

Thousands of men, women and children will descend on the Mall at Stonecrest for our annual Health & Wellness Expo on Saturday. 9

Local Girl Scouts and Brownie troops have been collecting bottles, bibs and blankets to be delivered to newborn babies in Haiti and a homeless shelter in Atlanta. 12

The story of Peter Pan – The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up – comes to life in spectacular fashion in the big tent adjacent to Atlanta’s Centennial Park. 13

Health takes center stage

For babies in need

January 29, 2011

Fantasy takes flight

Volume 16, Number 40

www.crossroadsnews.com

Parents tackle redistricting and consolidation with gusto By Carla Parker

Parents attending a Jan. 25 meeting at McNair High on a redistricting and consolidation proposal for DeKalb County schools called for caution and recommended finding a superintendent first.

a permanent superintendent is here,” one group said. More than 600 people showed up at McNair High to talk about the school system’s plan to consolidate and redistrict 14 schools, impacting 16,000 elementary, middle and high school students. The McNair meeting was one of six public input forums hosted by the school system across the county since Jan. 18. The final meeting was held Jan. 27. Interim Superintendent Ramona Tyson will make her

Slow it down. That’s the word from some DeKalb parents to the DeKalb School System on its redistricting and consolidation proposal. Instead, parents want the district of 90,000 students to focus on finding a superintendent first. At the end of their two-hour discussions at the Jan. 25 meeting at McNair High School in Atlanta, table after table of participants called for caution. “Make a decision [on redistricting] when Please see SCHOOLS, page 12

Carla Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Furniture Policy Costly for DeKalb New Super District 7 Commissioner Stan Watson found a strippeddown office on his first day. Predecessor Connie Stokes bought the contents at a discount.

$17,466 to furnish District 7 office twice in three years By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

When DeKalb’s newest county commissioner showed up for work on Jan. 3, he found an office stripped down to its bare walls. “I was ready to hit the ground running, but I had no furniture,” said Stan Watson, the new Super District 7 commissioner. “There were no chairs, no desks. The office was bare. Even the meeting table was gone. The computers and the flat-screen television were gone.” Not the kind of welcome an elected official or any new employee expects the first day on the job. “That didn’t make me feel good at all,” Watson admitted. “I was ready to go to work, but they just weren’t really prepared for me to go to work.” Watson found an empty office not because the county was being mean to the former state legislator, DeKalb delegation chairman and DeKalb CEO candidate. It just turned out that Watson fell victim to a longstanding county practice in which elected officials – commissioners and judges – are allowed to buy the furniture in their office for pennies on the dollar and take it with them when they leave office. During the last week of the year, Watson’s predecessor – Connie Stokes, who held the job for six years – moved out and took all the furniture and supplies with her. Stokes bought everything in her office, from the desk and credenza she used during her last two years in office to the paper tray. The sale of the contents of the District 7 office was all legal and aboveboard. On Dec. 14, all but one of her colleagues on the Board of Commissioners declared the entire contents of her office “surplus” and voted to sell it to her for $1,306. Just two years earlier, in February 2008,

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

the county had furnished Stokes’ office at a I packed my box and left the furniture where cost of $8,968.13. I found it. When I leave the Chamber I won’t be taking my furniture either.” Practice dates to Maloof Replacement furniture has been ordered Among metro Atlanta county govern- for the District 7 office at a cost of $8,498.03, ments and businesses, DeKalb stands alone bringing the price tag for furnishing the Disin the practice of selling county furniture at trict 7 office to $17,466.16 in three years. deep discounts to elected officials when they This new expenditure on furniture comes resign, retire or lose their re-election bid. at a time when the county budget for services In corporations and businesses, employ- like public safety, the courts, parks and trash ees and managers leave their offices the way pickup has shrunk $75 million over the same they found them, leaving only with a box of three years. their personal effects – family photos, plants This year, DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis has and other mementos. proposed a 2.32 mill property increase to balDeKalb Chamber of Commerce Presi- ance his proposed $563.3 million budget. dent Leonardo McClarty said he knows of County commissioners say the practice no businesses or companies that sell their of selling county property to elected officials furniture to departing employees. without a bid process opened to all citizens He said that companies sell furniture dates back to the county’s first CEO, Manuel when they have a reduction in force and a Maloof, who purchased his car at a heavily surplus and that the sale is open to all em- discounted price when he left. ployees. Stokes, who was the Board of Commis“In my experience, when I left a company, sioners’ Budget Committee chair for two

years, said the practice is longstanding. “I followed the practice,” she said. “I have lots of office furniture. I took the furniture because if you decide to, one day, you can replicate your office.” When she took office in 1993, Liane Levetan, the county’s second CEO, said she kept the desk and credenza that Maloof had used and used her personal funds to buy a sofa, lamp, mirror, round table and artwork for her office. “I bought my stuff and I took them with me when I left,” she said in a June 9, 2009, CrossRoadsNews story. When she left the county in 2000, Levetan said she bought a filing cabinet and the 8-year-old car that she had used as CEO from the county with the approval of the Board of Commissioners. Other recently departing elected officials who have bought the furniture from their Please see FURNITURE, page 5

CrossRoadsNews

January 29, 2011

Community

CrossRoadsNews

“Domestic violence is a crime that affects people of all ages, races, socioeconomic levels and backgrounds.”

Meetings on budget continue DeKalb homeowners, property owners and other taxpayers can still comment on the county’s proposed $563.3 million budget. A number of budget hearings are being held this month, ahead of the Feb. 22 deadline for the DeKalb Board of Commissioners to approve the budget. The meetings, which are hosted by District 4 Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton, will be held across the county. The 2011 budget is $86 million lower than the 2009 budget and includes a proposed 2.32 mill increase in the property tax. This year, the county anticipates tax revenue falling another $12.8 million. In his

Jan. 6 State of the County address, CEO Burrell Ellis said that while revenues are falling, operating costs have increased more than $39 million to meet legally mandated expenses. Upcoming meetings include: n Feb. 2 – Berean Christian Church, 2201 Young Road, Stone Mountain; 6:30 p.m. n Feb. 3 – Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur; 6:30 p.m. n Feb. 5 – Community Cabinet Meeting, Chapel Hill Middle School, 3535 Dogwood Farm Road, Decatur; 9 a.m. n Feb. 10 – Southland Community Clubhouse, 759 Southland Court, Stone Mountain; 7 p.m. For more information, call 404-371-4907.

PRISM meeting focuses on seniors Seniors can find out about programs and services available to older Georgians at a Feb. 10 PRISM meeting at St. Timothy’s United Methodist Church in Stone Mountain. Presenters at the 7-to-9 p.m. meeting include the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Area Agency on Aging and Probate Judge Jeryl Rosh. The discussion, “Programs, Services and New Trends for Seniors,” will offer information on the importance of having a will, what

it means to have an estate in probate for lack of a will, and where seniors can go for help. There also will be information on resources for seniors. The free event is sponsored by Pride Rings in Stone Mountain. St. Timothy’s United Methodist Church is at 5365 Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain. For more information, contact state Rep. Michele Henson, program chair, at 404-2961442 or michelehenson@earthlink.net.

Homestead applications due by April 1 DeKalb homeowners who owned and occupied their property on Jan. 1 can qualify for homestead exemption this year. Tax Commissioner Claudia G. Lawson said there are also special exemptions for citizens 62 years of age and older and for those who are 100 percent totally and permanently disabled. To receive the exemptions during the

2011 tax year, eligible property owners must apply by April 1. Applications received after April 1 will be applied to the 2012 tax year. The Tax Commissioner’s Offices are at: n 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 100, Decatur n 1358 Dresden Drive, NE, Atlanta n 2801 Candler Road, in the Gallery at South DeKalb, near Macy’s.

Grant to help staff DV Unit two prosecutors, two investigaA $50,786 federal grant will tors and two part-time victim help the DeKalb County District advocates. The DV Unit provides Attorney’s Office continue its fight specialized services, information, against domestic violence and and support to victims of violent sexual assault. crimes including murder, rape, The funds, from the 2011 Vioaggravated sodomy and aggralence Against Women Act grant, vated assault. The DA’s Office has will be used to partially staff the received the VAWA grant since DA’s Domestic Violence Unit. 2006. “Domestic violence is a crime Robert James The Criminal Justice Coordinating that affects people of all ages, races, socioeconomic levels and backgrounds,” District Council’s grant was unanimously accepted by the DeKalb County Board of CommisAttorney Robert James said. “Our DV Unit is comprised of experi- sioners on Jan. 25. “This grant is essential in enabling our enced attorneys, investigators and advocates who are specially trained to assist victims of office to fight domestic violence and provide additional attention to both our DV cases domestic violence and their families.” The Domestic Violence Unit includes and the victims we serve,” James said.

Wanted: Gadgets, games and crafts Families who want to downsize now have a place to donate extra goods and gadgets that are gathering dust in their homes. The DeKalb Community Service Board, which provides community-based behavioral health care, mental health services, substance abuse treatment and developmental disabilities programs at more than 20 locations, is collecting a range of items for its programs. n Personal items – Small lotions, slipper socks, wallets, jewelry, makeup and beauty supplies. n Music and media items – DVD players, CD players, cassette players, radios, digital and disposable cameras, keyboards, and guitars. n Games – Monopoly, Parchesee, Uno, Taboo, Sorry, Chess, Catch Phrase, Scattergories and Pictionary.

n Arts and crafts and educational supplies

– ABC flashcards, colored pencils, crayons, markers, paints, canvas, writing tablets, construction paper, puzzles, beads for jewelry making, and stickers. n Outdoors items – Grill, leaf blower and shrubbery. n Exercise equipment – Exercise and yoga DVDs, tennis rackets and balls, basketballs, treadmill, weights, and jump ropes. n Kitchen items – Toaster oven, can openers, blender, small refrigerator, freezer, big spoons, tongs, smoothie machine, and pots and pans. n TV that’s at least 25 inches. n Household items – Indoor plants, flashlights, and vacuum cleaner. For more information or to donate, contact Michelle Porter, community relations manager, at mpotter@dekcsb.org or 404-508-7875, Ext. 7875.

Forum

CrossRoadsNews

January 29, 2011

I also hope that this is not another bait and switch game where commissioners reject something publicly and later approve it behind closed doors.

Consolidation, though painful, has long-term benefits 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker General Manager Curtis Parker Staff Writer Carla Parker Advertising Sales Patricia Walthour

CrossRoadsNews is published every Thursday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of 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. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

Listening to the debate about the DeKalb County Schools System’s (DCCS) need to redistrict to fill its schools is amusing at times, and frustrating at others. As a product of DCCS, Hooper Alexander ES, Miller Grove MS, and Southwest DeKalb HS, I know the district is far overdue for a good hard look at district lines. The only time I’ve seen DCCS look at attendance zones is when a new school is built to relieve overcrowding. But with antiquated rules and a shifting population the time has come. As a soon-tobe first time homeowner, school performance is a pivotal point in deciding where to buy. But to think that school performance will suffer as a result of redistricting is becoming increasingly perplexing. As a student at one of DCCS’s “underperforming” schools I was able to succeed and eventually went into the high achiever’s magnet program. Now before you say there you go leaving your neighborhood

Having a school system that has full schools and excellent parental support will translate into higher property values, increased test scores, and a premier school system. Gregory Woodall

school for a “better education” I’ll be the first to admit that was one of my parent’s reasons for busing me 30 minutes from our home. The other was the urging of the teachers at Hooper that admitted that my home school wouldn’t have offered the courses I was being recommended to take. But what I saw in the magnet program – at least the ones in S. DeKalb – was that parental involvement, while high in the magnet programs, was somewhat of a missing link with many resident students. Parental involvement will make the difference, even in redistricting. I know some parents have put years of effort into bettering schools, organizing private fund-

Bravo to commissioners for opposing CEO’s tax hike It has been many years since I have had any reason the say anything positive about the commissioners serving South DeKalb. However, today I must applaud them for having the intestinal fortitude to reject CEO Ellis’ 2.32 mill tax increase. Many of us sincerely hope Bob Miles that Commissioner Lee May and the other commissioners remain steadfast in their rejection. I also hope that this is not another bait and switch game where commissioners reject something publicly and later approve it behind closed doors. In my opinion, Commissioner Boyer is correct in suggesting that nonessentials be terminated dur-

ing this economic crisis. I believe that the CEO should cut some of the high-paying, nonproductive positions. I believe that the county should immediately cut the costly B.E.T. (Burrell Ellis Television) channel and staff. I view this TV expenditure as a non-revenue producing liability. At this time we cannot afford to provide the CEO, commissioners and citizens TV cameras to enhance their egos and make them feel good. I also agree with Commissioner Boyer that the county should move away from the traditional budgeting system and embrace the zero-based budget concept during these tough times. Some of the advantages of zero-based budgeting are that it drives managers to find cost-effective ways to improve operations, it identifies and eliminates wasteful spending and obsolete op-

AL ! LOC ICES RV SE

www.eastmetromarket.com

Meetings on budget continue 3 Veggie, fruit characters talk 8 DeKalb homeowners, property owners up healthy eating at expo

also consider reducing salaries of everyone including himself by 2 percent to 5 percent depending on the level of income. I know that county employees will be angry but it is better to earn some money rather none at all. I doubt that many would walk off their jobs. If they did, there are thousands of people waiting and willing to replace them. These are tough economic times that require leaders to public servants instead of self servants. Finally, it is has been more than 12 years since I seen South DeKalb’s commissioners reject a CEO’s tax or any other proposal. In my opinion our commissioners have a reputation of going along to get along with the CEO. I appreciate being informed that they have stood up for the average citizens at least once. Bob Miles lives in Decatur.

24 employees reassigned in wake of CRCT scandal 12

Grant to help staff DV Unit 3

An interactive puppet show will be extolling the virtues of eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day at the CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expo.

Twenty-four DeKalb school employees have been removed from their positions in the wake of an internal investigation into the April 2009 CRCT cheating scandal.

A $50,786 federal grant will help the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office continue its fight against domestic violence and sexual assault.

Ceremony to celebrate life of activist 10

Spectacular Peter Pan flying over London in Atlanta 13

Family and friends of Ron Marshall will celebrate his life with a walk to the top of Stone Mountain on Feb. 12.

Peter Pan, Wendy and all his other buddies are taking flight in a state-of-the-art theater tent adjacent to Centennial Park.

Two makeup days set for February

Trumpet awards for celebrities

Agencies serving homeless to share $25.4 million grant 6

Circulation Audited By

erations, it detects inflated budgets, and it forces managers to identify and justify the objectives and cost along with their relationship to the overall goals. Perhaps the CEO could use this process to reduce costs rather than raising taxes. I think that the CEO should realize that he cannot have “a pie in the sky” budget at this point. It appears to me that he would rather take the easy way out by placing more and more taxation on DeKalb citizens who are losing jobs and homes. Many who are working are experiencing wage freeze and pay cuts. I get the feeling that the CEO is trying to escape his duty to make tough and unpopular decisions. In my opinion, he should be taking action to keep as many people working as possible; he might consider freezing wages. He might

Quick Read

and other taxpayers can still comment on the county’s proposed $563.3 million budget.

L CA LO ODS! GO

raisers, and supplementing what DCCS can’t or doesn’t provide. Will the redistricted schools not have the same ability? Will parents pull back their support of their child’s school? Hardly. Instead, this allows for DCSS to provide maximum support to every student. Let’s be honest, getting up 15 minutes earlier will hardly wreck a child’s life. Having to travel 10 minutes instead of five to school won’t decrease a child’s ability to learn. Having a school system that has full schools and excellent parental support will translate into higher property values, increased test scores, and a premier school system. I know change is hard. Take

it from me, being 13 years old and having to catch a bus at 6:45 a.m. was no fun, but I wouldn’t regret one day of it. It provided me with a great education with students that shared my zeal for learning. Would I have wished I could have received the same at my home school, you bet. But this redistricting plan is the first step in making that possible. Now the question is timing. A phased approach is the best way to eliminate the 11,000 empty seats. Target low performing, under enrolled schools first, next go to under enrolled schools, and finally develop a comprehensive approach to the magnet programs. There is no doubt that there needs to redistricting. I want parents to ponder this. Can your school cluster’s tax base support the schools in it? If it can’t, DCCS needs to supplement that with help from the state. Gregory Woodall lives in Atlanta.

Five DeKalb-based agencies serving the homeless are among 137 Georgia programs awarded more than $25 million by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help keep their programs operating.

DeKalb students who got a week off because of the Jan. 9 snowstorms will have to make it up in February.

Television Judge Greg Mathis, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and The O’Jays are among celebrities picking up 2011 Trumpet Awards.

index to advertisers AT&T............................................................... 7 Bobby L. Scott & Associates...........................15 Browns Mill Civic Athletic Assoc.....................15 Caravan Travel...............................................15 Comfort Suites Northlake...............................13 DeKalb County One DeKalb Office............... 10

DeKalb County School System....................... 11 Felicia V. Anderson CPA LLC..........................6 Gibbs Garage.................................................14 Hands On Business........................................15 Henry Mitchell, CPA, PC.................................15 Kaiser Permanente.........................................9

Kiddy Kompany.............................................14 Laurencin’s Home Services............................14 Mechanixx Corporation..................................14 Mystery Valley Golf Club.................................6 Newburn Reynolds Photography...................15 No rth DeKalb Mall........................................13

Premier Women’s Healthcare & Aesthetics.... 8 Soapstone Center for Clinical Research.......... 8 The Gallery at South DeKalb........................... 2 The Law Office of B.A. Thomas.................... 10 Threesixty Entertainment / Peter Pan............13 Wells Fargo..................................................... 3

CrossRoadsNews

January 29, 2011

Community

“You modify, change and implement policies when you see a problem. I definitely think it’s something that should be looked at.”

Elected officials get sweep price for furniture and equipment FURNITURE,

from page

office include former District 5 Commissioner Hank Johnson and Superior Court Judges Anne Workman and Robert Castellani. When Johnson left the county in April 2006 to run for Congress, the Board of Commissioners approved the sale of the desk, credenza and chairs from his office for $1,106.75. Those items of furniture cost the county $4,626 in 2000 and 2001. Johnson has said that the furniture is now in his congressional office on Hillandale Drive. In April 2009, the board approved the sale of chairs, a TV/VCR/DVD combo and stand, and an HP laserjet printer to Workman for $335. On Nov. 22, the board also approved the sale of two Herman Miller Aeron chairs, a lectern and a sofa for $475 to Judge Castellani, who retired from the county in December. The county has no written policy for selling furniture to commissioners and judges and its handling of the surplus sale memorandum is inconsistent. In some, it lists the original purchase price of the items. In others, it doesn’t. In the case of Stokes’ furniture, it provided the original cost of the items. While the original purchase prices of the furniture bought by Workman and Castellani were not provided, an Internet search showed that new Herman Miller Aeron chairs sell for $579.99 to $1,399.99. Theresa Walker, widow of District 7 Commissioner Lou Walker, who died in office, said she didn’t ask to purchase the furniture from his office because she didn’t need it. “The practice has been going on forever, but I had plenty of furniture from our business that I was trying to get rid of,” she said. “I didn’t need county furniture.” Stokes, who succeeded Walker and served out his term, said she kept the furniture that was in his office until the 2008 remodel of commissioners’ offices when everyone got new furniture. In 2009, former CEO Vernon Jones tried to buy the desk and credenza from his office, but Ellis refused to sell them to him. In a May 2009 letter to Jones, Ellis said that DeKalb County, like other local governments across the country, is being called upon to do more with less. “Accordingly, we cannot afford to turn over the furniture in the CEO’s office and sell it at a loss. I trust that you understand this decision,” he wrote. While Stokes is not the first elected official to buy furniture from the county, records show that she is the first to get the entire contents of her office. “It wasn’t every single thing,” she said Tuesday. Still, she did not name anything that she did not buy.

Practice is forbidden elsewhere The city of Atlanta and Gwinnett, Cobb and Fulton counties all have policies forbidding the sale of furniture to their elected officials. Joe Sorenson, a spokesman for Gwinnett County, said the county hasn’t replaced furniture for its commissioners in years. “When they leave, only personal equipment purchased by the commissioners with their own personal funds can be removed from Gwinnett officials’ offices,” Sorenson said. In the city of Atlanta, city furniture stays put through administrations. For example, Reese McCranie, Atlanta’s deputy director of communications, said much of the furniture in Mayor Kasim Reed’s suite was there when Andy Young was mayor. He also said the council members have been known to purchase paint with their own funds to paint their offices. In Cobb County, selling county-bought furniture to elected officials is illegal. “County policy prohibits the transfer of government property to individuals unless it is sold through a public auction or donated to another governmental agency,” said Robert J. Quigley, Cobb County government’s director of communications. “Only exception would be a public vote by the board

Furnishings, equipment sold as ‘surplus’ Since 2006, DeKalb County government has declared thousands of dollars of furniture and equipment “surplus” for the purpose of selling them to departing elected officials. Here are some of the recent sales: Connie Stokes Dec. 14, 2010 Fair Item description market value Desk, bridge, credenza, overhead storage with tack board................................. $250 Honey cherry finish, with drawers, pedestal locking installed key, different center drawer installed Two-drawer lateral file with bookcase hutch, honey cherry.................................. $50 finish, pedestal locking installed............................................................................. 36-inch round table with base & (4) armchairs..................................................... $50 Chair, executive swivel, black................................................................................. $50 Lamps, wooden floor (2)....................................................................................... $20 Television, Sharp, flat-screen, black, 40-inch with mounts & brackets................ $250 Monitors, Dell (2 @ $50 each)............................................................................ $100 Towers, Dell, PC (2 @ $250 each) . ....................................................................$500 Keyboards, Dell computer (2 @ $2 each)................................................................ $4 Speakers, Dell computer (4 speakers)..................................................................... $5 Mouse, Dell computer (2 each)............................................................................... $2 Shredder, paper, PC Fellowes................................................................................ $20 Tray, paper............................................................................................................... $5 Items total.......................................................................................................$1,306

Connie Stokes

Robert Castellani

DeKalb Superior Court Judge Robert Castellani Dec. 14, 2010 Item description Fair Market Value Herman Miller Aeron chairs (2 @ $125 each) .................................................... $250 Lectern..................................................................................................................$125 Sofa...................................................................................................................... $100 Items total..........................................................................................................$475 DeKalb Superior Judge Ann Workman April 14, 2009 Item description 2 task chairs at $5 each......................................................................................... $10 5 office chairs at $15 each..................................................................................... $75 1 each TV/VCR/DVD combo; 1 each stand...........................................................$200 at $200 for both.......................................................................................................... 1 each HP laserjet 2100 printer @ $50 each........................................................ $50 Items total..........................................................................................................$335 Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. May 9, 2006 Itemized list was not available Items total was $1,106.75

give an item away. I do not recall that happening with office furnishings.” Quigley said office furnishings purchased by Cobb remain in the county and incoming elected officials typically inherit the desk and furnishings of their predecessor. “They cannot be sold or transferred to the private ownership of the departing official,” he said. “Any furnishing purchased with personal funds of the official remains the property of that person and may be taken when they leave.” The only exception for new furniture is if the incoming elected official has a physical need for a modified piece of furniture in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Policy needs to change? McClarty of the Chamber of Commerce said it’s time for DeKalb County government to look at the practice of selling office furniture to departing officials. “Government often gets a bad reputation for not spending money wisely when they may be prudent and fiscally responsible 90 percent of the time,” he said. “These incidents raise questions and make people say, ‘Yes, see they are wasting taxpayers’ money.’ ” McClarty said a practice can become dated or could just become a better practice.

Anne Workman

Hank Johnson

“You modify, change and implement policies when you see a problem,” he said. “I definitely think it’s something that should be looked at.” Even though she had supported previous furniture sales to elected officials and was even the sponsor of the 2009 motion to sell chairs, a television and laser printer to Workman, District 6 Commissioner Kathie Gannon broke rank on the sale to Stokes. She was the lone commissioner to vote against the Dec. 14 motion. “I thought it was totally inappropriate,” she said. Gannon said she has come to believe that the practice needs to stop and that she will push for a written policy. Gannon, who was the board’s Budget Committee chair in 2008 when the commissioners’ offices were relocated to remodeled offices on the fifth floor of the county’s office building, said the hope at the time was that with all seven offices now uniform in size and furnishings, the offices would stay intact despite the comings and goings of commissioners. The county is furnishing the District 7 office at a cost of $8,498.03. While he waits for new furniture to arrive, Watson is holed up in a temporary office with his secretary, using castoff furniture. Between the two of them, they have one desk and one chair, and Watson is using his personal laptop to represent his constituents and do county work.

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Finance

CrossRoadsNews

January 29, 2011

“These programs help people reach their personal goals and establish independence.”

Agencies serving homeless to share $25.4 million HUD grant Five DeKalb-based agencies serving the homeless are among 137 Georgia programs awarded more than $25 million by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help keep their programs operating. The DeKalb groups are among nine funded in the 4th Congressional District. Our House Inc., Initiative for Affordable Housing, Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Progressive Redevelopment in Decatur and Zion Keepers in Stone Mountain are among the 4th District groups receiving funding. The others are the Salvation Army, Jerusalem House, Action Ministries, and Rainbow Village Inc. They will share $2.2 million of the $25.4 million announced by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan for Georgia’s local homeless assistance programs on Jan. 19. Donovan said the grants will help provide a lifeline. “There is a tremendous need on our streets and in our shelters among those experiencing both long-term homelessness as well as families confronting a sudden economic crisis,” he said. The “Continuum of Care” grants will help provide permanent and transitional housing to homeless persons, job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care.

Congressman Hank Johnson (from left); Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed; and Mtamanika Youngblood, president/CEO of Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategies Inc., met with HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan in Atlanta last year. The Atlanta Voice

Fourth District U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson said they will help homeless Americans break the cycles of homelessness and poverty. “As our economy recovers, we must ensure everyone – no matter their circumstances – benefits from our efforts,” he said. “These programs help people reach their personal goals and establish independence.” In January 2009, volunteers nationwide counted 643,000 homeless people during a given night. HUD also found that during that year, 1.54 million people used emergency or transitional housing programs.

The typical homeless person seeking shelter is a single, middle-aged man and a member of a minority group. The DeKalb recipients include Our House Inc., which provides day care for homeless families in Decatur. Tyese Lawyer, its executive director, said children are often forgotten in the homelessness crisis. “These funds allow us to provide a loving, safe, early learning environment, where parents can confidently leave their child while Our House helps parents seek employ-

ment and permanent housing,” she said. Donovan said the grants are the life blood for thousands of local housing and service programs that are doing the heavy lifting to meet President Barack Obama’s goal of ending homelessness. Barbara Poppe, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness executive director, said the council is aligning mainstream programs across federal agencies toward a goal of preventing and ending homelessness. “While we continue to strengthen publicprivate partnerships in Washington and across the country to meet this goal, today’s grants provide essential support to continue the progress and meet critical needs of those who experience the crisis of homelessness.” HUD’s Southeast regional administrator, Ed Jennings Jr., welcomed the grants. “The main focus for these grants is to get homeless individuals and families off the street into safe housing, where they may access supportive services that will assist them in maintaining affordable housing,” he said. Based on HUD’s latest homeless assessment, chronic homelessness has declined since 2005 due to significant investments to produce thousands of units of permanent supportive housing for those who had been living on the streets. For more information, visit www.hud

Ralston to speak Make dating part of your monthly budget at the Lincoln we’re out of debt. What do you think? Dear Dave, I’m a recent college graduate, and I’m determined to follow your plan and get out Day Dinner of debt. My biggest problem is when it comes Dear Ty, Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston will be the featured speaker at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Feb. 11 at the Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta. The 6 p.m. event is sponsored by the Senator Jim Tysinger Breakfast Forum. Sixth District U.S. Rep. Tom Price will be a special guest. The nonpartisan event is in its 35th year and is open to the pub- David Ralston lic for discussion of current events. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at the DeKalb Republican Party, 3583 Chamblee-Tucker Road in Atlanta, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. or by calling 770451-4174 or 770-934-1635. Reservations are required no later than Feb. 7. The Druid Hills Golf Club is at 740 Clifton Road N.E. in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.dekalbgop.org.

to dating. Things aren’t cheap today, so aside from not dating, how do you handle this area of your life when you’re trying to get your finances in order? – Roland

Dear Roland, First of all, you definitely need to date people. I couldn’t have gone without dating, especially at your age. So, I’m not going to tell you to do something I couldn’t do. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with dating inexpensively if you’re thoughtful. Just don’t be so cheap that you’re freakish about things. There are plenty of nice, stylish places that don’t cost an arm and a leg. A picnic and a Frisbee will go a long way on a pretty day! Your efforts to be a gentleman and make things happen in creative ways will be a lot more charming to any lady worth dating than throwing down an extra $100 at a snooty restaurant you can’t afford. The other thing is to make dating part of your monthly budget. In your situation, it’s a legitimate expense, and you need to make

it part of your financial game plan. Then, if you’re seeing someone on a regular basis, and the money in the “dating” envelope is getting low, you can explain to her that you’re working hard to manage your money properly so you’ll be wealthy one day. This will make you even more attractive to the right kind of person, because it shows that you’re mature enough and responsible enough to be thinking toward and planning for the future! – Dave

‘Luxury’ depends on income Dear Dave, We currently pay to have our lawn mowed each week. This expense is figured into our monthly budget, but we’re not quite out of debt yet. My wife says this is a luxury at this point, and I should cut the grass myself until

– Ty

I think it depends a lot on your income. If you’re a surgeon making $350,000 a year, then making lawn care part of your monthly budget is probably pretty reasonable. Now, if you’re only making $26,000 a year, you probably need to get behind the mower and start pushing it yourself! Is this a snobbish attitude? I don’t think so. It’s a simple matter of math. What is your personal time worth in the marketplace, and should you be plying your trade out in the world rather than mowing the lawn? Let’s say you’re an attorney who charges $400 an hour. In that case, you’re probably going to be better off out there lawyering— especially if you’re trying to get out of debt— than you would pushing a mower. But if you make $12 an hour, it’s a good idea for you to be cutting your own grass, isn’t it? Whether or not something is a “luxury” depends on your own personal income and financial situation. That’s how I look at it. – Dave For more financial advice, visit dave ramsey.com.

January 29, 2011

CrossRoadsNews

we shape

together. today.

history.

The AT&T 28 Days Speaker Series is coming to Atlanta — hosted by Common, and featuring a special guest speaker. It’s happening at 7 p.m. on Monday, February 7th at the Atlanta Symphony Hall. Find out how to get your free tickets to this inspiring event at att.com/thebridge.

Wellness

CrossRoadsNews

January 29, 2011

“This medical office allows us to better serve our growing Kaiser Permanente membership in and around Rockdale County.”

Colorful veggie, fruit characters talk up healthy eating at expo “Give Peas a Chance,” an interactive puppet show, will be extolling the virtues of eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day at the CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expo on Jan. 29 at the Mall at Stonecrest. The perky veggie and fruit characters are stars of the Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre interactive puppet show that addresses the growing childhood obesity epidemic. The dramatic production hones in on the epidemic, pumps up foods that are great for growing minds and body, and teaches youth and adults about the importance of good nutrition and physical activity. Nationally, obesity is on the rise, and the U.S. surgeon general says the percentage of U.S. children who are overweight has nearly tripled in the past decade. Kaiser Permanente, a health maintenance organization with 230,000 Georgia members, is a title sponsor with Children’s Healthcare at Hughes Spalding of the expo that is in its sixth year. The expo, which takes place from noon to 5 p.m., will be on the mall’s lower level. The “Give Peas a Chance” cast of veggie characters like Wanda B. Healthy and Cris P. Broccoli will appear on the Main Stage in front of Macy’s at 2:30 p.m. Nurse Blueberry, a Kaiser mascot, will be promoting the health benefits of eating blueberries, which pack a huge cancerfighting punch. Kaiser Permanente also will celebrate the opening of its newest office in Conyers during the expo. The 6,700-square-foot facility opened Jan. 27 in suites B and C at 1478 Dogwood Drive. Peter Andruszkiewicz, Kaiser Permanente of Georgia’s president, said the new site is

The cast of “Give Peas a Chance,” an interactive puppet show of the Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre, will appear at the Jan. 29 CrossRoadsNews’ Health & Wellness Expo at Stonecrest; Nurse Blueberry is a mascot. Kaiser Permanente has opened a new facility in Conyers.

part of the HMO’s ongoing initiative to improve access to health care for its members statewide. “This medical office allows us to better serve our growing Kaiser Permanente membership in and around Rockdale P. Andruszkiewicz County,” he said. The Conyers office will employ eight to 12 health care professionals, including Drs. Bhagy Papudesu and Carla Holder of the Southeast Permanente Medical Group.

Internal medicine, pediatrics and laboratory services are offered at the location and other specialties may be added. It has an on-site pharmacy. A new 6,400-square-foot facility also is planned for Fayetteville this quarter. Together they are part of more than $4.6 million that Kaiser Permanente is investing this year in new Georgia facilities. The two locations will bring to 10 the number of new medical offices. With their addition, Kaiser Permanente will have a total of 27 medical facilities in its 28-county service area.

Kaiser Permanente operates four centers in DeKalb County. Its newest, a 5,442-square-foot office, opened January 2010 at 201 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. in Decatur at a cost of $1.8 million. In December 2007, it opened a $6.5 million 19,000-square-foot Stonecrest Medical Center. It also operates a center on Panola Road and one in Tucker. For more information, visit www.kp.org. For information on the Educational Theatre Programs, visit www.etpga.org or call 770220-3749.

Dr. Tyrone Malloy, a board-certified OB/GYN, brought

Soapstone Center for Clinical Research to our community

almost 10 years ago.

In addition to Women’s Health, Soapstone also enrolls patients in clinical trials for diabetes, hypertension, anemia, incontinence, fibromyalgia, and obesity, among others. Through our studies, patients who cannot afford healthcare resources or those we have inadequate insurance can get medical and surgical treatments for their illnesses without out-of-pocket expenses. Volunteers are needed now for clinical studies in: • Anemia • Diabetes • Oral Contraception • Endometriosis • Hot Flashes • Abnormal Pap Smear • Contraception (Transdermal Patch) All medications and laboratory studies are free and all patients are financially compensated for their time and travel. All data from our studies can be made available to your private physician. You don’t have to be patient of our practice to participate.

Premier Women's Healthcare LLC

5404 Hillandale Park Court Lithonia, Georgia 30058 678-418-6990 office 678-418-6986 fax www.premierwomens.com Principal: Dominique J. Smith, MD FACOG

Our educational department is available to both speak to groups or individuals about participation in clinical trials, as well as to train people to work in this growing fulfilling field of medical research.

For current or upcoming studies, visit www.soapstoneresearch.com, or contact us at 404-534-9359

Tyrone C. Malloy, MD, JD, has more than 25 years of clinical experience.

Soapstone is excited to be participating in the 2011 Health Wellness Expo on Jan. 29th at the Mall at Stonecrest. Our staff will be available at the Expo to answer your questions.

Soapstone Center for Clinical Research • 4201 Rainbow Dr. • Decatur, GA 30034

Wellness

CrossRoadsNews

January 29, 2011

“What we eat and whether we exercise are entirely our individual responsibilities. Our doctors can’t make us do it.”

Free screenings, performances and giveaways at health expo CrossRoadsNews’ sixth annual Health & Wellness Expo will offer a Fitness FaceOff competition in addition to screenings and a cooking demonstration.

Thousands of adults and children will be heading to the Mall at Stonecrest on Jan. 29 for CrossRoadsNews’ sixth annual Health & Wellness Expo. On tap are free health screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure, and HIV/AIDS; exercise demonstrations; performances; and lots of giveaways. Jennifer Parker, the newspaper’s editor and publisher, said that the expo offers residents a perfect venue for sharing information and educating themselves about their health with people and organizations who are passionate about good health. “With so many out of work, this is a great

place for them to get screenings that could cost hundreds of dollars if you lack insurance,” Parker said. Title sponsors for this year’s expo are Children’s Healthcare at Hughes Spalding, Kaiser Permanente and 100 Black Women of Decatur-DeKalb. Dozens of individuals, health providers and organizations will offer information about being more active, eating healthy and taking better care of our bodies. Parker said individuals have to empower themselves about being healthy. “If we don’t take care of our bodies, where are we going to live,” Parker said. “What we

eat and whether we exercise are entirely our individual responsibilities. Our doctors can’t make us do it. Our spouses or children can’t do it for us. We just have to make up our minds that it’s better to be healthy than be sick.” During the noon-to-5 p.m. event, expo goers will find out fun ways to stay active in the 2011 Fitness FaceOff competition that begins at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage in front of Macy’s. Eight metro Atlanta fitness instructors and personal trainers will demonstrate easy, fun routines they use to keep their clients active and fit and vie for the championship trophy and a table at the April

19, 2011, Best of East Metro Small Business Expo at the mall. Life Chef Asata Reid will demonstrate quick healthy meals that diabetics and everyone can make. Congressman Hank Johnson will stop by to talk about the threats to the health care reform law and what is being done in Congress to ensure that the law is not gutted. Expo goers who visit at 15 exhibitors can enter to win a gigantic spa gift basket from the Mall at Stonecrest. Throughout the day, door prizes will include tickets to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and to “Peter Pan.”

GOOD HEALTH is just around the corner Now it’s easier than ever to enjoy good health in DeKalb County. With five Kaiser Permanente medical centers in the area, convenient care from great doctors is close to home or work. To learn more, call (404) 261-2590 (TTY: 1-800-255-0056), talk to your employer or broker, or visit kp.org.

Enroll in a Kaiser Permanente health plan, and you’ll learn what our many satisfied DeKalb County members already know: Kaiser Permanente is truly different. !"Choose your doctor from our own, carefully selected experts who care exclusively for Kaiser Permanente members !"High-tech medical centers with doctors, specialists, lab, X-ray, and even pharmacy—all coordinated, and all under one roof !"Secure access to your doctor and medical information online

kp.org Crescent Medical Center 200 Crescent Centre Parkway Tucker, GA 30084

Downtown Decatur Medical Office 201 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Suite A Decatur, GA 30030

Panola Medical Center 5440 Hillandale Drive Lithonia, GA 30058

Stonecrest Medical Center 8011 Mall Parkway Lithonia, GA 30038

New

Conyers Medical Office 1478 Dogwood Drive Conyers, GA 30013

Wellness

CrossRoadsNews

January 29, 2011

“We need to reverse this now. Donating blood or platelets now helps ensure immediate and future patient needs will be met.”

Ceremony atop Stone Mountain to celebrate life of activist Family and friends of Ron Marshall will celebrate the life of the late community activist and businessman with a walk to the top of Stone Mountain on Feb. 12. A short ceremony will be held atop the mountain after the walk, which begins at 10 a.m. The walk takes about an hour, and participants are advised to wear comRon Marshall fortable shoes. For those who want to attend the ceremony but do not want to walk, a tram to the top of the mountain is available. The ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. Marshall died on July 9, 2010, at age 54 after a two-year battle with an inoperable brain tumor. A memorial walk planned for July 31 was canceled because of poor weather. Marshall’s birthday is Feb. 2 and his widow, Gwen Marshall, says DeKalb CEO Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews Burrell Ellis will proclaim Feb. 10 Ronald A memorial walk to the top of Stone Mountain on July 31, to honor Ron Marshall was canceled Marshall Day. because of poor weather. Instead, family and friends gathered at the base of the mountain.

She said Stone Mountain was one of his favorite places to visit. “Ron loved Stone Mountain. We spent many hours looking out over DeKalb County from up there.” She said the Feb. 12 Gwen Marshall walk will honor his commitment to health and wellness and his love for the peace found in nature. During his life, Marshall championed Grady Memorial Hospital and fought for resources for the safety-net hospital. He was a prolific letter writer to CrossRoadsNews and other media and a regular visitor and speaker at DeKalb Board of Commissioners meetings where he held commissioners’ feet to the fire on issues affecting county residents. Marshall, who co-owned the home inspection firm RGM Management and Development Co. with Gwen, was a candidate for DeKalb CEO in 2004. For more information, contact Gwen Marshall at 770-981-5109.

Blood donors needed as winter storms take toll on supply The American Red Cross is urging healthy teens and adults to help replenish the blood supply after severe winter weather caused cancellation of thousands of blood and platelet donations in the eastern half of the nation. In a Jan. 26 press release, the agency said that the January supply is at its lowest point in 10 years. More than 14,000 blood and platelet donations were canceled due to the weather, including over 3,000 in Georgia.

The severity of the impact has stressed even its robust national inventory management system, which can move blood products to where they’re needed most, such as when severe weather hits. Randy Edwards, the Southern Blood Services Region chief executive officer, said that they have not seen the January supply drop this dramatically in a decade. “We need to reverse this now,” he said. “You don’t wait to refuel once you’ve run

1 2 3

out of gas. Donating blood or platelets now helps ensure immediate and future patient needs will be met.” Eligible donors in unaffected areas are urged to make an appointment in the coming days, and those in affected areas are asked to donate as soon as travel is deemed safe. All blood types are needed, especially type O negative. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds, and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. Bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID. Upcoming blood drives include:

n Feb. 2 – Agnes Scott College, Evans Build-

ing, 141 E. College Ave., Decatur; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. nFeb. 2 – Bank of America-Tucker, 2059 Northlake Parkway, Tucker; 1 to 6 p.m. n Feb. 3 – Emory University Hospital, 1364 Clifton Road N.E., Atlanta; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. n Feb. 6 – Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church, Family Life Building, 1879 Glenwood Ave. S.E., Atlanta; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. nFeb. 7 – Emory Law School, 1301 Clifton Road, Atlanta; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. n Feb. 9 – Cedar Grove High School, 2360 River Road, Ellenwood; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org.

Paper heart sale for cystic fibrosis Southwest DeKalb High’s Future Business Leaders of America members are raising money for cystic fibrosis research throughout the month of February. More than 175 FBLA members are participating in the “Have a Heart for Cystic Fibrosis” fund-raiser, which kicks off Feb. 1. Supporters can buy hearts from club members or their advisers – Latiquia Monday, Christye Johnson, Marquis Waring, Lucy Wright, Dr. Charlene Spurlock, and Dr. Kenyatta Arnette. Arnette said they are selling the standard paper cystic fibrosis fund-raising hearts from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for a dollar each. “Southwest DeKalb is partnering with the foundation to help them in their fundraising efforts,” she said. “Our initial goal is set for $500.” Students will ask for support in the school cafeteria during lunch periods and also will take the hearts home. Parents, family

members and supporters can purchase the hearts from students or from the Decatur school’s main office. The funds raised will help to further research into cystic fibrosis, an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs, causing life-threatening infections. The disease also affects the digestive system, obstructing the pancreas and the body’s ability to properly break down and absorb food. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation says there are about 30,000 adults and children in the United States who are affected by the disease. About 1,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, and more than 70 percent of patients are diagnosed by age 2. The FBLA’s goal is to raise awareness about cystic fibrosis in addition to generating funds for research and the identification of a cure. For more information, visit Southwest DeKalb High School at 2863 Kelley Chapel Road in Decatur or call 678-874-2009.

Don’t Stress... Follow the Four D’s!

Thinking of Quitting

Visit us at the CrossRoads News Health & Wellness Expo

Determine your reason for quitting.

Decide your date.

Discuss with family and friends.

Develop a plan.

FIND US ON

GA Tobacco Quit Line: 1.877.270.STOP www.dekalbhealth.net • 404-294-3700 445 Winn Way • Decatur, GA 30030 Made possible by funding from Department of Health and Human Services and Communities Putting Prevention to Work

January 29, 2011

Youth

CrossRoadsNews

“The kids always read about the history of Pearl Harbor but they never get the experience of it.”

Stephenson’s Marching Jaguars raising funds for Hawaii trip By Carla Parker

It’s fund-raising time for the Stephenson High School Marching Jaguars. Between now and August, the band must raise up to $300,000 to help fly its 90 members to Hawaii to perform at the 70th commemoration of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and march in the Waikiki Holiday Parade in Honolulu. Band booster member Cathy Blakeney said that with travel expenses of $2,400 to $2,800 per student, it will cost between $440,000 and $480,000 to cover air and ground transportation, meals, lodging, instrument shipping and storage for the sixday trip to the island in the central Pacific Ocean. Since the November 2010 invitation from Jake Peppers, parade chairman of the Waikiki Holiday Parade, the Stone Mountain school’s band, which is known as the Sonic Sound, launched its “Operation Hawaii 2011” campaign. Peppers first saw the band perform at the 2007 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan, N.Y., and was so impressed he wanted it to be part of the Honolulu festivities. So far, the band is selling Coca-Cola products, bed sheets and fruit and hosting garage sales. Band students also are doing individual fund-raising, but they are still far from their goal. Blakeney said more fund-raising projects are on the way. “We’re also going to send out letters to businesses to get some sponsorships,” she said. Band director Quentin Goins said the band was supposed to make the trip in 2010, but was derailed by the economic

wide, 17 high school bands were invited. The invitation asks Stephenson to perform in the Waikiki Holiday Parade the day after Thanksgiving and on Dec. 7 for the Pearl Harbor 70th Anniversary Commemoration. Goins said this trip is not just another performance for the students, but it will be an educational experience as well. “The kids always read about the history of Pearl Harbor but they never get the experience of it,” he said. “They will tour the Pearl Harbor memorial, visit the Polynesian Cultural Center, and perform at the USS Missouri battleship. It will be a big cultural experience for them. Experience is better than what you can read in a book.” Before departing for Hawaii, Goins said the students will take four classes on Pearl Harbor and speak with a Pearl Harbor survivor. Donations can be mailed to the Stephenson Band Booster at P.O. Box 1231, Stone Mountain, GA 30086. Donations also can be made online on the PayPal link at www Stephenson High’s Marching Jaguars are among three metro high school bands invited to .stephensonhighband.net. participate in the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. For more information, contact Cathy high school bands invited to participate but Blakeney at shsbbcomm@yahoo.com or recession. “The timing was bad,” he said. “The the only band from DeKalb County. Nation- 404-405-9233. economy was bad, and ZIP codes 30058 and 30087, where a lot of our students reside, were hit hard with foreclosures. It would’ve been hard to come up with the funds for the High school students can get informa- on “College Tours: See for Yourself,” “College trip then.” tion about colleges, trade schools, technical Admissions: What to Expect Before You ApWith the economy looking a little better than it did two years ago, Goins believes the schools and military options at a college ply,” “Financial Aid: The Value of Knowing band will be able to get the money for the fair at Chamblee Charter High School on the Cost,” and “How to Leave High School.” Feb. 12. The college fair is free and open to the trip. The 1-to-5 p.m. college fair will feature public. Chamblee Charter High School “I think we have a good base of parents that will help out however they can and we a Parent Resource Center that will provide is at 3688 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road in got a lot of corporate sponsors as well,” he information on financial aid, career develop- Chamblee. ment, and college study habits. For more information, e-mail CCHS said. Guest speakers will present their expertise CollegeFair@comcast.net. Stephenson is one of three metro Atlanta

College fair at Chamblee Charter High

Meeting on school Two makeup days redistricting plan set for February Parents can discuss the proposed school closings and relocations at a special South DeKalb Parent Council meeting on Jan. 29. The 10:30 a.m.-to-12:30 p.m. meeting will be at the Redan-Trotti Library, 1569 Wellborn Road in Lithonia. District 5 School Board member Jesse Cunningham will be in attendance to answer questions about school closings and relocations and its impact on the community. For more information, call Donna Priest-Brown at 404-386-8454.

DeKalb students who got a week off because of the Jan. 9 snowstorms that crippled metro Atlanta for days will have to make it up in February. The School Board voted Thursday to make students go to school on Feb. 18, originally a teacher workday, and Feb. 21, President’s Day, to make up the missed days. Because of treacherous traveling conditions that closed schools, businesses, and community and social activities, students missed a week of classes Jan. 10-15. For more information, visit www.dekalb .k12.ga.us. Men are asked to share their favorite book about or written by AfricanAmericans at Toney Elementary’s Feb. 11 Read-In for Black History Month.

Toney Read-In needs volunteers African-American men have until Feb. 9 to sign up for Toney Elementary’s fifth annual African-American Male Read-In. In celebration of Black History Month, fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles and male community leaders can help Toney Elementary celebrate and promote chil-

dren’s literacy on Feb. 11 by sharing their favorite book about or written by AfricanAmericans. Volunteers can sign up for the Read-In at Toney Elementary, 2701 Oakland Terrace in Decatur, or call Shundra Byron or Timothy Hatchett at 678-874-2102.

Parents of High School Seniors - DeKalb County School System

Don’t Miss This Opportunity! The Office of School Improvement and the DCBlazers Youth Organization Present

College Financial Aid Workshop - Session II The FAFSA Form

Important Information Your FAFSA form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) will be completed by the end of this worksession. Parents and their HS senior students will be able to participate only if they have gone to the website www.pin.ed.gov to apply for a Pin number so that the application can be electronically signed. It is absolutely necessary that this Pin number be obtained, at minimum, one week prior to the date of the work session. Parents (and students if applicable) must also bring their 2010 tax return and 2010 W2 form or their 2009 tax return and their 2010 W2 form.

Saturday, February 12, 2011 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. DeKalb County School System The Administrative & Instructional Complex – Room 201 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd Stone Mountain GA 30083 RSVP to

Anderia Russell at the Office of School Improvement 678-676-0312 or The DC Blazers at 770-322-5273

Check this website for a sneak peek at the FAFSA Form http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1112/pdf/fafsaws12c.pdf

Youth

CrossRoadsNews

January 29, 2011

“The Board of Education is committed to ensuring that we have an ethical, responsible and effective school system for our children.”

24 school employees reassigned in wake of CRCT scandal By Carla Parker

Twenty-four DeKalb school employees have been removed from their positions at nine elementary and middle schools countywide in the wake of a DeKalb School System internal investigation into the April 2009 Criterion-Referenced Competency Test cheating scandal. The district said Thursday that they were among 29 employees – principals, assistant principals and teachers – referred to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Five employees already have been terminated or have left or retired from the district. The 24 – five principals, five assistant principals and 14 teachers – still employed by the district have been reassigned to nonteaching positions in transportation, IT and other central office departments pending

review of their teaching certificates by the Professional Standards Commission. Interim Superintendent Ramona Tyson informed the School Board on Thursday morning of the staff changes after receiving the results of internal investigation done by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. School officials declined to identify the employees or nine schools. But seven DeKalb schools – Atherton, Glenhaven, Shadow Rock and Stoneview elementary and DeKalb Path Academy Charter, Cedar Grove and DeKalb Truancy middle schools – were originally implicated by the state in the June 2008 CRCT mathematics cheating probe that involved schools in Fulton County, Atlanta and Glynn County. In June 2009, Dr. James L. Berry, principal of Atherton Elementary School in Decatur,

and the school’s assistant principal, Doretha Alexander, were arrested by the DeKalb District Attorney on charges of falsifying and altering a government document. Six months later, Berry pleaded guilty and was fined $1,000 and placed on probation for two years. Alexander was sentenced to 40 hours of community service at a local food bank. Thursday’s action follows the investigations and feedback from Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. The school district said it also is setting up individual learning support plans for students who may have been affected by irregular testing administration and need assistance to improve their CRCT performance. Thomas Bowen, chairman of the School Board, said the board will continue to re-

spond to the test irregularities based on what’s best for the students. “The DeKalb Board of Education is committed to ensuring that we have an ethical, responsible and effective school system for our children,” he said. The Organization of DeKalb Educators, which represents 7,000 school system employees, said Thursday that while it does not condone cheating, it expects a fair process, and its members’ rights honored. ODE president David Shutten, said he has not seen any evidence of of cheating in DeKalb County Schools. “We are standing up for the rights of students to be in good learning environments and educators to be in good teaching environments,” he said. “ Our ultimate goal is that good teachers are back in their classrooms and good educators back in their schools.”

Babies at home and in Haiti benefit from generosity of scouts

Brownie Scouts in Troop 9004 at Toney Elementary School in Decatur pack items donated for babies in Haiti and at an Atlanta homeless shelter.

Newborn babies in Haiti and at an Atlanta homeless shelter will get new bottles, disposable diapers, bibs and blankets, all through the efforts local Brownie and Girl Scout troops. The South DeKalb-based troops collected and packed the items for children who are less fortunate as part of the Girl Scouts of America Journey projects, “Brownie Quest” and “Agent of Change,” that are inspiring Scouts to discover, connect and take action to make the world a better place. Brownie leader Niketa Mason said the 10 girls in Troop 9004 at Toney Elementary in Decatur came up with the idea of helping babies in Haiti. “They were really excited about helping the new moms and babies in Haiti,” Mason said. “They even wanted to know if they have Girl Scouts in Haiti.” The girls, ages 7 and 8, collected bottles, bibs, blankets, baby wipes, pacifiers, baby powder, baby combs and brushes and used their troop meetings to pack the supplies in Ziploc bags. They also sent clothes and dry food to the Haiti orphanage’s 300 children. As part of the project, the troop also made picture frames out of foam and plastic and donated them

to 10 baby girls born on Oct. 31 – the birth date of Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low – at DeKalb Medical in Decatur. The troop also put little messages on the back of the frames, telling the babies that they share the same birth date as Low and expressing the hope that they will become Girl Scouts. “It was so cute and very sweet of the girls to do that,” Mason said. For their “Agent of Change” project, the South DeKalb Junior Girl Scout Troop 26408 donated thousands of disposable diapers to the Genesis Homeless Shelter for families with infants and babies in Atlanta. The Scouts, who had volunteered as baby sitters at the shelter in the past, collected and donated 22,000 disposable diapers and baby wipes to the shelter. With the help of Mainstreet and Brook Glen subdivisions’ homeowner associations, hair salons and barbershops in the Pine Lake and Stone Mountain, and other Girl Scout troops in the Southeast DeKalb Service Unit, the girls exceeded their goal of collecting 17,500 between September and Dec. 16, 2010.

Parents want cost analysis of redistricting, consolidation SCHOOLS,

from page

recommendations to the Board of Education on Feb. 7. Walter Woods, a school system spokesman, said that the first five meetings attracted nearly 7,000 people with thousands showing up in North DeKalb and hundreds in South DeKalb. At the meetings, participants got to voice their opinion on the redistricting proposal and offered their own recommendations as to how the district can fix the issue of low enrollment schools that are costing it state funding. The proposal, which was presented to the DeKalb School Board on Jan. 3, calls for 14 schools – 12 elementary, one middle and one high school – to close countywide by the start of the 2011-2012 school year to compensate for shifting demographics and declining enrollment. The closures will help the school district access maximum state funding for its schools. The proposal will consolidate schools, dramatically change attendance lines, and reassign students to schools with enrollment of more than 450 students. It also will merge the district’s high achievers magnet schools and programs that serve 1,605 students countywide. At Tuesday’s workshop, parents sat at tables and wrote down other options for the redistricting and consolidation plan for an hour. A representative from each table had one minute and 15 seconds to present their group’s suggestions to the full room. The recurring theme was that parents do not want the School Board to close any

Parents grapple with redistricting issues at a Jan. 25 public input meeting at McNair High School.

CarlaParker/CrossRoadsNews

schools and split up communities. “The priority should be on academics and students, not facilities,” one group said. “Make a decision [on redistricting] when a permanent superintendent is Donna Edler here,” another said. District 7 board member Donna Edler said she understand the concerns of the parents but believes the redistricting and consolidation proposal leads the school system in the right direction the board wants to go. “I think both proposals attempt to elimi-

nate empty seats, which is what we want to do,” Edler said. “Whatever happens in the end will be better for the county, although it will be uncomfortable for people.” Magnet school parents like Michelle Pressley of Decatur, who has three children in the magnet program, want to keep the magnet program as is and not centralize it. “There is no justification of what centralization will do for the program,” she said. “The magnet program is already a large program. Instead of making it smaller by centralizing it, they should maximize it and put it in more schools.” Parents also wanted to see a cost analysis of the proposals. “We have no financial information for

the proposals,” Pressley said. “It’s like they’re asking us to make a blind decision.” The PTAs for the Kittredge and Wadsworth Magnet School Program also voiced concerns about the lack of a cost analysis for the centralized option. “It is not cost-effective and wastes resources,” the groups said in a joint e-mail to parents. “The centralized option would increase transportation costs and create significant new start-up/transition costs for the new location.” William Carnes, a representative of MGT of America, which is spearheading the school system’s proposal, said the district will know by Jan. 28 how much money it will save with the redistricting plan.

CrossRoadsNews

January 29, 2011

Scene

One night, Peter filies into the London nursery of the Darling Children and teaches them to fly.

Spectacular Peter Pan flying over London in Atlanta Peter Pan, Wendy and all his other buddies are now taking flight in Atlanta in the state-of-the-art threesixty theater tent adjacent to Centennial Park. Fresh from a successful run in Orange County, California, the stage production of J M Barrie’s classic story kicked off Jan. 21 featuring 23 actors, stunning puppets, epic music, dazzling flying sequences, and the world’s first 360-degree CGI theater set. The multi-media production dramatizes the story of Peter Pan, The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up. One night, Peter flies into the London nursery of the Darling children, Wendy, John and Michael, teaches them to fly and leads

them to the magical Neverland, “second to the right and straight on till morning,” where they live with Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys and meet the notorious Captain Hook. The threesixty Theatre, allows for performance “in the round” in a 1,300 seat theater-tent, standing between the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium in Pemberton Place. The entire interior of the tent is lit with more than 15,000 square feet of Hi-Resolution video -- three times the size of Imax screens -- so that both cast and audience are immersed in a CGI Neverland. When Peter and Wendy fly to Neverland, the audience flies with

them over 400 square miles of virtual London and beyond. The Atlanta shows mark the US East Coast premiere of the threesixty Peter Pan. Atlanta is only the fourth location in the world to host this production, after London, San Francisco and Orange County. Peter Pan landed in the US last April last year in San Francisco. The show captivated audiences in London where more than it was seen by more than 200,000 people. Special behind-the-scenes “Into Neverland” tours are available weekly. All seats for the show are $50 at www. peterpanshow.com/atlanta, or by call- And they are off, Wendy and Peter Pan taking off for Neverland ing 1-888-772-6849. in the threesixty theater tent, near the WOrld of Coke in Atlanta.

Couple organists to kick off series Trumpet awards for celebrities has earned an international Husband and wife organreputation. ists Elizabeth and Raymond The Chenaults completChenault will kick off the ed music degrees at Virginia 2011 Harreld-James Organ Commonwealth UniverRecital Series on Jan. 30 at sity. They have been named Spelman College in Atlanta. “Organists of the Year” by The series, which is in its Sacred Music USA. fifth year, celebrates the clasThe free series, which sical sounds of organ music begins at 4 p.m., will run through the performances of through March 27 at the distinguished organists. Spelman College Sisters The Chenaults began their duet career in 1979 Raymond and Elizabeth Chenault Chapel, 350 Spelman Lane S.W. in Atlanta. when Arthur Wills of EngOther performers include Timothy Alland’s Ely Cathedral composed “Toccata for brecht, Atlanta’s Emory University organist Two” for them. Since 1975, the Chenaults have been or- and professor of music; and Wayne Barr, ganists and choirmasters of All Saints’ Epis- director of choral activities at Tuskegee copal Church in Atlanta. After 31 years, they University. For more information, visit www. retired in 2007 from the Lovett School where they taught choral music. Since then, the pair spelman.edu.

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Television Judge Greg Mathis, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and The O’Jays are some of the celebritie picking up awards at the 2011 Trumpet Awards on Jan. 29. Mathis will be honored for his work as a humanitarian. Sharpton will receive an award for his work in civil rights, and The Al Sharpton O’Jays will receive the Lifetime Achievement award. Other honorees at the 4 p.m. event include Drs. Andre’ Churchwell, Keith Churchwell and Kevin Churchwell, who are being recognized for their work in medicine; The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr., Alfred C. Liggins III, Paula Madison, Richard Roundtree, Chief Justice Georgina

Wood, and Harry E. Johnson, Sr. for The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Project, who will receive the President’s award. The evening’s co-hosts are Boris Kodjoe, Nicole Ari Parker, and Niecy Nash. The Trumpet Awards will be held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway in Atlanta. As part of the festivities, the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame got 10 new footprints on Jan. 28 at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site on Auburn Avenue. Among the new additions are Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, James Brown, the Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley, Bishop Neil C. Ellis, Leon Hall, Bishop Barbara King, Marc H. Morial, Mayor Carl Stokes, Congressman Louis Stokes and Henry “Hank” Thomas. For more information, call 404-5058188.

CrossRoadsNews

January 29, 2011

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Interst ate and comm local motor ute this weeke through south ists will find their nd. DeKalb Startin I-20 Count Georgia g at 9 p.m. y nightm east Weeke arish nd ongoin Department on Friday, Motor work wraps g weathe ists traveli Colum I-20 resurfa of Transportatio r permi up at 5 bia Drive, cing a.m. on tting, to access either ng eastbo It will contin Monday. and Evansproject will n said that und also north I-285 north cut off access or southb on I-20 Mill and close ramps the (Exit ue east on who wish I-20; Turne ound at The 68), and Thom and south. from I-20 eastbo r Hill roads. return exit at Wesley I-285 should resurfa will be as Parker, DOT’s westbo cing und lanes Evans significant Mill and will contin und on Chapel Road to I-20 “We ue delays area engine Turner The Hill roads.for two miles to I-285. sible,” would ask the throughout er, said that I-20 and eastbound entran he said. betwee public this corrid there themselves “And n Hill will the eastbound ce ramp to extra timeif they must avoid the area or. outsid be closed througexit ramp from Evans The drive e lane under $28.6 millio and be extrem through if poshout the from I-20 to Mill to of I-20 The resurfa it, way betwee Turne weekend, I-20 betweesince June n resurfacing ely careful.” allow and as will r weekends cing projec n the two interch The projec n Colum 18. It is resurfaproject has It will until tempet will contin anges. the bia Drive been be cing t has comm ute difficu snarled traffic and Turne 9.8 miles of weeknights completed in ratures get ue on weeknights lt for residen and made r Hill Road. continuouslyfrom 9 p.m. the spring too cool to the weeke ts and on Mond from Fridayuntil 5 a.m. . Work hourspave. interst ay. ate travele nd night at and on weeke are 9 p.m. rs. org.For more inform until 5 nds ation, a.m. call 511 or visit www.5 11ga.

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r Forme ary of Secret State Condo Rice leezza about will talk sign her and at memoir at the Mall on rest Stonec 8 Nov. 3. Get time. ready South DeKal b. It’s After cleanu spaces, years of litter p Board DeKalb CEO and neglect of Comm of Burrel public Great DeKal l Ellis issione and the b Cleanu rs have launch The ed the DeKalb effort kicks offp. Comm Flat Shoals unity Oct. 9 at 7a.m. at the Parkway Achievement The county Center in , on every weeke says the Decatur. cleanu nd throug ps will “As be held proper part of a comm h Oct. 31. ty values itted effort Great DeKal throug 2010 b Cleanu hout the to stabilize 30,uninco county , the ed DeKalp will addres October not beenrporat in a statemmaintained,” b County s areas of that have g have the ent. “The the CEO’s the existin cleanu of office said maxim worst affecte p is designshe said. care um em,” edstill sitd areas level ofprobl volvem to impacwe by ent t are the ands in policin and investm encou “Here raging on withthethous the future g and maintaent of the in- that ting comm osures that .” ining these unitybe done of forecl The Great ion, said from can g areas in sociat kept heels of nothin DeKalb .” Cleanu a Sept. fact was page article about Turman, pres25 CrossR p comes nts. reside t was not on the the South that docum neglec oadsN Gil ted duals “Tha t of of ews front borented ident longst s and indivi tion how it was presenwho south DeKal sidewalks and lb Neigh ht anding unity group said Pace, er cial corrid b County, includmedians DeKahe too thougthe implementa ry ors and across Comm ng the losure Registap- to us,” ed a numb gs said with ing its In most ion, commhelp deal y awaiti Coalit does notrties attend c hearin spotlig its Aug. 28 issue, travell eagerl lb’s new Forec ed arterie was to erthat it publi ordinance hoods ance hted an s. of DeKa this week 15,500 prope ve of newsp overgr thethe the lyHill Road to help out aper also ownordin tionleadin about eager Stonec than – its effecti found g to the media on was impleatmenta more than the more Oct. 27 and Turner portions of entran withrest. ply to It was before the media ng its ce to the s of The Road. od deal cut s. Mall borho beganhomecount n on Wesley es owner27 to awaiti foreclosed y’s to take days later. the going South her neight foreclosed was cleanu Sanitation only requir Chape date. after Oct. p on Crews Depar president DeKalb Neigh this l ugly 50 vacan thought The lawforeclosed county. tment situati walk on cleared the Oct. 2. Gil borho footba “We of the the rties on these on. I saw kudzu ll game Turman was ods Coalit prope them with presid ent od Asnewsp Flat Shoals Parkw people -covered ion was pleasan streets on his Saturd r aper’s pickin .” way sideay pictur He borho Sept. 25 registe up trash tly surpri ay morni g up trash a Pace, ed on the out along Wesley ng whento a hold. said it was Brend Terrace Neigh sed to Wesley along portiofront page, and a beauti ton Highw On Oct. he Chape see people fanned Chape ful thing picked Turma 9, East Lake l Road ay pickin l Road. ns of Flat Shoals to be- munity service county emplo n said “I and Covin organi Crews g remov yees and worke also mulchand some saw trucks,” up trash. g- plan zation of that he is workin e of-way illegally postedrs will docum comto ensure residents ed fines, looked like he said. “I prison to put g with an shrubs s, cut back saw is better trying that signs on ent and to do somet ers workin people, mainta going forwar in place overgr the , pick up CEO spokesined. d, the countya the roadw hing to g off their litter and own weedsrightbeautify that ay for lowing this Deparcleanup efforman Burke sanitat place debris and day. ion pickup Brennan near was tment’s The Qualit said Great the folschedu part of the Sanita led cleanu DeKalb y of Life Impro tion p. vemen Cleanu t (QOL) p (GDC / ) Team will

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With bedbug infestations the increas on Environ e, the mental Protect ion has releaseAgency da databa se proved of appesticid es to battle sucking the bloodpests. 7

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a 154-fo Lincoln facing to erect is the A plan tower on er Roadwho say it Candl nts s in rty on cell phone prope from reside their home Home opposition . close to major be located too county codes owns the g would of existin LLC, whichproperty at violation J Holdings al Home lb County Three DeKa ln Funer mmure Linco Road, wants the teleco zoned 5.1-ac er ce for distan a residentiallyrequired 2321 Candl e the the to reduc tower from feet from the 10-foot 85 nications to 70 and to waive rty prope also wants It allow 200 feet. buffer to . ape landsc the tower will it to buildJackson, who her Judy from tower backsee the window and t, n y Cour kitche on Ouslereason why yard is a buffer there said y set the the count t resifeet. of the at 200 is to protec health ved, both will ger the “It vely they she said. ce is appro en, negati nts, endan bile say tors. childr and encourdents,” reside varian opera and T-Mo If the challenged en and grandvalues, es from the the aprty rty ownermore cell phone panying e of famili the Zon- our childr prope prope to accom e Green to and to day, 73 impact our of younger 1 letter ce, Lanni lease space tment plans Thurs flight In a Sept. the varian T-Mobile for nt Deparls. Through opposing the age the for said its tower rty Developmeof Appea a petition plication South LLC ers on ing the ing Board the prope the bile signed . will adT-Mo two other provid and that outside that reduc their residents had of the tower project ally s say the tower in this locate of three users ground y physic to other uction lease constr believe that of alread subdivision ly put to them. a total intends to fenced-in area “We the health se Valley ce will literala detriment construction sed owner be said y affect e the the purpo le, distan bile propoers. and they versel that y T-Mo provid reliab ing/ backyardsstrongly oppos backyard,” ss the count e safe, y’s Plann wirele in our “We e told to provid in-car cover-e, Green is a tower to the count and facility in-building Second Avenu of such 5 letter of this ted ed by I-20. in an Oct. uninterruparea boundee Road andr and Toney the Mano age in Road, McAf Ousley er Candl residents of But

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CrossRoadsNews

January 29, 2011

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CrossRoadsNews

January 29, 2011