WELLNESS
PEOPLE
Courtly accomplishments
Info, more at annual expo
With pool weather kicking into high gear, safety officials are encouraging folks to recognize the signs that someone may be drowning. A7
Members of the Dottie Bridges Tennis Center youth program helped win the 8-andunder division of the USTA Atlanta Junior Team summer league. A9
There will be lots of information, entertainment and a healthy cooking demonstration at the 2013 Family & Back-to-School Expo. Section B
Know the signs
BACK TO SCHOOL
EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER
Copyright © 2013 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
July 27, 2013
Volume 19, Number 13
www.crossroadsnews.com
Copelin-Wood, Speaks lose bids for reinstatement By Ken Watts
Suspended DeKalb School Board members Sarah Copelin-Wood and Pam Speaks lost the fight for reinstatement this week. Chief Administrative Law Judge Maxwell Wood, who heard their appeals in June, ruled against both. Copelin-Wood, who was elected from District 3 in 1998, said she heard about the decision from media. “I am deeply disapS. Copelin-Wood pointed that unsubstantiated allegations can be levied against lawabiding citizens,” she said. Speaks, who joined the board in 2008,
was the District 8 representative. She did not return telephone calls to her home, but she was quoted in Atlanta media saying she expected the ruling to go against her. She said the burden of proof set by Pam Speaks the “more likely than not” language in the law is unfair. “I don’t see how you could prove that,” she told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It is an effort in futility.” The two were among five board members replaced by Gov. Nathan Deal in March in the wake of the district being placed on accreditation probation by the Southern As-
sociation of Colleges and Schools. The others – Jay Cunningham (District 5), Donna Edler (District 7) and former board Chairman Eugene Walker (District 9) – are expected to hear their fate within 30 days. A sixth member, Nancy Jester from District 1, resigned after her suspension and was not a candidate for reinstatement. Speaks and Copelin-Wood were the first two board members to appear before Wood. Both argued that they had done nothing wrong and that there were few, if any, specific charges against them individually that they could rebut. In the July 24 statement e-mailed to the media, Deal’s office said that Wood ruled that both Copelin-Wood, no relation to him, and Speaks “failed to show that their presence on
the DeKalb School Board would improve the ability of the local school system to retain or re-attain its accreditation,” as required by O.C.G.A. Section 20-2-73.” Wood said the law requires that suspended board members should only be reinstated if they show their presence would “more likely than not” improve the school system’s ability to regain full accreditation. Wood’s ruling was just a recommendation. It was unclear at press time whether Deal would undo his suspension of the board members. The DeKalb Board members were removed in the wake of AdvancEd, the parent company of SACS, placing the district on Please see SCHOOL BOARD, page A3
Stark racial divide on Zimmerman verdict Local protests on July 20 over the Zimmerman verdict in the Trayvon Martin slaying ranged from a small group in Decatur to thousands in Atlanta.
Majority of blacks dissatisfied, many whites approved By Ken Watts
Two national opinion polls released July 22 revealed a dramatic racial divide in public opinion surrounding the Trayvon Martin case, with notable disparities on issues ranging from reaction to the July 13 not guilty verdict in the George Zimmerman trial to the need for a national discussion on race. A Pew Research Center poll finds that 86 percent of African-Americans expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict, compared with just 30 percent of whites. A Washington Post/ABC News poll says just 9 percent of blacks approved of acquitting Zimmerman in the teen’s death, compared with 51 percent of whites who approved. It also reported 87 percent of blacks say the shooting was unjustified. Just 33 percent of whites agreed. Hispanic reaction registered in between, with 16 percent saying it was justified, 34 percent saying it was unjustified, and 50 percent undecided. The surveys followed a second weekend of rallies and marches in metro Atlanta and across the country protesting the acquittal in the Feb. 26, 2012, shooting death of the 17-year-old in Sanford, Fla. Local protests on July 20 ranged from a group of a few dozen on Candler Road in Decatur to a rally drawing thousands in downtown Atlanta. About 50 protesters in the first DeKalb Civil Rights Walk marched from the DeKalb Supervalu Foods, formerly Piggly Wiggly, to the Candler and Glenwood Road intersection and back to the store in memory of civil rights legend Hosea Williams and Trayvon Martin. Organizer Nathan Knight, president of the DeKalb SCLC, said the event was scheduled long before the Zimmerman verdict and
Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews
included calls for vigilance of the judicial system and greater activism against racial profiling. His group picketed the store in May over poor conditions there. “We think we had good participation for this first-time event at the same place where we spent so much time picketing back in the spring,” Knight said. Store owner and operator Ken Hong said he was pleased to host the march. “We look forward to continuing to support these great efforts that bring our community closer together,” he said. In Atlanta, an estimated 3,000 people braved pouring rain at a rally in front of the Richard B. Russell Federal Building and the Martin Luther King Jr. federal post office on Spring Street to express frustration over the verdict. Brenda Jackson of Lithonia attended with her 11-year-old son Brendan so he could hear others say what she’s taught him all his life. “Until you prove to them differently, some people will perceive a young black man as someone who will hurt or rob them,”
she said. Many speakers called for the U.S. Justice Department to launch a civil rights investigation. The Rev. Ralph Warnock, pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, said that Trayvon had a God-given right “to get home safe.” “And when he didn’t, he had a right to have his death taken seriously,” he said. Demonstrators also were protesting Florida and Georgia “Stand Your Ground” self-defense laws, which they believe played a role in the jury’s decision to free the former neighborhood watch captain. Kia Edgar, 39, worries what Georgia’s law could mean for her family one day. “It affected me greatly because I have a grandson who will be 17 someday and he will walk the streets and will come back from the store. I don’t want anybody thinking that they can take his life and it will be OK.” People at the rally also heard messages of “conciliation” and “moving forward.” Warnock said that they are trying to tell America to taste the rainbow.
“We are all in the package together,” said Warnock, referring to the colored Skittles candy Trayvon was carrying the night he was shot. Among the speakers were two children of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King III reminded the crowd that the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington will be observed on Aug. 28. “We must leave here headed to Washington for mobilization,” said King, appearing with his sister, the Rev. Bernice King. “People thought the civil rights movement was dead. People’s rights are still being violated.” Additional protests aren’t planned, but people at the rally were encouraged to register to vote, become more active in their community, and sign the NAACP’s petition to repeal “Stand Your Ground” laws. As the Russell Building rally was winding down, a group called StreetPeace America led a third gathering a few blocks away at Please see RALLIES, page A2
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CrossRoadsNews
Community
July 27, 2013
DeKalb Police Chief Cedric Alexander said the crime wave coincided with the end of the school year in May.
DeKalb Police surge cooling down crime hot spot Comcast, DCVB By Ken Watts
DeKalb Police say a surge in high-visibility patrols, roadblocks and other preventive measures has slowed down a summer crime wave in several southeast DeKalb subdivisions. The department reported a 43 percent decrease in reported crime along the East Atlanta Corridor – Oak Village, Eastlake Terrace, East End, Kirkwood, Eastside Walk, Gresham Road, FayetteCedric Alexander ville and Bouldercrest Road – close to the Atlanta city limits. “We had an outcry from the community there over burglaries that had increased and we had the statistics to go along with it as well,” DeKalb Police Chief Cedric Alexander said on July 18. “There had been an uptick in reported break-ins in that area both on the county side and the city of Atlanta side.” East Atlanta Village, which is patrolled by city of Atlanta Police, also has seen an upswing in crime since May, but the incidents in that neighborhood have been more violent.
Patrick Cotrona, 33, was shot and killed on May 25 in a robbery attempt as he walked home from a bar. His roommate was wounded in the leg but survived. A week earlier, another man was gunned down nearby on Metropolitan Avenue. Police spokeswoman Mekka Parish says crime knows no boundaries. “We had a juvenile who stole a car in Atlanta and jumped out in a parking lot in DeKalb County,” she said. “We arrested him. It’s those kinds of things that the community was complaining about that the surge is addressing.” Alexander said the burglary sweeps also netted other criminals. “On the county side what I had decided to do was to send in a contingent of uniformed officers to spend more time doing high-visibility patrols and going into particular neighborhoods where they had reported burglaries,” he said. “And there they made a significant number of arrests. not just burglaries and robberies, but drug possession and other felonies as well.” Alexander said the crime wave coincided with the end of the school year in May and the start of summer vacation.
“We’ve got a lot of young kids that are out there between the ages of 13 and 18, some older, but certainly a lot of young kids that are committing these burglaries,” he said. “We arrest them and they get right back out. So we’re making the arrests but it’s almost like a revolving door here where we just try to stay as vigilant as we can and ask the community to work with us.” Alexander said residents should report to the police if they see something or feel something is going on in their neighborhoods. During the school year, truancy laws allow police to cite the parents for kids who skip school and commit crimes. But there is no provision in the law for the summer months. “It’s probably going to get to the point where people are going to have to write their state legislators and start asking them for support in legislation for this because we’re doing everything we’re suppose to do,” he said. “We’re enforcing the law. We’re taking them into custody, we’re turning them back over to their parents or take them to a detention center, and we see these kids right back again doing the same thing over and over again.”
for Communty Cabinet meeting Representatives from Comcast and the DeKalb Convention and Visitors Bureau will make presentations at Commissioner Stan Watson’s Aug. 3 Community Cabinet breakfast meeting at Chapel Hill Middle School in Decatur. The meeting also includes Watson’s annual back-to-school “book um and bag um” backpack and school supply drive to benefit Chapel Hill Middle School students. Comcast will discuss its affordable Internet service for low-income families and families who attend Title I schools. DCVB will highlight its family reunion resources and services. Watson also will present donations from proceeds of his Father’s Day Golf Tournament to the Scottdale Child Development Center and the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. The school is at 3535 Dogwood Farm Road.
Blacks want dialogue on racial issues, whites disagree by wide margin RALLIES,
from page
A1
the Georgia State Capitol. Its message was that rallies and marches are not enough to prevent violence. “We must have public engagement, not just rallies,” said spokesman Al Bartell, a certified mediator in public policy management. Bartell said that round-table discussions, strategy meetings, training sessions, summits, and other measures are needed now to
Step up the pace.
This week’s polls also prevent future tragedies. document a wide gap be“Public engagement in America right tween blacks and whites now is the opportunity to build up the relaover what needs to be tionships between law enforcement and the discussed. community,” he said. A huge majority, 78 “That could look like police officers and percent, of blacks said the neighborhood leaders sitting side by side in case raises important isround-table community discussions to adsues about race that need dress what’s not working and what’s missing. Al Bartell to be discussed, but only They could bring that forward to their local, 28 percent of whites agreed. city and county governments.” Contrast that to 60 percent of whites saying race “is getting too much attention,” while only 13 percent of blacks share that view. The stark poll numbers came against
the backdrop of President Barack Obama’s deeply personal remarks on July 19. He said the black community knows there is a history of racial disparities in the application of criminal laws from the death penalty to enforcement of drug laws. “That ends up having an impact in terms of how people interpret the case,” Obama said. “In the African-American community, at least, there’s a lot of pain around what happened here. I think it’s important to recognize that the African-American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history that doesn’t go away.”
Debra DeBerry, Clerk of Superior Court, hosts
Community Appreciation Day Saturday, August 3, 2013 5:00 PM—10:00 PM
Be Fearless.
“Working for YOU!”
Online student
Lindsay Little
enrolled in an accounting class while studying abroad.
It’s not too late to enroll in fall classes at Georgia Perimeter College. GPC is accessible, offering five locations throughout metro Atlanta and online classes. GPC is affordable – you can pay less than $8,000 for an associate degree, and we’re fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. If you are a returning student or have already started your admission process, you can check your status at admissions.gpc.edu/mystatus. F OO D
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Browns Mill Aquatic Facility Crossroads News Ad.indd 1
7/24/13 10:24 AM
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CrossRoadsNews
July 27, 2013
Community
The SCLC says the restroom closures pose a hardship to the riders and potential public health issues.
SCLC wants MARTA restroom to open sooner By Ken Watts
The DeKalb SCLC resumed demonstrations against MARTA on July 24 to protest the transit agency’s continued closure of restrooms at most of its rail stations. The protesters carrying signs and chanting on bullhorns picketed the Decatur station during lunch hour Tuesday. The SCLC says the restroom closures pose a hardship to the riders and potential public health issues. The demonstrations follow talks between SCLC DeKalb Chapter President Nathan Knight and MARTA General Manager Keith Parker on July 22 about a timetable for reopening restroom facilities throughout the agency’s system. Knight said the two sides made some progress but not enough. “MARTA agreed to reopen the bathrooms in December,” Knight said. “We’re trying to get them to open all of them this fall, maybe by September. There’s nothing wrong with the restrooms. It’s a staffing issue.” Nathan Knight The transit system operates 38 rail stations with at least 76 restrooms that could be made available to the public and carries more than 227,000 train passengers daily. Knight said MARTA is supposed to have a police officer, an attendant and an agent on duty at each station but has cut back on staff because of budget constraints. MARTA closed its restrooms in rail stations to the public in September 2010 to help balance its $389.64 million operating budget in fiscal year 2011. The notice on the MARTA Web site said
MARTA is trying to work out a cost-effective way of making more restrooms available, a spokesman said. Most rail station restrooms were not originally intended for public use, he said.
Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews
“nine restrooms will be available to the public at transfer and end-of-line stations including Bankhead, College Park, Doraville, Edgewood/Candler Park, Five Points, Hamilton E. Holmes, Indian Creek, Lindbergh and North Springs. Restrooms at Five Points station will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The remaining eight restrooms will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.” At the time, it said it was forced to ax $132.8 million from the budget and cut 40 bus lines, including 11 in DeKalb. In the toughest move, the agency laid off more than 300 workers. At a May 4 community meeting in Decatur, Parker told residents the agency’s financial picture is beginning to brighten and the transit system is looking to improve the overall customer experience, including the reopening of restrooms that have been closed for years. In a statement to CrossRoadsNews this week, MARTA spokesman Lyle Harris said MARTA is trying to work out a cost-effective way of making more restrooms available. “Although the majority of MARTA’s rail station restrooms were not originally
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intended for public use, we plan to reopen some of these facilities as soon as possible for the comfort and convenience of our customers,” Harris said. “There are currently nine rail station restrooms that have always remained open. We invite community leaders and our customers to help us determine which additional restrooms should be reopened first. “Although no final decisions have been made, we’re looking for safe and cost-effective approaches to reopen some restrooms to ensure all of our facilities are always well-
maintained and as secure as possible. We will continue sharing information about our progress on this important issue for MARTA and its customers.” Knight says MARTA loses $2.9 million a year because of turnstile jumpers at the stations. “If they’d crack down on that, they’d have three-quarters of what they need to keep the restrooms open,” he said. At a demonstration on July 15 outside MARTA headquarters on Piedmont Road in Atlanta, state Sen. Vincent Fort said the closures pose a hardship on many riders who should be treated better. “The elderly, the very young, the infirmed need the bathrooms to be open. But beyond that it symbolizes MARTA’s attitude toward its customers and shows it doesn’t value its customers the way it ought to.” Fort said MARTA executives don’t have to suffer the inconvenience of having to search for a restroom and the senior citizens who pay their salaries ought to get the same consideration they have. The SCLC cited the hardship to riders and potential public health issues. The two sides hope to hold more talks in the coming week.
Supreme Court decision expected by fall SCHOOL BOARD,
from page
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accreditation probation in December 2012 over governance, financial and student performance issues. During their reinstatement hearings, the ousted members also criticized the December 2012 SACS report that precipitated their removal as “unsubstantiated” and based on statements from unidentified sources.
The ousted board members now await the results of a lawsuit – filed by Walker before the Georgia Supreme Court – challenging the constitutionality of the law used to suspend them. If the Supreme Court rules in Walker’s favor, all the suspended board members could get their elected jobs back regardless of what Wood decides. A high court ruling is expected by fall.
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Forum 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007
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July 27, 2013
“While the sort of racism that led to Emmett’s death still exists in society today, Americans in general have a much more nuanced, more textured attitude toward race than anything we’ve seen before.”
Prejudice has a different face in the Trayvon age Similarities in Emmett, Trayvon cases
after making the assumption that Trayvon’s black skin and choice of dress meant he was from the ghetto, and therefore up to no good; he was considered to be a threat. And that’s an important distinction.
By Elijah Anderson
Separated by a thousand miles, two state borders, and nearly six decades, two young African-American boys met tragic fates that seem remarkably similar today: Both walked into a small market to buy some candy. Both ended up dead. The first boy is Emmett Till, Elijah Anderson who was 14 in the summer of 1955 when he walked into a local grocery store in Money, Miss., to buy gum. He was later roused from bed, beaten brutally, and possibly shot by a group of white men who later dumped his body in a nearby river. They claimed he stepped out of his place by flirting with a young white woman, wife of the store’s owner. The second boy is Trayvon Martin, who was 17 when he walked into a 7-Eleven near a gated community in Sanford, Fla., to buy Skittles and an iced tea. He was later shot to death at close range by a mixed-race man, who claimed Trayvon had behaved suspiciously and seemed out of place. The deaths galvanized the nation, drew sympathy and disbelief across racial lines, and, through popular media, prompted a reexamination of race relations.
Very different racial tension In the aftermath of Trayvon’s death, a handful of reporters and columnists, and many members of the general public, made the obvious comparison: Trayvon Martin, it seemed, was the Emmett Till of our times. And while that comparison has some merit, these killings must also be understood as the result of very different strains of racial tension in America. The racism that led to Emmett’s death was embedded in a virulent ideology of white racial superiority born out of slavery and the Jim Crow codes, particularly in the Deep South. That sort of racism hinges on the idea that blacks are an inherently inferior race. The prejudice that led to Trayvon’s death is different. While it, too, was born of America’s painful legacy of slavery and segregation, and informed by old concepts of racial order, it reflects the urban iconography of today’s racial inequality, namely the ghetto, a uniquely urban American creation. Strikingly, this segregation of the black community coexists with an ongoing racial incorporation process that has produced the largest black middle class in history,
Emmett Till was 14 when he was killed in the summer of 1955. Trayvon Martin was 17 when he was shot to death by George Zimmerman.
and that reflects the extraordinary social progress this country has made since the 1960s. The civil rights movement paved the way for blacks and other people of color to access public and professional opportunities that would have been unimaginable in Emmett’s time. While the sort of racism that led to Emmett’s death still exists in society today, Americans in general have a much more nuanced, more textured attitude toward race than anything we’ve seen before. While middle-class blacks may be able to successfully overcome the negative presumptions of others, lower-class blacks may not. And many blacks who have never stepped foot in a ghetto must repeatedly prove themselves as non-ghetto, often operating in a provisional status (with something more to prove) in the workplace or, say, a fancy restaurant, until they can convince others – either by speaking “white” English or by demonstrating intelligence, poise, or manners – that they are to be trusted.
‘Iconic ghetto’ pervasive But this pervasive cultural association – black skin equals the ghetto – does not come out of the blue. Today, with persistent housing discrimination and the disappearance of manufacturing jobs, America’s ghettos face structural poverty. Crime and homicide rates within those communities are high, young black men are typically the ones killing one another, and ghetto culture – made iconic by artists like Tupac Shakur, 50 Cent, and the Notorious B.I.G. – is inextricably intertwined with blackness. As a result, in America’s collective imagination, the ghetto is a dangerous, scary part of the city. It’s where rap comes from, where drugs are sold, where hoodlums rule, and
where “The Wire” might have been filmed. Above all, to many white Americans the ghetto is where “the black people live.” Black people of all classes, including those born and raised far from the inner cities and those who’ve never been in a ghetto, are by virtue of skin color alone stigmatized by the place. I call this idea the “iconic ghetto,” and it has become a powerful source of stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination in our society, negatively defining the black person in public. In some ways, the iconic ghetto reflects the old version of racism that led to Emmett’s death. In Emmett’s day, a black person’s “place” was in the field, in the maid’s quarters, or in the back of the bus. If a black man was found “out of his place,” he could be punished, jailed, or lynched. In Trayvon’s day – in our day – a black person’s “place” is in the ghetto. If he is found “out of his place,” like in a fancy hotel lobby, on a golf course, or, say, in an upscale community, he may easily be mistaken, treated with suspicion, avoided, pulled over, frisked, arrested – or worse. Trayvon’s death is an example of how this more current type of racial stereotyping works. It seems fair to say that George Zimmerman, Trayvon’s killer, saw a young black man wearing a hoodie and assumed he was from the ghetto and “out of place” in the Retreat at Twin Lakes, Zimmerman’s gated community. Until recently, Twin Lakes was a relatively safe, largely middle-class neighborhood. But as a result of collapsing housing prices, it has been witnessing an influx of renters and a rash of burglaries. Some burglaries have been committed by black men. Zimmerman, who is of mixed race (Latino, black, and white descent), did not have a history of racism, and his family has claimed that he had previously volunteered handing out leaflets at black churches protesting the assault of a homeless black man. It appears unlikely that Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon simply because he hates black people. It seems that he put a gun in his pocket and followed Trayvon
Two types of blacks? The complex, racially charged drama that led to Trayvon’s death is indicative of our history and our rapid and uneven racial progress as a society. While there continue to be clear demarcations separating blacks and whites in social strata, major racial changes have been made for the better. It’s no longer uncommon to see black people in positions of power, privilege, and prestige, but we must also face the reality that poverty, unemployment, and incarceration still break down largely along racial lines. This situation fuels the iconic ghetto. As a result of this pervasive dichotomy – that there are “ghetto” and “non-ghetto” blacks – many middle-class blacks work to distance themselves from the popular association of their race with the ghetto by deliberately dressing well or by spurning hip-hop, rap, and ghetto styles of dress. But it’s also not that simple. Many middle-class black young people go out of their way in the other direction, claiming the ghetto by adopting its symbols, including styles of dress, patterns of speech, or choice of music. Thus, the iconic ghetto is, paradoxically, a stigma and a sign of authenticity for some blacks – a kind of double bind that beleaguers many middle-class black parents. Despite significant racial progress our society has made since Emmett’s childhood, from the civil rights movement to the re-election of President Barack Obama, the pervasive association of black people with the ghetto betrays a persistent cultural lag. It has only been two generations since schools were legally desegregated and five decades since blacks and whites in many parts of the country started drinking from the same water fountains. If Emmett were alive today, he’d remember when restaurants had “White Only” entrances and when stories of lynchings peppered The New York Times. He’d also remember the Freedom Riders, Martin Luther King Jr., and the Million Man March. He’d remember when his peers became generals and justices, and when a black man, just 20 years his junior, became president of the United States. As I am writing, he would have been 73 – had he lived. Elijah Anderson is the William K. Lanman Jr. Professor of Sociology at Yale University. His latest book is “The Cosmopolitan Canopy: Race and Civility in Everyday Life.” This article is sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and was originally published by the Washington Monthly Magazine.
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CrossRoadsNews
July 27, 2013
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Wellness
CrossRoadsNews
July 27, 2013
“Where you live in the United States shouldn’t determine how long and how healthy you live – but it does.”
Extended hours to shots and screenings at heath centers Kids are headed back to class on Aug. 5, and the DeKalb County Board of Health is offering back-to-school immunizations; vision, hearing and dental screenings; and extended hours to get them ready. Georgia law requires that children enrolling in a child care facility or public or private school are vaccinated and screened for hearing and dental issues. Parents must submit an up-to-date Georgia Immunization Form 3231 and a Georgia Screening Form 3300. Students entering a college or university should check the institution’s requirements. Extended hours are being offered Aug. 6-8 and Aug. 12-14 at the Clifton Springs and Central DeKalb health centers in Decatur, the East Central DeKalb Health Center in Lithonia, and the North DeKalb Health Center in Chamblee. No appointment is necessary. Services are available on a first come, first-served basis. To expedite the process for back-toschool services, parents should bring immunization records for each child and be prepared to pay by cash, debit/credit card or
able Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at: n Clifton Springs Health Center, 3110 Clifton Springs Road, Decatur; 404-244-2200. n Central DeKalb (T.O. Vinson) Health Center, 440 Winn Way, Decatur; 404-294-3762. n East DeKalb Health Center, 2277 S. Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road, Lithonia; 770484-2600. n North DeKalb Health Center, 3807 Clairmont Road, Chamblee; 770-454-1144. Birth certificates for children born in Georgia are available for $25 from the Board of Health’s Office of Vital Records, Room 191, Richardson Health Center, 445 Winn Way, Decatur. A Georgia driver’s license or other state identification card is required. Only a legal parent, grandparent or guardian can obtain a birth certificate for a child under 18. Payment for certificates can be made in Georgia law requires that children enrolling in a child care facility or public or private school are cash or by debit or credit card. Checks are vaccinated and screened for hearing and dental issues. not accepted. a check from a Georgia bank. Healthcare) and other insurance are accepted The Office of Vital Records is open weekMedicaid, Peachcare for Kids, State with proof of insurance. days from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. For more Health Benefits Plan (Cigna and United Early back-to-school services are avail- information, call 404-294-3783.
Study finds lower healthy life expectancy for aging blacks, Southerners African-Americans throughout the United States and Southern residents regardless of race have lower healthy life expectancy at age 65, a new report released by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Healthy life expectancy is a population health measure that estimates expected years of life in good health for people at a given age. In the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released on July 18, residents of Hawaii have the highest healthy life expectancy, 16.2 years, while residents of Mississippi have the lowest, 10.8 years. The CDC used 2007-2009 data from the
National Vital Statistics Systems, U.S. Census Bureau, and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to calculate healthy life expectancy by sex and race for adults age 65 in each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Over that time period, females had a greater HLE than males at age 65 years in every state and the District of Columbia. HLE was greater for whites than for blacks in all states for which sufficient data were available and the District of Columbia, except for a difference of one year that was observed in Nevada and New Mexico. In general, at age 65 years, HLEs within individual states varied up to three years by sex and up to eight years by race. HLEs for
all people aged 65 years varied between states by six years. Over the past century in the United States, a general decline in death rates has resulted in a corresponding increase in life expectancy. Because differences in HLE by demographics might result from variations in morbidity or mortality, examining HLE as a percentage of LE reveals populations that might be enduring illness or disability for more years. Although HLE measures do not identify the reasons for poor health or shorter lives, they provide a snapshot of the health status of a population. Many factors influence a person’s health status as they age, including: n Safe and healthy living environments. n Healthy behaviors, e.g., exercise and not smoking. n Getting the recommended clinical preventive services such as vaccines, cancer screenings, and blood pressure checks.
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Families can get moving for fun and fitness at a Wii Zumba class on July 30 at Redan-Trotti Library in Lithonia. Zumba is a Latin-inspired dance fitness program. The one-hour class, which begins at 2:30 p.m., is open to the first 48 participants ages 5 and over. The library is at 1569 Wellborn Road. For more information, call 770482-3821.
n Having access to good quality health care when it is needed. Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the CDC, said that geography shouldn’t impact healthy life expectancy. “Where you live in the Tom Frieden United States shouldn’t determine how long and how healthy you live – but it does, far more than it should,” he said. “Not only do people in certain states and African-Americans live shorter lives, they also live a greater proportion of their last years in poor health,” Frieden said. Moving forward, Frieden said it is important to support prevention programs that make it easier for people to be healthy no matter where they live. By race, HLE estimates for whites were lowest among Southern states. For blacks, HLE was comparatively low throughout the United States, except in Nevada and New Mexico. HLE was greater for females than for males in all states, with the difference ranging from 0.7 years in Louisiana to 3.1 years in North Dakota and South Dakota. HLE estimates can predict future health service needs, evaluate health programs, and identify trends and inequalities. Public health officials, health care providers, and policy-makers can use HLE to monitor and understand the health status of a population. For the full report, visit http://www.cdc .gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml /mm6228a1.htm?s_cid=mm6228a1_w.
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July 27, 2013
Wellness
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“if a person is thrashing and calling for help, they are in aquatic distress and need assistance.”
Spotting drowning person can be harder than you think Nearly 130 children 9 and younger died in Georgia from accidental drowning between 2007 and 2011, and experts say spotting a person drowning may be harder than you think. Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children in the United States and in Georgia. What does a drowning look like? Water safety experts say the Hollywood scenario of a drowning – a person thrashing about, waving and yelling while trying to stay afloat – can be inaccurate, although it is ingrained in most everyone’s minds. Dr. Julie Gilchrist, a medical epidemiologist in the division of injury prevention at the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says drowning happens quickly and quietly. “Once you’ve started slipping Julie Gilchrist underwater, calling out is the last thing you’ll be able to do,” said Gilchrist, who is also a pediatrician. Experts say the quietness is one of the scariest things about drowning. They say it is so undramatic that it can happen even as careful parents or guardians stand within an arm’s length of their children. Gilchrist said most drowning deaths can be prevented. “It takes just being aware of what a drowning really looks like,” said Gilchrist, who has responsibility at the CDC for research and programs in drowning prevention, water safety promotion, and sports and recreation-related injury prevention. Dr. Francesco Pia says that most drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help.
Drowning cues Additional signs that a person is drowning: n Head low in the water, mouth at water level. n Head tilted back with mouth open. n Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus, or eyes closed. n Hair over forehead or eyes. n Not using legs – vertical. n Hyperventilating or gasping. n Trying to swim in a particular direction, but not making headway. n Trying to roll over on the back. n Appears to be climbing an invisible ladder.
Research shows that formal swimming lessons can protect children as young as age 1. Swimming should be seen as more than just recreation, Dr. Julie Gilchrist of the CDC says.
“A drowning person’s mouth alternately sinks below and emerges above the water’s surface, making it impossible for them to inhale, call for help and then exhale,” he said. Drowning people also cannot wave for help, Pia wrote in a recent blog on slate. com, adding that nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface in an attempt to leverage their bodies to keep their mouth and nose out of the water. “In fact, they can’t voluntarily move their arms enough to reach out for rescue equipment or move toward a rescuer,” he said.
“From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response, people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick.” He says that unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs. Mario Vittone, a retired U.S. Coast Guard instructor and investigator, says that if a person is thrashing and calling for help, they are in aquatic distress and need assistance. To prevent drowning, the CDC recommends creating physical barriers to water
access, such as locked doors and fences. It also says that supervision and wearing a life jacket is also important, even if a person is a good swimmer. The CDC urges adults supervising children in the water to refrain from distractions like playing games, reading books, talking on the phone or drinking alcohol. Gilchrist said her biggest piece of advice for children and adults is to learn how to swim. Research shows that formal swimming lessons can protect children as young as age 1. She said swimming should be seen as more than just recreation. “It’s a lifesaving skill,” she said. “Even if your kids have passed their toddler ages, entered their teenage years or adulthood, it’s never too late to learn.” For more information, visit http://health .state.ga.us and the CDC at www.cdc.gov.
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“We want to be a source of encouragement and bring light, hope and comfort to people.” The Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children after Pitch launches an assault on Earth. “Rise of the Guardians” will be screened at the Decatur Library on July 31.
The Brighter Tomorrows Inspirational Choir celebrates its first anniversary on Aug. 2.
Concert to benefit Crisis Center The Brighter Tomorrows Inspirational Choir will be in concert on Aug. 2 to celebrate its first anniversary. The theme for the 6-to-8 p.m. concert is “Moving Forward.” It takes place in the Richardson Health Center’s Bohan Auditorium in Decatur. The choir of DeKalb Community Service Board employees came into existence last year when Lesa Hopkins, a nurse at the DeKalb Regional Crisis Center since 2001, and her co-workers formed the volunteer community choir. Hopkins says that music is universal.
“We want to be a source of encouragement and bring light, hope and comfort to people,” she said. Admission is $1 and proceeds benefit clients receiving mental health and substance abuse services at the DeKalb Regional Crisis Center. Attendees are asked to bring basic need items – new socks for men and women, undergarments, and plain T-shirts – to donate. The Richardson Health Center is at 445 Winn Way. For more information, visit www .dekcsb.org or e-mail info@dekcsb.org.
Free fun at Browns Mill Aquatic Facility
How-to workshop for aspiring artists
Kids and adults can frolic in the pool and scoot down water slides on Aug. 3 at the Browns Mill Aquatic Facility, compliments of DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry. The 5-to-10 p.m. event, which is free to attend, includes games, food and fun at the Debra DeBerry venue. DeBerry says it will give families a chance to cool off from the summer heat and unwind before the school bell rings again on Aug. 5. The Browns Mill Aquatic Facility is at 4929 Browns Mill Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 404-3712836.
Aspiring artists can get tips at a “Drawing Plants, Flowers and Other Natural Objects” workshop on Aug. 3 at the RedanTrotti Library in Lithonia. Athens artist and teacher Toni Carlucci will begin the workshop with a presentation of her own work, followed by a session in which participants get to practice drawing techniques that are fun to learn and can be continued at home. The class, which is part of Just My Imagination workshops co-sponsored by the Georgia Museum of Art and Turner Family Foundation, takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is open to the first 25 participants ages 18 and over. The library is at 1569 Wellborn Road. For more information or to register, call 770-482-3821.
‘Wreck-It Ralph’ at Sue Kellogg The PG-rated animated adventure comedy “Wreck-It Ralph” will be screened at Stone Mountain-Sue Kellogg Library on July 31 as part of the Wednesday at the Movies series. The 2012 movie, which runs 108 minutes, tells the story of Ralph, a video game villain who wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream by “game jumping.” His quest wreaks havoc on the whole arcade where he lives. It features the voice talent of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch and is directed by Rich Moore. Admission is limited to the first 45 participants ages 6 and over. Groups of five or more should call the branch for an appointment. The Sue Kellogg Library is at 952 Leon St.
in Stone Mountain. For more information, call 770-413-2020.
‘Rise of the Guardians’ “Rise of the Guardians,” also rated PG, will be screened 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Decatur Library on July 31. The 2012 animated adventure stars Alec Baldwin as North, Hugh Jackman as Bunny, Isla Fisher as Tooth and Chris Pine as Jack Frost. Jude Law plays Pitch. Peter Ramsey directs. The story is about the evil spirit Pitch, who launches an assault on Earth. The Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world. Screening is open to the first 164 participants ages 5 and over. The Decatur Library is at 215 Sycamore St. in downtown Decatur. For more information, call 404-370-3070.
Junior League seeks volunteers The Junior League of DeKalb is hosting a July 28 open house for prospective members at the Mary Gay House in downtown Decatur. Membership is open to women 21 years and older who are interested in community service. The informational session takes place 3 to 5 p.m. Participants will get to meet current members, ask questions and learn about the volunteering, educational and social op-
portunities provided by the nonprofit. The Junior League has been in DeKalb for 79 years. Past projects include the International Women’s House, DeKalb Rape Crisis Center, Holiday/Angel Tree Program and A Space of My Own. The Mary Gay House is at 716 W. Trinity Place. For more information visit www .jldekalb.org or contact Michele NeSmith at michne@yahoo.com or 404-992-8737.
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People
“I want to let kids know that this could be an avenue to compete at a high level and obtain college scholarship opportunities.”
Memorable summer for Dottie Bridges youth tennis team By Jessica Smith
For most grade schoolers, summer is the time for nonstop play and fun in the sun. But for nine pint-sized DeKalb athletes who finished strong in this year’s U.S. Tennis Association Atlanta Junior Team Tennis summer league, the season has been the time to hit the hard courts. The Georgia Thoroughbreds Youth Tennis Team members, made up of players from Meadowbrook Glen Tennis Club and Dottie Bridges Tennis Center, are champions in the 8-and-under division. Coach Lance Davenport said he is proud of the team’s accomplishments. “Since we started, they’ve made quantum
leaps,” he said. The team of 5- to 8-year-olds includes Logan Butts, Marlon Ethan Somersall, Myla Somersall, Aljah Williams, Isaiah McBean, Vanessa Alana Grant, Gavin Christian Shearer, Chase Kobina McIntosh and Mance Carroll Irvin. The Thoroughbreds topped the May 24-to-July 5 summer season with 287 individual wins. They had only one team loss, giving them a 5-7 overall standing. Their impressive record earned them a spot in the 8-and-under playoffs. After a hard fight at the July 12 tourney opener, the Thoroughbreds lost 4-0 to the Tournament Players Club at Sugarloaf in Duluth, winning a total of 28 individual games to TPC’s 54.
“We’re disappointed about not being able to advance to the city finals, but we’re excited about next season,” said Davenport, who said he is happy to expose more kids to tennis. He started working with younger kids after discovering that only five of the 33 kids on his 2010 team at Southwest DeKalb had any serious tennis experience. “I realized I needed to build a feeder system,” he said. “I want to let kids know that this could be an avenue for them to really compete at a high level and obtain college scholarship opportunities.” The Dottie Bridges Tennis Center is at 4522 Flat Shoals Parkway in Decatur. For information and to sign up for the fall league, The Georgia Thoroughbreds Youth Tennis Team visit www.dbtenniscenter.com/index.html. players are champs in 8-and-under division.
Author to discuss book at Decatur Library
Rotary district governor visits South DeKalb Blake McBurney, Rotary District 6900 governor, poses with members of the South DeKalb Rotary Club on July 24 after visiting the club. McBurney told the members that Rotary’s servant leadership makes communities better and that their years of service to the community count. The South DeKalb Rotary Club, which was chartered on May 16, 1971, includes members from government and the private sector.
mishap, paranoia, desperation, and Christopher Bundy, a foundself-discovery that leads to an illuing editor of the journal New minating showdown as he attempts South, will discuss his new novel, to right the wrongs of his past.” It is “Baby, You’re a Rich Man,” on illustrated by Max Currie. Aug. 5 at the Decatur Library. Bundy’s fiction and essays have The talk about the part comic appeared in Glimmer Train, Puerto book drama, part classic noir del Sol, Diagram, Ellery Queen’s takes place from 7:15 to 9 p.m. Mystery Magazine, and The Colat the library in downtown Decatur. Bundy will be joined onstage Christopher Bundy lagist. The Spartanburg, S.C., native teaches by fellow novelist Jamie Iredell. “Baby, You’re a Rich Man” tells the writing and literature at the Savannah Colstory of an expat variety star living in lege of Art & Design-Atlanta. The author talk is part of the Georgia Japan. After becoming the target of an escaped prisoner, Kent Richman, who just Center for the Book’s Festival of Writers happens to bear a resemblance to John series. The library is at 215 Sycamore St. For Lennon, goes into hiding at a Buddhist retreat where “he embarks on a journey of more information, call 404-370-3070.
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Reader Notice As a service to you – our valued readers – we offer the following information: This newspaper will never knowingly accept any advertisement that is illegal or considered fraudulent. If you have questions or doubts about any ads on these pages, we advise that before responding or sending money ahead of time, you check with the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Line and/or the Better Business Bureau. They may have records or documented complaints that will serve to caution you about doing business with those advertisers. Also be advised that some phone numbers published in these ads may require an extra charge. In all cases of questionable value, such as promises or guaranteed income from work-at-home programs, money to loan, etc., if it sounds too good to be true – it may in fact be exactly that. This newspaper cannot be held responsible for any negative consequences that occur as a result of you doing business with any advertisers. Thank you.
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July 27, 2013 10, 2013. Witness the Honorable Tangela M. Barrie Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 10th day of July, 2013. 7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3
Legal Notices in writing within sixty (60) days of, July 22, 2013. Witness the Honorable Clarence Seeliger Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 23rd day of July, 2013.
7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action # ++13CV7080-3++ Lonnel Gumble Plaintiff Vs. Mockeysha Diggs Dashan Herrings Defendant TO: Mockeysha Diggs Dashan Herrings By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated July 22, 2013, you are hereby notified that on June 25, 2013, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Legitimization. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is Lonnel Gumble, 2788 Waters Run, Decatur, GA 30035. Answer
7/20, 7/27, 8/3, 8/10
Notice of Petition to Change Name(s) of Minor Child(ren) in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: ++ 13CV7426-3++ Jasmine Johnson filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on July 8, 2013 to change the name(s) of the following minor child(ren): From Jahlil Cameron Davis to Cameron Marquis Johnson Jr. 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: July 8, 2013 Jasmine Johnson Petitioner, Pro se 2374 Cranbrooke Drive Decatur, GA 30032
Decatur, GA 30032 Debra DeBerry Clerk of Superior Court
7/20, 7/27, 8/3, 8/10
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action # ++13CV7026-2++ Myranda Morgan Plaintiff Vs. Malique Gamble Defendant TO: Myranda Morgan 3430 Broad River Road, Apt #1105
DeKalb County Sheriff
4415 Memorial Drive • Decatur, GA 30032
Sex Offender
Name: Shante Babb 3585 River Mill Court Ellenwood, GA 30294 Charge of Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree Convicted on 04/28/2008
Sex Offender
Name: Henry Cochran 507 W Howard Ave Decatur, GA 30030 Charge of Indecent Liberties with Child Convicted on 04/09/2011
Sex Offender
Name: Desmond Fanning 4815 Buford Hwy, Rm 319 Chamblee, GA 30341 Charge of Sexual Battery Against Child Under 16 YOA Convicted on 08/31/2010
Sex Offender
Name: Standor Roberson 201 Ladson Court Decatur, GA 30033 Charge of Aggravated Sexual Assault/3rd Degree Sexual Assault Convicted on 02/16/1990
Sex Offender
Name: Roy Thomas 4815 Buford Hwy, Room 252 Chamblee, GA 30341 Charge of Pandering Person under 18 YOA Convicted on 5/13/2013
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Name: Roderick Walker 3163 Walden Brook Drive Lithonia, GA 30038 Charge of Sodomy/ Sexual Abuse less 12 years Convicted on 10/24/2005
Place Your Legal Notice Here Sex Offender
Name: Dennis Cosmo 2050 Peachtree Industrial Court, Rm 133 Chamblee, GA 30341 Charge of Computer Pornography Convicted on 6/26/2013
Call 404-284-1888 for details.
Columbia, SC 29210 By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated July 10, 2013, you are hereby notified that on July 2, 2013, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Name Change for Minor Child. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is Myranda Morgan, 2561 Glenrock Dr, Decatur, GA 30032. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, July 10, 2013. Witness the Honorable Asha F. Jackson Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 12th day of July, 2013. 7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action # ++13CV4131-10++ Saberina Moody Plaintiff Vs. Jeremie Morgan Defendant TO: Jeremie A. Morgan 5405 8th Ave South St Petersburg, FL 33707 By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated July 2, 2013, you are hereby notified that on April 2, 2013, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is Saberina Moody, 3736 Windsor Circle, Clarkston, GA 30021. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, July 2, 2013. Witness the Honorable Tangela M. Barrie Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 9th day of July, 2013. 7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3
Notice of Petition to Change Name of Adult in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: ++ 13CV7411-3++ Jesse Harris filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on July 8, 2013 to change the name from: Jesse Harris to Jesse Robert Pinckney. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the petition was filed. Dated: July 8, 2013 Jesse Harris Petitioner, Pro se Jesse Harris 4371 Glenwood Road Decatur, GA 30032 404-633-2716
Debra DeBerry Clerk of Superior Court
7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action # ++13CV5532-10++ Kim A. Dunn Plaintiff Vs. Willie Dunn Defendant TO: Willie Dunn By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated June 14, 2013, you are hereby notified that on May 10, 2013, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is Kim A Dunn, 1303 Constitution Road SE, Atlanta, GA 30316. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, July
Notice of Petition to Change Name of Adult in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: ++ 13CV5705-10++ Teresa Kelia Clark filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on May 15, 2013 to change the name from: Teresa Kelia Clark to Kelia Teresa Clark. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the petition was filed. Dated: May 15, 2013 Teresa Kelia Clark Petitioner, Pro se 5126 Miller Woods rive Decatur, GA 30035 404-782-2965
Debra DeBerry Clerk of Superior Court
7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action # ++13CV6839-9++ Kem Johnson Seymour Plaintiff Vs. Larry James Seymour Defendant TO: Larry James Seymour By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated July 8, 2013, you are hereby notified that on June 27, 2013, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is Kem Johnson Seymour, 816 Deshon Creek Drive, Lithonia, GA 30058. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of July 8, 2013. Witness the Honorable Mark Anthony Scott Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 8th day of July, 2013. 7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3
Notice of Petition to Change Name(s) of Minor Child(ren) in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: ++ 13CV6798-2++ Sherita Dowdy filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on June 20, 2013 to change the name(s) of the following minor child(ren): From Chrisma Kelsey Dowdy to Kelshey Leshay Dowdy. 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: June 12, 2013 Sherita Dowdy Petitioner, Pro se 433 Derby Shine Dr Stone Mountain, GA 30088
Debra DeBerry Clerk of Superior Court
7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action # ++13CV6252-9++ Brandon Grant Plaintiff Vs. Latrice Jackson/Billy Williams Defendant TO: Latrice Jackson 2047 Corners Circle Lithonia, GA 30058 By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated June 25, 2013, you are hereby notified that on June 21, 2013, the above-named Plaintiff filed
suit against you for: Legitimization for minor children Brandon Jackson and Xyell Grant You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is Brandon Grant, 806 Montrose Pkwy, Norcross, GA 30092. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, June 25, 2013. Witness the Honorable Mark Anthony Scott Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 25th day of June, 2013. 7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action # ++12CV11120-2++ Victoria Hayes Plaintiff Vs. Elray Booker Defendant TO: Elray Booker 2149 Vineyard Walk Atlanta, GA 30316 By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated June 26, 2013, you are hereby notified that on October 1, 2012, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is Victoria Hayes, 5177 Winding Glen Drive, Lithonia, GA 30038. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, June 26, 2013. Witness the Honorable Asha F. Jackson Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 27th day of June, 2013. 7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action # ++12CV9613-3++ Lawrence Honore Plaintiff Vs. Laquita Williams Defendant TO: Laquita Williams By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated May 28, 2013, you are hereby notified that on August 14, 2012, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Modification of Child Custody. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is Elizabeth Ann Guerrant, 246 Sycamore St, Ste 120, Decatur, GA 30030. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, May 28, 2013. Witness the Honorable Clarence Seeliger Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 27th day of June, 2013. 7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action # ++13CV6592-3++ Shamika Haughton Plaintiff Vs. Donald Haughton Defendant TO: Donald Haughton 5311 Northwest 32nd St Hollywood, FL 33023 By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated June 25, 2013, you are hereby notified that on June 12, 2013, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Complaint for Divorce with no minor children. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is 121 Trace Terr, Stone Mountain, GA 30083. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, June 25, 2013. Witness the Honorable Clarence Seeliger Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 26th day of June, 2013.
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July 27, 2013
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July 27, 2013
Family & Back-to-School Expo August 3, 2013 July 27, 2013
www.crossroadsnews.com
Section B
Time to Head Back
Kids enjoy a segment of last year’s CrossRoadsNews Family & Back-to-School Expo. This year’s up-and-coming artists include indie rockers Hero the Band, the rapping SH’Boss Boys, “femcee” Chatejah George, singer-songwriter Rhaelon Monique, and the Conservatory of Dance plus the high-stepping Beulah Boys. A demo by Life Chef Asata Reid and a fashion show round out the action.
Expo offers resources to help parents, students get off to a good start By Jessica Smith
Oakhurst Medical Centers Inc. will be offering free back-to-school immunization on Aug. 3 during the expo at the Mall at Stonecrest.
Ready or not, the start of the new school year is upon us. On Aug. 5, students will be headed back to the classroom for the start of the 2013-2014 school year, and the annual CrossRoadsNews Family & Back-to-School Expo is offering families ideas and information to help their students have a successful school year. During the expo, which takes place from noon to 5 p.m., there will be lots of resources and information. Oakhurst Medical Centers Inc. is offering free back-to-school immunization, J.C. Penney and Sears will showcase their latest back-to-school fashions, and attendees 18 years and older have the chance to win one of three 30-minute shopping sprees at IKEA or a $250 Mall at Stonecrest Gift Card. Up-and-coming performers include Hero the Band, Atlanta’s “Next Big Hip-Hop Star” Chatejah George, guitarist and crooner Rhaelon Monique, the SH’Boss Boys, and the Conservatory of Dance. The high-stepping Beulah Boys will strut their stuff. Life Chef Asata Reid will demonstrate
Parents and caregivers can get information from familyfriendly exhibitors that include private schools, government offices, and nonprofits serving families.
just how easy it is to prepare healthy backto-school snacks that are tasty and good for growing kids. Family-friendly exhibitors include private schools, a college, medical centers, government offices, and nonprofits serving families. DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston, who has partnered with CrossRoadsNews to host the expo for the second year, will speak to parents about resources to help their kids
achieve perfect attendance. She also will encourage kids to sign pledges that they will attend school every day that it is in session. Inside this special section is more information on the singers and dancers who will showcase their talents on the Main Stage near Sears on the mall’s lower level. The Mall at Stonecrest is at I-20 and Turner Hill Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 404-284-1888.
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July 27, 2013
Winners will get to load up as many things as they can carry from the store on Aug. 10.
2013 Family & Back-to-School Expo
Aug. 3, 2013 • The Mall at Stonecrest Lower Level • Main Stage in front of Sears
“East Metro Atlanta’s Weekly Newspaper” 2346 Candler Road Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com
The 2013 Family & Back-toSchool Expo Special Section is a publication of CrossRoadsNews Inc.
Noon
Hero the Band
12:30 p.m.
DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston
1 p.m.
Back-to-School Fashion Show by J.C. Penney & Sears
1:45 p.m.
Rhaelon Monique
2 p.m.
Life Chef Asata Reid
2:30 p.m.
Chatejah “Taj” George
2:45 p.m.
Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker
Reporters Jennifer Ffrench Parker Jessica Smith Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Sales Jeanette Ross © 2013 CrossRoadsNews, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without written permission of the publisher.
Circulation Audit by
Jayquan Cortez Poole
3 p.m.
SH’Boss Boys
3:30 p.m.
Beulah Boys
4 p.m.
Conservatory of Dance
4:30 p.m.
Grand prize drawings for IKEA Family Giveaways and $250 Mall at Stonecrest Gift Card
Graphics Editor Curtis Parker
The Conservatory of Dance (above) and the crowd-pleasing Beulah Boys (far left) are among performers at the noon-to-5 p.m. expo. The Back-to-School Fashion Show will feature merchandise from Sears and J.C. Penney.
Three 30-minute IKEA shopping sprees up for grabs Students headed to college, young people looking to furnish their first apartments, and families looking for back-to-school items and home furnishings have three chances of winning a 30-minute shopping spree at IKEA Atlanta during CrossRoadsNews’ Aug. 3 Family & Backto-School Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. The Atlanta store will be giving away three “30-minute IKEA Family shopping sprees” as grand prizes to expo-goers during the annual event at the Lithonia mall. IKEA Family, a store loyalty program, offers customers the inside track on special store events, discounts, freebies, and store catalogs. Winners will get to load up as many things as they can carry from the store on Aug. 10. Deidra Cunningham, IKEA Atlanta’s marketing and public relations manager, says they also will get to bring a helper, 18 years or older, with them for the shopping sprees. The Atlantic Station store is at 441 16th St. N.W. in Atlanta. The entry forms will be available during
the Family & Back-to-School Expo at both the IKEA and the CrossRoadsNews tables near the Main Stage in front of Sears on the mall’s lower level. The drawing takes place at 4:30 p.m. and you have to be present to win.
IKEA FAMILY Shopping Spree Enter To Win An IKEA FAMILY Shopping Spree. Three lucky people will be awarded a
30-minute shopping spree at IKEA in Atlantic Station on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 5 p.m. Drawing will take place at 4:30 p.m. at the CrossRoadsNews BACK-TO-SCHOOL EXPO, Aug. 3, 2013 at the Mall at Stonecrest. No purchase necessary, must be 18 to participate. To be eligible to win, participants must complete a free IKEA FAMILY application. Participants must be present to win or other names will be drawn. Participant must show up at IKEA and sign required IKEA Rules and waivers on Saturday Aug. 10 by 4 p.m. to participate in the shopping spree. Winner will be allowed to have an assistant that is also 18 or older that agrees and signs IKEA Rules and waivers. IKEA reserves the right to cancel or reschedule this shopping spree to fit the needs of the business and substitute winning prize if deemed necessary. This offer is only valid at IKEA US East LLC, Store #257 located at 441 16th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30363.
2013 Family & Back-to-School Expo Entry Form Visit at least 14 of these exhibitors at the Mall at Stonecrest on Aug. 3 and enter to win a $250 Mall at Stonecrest Gift Card.
_____ AAA Auto South
_____ Oakhurst Medical
_____ Big Thinkers Science Exploration
_____ Organic Root Stimulator
_____ Community Resource Solutions
_____ Rainbow Push Coalition
_____ CrossRoadsNews
_____ Sherry Boston, DeKalb County Solicitor General’s Office
_____ Debra DeBerry, DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court
_____ St. Timothy School
_____ DeKalb County Board of Health
_____ STAND Inc.
_____ DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office
_____ Stonecrest Pediatric & Adult Medicine
_____ Georgia Perimeter College/Gateway
_____ TGI Fridays at Stonecrest
_____ Get Off N Drive
_____ The Academy of the Scholars
_____ New Beginnings Today, Community Counseling Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________City _______________________________________ St: ______ ZIP: ___________ Home phone: _________________________________________________ Cell phone: ___________________________________________________ E-mail ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Your completion of this entry form entitles us to publish your photo if you are the winner and to send you news updates, special offers and information about upcoming events. CrossRoadsNews respects your privacy and will not share your information with anyone.
*Exhibitors must write their validation code on your entry form. Your name, address and a telephone number are required to win. Employees and immediate family members of CrossRoadsNews and the Mall at Stonecrest are not eligible for awards. Must be 18 years or older to win. Must be present at the drawing to win.
July 27, 2013
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DeKalb County has a diversion program called the Attendance Review Team to help parents keep truant kids in school, Solicitor General Sherry Boston says.
Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Let’s keep our kids in school
By Sherry Boston DeKalb County Solicitor General
We often talk about what’s wrong with our educational system. I hear a lot of discussion about our schools, our teachers and our test scores, but what is truly the most important part of a child’s education rarely seems to come up in our conversa- Sherry Boston tions – our own involvement in education as parents. One of my key goals as your solicitor general is to make sure all kids get the best start possible. As the mom of two young girls myself, I know how hard it is to get them up early and ready for school, pack their lunches, help with homework and take them to activities. It’s no easy job for anyone and can be especially challenging for those who are single parents. However, before we can blame anyone else for what our kids are not learning or for the crime problems in our neighborhoods, we have to take a look at ourselves. My office receives about 700 cases of educational neglect each year from the DeKalb County School System where children have more than five unexcused absences in one school year. Some of these kids have missed more than 40 days of school in just six months. These children are likely to fall far behind their peers and have a difficult time succeeding in the future. Because Georgia law requires all kids ages 6 to 16 to be in school, my office has to bring their parents to court to face fines, up to 30 days in jail, or community service. But we don’t want to send people to jail.
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What we want to do is change attitudes about education. That’s why we have a diversion program called the Attendance Review Team where these parents sign a contract that their kids won’t have any more unexcused absences and that they will meet monthly with a teacher, counselor or social worker. We want to get their kids back in school and make these parents realize that education could make all the difference in the world for their children’s future. Quite simply, a lack of education often means a life of crime. Truancy is the No. 1 predictor of criminal activity for boys and the No. 2 predictor of criminal activity for girls. And about 90 percent of DeKalb County’s inmates are high school dropouts. If we can keep more kids in school, we’re likely to have much safer communities. Education also means limitless opportunities. New statistics show us that high school graduates make an average of $630,000 more than dropouts do over the course of their lives. Since children often have trouble seeing the big picture, it’s up to us as parents to constantly remind them that they will have a better future if they stay in school. As this school year begins, I hope you will join me in spreading a positive attitude with your kids about education and what it could mean for their future. I hope you will encourage perfect attendance and reward them for being in school every day. If you’re not a parent, I hope you will watch out for the children in your neighborhood, and let us know if you notice kids at home when you believe they should be in school. It takes all of us working together to create a better future, to prevent crime and to give our kids the opportunities they deserve. Sherry Boston has been DeKalb County Solicitor General since January 2011.
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“I’m so excited to start my career. When they called my name, I just didn’t know what to do.”
Metro teen fashions hip-hop career By Jessica Smith
Atlanta urban entertainment and production company Hoodstarzz Network. A year ago, Chatejah “Taj” George was “They liked me, but they asked me if I could just a typical high school student. sing or rap and what my other talents were,” Today, she is on the fast track with a she said. $10,000 cash prize and a recording conLater that week, her mother, Tegi Johntract with Epic records. son, took her to the studio and she re“I’m so excited to start my career,” corded her first song, “Bad Girls.” said Taj, who beat out 20 semifinal“The rapping just took off ists and 500-plus contestants nafrom there,” she said. “This career tionwide on June 16 for the top was totally unexpected.” prize in the Streetz 94.5 Next Since then, Taj has performed Hip-Hop Star contest to become at open mic nights and at schools one of hip-hop’s newest leading and she has competed in hip-hop femcees. showcases around the city. “When they called my name, In March 2013, she won the three-day I just didn’t know what to do.” she Battle Hottlanta, taking home a total of said. $10,000 worth of cash and entertainment Chatejah, 15, hails from Jonesindustry services. boro. Her stage name is Taj, proO n Ju l y 2 2 , s h e r e l e a s e d nounced like “age” with a T. her first mixtape, “Most HatIn the competition, she held ed Teen,” on www.iamtherealtaj her own against men and women .com. twice her age, dominating the stage with She currently is working with her singles “Talk” and “Crank That Get songwriter Andre Boykins on a single Out.” to submit to Epic to get her record deal But Taj is no overnight sensation. in motion. She has been taking piano lessons for 11 He has written for the R&B artist years and she also plays the clarinet and bass R. Kelly. clarinet in Lovejoy High School’s marching “Although I’m a hip-hop artist, I band. like pop and R&B,” Taj said. “I want On Aug. 3, she will display all her talents my music to reflect that.” at the CrossRoadsNews 2013 Family & BackHer song “Talk” speaks to bullying, to-School Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. which Taj knows well from being a Taj will be on the Main Stage near Sears at victim. 2:30 p.m. “I thought it would be helpful for Before she nabbed the Next Hip-Hop Star me to campaign against it because I prize money and recording contract, the rising Lovejoy High rising 11th- can relate to the kids,” she said. 11th-grader’s sights were set on the fashion grader Taj won top prize in “I’m also a teen myself so I know the Streetz 94.5 Next Hiprunway. how it feels to be in the situation.” In June 2012, her mother’s friend Slim Hop Star contest. To sample her music, visit www. helped her score an interview for a modeling gig with iamtherealtaj.com.
Jayquan Cortez Poole will sing at the 2013 Family & Back-to-School at 2:45 p.m.
Aspiring artist has big talent Jayquan Cortez Poole lives to perform. Rap is his passion and he longs for the day when he lands his first recording contract. But for now, the 15 year-old is a student at Mundy Mill High School in Jonesboro. He performs very opportunity he gets at talent shows and open mic nights. On Aug. 3, he will performing his “million $ Swagger,” at 2:45 at the CrossRoadsNews 2013 Family & Back-to -School Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. Concert promoter Cedric Meridith, who have seen him pefrom at the recent Atlanta Groove 20/20 Teen Music Conference on Wesley Chapel Road says he has real talent. “He is making his way up this industry totem poll and I look forward to Jayquan accomplishing great things,” Meredith said Thursday. To hear him sing, visit http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=dmR9-pp4iDs.
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I wish everyone a safe and productive school year. Remember bullying is prohibited so if you feel you are being bullied please notify an adult!
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CrossRoadsNews
July 27, 2013
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to School SWD alumni making waves and name as Hero the Band “It catches people off guard when you see four black guys playing rock music with instruments onstage.”
By Jessica Smith
Psychedelic colors, pendulous dreadlocks, searing guitars, ripped jeans and bare chests are the “uniform” of the four brothers making up Hero the Band, but it is the music that keeps fans coming back. The Decatur-bred indie rock group is taking Atlanta’s live music circuit by storm, thanks to its unique addition to the city’s music scene. Members are brothers, and black. Bass guitarist Jerramy Barnett, 22, says they surprise many. “It catches people off guard when you see four black guys playing rock music with instruments onstage,” he said. On Aug. 3, the band will bring the house down at the CrossRoadsNews 2013 Family & Back-to-School Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia. The band will open the expo at noon on the Main Stage near Sears before heading down the road for a 4 p.m. concert in Carrollton. The brothers began their band life as the R&B group Inseparable while students at Southwest DeKalb High School in 2008. But soon after, Jerramy and his brothers – 23-year-old Justin, 21-year-old DJ, and 20-year-old Nick – traded in their soulful sound for something a bit edgier. Jerramy says the genre speaks for itself. “It’s real music,” he said, “something that we can live by every day.” Making the switch from R&B crooners to rock band was a cinch since the boys were already experts at several instruments. At ages 5, 4, 3 and 2, they were attending choir practice with their parents, and by 1995, their entire family was lighting up the
From left, brothers and Indie Rockers, Justin Jerramy, DJ and Nick Barnett will open the 2013 Family & Backto-School Expo at noon on Aug. 3 at the Mall at Stonecrest.
choir at Lynwood Park United Church of God in Christ, just north of Brookhaven. The church was founded in 1959 by their greatgrandfather, the late Marshall Carter. Jerramy said that both sides of their family are musically inclined. “They play instruments, sing, everything,” he said. “And they all went to the same church. So we grew up around that. It’s instilled in our blood.” By age 7, Jerramy was playing drums in the church band. Nick took up piano at age 8 alongside brother DJ who, by 13, had taken over as church drummer. In 2011, Jerramy taught himself bass and big brother Justin learned guitar to complete Hero the Band. All the brothers can now play each of the
group’s instruments. They grew up on Disney movies and the soundtracks for “The Lion King,” “The Mighty Ducks” and “D2.” “We would sing the soundtracks around the house and in the car,” Jerramy said. “When we grew up, we finally realized that these were great rock ’n’ roll artists.” The brothers are not just musicians – they are all strong vocalists. DJ says they have four-part harmonies in most of their choruses and songs. ”That’s another thing that really drives people to come to shows and just love our music,” he said, “the sound quality.” On July 6, the group released its first EP, “GoldN Hearts,” on iTunes, Cdbaby.com and Herotheband.com.
Furthering your education takes courage.
Its deep bass lines and blend of melodies speak of the ups and downs of love. “When we’re all born into this world, we’re all innocent,” Nick says, “but it’s the things you go through throughout your life that kind of mold you into who you come out to be at the end of the day.” The band has performed at classic altrock venue the Masquerade, at Philips Arena leading the national anthem for the Atlanta Hawks, and on June 29, it opened for funk rock band Mother’s Finest in Sylvania, Ga. DJ says that when they perform, audiences expect them to do rap or reggae. “When the show is over, they love us,” he said. For more information, visit Herothe band.com.
Noah Jackson
Age 18 GPC Student Gateway to College Academy
Be Fearless. Unhappy in high school? Trying to catch up? Considering dropping out? Earn your high school diploma and college credit at the same time! For information, call 678-891-3223 or visit gpc.edu/gateway. Students must be age 16-20, in grades 10-12 and eligible to attend a DeKalb County school.
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CrossRoadsNews
July 27, 2013
Put healthy choices at kids’ eye level, instead of on high shelves or in closed bins.
Healthy snacks to banish after-school ‘Hungries’ By Chef Asata Reid
Hearty Turkey Tacos
Parents can precook and season the taco filling so older kids can heat and serve themselves a hearty after-school meal.
1 tablespoon olive oil 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 pound ground turkey breast 1 small onion, diced 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon dried oregano ¾ cup prepared salsa salt and pepper to taste 10 taco shells or soft tortillas Taco fixings: shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, salsa, sliced olives, sour cream, jalapenos, cheese, etc.
Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a large skillet. Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir in the ground turkey, beans, garlic and seasonings and continue cooking, stirring occasionally until all the turkey has browned and is cooked through. Stir in the salsa and season with salt and pepper if desired. Cool completely and store in an airtight container. To serve, heat desired amount of taco filling in a microwave or small pan. Retrieve the taco fixings, and when the meat is heated thoroughly, divide it among the taco shells or tortillas and top with your favorite fixings.
of packing a second lunch bag with a mini-meal for your after-school athlete. Be inspired by the My Plate diagram (www.ChooseMy Plate.gov) and select healthy food choices from the major food categories: vegetables, fruits, protein and whole grains. Don’t forget a source of calcium, and you’ve got a snack that packs a big punch!
Whether your kids are involved in after-school programs or heading home to hit the books, one thing all kids have in common is a major case of “the Hungries” when they get out of school. After-school snacks are often a pitfall in an otherwise healthy diet, as kids are sometimes left to their own devices. When faced with a vending machine of sugary treats versus healthy mini-meals, kids will often choose the former. However, with a few simple steps, parents and caregivers can help empower them to make healthy choices.
Prep for success Parents can chop and even precook items like ground meats and sliced veggies so that kids can make hearty meals when they get home from school. Taking a few minutes to prepare the taco filling and arranging toppings in resealable Rearrange the fridge containers will allow older kids Put healthy choices at kids’ to heat their meat and beans in eye level, instead of on high the microwave and assemble shelves or in closed bins. YoD.I.Y. tacos themselves. Other gurt, fruit, lean meats, nuts and pre-planned meals include seeds, vegetable sticks with lowpasta dishes and casseroles, calorie dips, hummus and nut soups and chili, veggie pizzas butters all make great snack seand salads. lections. Sunbutter sandwiches Life Chef Asata Reid will made with 100 percent fruit demonstrate healthy afterjelly on whole-wheat bread Parents and caregivers can help empower kids to make healthy choices school snacks during the Aug. when they are left to their own devices, Life Chef Asata Reid says. make an easy and fast snack. 3, 2013, Family and Back-toSchool Expo at 2 p.m. from on Leave it at the store ing to argue about. the Main Stage near Sears. If you don’t want your kids to eat someJoin her in the delicious, life-affirming thing, or you don’t want to argue about how Make mini-meals revolution to cook with joy, dine with pleasure much of a certain junk food they are eating, One hundred-calorie snack packs are and celebrate life! just don’t bring it home. It eliminates the typically carbohydrate bombs lacking in proFor classes and recipes, visit www.lifechef. battle over snacks and worry over portion tein and other nutrients. Instead of tossing a net and www.youtube.com/chefasata. Follow control. If it’s not in the house, there’s noth- bag of chips or cookies into a backpack, think Twitter/ChefAsata and Facebook/LifeChef. COPYRIGHT © 2013 The Academy of Scholars All RIGHTS RESERVED.
AcademyofScholars.com | 5096 Panola Industrial Blvd., Decatur, GA 30035 | 678.632.6001 • Affordable Tuition - Our dedicated corporate sponsors are providing students funding to cover 75% of the costs for this incredible learning opportunity. Because of their generosity, the remaining 25% cost per student is only $3,000 per school year. • Safe – Modern, newly renovated and well-equipped facility that enhances the learning experience and a sense of pride for students, parents, and the entire community. The Academy of Scholars is opening Fall 2013. We are accepting applications for students age 4 through grade 5. We have high expectations for our students and in return, this is what you can expect from us:
Academic Excellence! Affordable Tuition!
I will: 1. Take my child to school 2. Meet my child's teacher 3. Exchange phone numbers with my child's teacher 4. Turn off the TV three hours a night so my child may study 5. Pick up my child's report card each grading period 6. Take my child to church, temple or synagogue 7. Fight for equal adequate funding for public education
• Effective – Small class sizes taught by state-certified teachers. We have developed a challenging curriculum that motivates students to find their respective passions. We use best-in-class technology to prepare our children for the future. Our technology center provides a computer or tablet for every student.
Urge 50 Thousand Parents To Take The Pledge
July 27, 2013
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“I just started playing and getting better and better at it, and I started to love it.” Music runs in the family of 15-yearold singersongwriter Rhaelon Monique Donald, a rising junior at Shiloh High.
Musician blends the blues By Jessica Smith
Rhaelon Monique Donald has the blues. Musically, that is. The 15-year-old Roswell musician found her passion when her parents, Rhonda Collins and Leon Donald, gave her a guitar for Christmas when she was 8 years old. “I just started playing and getting better and better at it,” she said. “And I started to love it.” Rhaelon also plays the keyboard and the drums, and she will showcase her musical skills at the CrossRoadsNews Family & Back-to-School Expo on Aug. 3 at the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia.
Rhaelon will be on the Main Stage near Sears at 1:45 p.m. She said music runs in her family. Her uncle Darryl Williams, who plays the keyboard, is on tour in South America playing in a backup band. Her mother is a vocalist. The rising junior at Snellville’s Shiloh High also writes songs and sings. “Some of my favorite artists are India Arie, Musiq, Brandy, Prince, Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliott and Timbaland,” she said. “I think my sound is a blend of all those.” For her Stonecrest stint, Rhaelon says she will perform her original song “City Lights” in a medley of other R&B tunes. To hear her music, visit http://youtu.be /OvwqEi6NvRw.
Get Ready for Childcare, Pre-K or Head Start * Vision, hearing and dental screenings * Immunizations * Birth certificates
The DeKalb County Board of Health offers Friendly, affordable health services at: Clifton Springs Health Center 3110 Clifton Springs Road Decatur, GA 30034 (404) 244-2200 Dental (404) 244-4410
North DeKalb Health Center 3807 Clairmont Road Chamblee, GA 30341 (770) 454-1144 Dental (770) 454-1144 ext 4341
East DeKalb Health Center 2277 S. Stn. Mountain-Lithonia Rd. Lithonia, GA 30058 (770) 484-2600 Dental (770) 484-2623
T.O. Vinson Health Center 440 Winn Way Decatur, GA 30030 (404) 294-3762 Dental (404) 508-7890
Vital Records (Birth certificates) Eleanor Richardson Health Center 445 Winn Way Decatur, GA 30030 (404) 294-3783
www.dekalbhealth.net
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Young rappers love limelight By Jessica Smith
Child rappers SH’Boss Boys will heat up the stage at the CrossRoadsNews Family and Back- toSchool Expo on Aug. 3. The trio of Javan Jr., 8, aka Captain SH’Boss and Young J; Tobias, 10, aka Senior SH’Boss; and newcomer Javan, 11, aka Junior SH’Boss and Ty, will perform on the Main Stage near Macy’s at 3 p.m. The group is no stranger to the expo, having performed there on July 28, 2012. They first catapulted into the spotlight in 2011 with a rap about getting good grades on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” The SH’Boss Boys, who rapped about getting good grades on In 2012, their front- “America’s Got Talent” in 2011, still deliver a positive message. man and youngest lyricist, Joshua or Lil’ Josh, left to have more time to to try to get into a good college and get a play. The boys didn’t let that deter them. Now good education.” older and wiser, they’re still making music Right now, Tobias, who wants to be a docand delivering a positive message. tor, is enjoying the attention, too – especially “We really try to be role models in every of the female variety. single way,” said Young J. “You know, I’m a ladies man,” he said He, Tobias and Javan have performed July 19. “So I love the girls’ attention and more than 150 times at festivals, birthday all that.” parties and talent shows since 2010. Last At the expo, they will show their moves December, China Central Television invited to a mash-up of original SH’Boss Boys tunes them on a 10-day, all-expense-paid trip to like “Kid Swag” and hits from artists like Kriss Beijing to perform on the Children’s Inter- Kross and New Edition. national New Year’s TV special. “We try to bring back the old school Most of all, they are having fun. flavor to the new school,” Young J says. “We “I like the fans screaming and calling my call it ‘nold’ school.” name,” said Young J, who wants to be a judge To hear their latest music, visit www when he grows up. “But of course I’m going .shbossboys.com.
DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Committed to Our Youth Wishing you a successful school year and a prosperous future
Sheriff Thomas Brown
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CrossRoadsNews
July 27, 2013
Encouraging Perfect School Attendance to Build a Better Future { smart
prosecution for a better quality of life }
my goal is to: ➤ keep our community safe ➤ improve our quality of life ➤ keep our kids in school and out of trouble ➤ protect the vulnerable solicitor-General boston wants to help kids stay in school to ensure a brighter future for dekalb’s youngest citizens. our office works hard with families and school administrators to provide support and resolve attendance issues before they rise to the level of prosecution of parents and guardians.
Sherry Boston dekalb county solicitor-general
404.371.2201 www.dekalbsolicitorgeneral.org