CrossRoadsNews, June 13, 2009 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

SCENE

SPORTS

YOUTH

“America I AM: The African American Imprint,” featuring nearly 500 years of contributions to U.S. history, opened this week at the Atlanta Civic Center. 11

Cedar Grove’s Kyland FreemanClark was nearly unstoppable for three seasons as the school’s No. 1 tennis player, but given the choice, he’ll take basketball. 12

Falcons defensive end Chauncey Davis poses with campers after he spoke at an anti-bullying rally at Browns Mill Recreation Center. 13

History on display

Dual passion for nets

June 13, 2009

Xpress Expansion Possible

No bullies here

www.crossroadsnews.com

Volume 15, Number 6

“A tax increase is not a proposal that the Board of Commissioners is willing to take now or in the immediate future.” Larry Johnson

“I think they didn’t understand my position. I did not go in there asking them to raise the millage rate.” Burrell Ellis

CEO, commissioners feuding over budget By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

McKenzie Jackson / CrossRoadsNews

Conyers commuters depart from a GRTA Xpress bus on Wednesday at the park-and-ride lot at the Church in the Now on Iris Drive. In less than two years, they could have a dedicated lot somewhere on Salem Road near I-20.

Conyers riders may get new park-and-ride lot By McKenzie Jackson

East Metro transit commuters could be boarding express buses from a new $5.5 million park-andride lot on Salem Road in Conyers in the next year or so. The new accommodation is part of a $145 million expansion project being pondered by the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) for its Xpress service. GRTA spokesman William Mecke said Wednesday that if approved, the new Conyers park and ride could open for use between fall 2010 and spring 2011. “We are going to add a route at Salem Road fiscal year 2011,” he said. “They plan on building a park-and-ride with 650 spaces and adding a downtown and midtown route.” Mecke said GRTA has not yet identified a location for the park-and-ride lot. “There is some land available,” he said. “Whether we purchase anything is going to depend on market conditions.”

“Building a new lot will depend on ridership and the demand,” he said. “We just want to see what’s best for the system and the taxpayer’s dollar.” William Mecke, GRTA spokesman

Xpress Route 425 riders now park on the campus of Church in the Now on Iris Drive. The new lot would replace that parking area. Mecke said the bulk – $105 million – of GRTA’s proposed $145 expansion is earmarked for the construction of park and rides. The remaining $40 million will be spend on new buses. GRTA plans to increase the number of coaches to 219 from 112. The authority also proposes increasing the total number of Xpress routes to 47 from 28 to improve service on existing routes. The Xpress bus expansion is being driven by the I-85 North

Congestion Reduction Project, which is geared towards increasing the size of HOV lanes. Route 425 travels Interstate 20 from Conyers to Five Points in downtown Atlanta, and the Civic Center in Midtown. Mecke said ridership has increased on the route, even though they have noticed a downtick because of the economic downtown. “We are not near where we were last fall when gas was $4,” he said. “With unemployment the way it is we have smaller number of people commuting.” Last week, GRTA held two community meetings in Atlanta to discuss the expansion project. More public hearings are planned this summer and fall. Mecke said GRTA will examine plans for the Salem Road project carefully. “Building a new lot will depend on ridership and the demand,” he said. “We just want to see what’s best for the system and the taxpayer’s dollar.”

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis and the Board of Commissioners are sparring over how to keep the budget balanced and county employees working. This week, both sides sent out dueling statements in the wake of Tuesday’s Budget, Finance and Audit Committee meeting. Commissioner Connie Stokes, the budget committee’s chairwoman, headlined her statement “Commissioner says no to CEO’s proposed tax increase.” It came first on Wednesday. “The Commission was caught completely off guard at Tuesday’s Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee meeting when CEO Burrell Ellis attended to discuss the status of the Development Department,” she said. “His proposal would retain 40-45 employees in the Development Department by increasing taxes by $2.7 million with an additional $1 million going to the development fund.” Later that day, Ellis sent his own statement headlined “CEO Ellis proposes to trim 2009 budget by an additional $7.2 million.” “To keep the Development Department operating at a minimal level, CEO Ellis has proposed specific recommendations to address the downturn in economic activity and its impact on the County’s Development Department: a loan of $1.5 million and an additional subsidy of $1 million from the County’s General Fund, employee furloughs one day per pay period and a 54 percent reduction in force,” his statement said. But Stokes and Larry Johnson, the board’s presiding officer, say Ellis is trying to raise taxes. On Thursday, Johnson sent a statement saying he “would like

to personally endorse” Stokes’ position. “A tax increase is not a proposal that the Board of Commissioners is willing to take now or in the immediate future,” Johnson said. “The only course of action available to the Board of Commissioners was to request that the CEO provide an alternate proposal of cutting costs and reducing expenses to help balance the budget in the face of this economic downturn.”

Permit fees decline Ellis said Thursday he was baffled at how the two came away from his presentation with that impression. “I think they didn’t understand my position,” he said. “I did not go in there asking them to raise the millage rate.” Ellis said the county’s building permit fees have decreased dramatically, from $9.7 million in 2007 to $8.3 million last year. For this year, they are projecting a 46 percent reduction in permitting fees from 2008. On June 5, the Development Department was set to lay off 88 of its 107 employees, leaving it with a workforce of 19, when Ellis asked department leaders to hold off. Ellis said cuts at that level would decimate the department and make it more difficult for the county to handle permitting when the economy starts rebounding. “If we are not able to respond, builders will go to other counties like Gwinnett that can,” he said. Instead, Ellis wants $2.5 million to keep the department at 43 to 45 employees. He said the $1.5 million transfer from the General Fund to the Please see BUDGET, page 5

Community

CrossRoadsNews

June 13, 2009

“There are a lot of challenges facing our neighborhoods – the need for better schools, more good jobs with good benefits and more affordable health care.”

Lawyer to seek Shipp’s old seat

Bolton’s tenure examined during hearing on his firing

Attorney Asha Jackson has thrown her hat into the ring for the race for the House District 58 seat vacated by state Rep. Robinn Shipp. Jackson, a partner with the Atlanta law firm Carlock, Copeland & Stair LLP, announced her canAsha Jackson didacy on May 27. There will be a special election in November to replace Shipp, who resigned April 21 because of a conflict with her new job as senior district attorney with the Fulton County district attorney’s office. Jackson, who lives in East Atlanta, said she is extremely excited about running. “There are a lot of challenges facing our neighborhoods – the need for better schools, more good jobs with good benefits and more affordable health care,” she said. “ I know together we can make Fulton and DeKalb counties even better places to live, work and raise our families.” She is the second person to announce for the seat. Michael McPherson, a campaign consultant and former state Senate chief of staff, announced May 7 that he will seek the seat. The victor will finish the year left on Shipp’s term and seek re-election in 2010. District 58 includes portions of DeKalb County and the city of Atlanta. Shipp was halfway through her second term when she resigned.

Fired DeKalb Police Chief Terrell Bolton got his day before an administrative hearing officer this week. Bolton, who was fired by DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis on Feb. 24 for insubordination and misuse of county property and comp time, is appealing his dismissal from the $145,000 position. He was hired by former CEO Vernon Jones and had been on the job for two years. Jones, who testified on Bolton’s behalf Thursday, defended everything Bolton

By McKenzie Jackson

did and said he had total confidence in him. Bolton has also filed suit with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claiming that he was fired because he has diabetes. His two-day hearing on June 10 and 11 before the Merit Board turned into three days and was expected to conclude on Friday. Hearing officer Phyllis Williams has 20 days from the end of the hearing to hand down her decision. Bolton, who was police chief in Dallas for four years, McKenzie Jackson / CrossRoadsNews was fired from that job in Au- Terrell Bolton rests his head in his hand after the hearing into his firing on Thursday. gust 2003.

CrossRoadsNews lands national award for election coverage CrossRoadsNews’ coverage of the 2008 election came out tops in the Suburban Newspapers of America’s 2008 Editorial Contest. The weekly newspaper’s July 10, 2008 Election Guide, which offered voters a comprehensive look at the candidates and local issues in the election, won first place for Best Local Election Coverage for newspapers with circulation of 22,501 to 37,000. The newspaper’s Vote ’08 coverage included in-depth profiles of the five candidates who sought the DeKalb CEO office, as well as stories on the candidates seeing seats on the bench, the DeKalb Board of Commission, and the Georgia House. The paper also wrote about the referedum on the ballot and provided voters with information

to help them make informed decisions at the polls. Jennifer Parker, editor and publisher of CrossRoadsNews, said it was gratifying to win the award. “Our staff works hard every year to prepare our readers to vote intelligently,” Jennifer Parker she said. “It just shows that even small newspapers like ours can do good work and keep our readers informed about the issues affecting them.” SNA is a trade association with more than 2,000 community newspapers with combined circulation of more than 22 million across the U.S. and Canada.

CrossRoadsNews’ coverage of the 2008 Primary Election season won first place in the Suburban Newspapers of America’s annual Editorial Contest.

CrossRoadsNews

June 13, 2009

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Forum

June 13, 2009

For years we’ve listened to residents outside Atlanta, Fulton and DeKalb make their case as to why they don’t want MARTA in their community.

Radio bill corrects longstanding inequity for performers 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 McKenzie Jackson Advertising Sales Cynthia Blackshear

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 CrossRoadsN ews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.

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Unfortunately, folks have been misled this past month on some Atlanta stations that claim I want to “tax” and “murder” Black radio. Do not believe the hype – these ads are absurd and here’s why. AM and FM radio stations don’t pay artists or musicians when their music is played over the air – not a single dime, not for a single song. That’s because there’s a loophole in U.S. Copyright law that allows radio stations – which make $16 billion a year in advertising revenue – to use artists’ property without paying them. Satellite, cable and Internet companies pay royalties to artists, so why is AM and FM exempt? Is that fair? I’ve spent my career fighting for fairness and have long championed the rights of the underrepresented. I believe it’s crucial that we preserve, protect and enhance Black radio, and all radio and media for that matter. But contrary to what you’re being told, this bill – which is not law – will not shut down Black stations, nor would it destroy Black radio. Instead, it would help artists of all stripes, who for years have been denied their just compensation.

Contrary to what you’re being told, this bill – which is not law – will not shut down Black stations, nor would it destroy Black radio. Hank Johnson, 4th District

Sure radio promotes artists, but should that shield them from paying for a product they profit from? The N.F.L. benefits from having its games broadcast on TV – pushing fans to attend games and buy merchandise – but stations pay billions for those broadcast rights. How is this different? H.R. 848 would establish equity for recording artists – paying fair compensation for their creativity, while mitigating its economic impact. The PRA would require radio stations to pay royalties to artists, but the issue is being manipulated by corporate interests. They’re telling you this bill would “murder Black radio,” but I and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus made sure it accommodates small, minorityowned radio stations. Stations with less than $1.25

million in annual revenues – which is 75 percent of all stations nationwide – would pay just $500 a year for all the music they play. Smaller stations would pay $100 a year and public radio, college radio, and nonprofit religious radio stations would pay less or nothing. There is also consideration of the recession and no payment will be required from stations that make less than $5 million annually for three years. The ads would have you believe they cannot afford to pay performers, but when radio executives who make millions in bonuses tell you we are taxing or killing Black radio, take a closer look. This isn’t about radio or Congress – it’s about fairness – fairness to the artists whose music is played for free. The United States is among only a handful of nations – including China, North Korea and Iran

– that do not pay royalties to performers. AM and FM stations do pay a fee to the writers of the songs, but not the performers. All other nations pay royalties to both the writer and performer of music. Contrary to what they’d have you believe, this bill would not send money to foreign “fat-cat” record labels, but the PRA guarantees royalties are divided evenly between artists and copyright owners – including minority-owned and small record labels. Recording artists have tried to buy airtime on these stations to tell their side but have been refused. Ask yourself why? If we’re trying to “kill” Black radio then why does the NAACP, the A. Phillip Randolph Institute, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the AFL-CIO and the Communication Workers of America, among many others, support of this bill? This is a simple issue of fairness. Congressman Hank Johnson represents the 4th District. He will hold a town hall meeting on the issue at 1 p.m. on June 22 at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in Decatur.

Attitude shift toward MARTA could alleviate need for cuts I’ve been following this whole issue with MARTA, and we are witnessing yet another example of the separatist attitudes that keep us from becoming the community at large that we need to be. I’ve watched the expansion of Atlanta since the 1970s and have seen the area grow from a two-lane highway on I-75 to having the busiest airport in the nation. I was here at the inception of rapid transit and remember taking a pre-inaugural ride. Having ridden other systems I think we have a good thing going. Rapid rail got us through the gas shortage and has been a vehicle that has helped the metro area rise to the ranks of a commuter city. For years we’ve listened to resi-

dents outside Atlanta, Fulton and DeKalb, make their case as to why they don’t want MARTA in their community. They spew the same old rhetoric about crime, which of course is ridiculous. Do they really think criminals are going to catch the bus after burglarizing their homes? It’s sad to say, but there’s no such thing as being completely safe. In the late ’90s, a coworker asked me if downtown Atlanta was safe. I told her, “You can’t ask me that question because my idea of safe is different from yours.” For years, the perception was that dreadful things could happen to you if you ventured downtown. Well, a short 10 years later, where

Quick Read

Bolton testifies at hearing into his firing

Fired DeKalb Police Chief Terrell Bolton got his day before an administrative hearing officer this week.

Yancey’s children to get insurance money

Linda Yancey’s two children – and not the husband accused of shooting her to death – are getting her $40,000 insurance policy.

has all that alleged crime gone? This whole correlation between mass transit and crime is reminiscent of the’50s when developers, wanting to sell their brand spanking new tract homes in the suburbs, led people to believe that certain groups moving into your neighborhood would diminish your property values. Now, their younger, more progressive prodigy have realized that what they were told was erroneous at best, and they have become weary spending two hours on Georgia 400 and I-85. Inhabitants of nearby communities continue to say “no” to MARTA but have no problem driving to the nearest station and taking a daily ride. It would be nice if the transit

Two indicted in fraud case

system could figure a way to add a surcharge onto fares outside the supporting counties, but then those who don’t utilize the train would have to pay. Understanding that it may not be viable to dismantle an existing county system, it would seem that uniting one with the other would be a bit more costeffective. This is regrettably, an all-too-bitter pill for those of us who continue to bear the bulk of the financial weight. Maybe we should ask New York City transit and the Long Island Railroad how they’ve managed to co-exist. Deborah Robinson lives in Decatur.

6 Exhibit details AfricanTwo Decatur residents have been indicted American contributions

for bilking thousands of dollars from FEMA intended for Hurricane Katrina victims.

Gardening project among Healthy Belvedere grants

Gaelle Addison and her fiancé Garrick Wilson have a love for organic food. They enjoy healthy greens, carrots, lettuce and other fruits and vegetables.

“America I AM: The African American Imprint” showcasing nearly 500 years of African-American contributions to U.S. history is on display through Sept. 6.

Tennis standout still prefers hoops 12 He might possibly have DeKalb County’s best forehand in tennis, but Kyland FreemanClark likes his three-point shot better.

Workshop focuses on injury 10 Football pro tackles bullying 6 prevention Teens and adults can get information on during summer camp visit 13 Fourth District Congressman Hank John-

Bill seeks to protect small business contracts

Circulation Audited By

son is going after big businesses that take federal contracts intended for small businesses.

minimizing their risks for injuries at a June 27 injury workshop sponsored by a coalition of local organizations.

Atlanta Falcon Chauncey Davis is used to tackling opposing ball carriers, but on June 5 he tackled the subject of bullying.

index to advertisers 1.2.3 Discount Fabrics...................................... 6 Atlanta Gastroenterology..................................8 Attorney Dwight Thomas..................................5 Chick-fil-A /Turner Hill Road............................ 6 CRAM Academy.............................................. 15 2009 Adoption & Family Expo .......................11

DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau..............2 DeKalb Co. Schools/Parent Resource Ctr........ 13 Douglas J. Flanigan Law Firm......................... 15 Ella’s Caring Hands Adult Day Care................ 15 Grady Health Systems...................................... 9 Havertys Furniture Co.......................................3

Housing Authority of DeKalb County...............11 Integrity Home Repair Service........................ 15 Intelligent Faith Ministries.................................5 MARTA..............................................................7 Newburn Reynolds Photography.................... 15

Padgett Business Services................................ 6 Steps to a Healthier DeKalb............................10 The Gallery at South DeKalb........................... 16 The Law Office of B.A. Thomas...................... 15 Wright Vision Care............................................8

Community

“MARTA is currently conducting an in-depth analysis to determine the best way to implement a concessions program for the authority,”

Yancey’s children to get insurance money By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Linda Yancey’s two children – and not the husband accused of shooting her to death – are getting her $40,000 insurance policy. DeKalb Superior Court Judge Gregory Adams awarded the money from their mother’s accidental death policy with AFLAC to Karron and Cameron Yancey on June 5. Linda Yancey was married 17 years to former DeKalb Deputy Sheriff Derrick Yancey, 50, who is accused of shooting her to death on June 9, 2008, in their Southland subdivision home in Stone Mountain. Derrick Yancey, who is also accused of killing day laborer Marcial Cax Puluc at the same time, has been a fugitive since April 4, when he tampered with his ankle monitor and fled his mother’s Jonesboro home where he was under house arrest. The accused double-murderer, who was awaiting trial for the murders of his wife and Puluc when he fled, got a huge head start on authorities because the private monitoring company did not notify them until 11 hours after they had lost his signal.

Linda Yancey

Gregory Adams

Yancey initially told investigators that he killed Puluc after the day laborer shot his wife in a robbery attempt at their home. Investigators said forensic evidence indicated that Yancey killed both of them. Last week, DeKalb Sheriff Thomas Brown, who launched a nationwide manhunt for Yancey the day after his disappearance, said Yancey left Atlanta on a Los Angeles-bound Greyhound bus and could be in California or Mexico. At the June 4 press conference, Brown unveiled video clips from bus station surveillance cameras showing Yancey buying a bus ticket at the downtown Atlanta Greyhound station and standing in line to board a bus. Since the crime, Yancey, who

used to be clean-shaven, had altered his appearance by growing a mustache and beard and growing long hair. The Yancey children sued Yancey for the wrongful death of their mother and to prevent their father, who was the policy’s benefactor, from benefiting from the mother’s death. Adams also awarded them attorney’s fees and costs in the amount of $1,581. Yancey did not respond to the lawsuit despite repeated attempts from the court and Adams ruled that his conduct “constitutes just such conscious and intentional failure to act.” Adams awarded the money that was previously deposited to the court by AFLAC to Karron Yancey and to Sandra Hannon, as conservator of Cameron Yancey, a minor. Hannon is also the temporary administrator of Linda Yancey’s estate. Yancey left town with $18,000 from his DeKalb County pension, which he requested in a lump sum payment. There is a $10,000 reward for Yancey’s capture. He was last spotted in Phoenix, Ariz.

Ellis: Shift from General Fund would be loan BUDGET,

from page

department’s special revenue fund would be a loan that would be paid back when permitting fees starting rolling in again. The Development Department is the only county department that must fund its payroll from the fees it generates, due to a settlement of a 2000 lawsuit filed by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. At their June 4 retreat, attended by Ellis, the commissioners proposed mid-year adjustments of 16.97 mils, up from the current millage rate of 16.07 mils. Stokes said Wednesday that she is strongly opposed to Ellis’ last minute request to the committee. “I am disappointed that the Board of Commissioners was not briefed before the information was presented to the committee,” Stokes said. “In facing such financial challenges, the Board and the administration need to work more collab-

oratively towards a solution.” She said they have to explore all options and make necessary cuts to balance the budget. “In these tough economic times, we cannot be too quick to raise taxes,” she said. Mike Bell, the county’s finance director, said that nothing in the settlement prohibits the county from shifting the $1.5 million from the General Fund to the Development Department’s special revenue fund. He said another $1.1 million can be generated from one unpaid holiday for the county’s 7,400 employees. Bell said the cost to property owners would be small. “The owner of a $200,000 home would pay $4 to $7 more in county taxes,” he said. That would be on top of the $200 to $300 that the state passed back to property owners this year by not funding homestead exemptions.

Jailer charged with indecency DeKalb jailer Jarman Steib, 23, lost his job and was arrested May 26 on charges of public indecency and violation of oath of office. The charges stemmed from an alleged incident that took place three days earlier at the Jarman Steib DeKalb jail on Memorial Drive in Decatur. Preliminary investigation by DeKalb Police and the Sheriff ’s Office of Professional Standards found that Steib visited an inmate in his cell on May 23. The inmate, who was not identified, claimed that Steib sexually assaulted him. Steib denies the claim. He told investigators that he has known the prisoner since high school and that he also visited him

CrossRoadsNews

June 13, 2009

when he was incarcerated in the Gwinnett County jail. Preliminary interviews indicated that each allegedly exposed himself during the visit. Steib, who had been employed with the sheriff ’s office since Sept. 2007, resigned his job immediately after being questioned by investigators. The inmate entered the DeKalb jail in March 2007 charged with three counts of armed robbery, one count of burglary, two counts of possession of a weapon during commission of a crime and attempted murder or threatening of a witness in official proceedings. Steib was released from jail June 2 on a $6,000 bond. DeKalb police are continuing the investigation and the Office of Professional Standards is conducting an administrative investigation.

Ellis says he is merely trying to fix a problem so that the department doesn’t shut down. “At the end of the day, we still have to let 23 people go,” he said. He said Stokes was not prebriefed about his proposal because the budget committee is the place to make proposals. “Is it last minute? I was working on it up to the last minute,” he said. The Board of Commissioners will vote on the mid-year budget changes on June 23. Mary Swint contributed to this report.

New law allows food, drink in MARTA transit stations By Mary Swint

Starting July 1, MARTA commuters will be able to munch away in rail stations. The new eating and drinking rules comes with a new state law that Gov. Sonny Perdue signed on May 5. Senate Bill 89, sponsored by state Sen. Gloria Butler of Stone Mountain, legalizes the consumption of food Gloria Butler and beverages in the state’s rapid rail stations and intermodal bus stations, but each transit system has the discretion on implementing it. Eating and drinking are still prohibited on MARTA’s trains and buses, and open container laws continue to prohibit alcohol consumption on MARTA property. MARTA spokeswoman Cara Hodgson said the Atlanta transit system is embracing the new law. “MARTA is in the process of revising its policy, which will be implemented on July 1 when the new law takes effect,” she said last week. The transit authority – which is facing a $24 million budget shortfall in its 2010 operating budget because of the slow

economy and reduced sales tax revenues – lobbied for the “selfhelp legislation.” Hodgson said it gives MARTA the opportunity to raise additional revenue by offering concession services in its rail facilities. “MARTA is currently conducting an in-depth analysis to determine the best way to implement a concessions program for the authority,” she said. “Since the program is still in the very early stages of development, it will not have a financial impact on the FY 2010 budget.” When the Georgia Legislature passed the bill in late March, MARTA was expecting an 8 percent decrease in sales tax revenues and a $1.2 billion decline in sales tax revenues over the next decade. Its proposed 2010 budget will also go into effect July 1, 2009. Public hearings into the budget will be held June 16 and 17 in DeKalb and Fulton counties. MARTA is proposing service reductions, and increases in fares and parking fees to help make up the shortfall in the budget. The DeKalb hearing will be June 17 at the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive in downtown Decatur. It starts at 7 p.m. with a community exchange beginning at 6 p.m.

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CrossRoadsNews

Finance

“Small businesses create more than 97 percent of all net new jobs, and this bill will do more to help firms than any stimulus plan proposed so far.”

Bill seeks to protect small business contracts Fourth District Congressman Hank Johnson is going after big businesses that take federal contracts intended for small businesses. On May 21, Jo h n s on introduced H.R. 2568 – the Fairness and Transparency Hank Johnson in Contracting Act of 2009 – to ensure that small business government contracts go to small businesses instead of subsidiaries of large companies. The bipartisan legislation comes in the wake of 15 investigations that exposed widespread abuse in federal small business contracting programs. The Small Business Administration’s inspector general discovered that in 2002, at least 4.4 percent of 1,000 contractors awarded federal funds meant for small businesses were corporations that did not meet basic requirements to receive the contracts.

Johnson said it is unconscionable that some large corporations are the beneficiaries of small business contracts. “Especially given how many small businesses are struggling in this recession,” said Johnson, whose district includes portions of DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties. “H.R. 2568 will go a long way in helping correct this egregious error.” The inspector general’s investigation revealed that Bechtel, a large construction company, and computer giant Hewlett Packard were awarded small business contracts by government agencies, and that the funds were counted toward the agencies’ small business contracting goals. If successful, Johnson’s bill will modify the definition of a small business by including an additional requirement that no publicly traded company can qualify as a small business in relation to these contracts. The bill will also allow a person to file a complaint if they have

evidence that a small business contract was improperly awarded and require the SBA to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the nature of the complaints and the resolution. Lloyd Chapman, president of the American Small Business League, said every small business in America owes Johnson a debt of gratitude for introducing H.R. 2568. “Small businesses create more than 97 percent of all net new jobs, and this bill will do more to help firms than any stimulus plan proposed so far,” Chapman said. “It will create millions of new jobs and provide a dramatic boost to the middle class.” Leonardo McClarty, DeKalb Chamber of Commerce president, said small businesses need as much support as they can get in today’s economy. “Hopefully this bill would close loopholes and make it more equitable so small businesses can compete, grow and succeed in the marketplace,” he said.

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(770) 593-9849

3636 Panola Road • Lithonia, GA 30038 (Across from the Salem Crossing Shopping Center)

Two indicted in fraud case Two Decatur residents have been indicted for bilking thousands of dollars from FEMA intended for Hurricane Katrina victims. Kristine Clark, 37, and Michael Rouzan, 24, were indicted June 3 by a federal grand jury on felony charges for illegally taking the money. U.S. Attorney David Nahmias said Clark and Rouzan received more than $32,000 for personal property damage, housing and rental assistance and reimbursements for stays in various hotels in Decatur between September 2005 and May 2006, and again from March 2008 to August 2008. Clark and Rouzan also allegedly received a FEMA travel trailer in Hammond, La., where they lived from May 2006 to March 2008. The two are charged with four counts of mail fraud, one count of false statements and four counts of theft of government funds. The indictment includes a forfeiture provision seeking full repayment of the funds. The mail fraud counts each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The false statements count carries a maximum of five years and the theft of government funds counts each carry a maximum of 10 years in prison. Clark and Rouzan were among four people indicted by a federal

grand jury for fraudulently receiving FEMA funds. Lucien Danthon, 43, of Atlanta and Markisha Burks, 26 of Dallas, Texas were also indicted. Nahmias said the indictments serve as a reminder that the Justice Department remains vigilant in prosecuting criminals who seek to enrich themselves by stealing disaster assistance funds intended for the victims of natural disasters. “These defendants allegedly took thousands of dollars intended to benefit real victims of Hurricane Katrina,” he said. “Anyone who would consider embarking on a similar fraud should know that we will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute these cases.” Nahmias said that Clark and Rouzan allegedly filed a Hurricane Katrina claim in September 2005 at a disaster center in DeKalb, claiming that they had been residing in New Orleans, La. at the time Hurricane Katrina made landfall. In actuality Rouzan had been living in Pasadena, Calif., and Rouzan was living in the Atlanta area when the hurricane hit. At the center, both provided a Louisiana address where they did not live and falsely claimed that their personal property had been damaged by the storm. They two are scheduled to appear before United States Magistrate Judge Alan J. Baverman.

Gala pays tribute to landlords Real estate expert and national talk show host John Adams will be the featured speaker at the June 27 Landlord Appreciation Dinner and Awards Gala at the Marriott Century Center in Atlanta. The black-tie gala, sponsored by the DeKalb Housing Authority, will be 8 p.m. to midnight. Adams, considered by many to be Atlanta’s most trusted voice in real estate, will give tips on investment strategies and being a successful landlord. The festivities will highlight

“The Positive Side of Section 8,” with dinner, exhibit booths, networking, and an awards ceremony honoring landlords who have made outstanding achievements working with the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher. Tickets are $50 per person. Exhibit booths and ad spaces are still available. The Marriott Century Center is at 2000 Century Blvd. N.E. in Atlanta.To pre-register, visit www. dekalbhousing.org or call Olivia Burrell 404-270-2508.

New coupon site to launch Soon East Metro shoppers will have a new resource where they can clip and print money-saving coupons and other special offers. CrossRoadsNews will soon provide the coupons on its website, through a partnership with LocalPoint Media, a national consortium of community newspapers, and Valassis Inc., a leading media and marketing services company. “We are thrilled to be able to

offer our readers this opportunity to save money in these tough economic times,” said Jennifer Parker, editor and publisher of CrossRoadsNews. Local advertisers will also be able to post coupons and advertising on the site. Parker said the national program launches on July 1, but CrossRoadsNews’ coupon page could be up as early as next week. For more information, call 404-284-1888.

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404-286-7783 678-371-3939 Business Hours: Mon. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. 279 Candler Road • Atlanta, GA 30317 (In front of Saint Philip AME)

CrossRoadsNews

June 13, 2009

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority will hold Public Hearings for the purpose of considering:

Proposed Fiscal Year 2010 Operating and Capital Funds Budget, Proposed Service Modifications for 8/15/09, and Proposed Fare & Parking Changes for 10/1/09. Tuesday, June 16 55 Trinity Avenue, Atlanta, 30303

Wednesday, June 17

7741 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, 30350

DOWNTOWN ATLANTA Atlanta City Hall

NORTH FULTON Service Center

7:00 p.m.

5600 Stonewall Tell Road, College Park, 30349

SOUTH FULTON Service Center

7:00 p.m.

1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, 30030

DEKALB Maloof Auditorium 7:00 p.m.

Community Exchange 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Riding MARTA: Bus routes 21, 49, 55, 97 from Five Points Station. Special Bus Shuttle will be provided from Five Points Station.

Riding MARTA: Bus route 87 from Dunwoody or North Springs Rail Stations.

Riding MARTA: Bus route 180 from College Park Rail Station.

Riding MARTA: Walk one block west of Decatur Station.

PROPOSED RAIL SERVICE CHANGES Rail Service changes include frequency modifications and the hours of service operation. Adjustments to rail service include frequency modifications of up to five (5) minutes and the last trains will depart the end of each line at approximately 12:00 a.m. (Midnight) with a scheduled connection at Five Points Station at approximately 12:35 a.m. PROPOSED BUS SERVICE CHANGES FOR THESE ROUTES 3 7 8 11 13 16 17 18

Martin Luther King Jr. Drive McAfee Road North Druid Hills Road English Avenue/ Atlanta University Center Fair Street Noble Hank Aaron Drive/ Grady Hospital South Decatur

19 22 24 28 30 33 34 50 53 59

60 Hightower/Moores Mill 66 Lynhurst/Barge Road Park & Ride 70 Chamblee 77 Willingham Drive/Hapeville 82 Camp Creek/Barge Road Park & Ride 86 Fairington Road/Lithonia 93 Norman Berry Drive/ Forrest Hill Drive 114 Columbia Drive

Clairmont Road Second Avenue Belvedere Village of East Lake Lavista Road Briarcliff Road Gresham Road Bankhead Grove Park Bankhead Courts

119 Avondale Estates/ N. Hairston Road 122 GA Perimeter College 124 Doraville/Tucker 126 Northlake/Chamblee 137 Collier Road 139 Lenox/Plaza Fiesta 148 Medical Center/ Powers Ferry Landing 151 Perimeter Center/Chamblee

Adjustment of bus service hours will be consistent with changes in rail service hours.

183 Barge Road/Lakewood

**23 Peachtree Road/

Buckhead **182 Headland Drive/ Barge Road Park & Ride **245 Kensington/ Emory Blue Flyer **273 Fulton Industrial Blue Flyer

Proposed Route Eliminations

MARTA MOBILITY

The proposed service plan will result in marginal impacts as related to the early termination of Bus and Rail service. PROPOSED FARE CHANGES Fare Description

Current Proposed

Breeze Card fee (includes 2 trips) . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.00 Breeze Ticket fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50¢ Children’s Fare (46” & under, max. of four) . . . . . free Cash Fare (paid at bus farebox, no transfer) . . . . . . $1.75 Single Trip (stored on Breeze Card or Breeze Ticket) . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.75 Round Trip (stored on one Breeze Card or Breeze Ticket) . . . . . . . $ 3.50 Ten (10) Trips (10 single trips on one Card or Ticket) . . . . . . . . . . . . $17.50 Twenty (20) Trips (20 single trips on one Card or Ticket) . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 30.00

5.00 50¢ free $ 2.00

2.00

4.00

20.00

34.00

Fare Description

Current Proposed

$ 1-Day Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 8.00 8.00 $ $ 9.00 2-Day Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.00 $ $ 12.00 3-Day Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.00 $ $ 13.00 4-Day Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.00 $ $ 15.00†† 7-Day Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.00 $ $ 60.00†† 30-Day Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.50 90¢†† Half-fare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85¢ $ 3.60†† Mobility service (each way) . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.50 $ 61.20 Discounted Mobility service (20 single trips) n/a Discounted Mobility service (30-day pass) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $105.00 $108.00 ††

†† Phased increases over the next two (2) fiscal years.

Fare Description Current Proposed Mobility on regular MARTA bus or rail . . . no charge no charge

Student Pass (Wkly for K-12 in DeKalb & Fulton) . $10.00 U-Pass (Monthly for college students) . . . . . . . . . . . $40.00 U-Pass (Monthly for college staff) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $49.50 Volume Discounts for Partnership Groups

11.50 45.50 $ 56.50 $

Employers; Transportation Management Associations; Govt. Sponsored Work/ Training Programs; Commercial/Residential Property/Building Management Providers. Calendar Pass. Current Current Proposed Proposed

0 – 999 1,000 – 1,999 2,000 – 2,999 3,000 – 5,999 6,000+

0% 2% 3% 4% 5%

0 – 49 50 – 149 150 – 1,999 2,000 – 2,999 3,000 – 5,999 TMA & 6,000+

0% 3% 5% 7% 8% 10%

PROPOSED PARKING FEE CHANGES LONG-TERM: Current $4.00 Designated long-term at Brookhaven/Oglethorpe, Kensington, and Lenox deck. Charged at entry.

Proposed $5.00

LONG-TERM: Current $4.00 Designated long-term at Dunwoody and Sandy Springs, including the first day and any part days.

Proposed $5.00

LONG-TERM: Current $7.00 Designated long-term at College Park. Charged at entry.

Proposed $ 8.00

LONG-TERM: Current $7.00 Designated long-term at Lindbergh, Doraville and North Springs, including the first day and any part days.

Proposed $ 8.00

FREE DAILY PARKING:

No change.

Copies of the proposed budget, Aug. 15 bus & rail service modifications, and Oct. 1 proposed fare & parking changes will be available for public inspection before each hearing. Copies of the proposed budget and bus & rail service modifications will also be available at MARTA’s Office of External Affairs, 2424 Piedmont Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30324 during regular business hours, Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Sat 9:00 a.m. – 12 Noon, and on the website www.itsmarta.com. Patrons may request information in accessible format by calling MARTA’s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity at (404) 848-5240. For those patrons requiring further accommodations, information can be obtained by calling the Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 404 848-5665. In addition, a sign language interpreter will be available at all hearings. If you cannot attend the hearings and want to provide comments you may: (1) leave a message at (404) 848-5299; (2) write to MARTA’s Office of External Affairs, 2424 Piedmont Road, N.E, Atlanta, Georgia 30324-3330; (3) complete an online Comment

Card at www.itsmarta.com; (4) or fax your comments no later than June 18, 2009 to (404) 848-4179. All citizens of the City of Atlanta and the Counties of Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton and Gwinnett whose interests are affected by the subjects to be considered at these hearings are hereby notified and invited to appear at said times and places and present such evidence, comment or objection as their interests require.

Beverly A. Scott, Ph.D. General Manager/CEO Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority

CrossRoadsNews

Wellness

June 13, 2009

“When you eat organically you lose a lot of the chemicals in your diet and when you do that, you lower your risk of cancer.”

Organic gardening project included among Healthy Belvedere grants By McKenzie Jackson

Gaelle Addison and her fiancé Garrick Wilson have a love for organic food. They enjoy healthy greens, carrots, lettuce and other fruits and vegetables. “We had a brussels sprout kick a couple of seasons past,” she said. “We were eating brussels sprouts every day. Right now we are enjoying micro green lettuces.” Now with the help of a $2,000 grant from the Healthy Belvedere Community Health Initiative they will be able to start a community garden and share their passion for vegetables with their neighbors. Their nonprofit G+G Organics was one of 10 Belvedere community groups awarded $15,000 in grants. The other grant recipients receiving $1,000 to $2,000 are Kirby Childcare, Healthy Food Eater, Solomon’s Porch Ministry, Christ the Lord Church, Oakhurst Medical Centers, Saint Philip A.M.E.’s Health Ministry, Hills of Help Outreach Ministries, White Oaks Hills Neighborhood Association and NWOLM. The Healthy Belvedere Community Health Initiative is a neighborhood effort working to reduce health disparities associated with chronic illnesses through environmental and policy changes. It is a partnership between Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Geor-

Healthy Belvedere grant projects Community Group Funded Activity n G+G Organics................Community Garden n Kirby Childcare..............Belvedere Youth Becoming Healthier: Teach youth how to use healthy eating and active living in their everyday lives. n Healthy Food Eater.......Healthy Food Eaters for Life - Senior citizens and their families cooking and eating differently. n Solomon’s Porch Ministry.............Free Basketball Boot Camp for boys K-12th Grade. Promoting healthy eating and activity. n Saint Philip A.M.E. Health Ministry.... Life chef cooking class - A new edition to include the entire family.

McKenzie Jackson / CrossRoadsNews

Garrick Wilson (left) and Gaelle Addison will use their $2,000 to build a community garden on the Peace Lutheran Church campus in Decatur.

gia, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, and Belvedere community stakeholders. Kaiser is investing more than $1 million in Belvedere over a five- to seven-year period. The initiative is managed by the Community Foundation. Eating better and exercising has become a priority for Belvedere’s 18,945 residents since the community’s high rate of chronic illnesses like diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease was identified in 2007. This is the third consecutive year of the grants that range from $1,000 to $2,000. Since 2007, the initiative has awarded grants totaling $33,950 to 30 programs. Addison , who moved to Belve-

dere three years ago, said they were inspired to form their community garden organization to combat the proliferation of fast food restaurants in the Belvedere area. She said organic food is healthy. “When you eat organically you lose a lot of the chemicals in your diet and when you do that, you lower your risk of cancer,” she said. “You see a lot of weight loss and get a lot more energy to do a lot more things. You’ll also find that a lot of your allergies aren’t as severe.” Addison and Wilson say they will grow their first community garden on .25 acres donated to them on the campus of Peace Lutheran Church on Columbia Drive in Decatur.

n White Oak Hills Neighborhood Association.....Walk/Run Club Improve the physical activity levels within the boundaries of the White Oak Hills neighborhood. n Hills of Help Outreach Ministries....... Walking Clubs/Youth Exercise - teach the community to focus on eating healthy and living an active lifestyle. n Oakhurst Medical Centers............. Path to Wellness: Prevention & Management of Chronic Diseases program. n Christ the Lord Church..........Faith-Based & Healthcare focusing on the youth. n NWOLM............Educate men re-entering the community and their home on eating healthy, exercising.

Kirby Childcare will teach children to eat healthy and be active daily; Healthy Food Eater will launch a senior citizen cooking and eating program; Solomon’s Porch Ministry will have a free basketball boot camp for grade school students; and Christ the Lord Church has a faith and healthcare program for youth.

Oakhurst Medical Centers has the Path to Wellness: Prevention & Management of Chronic Diseases program; Saint Philip A.M.E.’s health ministry has a cooking class; Hills of Help Outreach Ministries has a walking and youth exercise club; and White Oaks Hills Neighborhood Association has a walk/ run club.

Does birth control pose hazard to water? Is there any truth to the rumor about high levels of birth control chemicals being found in some cities’ drinking water? If so, can these be filtered out? – Elizabeth Yerkes

It is true that trace amounts of birth control and other medications – as well as household and industrial chemicals of every stripe – are present in many urban and suburban water supplies around the country, but there is considerable debate about whether their levels are high enough to warrant concern. In 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey tested water in nine states across the country and found that 85 man-made chemicals, including some medications, were commonly slipping through municipal treatment systems and ending up in our tap water. Another report by the Associated Press found trace amounts of dozens of pharmaceuticals in the drinking water supplies of some 46 million Americans. But according to the USGS, such chemicals and medications are so diluted, at levels equal to a thimble full of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool, that they do not pose a health threat. But others aren’t so sure. Researchers have found evidence that even extremely diluted concentrations of drug residues harm fish, frogs and other aquatic species, and have been shown in labs to impair human cell function. One of the common culprits is estrogen, much of which is inadvertently released into sewers through the urine of women taking birth control. Studies have shown that estrogen can wreak reproductive havoc on some fish, which spawn infertile offspring sporting a mixture of male and female parts. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that human breast cancer cells grew twice as fast when exposed to estrogen taken from catfish caught near

untreated sewage overflows. “There is the potential for an increased risk for those people who are prone to estrogenic cancer,” said Conrad Volz, the study’s lead researcher. What may be more troubling is the mixture of contaminants and how they might interact to cause health problems. Scott Dye of the Sierra Club’s Water Sentinels program says the biggest concern is the stew effect. “Trace amounts of this mixed with trace amounts of that can equal what? We don’t know,” he said. With such contaminants proving elusive to municipal filtration systems, the burden of protection often lies with the end user. But getting traces of birth control and other drugs out of your tap water isn’t so easy. Of the many different kinds of inhome water filtration systems available today, only those employing reverse osmosis have been shown to filter out some drugs. Some makers of activated carbon water filters claim their products catch pharmaceuticals, but independent research has not verified such claims. Cathy Sherman of the natural health website Natural News says the best choice would probably be a combination of a reverse osmosis filter augmented by pre- and post-activated carbon filters. Installing such a system just for drinking water is sufficient, she says, given that water used for cleaning and plumbing typically doesn’t get ingested. As to prevention, the nonprofit public health and safety agency, NSF International, urges individuals to not use their toilets or sinks to dispose of unused medications and to opt for the garbage instead. Most modern landfills are lined to keep such contaminants inside. For more information, visit www. earthtalk@ emagazine.com.

June 13, 2009

CrossRoadsNews

Grady a t l a n t a c a n’ t l i v e w i t h o u t g r a d y

An Open Letter to the Citizens of Metro Atlanta About a year ago, the Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation (GMHC) began operating Grady Memorial Hospital and its Neighborhood Health Centers. This is a great responsibility; one the GMHC board and management team take very seriously. This letter is an effort to keep you informed on the progress Grady has seen over the past 12 months. We all hear news about Grady every day but this seems like an important time to take stock. Grady is the heart of our region’s health care system and, with the continued commitment, guidance and support of our many stakeholders, it will be a strong and beating heart for many years to come. Below are just a few of the amazing changes Grady has seen over the past year.

We are seeing more patients. Volume is up 12% across the health system. That means nearly 100,000 more patients are receiving quality care at Grady. As you might expect during these tough economic times, many of the new patients are uninsured, making Grady’s safety-net role even more critical. We have improved patient care. Our award-winning Stroke Center is among the best in the region. Our bloodstream infection rates are down dramatically. Medication errors are down four-fold. Our outcomes are improving and we will continue to build public trust by improving the care we provide. And Grady is still staffed exclusively by Emory and Morehouse doctors, some of the best doctors in the region, supported by some of the best nurses and techs. Our patients wait less for better services. Our length of stay is down by 27% over the past year. Wait times for appointments have gone from months to days. Wait time for our ER – the only Level I trauma center in the region – is down by more than one hour per patient. Wait times for x-rays and scans are down from days to minutes. We are delivering more care with fewer dollars. Grady is on pace to provide more than $300 million in charity care this year. Fulton and DeKalb counties have allocated approximately $78 million to Grady for care to indigent patients in 2009. State and Federal programs should help cover up to another $168 million in 2009. That leaves about a $60 million shortfall that Grady must make up with cost reductions or paying patients. This is a tough hurdle and, given our difficult economy, it becomes more challenging each month. We are still paying for past problems. This year alone, Grady has paid more than $40 million in past due payments for medical supplies, pension funding and for past services provided by the medical schools. In addition, Grady repaid more than $21 million to Medicaid for overpayments it had received in 2004 through 2006. These payments have been made possible because of the more than $60 million in cost savings we have delivered over the past 12 months, through the great work of our very dedicated Grady staff. We are preparing for our future. Thanks to many generous donors, Grady now has over $265 million in gifts and pledges to the Greater Grady Campaign. We have been able to purchase more than $85 million in new equipment and facility upgrades with more on the way. We now have new patient beds, a new cardiac cath lab, new imaging equipment, new sterilization equipment, 16 new ambulances and a new hot water system. Over the next few months, we will add a new IT system and electronic health records to better serve our patients. As more patients head to Grady, they will be treated with the best equipment in the industry. Our goal is to make Grady one of the best academic health systems in America, and each day we are making progress towards a greater Grady. But we still need your help. Please visit gradyhealthsystem.org and click on “Give to Grady” to make a taxdeductible donation to Grady. No amount is too small. Every dollar counts when you’re talking about providing critical health services to our community. While we still face many challenges, we expect much more progress in the year to come. Please continue to dream the dream and fight the fight with us.

Sincerely,

A.D. “Pete” Correll Chair, Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation

Paid for by the Henry W. Grady Health System Foundation thanks to a designated gift from The Correll Family Foundation.

CrossRoadsNews

Wellness

June 13, 2009

Walkers will take to the Arabia Mountain Trail on June 20 to raise money for the DeKalb Community Service Board Foundation.

Heroes to walk for good cause Hundreds of walkers will hike five miles from the Mall at Stonecrest to Arabia Mountain at the June 20 Walk of Heroes. The walk, in its third year, raises funds for the DeKalb Community Service Board Foundation. It kicks off at 8 a.m. on the Plaza near the AMC Theatres. Registration is $10 per walker and comes with a tee-shirt. Proceeds benefit children, adolescents, adults and seniors who suffer from mental health issues, developmental disabilities and addiction.

Participants have their pick of the onemile Fun Walk, a 50-yard Tot Trot and a Community Fun Day. Gary Richey, the DeKalb Community Service Board Foundation’s executive director, said the event celebrates families who are struggling with mental illness, substance abuse and developmental disabilities. The Mall at Stonecrest is off I-20 at Turner Hill Road in Lithonia. For more information, visit www.dekcsb.org or call 404-892-4646.

Rally takes aim at crime, violence Black-on-black crime and violence will be the focus of a June 20 Father-andSon Father’s Day Rally on Candler Road. Sammie Madison, president of Intelligent Faith Ministries and Mack Major, CEO of No Target Sammie Madison for Police to Shoot (NTFPTS) are co-hosting the event, which turns the spotlight on growing incidents of crime and violence. Madison said they want to raise community interest and conscience about the level of

crime and violence in the community. Participants are asked to bring “Stop the Violence” signs. Madison said the first 50 men to show up for the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. rally will get complimentary gifts and free “Stop the Mack Major Violence” tee-shirts. The event will be at 2223 Candler Road, at the corner of Mt. Patmos Baptist Church in Decatur. For more information, call 404-246-2612 or 404-284-9619.

Workshop focuses on injury prevention Teens and adults can get information on minimizing their risks for injuries at a June 27 injury workshop sponsored by a coalition of local organizations. The 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. event will be in the Gallery of South DeKalb’s Community Room in the rear of the mall. Brenda Jackson of Brenda Jackson & Associates, which is coordinating the event, said the four-hour workshop will help raise par-

ticipants’ awareness about common methods of prevention and intervention. Participants will learn about proper seat belt use, fire prevention, emergency preparedness, crime and suicide prevention, and homelessness. The first 50 participants to register will receive a free gift at the workshop. For more information or to register, e-mail bjaeventserv@aol.com or call 770808-0114.

Day of Inclusion set for June 13 Lots of information, resources and health screenings will be available at the sixth annual KES Community Day of Inclusion on June 13. The daylong event for physically and developmentally challenged kids and adults will take place at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center and neighboring Wonderland Gardens. It kicks off at the arts center at 10 a.m. with a community forum illuminating issues faced by families with children who have autism, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, pica and other mental health and physical disabilities. Panelists for the forum include Eric Jacobson, executive director of the Governors Council on Developmental Disabilities; disabled advocate and parent Millie Powell; and state Sen. Ronald Ramsey. They will highlight legislative concerns and other

advocacy issues. At noon, the festivities shift to Wonderland Gardens until 5 p.m. with food, fun, games and entertainment. The fun-filled event will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of the landmark Olm stead decision in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 1999 that Georgia had unconstitutionally warehoused the physically and mentally disabled in stateoperated institutions, denying them the right to live in community-based housing and receive other support services. KES Day Inc. is a Lithonia-based housing and support services organization that offers program activities for physically and developmentally challenged children and adults. For more information, call Alvin R. Dollar at 404-454-4063 or Cheryl Garner at 678-252-8430. The Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center is at 3181 Rainbow Drive in Decatur.

Scene

CrossRoadsNews

June 13, 2009

“The 400 years of trials and triumphs of the African-American community is a history lesson worth studying, and in many ways, celebrating.”

Exhibit details African-American contributions to U.S. history, culture “America I AM: The African American Imprint” showcasing nearly 500 years of African-American contributions to U.S. history is on display at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center through Sept. 6. The exhibit opened June 12 and is on the second stop on its 10-city, four-year tour. It debuted mid-January over the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday at Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center. Organizers say it has already attracted tens of thousands of visitors. The 15,000-square-foot exhibit depicts pivotal moments in courage, conviction and creativity that celebrates the undeniable imprint of African Americans across the nation and worldwide. It includes more than 200 rare historic objects, documents, photos and multimedia exploring how African Americans’ economic, socio-political, cultural

The “America I Am” exhibit will be on display at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center through Sept. 6.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker/ CrossRoadsNews

and spiritual contributions helped shape American culture right up to the Jan. 20, 2009, inauguration of the nation’s first African-American president. The exhibit takes visitors through a dozen galleries that include: n The Doors of No Return” from the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana,

through which enslaved Africans passed to board ships to the “New World.” n The typewriter Alex Haley used to write the groundbreaking book “Roots.” n Malcolm X’s journal and personal Koran. n The door key and stool from the jail cell where Dr. Martin Luther

events of the past, we can King Jr. wrote “Letter help the leaders of the from a Birmingham Jail.” future set the stage for n Frederick Douglass’ active participation in the clothing and letter from democratic process for President Lincoln that enyears to come,” he said. abled him to move among Rosalind Brewer, WalUnion lines recruiting Mart’s senior vice presiblack soldiers dent and president for Visitors can leave a the Southeast Division, video imprint in an in- Tavis Smiley says it not only recognizes Africanteractive area. “America I AM: The African American history as American hisAmerican Imprint” is developed in tory but as something that should partnership with Tavis Smiley and be remembered year-round. “The 400 years of trials and is organized by Cincinnati Museum Center and Arts and Exhibitions triumphs of the African-American International. Wal-Mart is the ex- community is a history lesson worth studying, and in many ways, hibit’s presenting sponsor. Smiley says the exhibit en- celebrating,” she said. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for courages all people to connect in a meaningful way with the foun- seniors and $3 for children under dations of democracy, cultural 12 years old, and are available at diversity, exploration, and free en- Wal-Mart stores and Ticketmaster. For more information, visit www. terprise. “By telling the stories of the AmericaIAM.org.

History Center hosting exhibit on Hosea Williams “Unbossed and Unbought: The Rev. Hosea L. Williams Exhibit” is now at the DeKalb History Center in downtown Decatur. It’s the second exhibit this year on Williams. “Voice of the Crusader: The Life and Work of the Reverend Hosea L. Williams” closed at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History in February. At the history center, visitors will see more than 100 historic photographs and artifacts from

Williams’ colorful life, including his signature blue overalls and red that he worn to marches and protests. Williams, who was a DeKalb County resident and former county commissioner, was 74 when he died in 2000. The exhibit is on display through Aug. 28. The DeKalb History Center is at the Old Courthouse on the Square, 101 East Court Square. For more information, call 404373-1088. “Unbossed & Unbought” is on display through Aug. 28.

Family Day offers food, fun and music The aroma of barbecued food will be rising from the grill, while children play at the June 13 Family Fun Day at Positive Growth Boys Home in Clarkston. The 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. fair will include arts and crafts, face painting, a fish fry and the annual “Great Men Cooking for Kids” cook-off competition. A live blues band will provide musical entertainment. Admission is free, but sponsorships are available. Positive Growth Boys Home is at 4036 East Ponce De Leon Ave. For more information, call 404-292-6420.

CrossRoadsNews

Sports

June 13, 2009

“My footwork, my defense, running from side to side, going for a ball – all that is involved with both.”

Tennis skills notwithstanding, Cedar Grove standout still prefers hoops By McKenzie Jackson

He might possibly have DeKalb County’s best forehand in tennis, but Kyland Freeman-Clark likes his three-point shot a little bit better. “I think I’m a better basketball player,” said the Cedar Grove High School dual athlete. Clark, who had a 5-1 record for the 2009 tennis season, officially has the “Basketball Jones.” “I love to play the game,” he said. “I play all the time.” The 2009 graduate had a respectable basketball season with 10.6 points per game, 85 percent foul shooting, and a high percentage from behind the arc. He scored 20 points against Druid Hills, and his season high – 25 points – came against Avondale. The 17-year-old also helped lead the Saints to a Sweet 16 appearance in the state playoffs. But even after posting a winning record during the tennis season, Cedar Grove’s No. 1 singles player still has eyes for the hardwood. In his sophomore and junior seasons, he posted records of 12-1 and 10-1. In 2006, as the team’s No. 2 singles player, he had a 2-2 record. And though 6-foot-2 FreemanClark seems to improve each year on the tennis court, the basketball guard in him dreams of shooting balls through the net in college, rather than hitting them over it. His mother, Ranette Clark, said Kyland constantly tells her that he

McKenzie Jackson / CrossRoadsNews

Kyland Freeman-Clark had a 5-1 tennis record in 2009, to go along with his 10.6 points and 85 percent free-throw shooting averages in basketball this year.

“can’t be Andy Roddick and Kobe Bryant” at the same time. “You are getting a biased opinion, but he is really good at both,” she said. “But he puts more energy, effort, dream and love into basketball. He is just athletically inclined. His passion is basketball.” Kyland said both Bryant, an

NBA player, and Roddick, a professional tennis player, are passionate about the sports they play. “They are doing what they love; that is something I try to put forth,” he said. Clark said her son gets his drive in tennis from wanting to beat his younger sister Ja’Haun, 14, every

time they play. Ja’Haun, a Tucker Middle School eighth-grader, is currently ranked 28th in Georgia in the tennis polls. “You know it’s that brothersister competitive nature thing that goes on,” Clark said. “And I’ve always played tennis and I taught my kids and one day a coach just

said, ‘That kid is good.’” Freeman-Clark said that he really wants to play basketball in college. “Any college would work,” said Freeman-Clark, who noted that his dream colleges are Florida State University, the University of Georgia or Mercer University. “Any other college that will give me a full scholarship. Right now my coach [James Martin] said he is trying to help me get into Presbyterian College (S.C.).” Freeman-Clark said the switch from basketball to tennis is somewhat challenging. “I just take it as it goes, though,” he said, adding that his basketball skills complement his tennis skills. “My footwork, my defense, running from side to side, going for a ball – all that is involved with both.” His mom said Kyland wakes up to ESPN so he can check the scores and stats from NBA and college basketball games. “He is sick about that game,” said Clark. “He is always saying, ‘Mama when I go to the NBA I’m going to do this.’ I just tell him it’s going to take hard, consistent effort.” Kyland said his skills as a good shooter and his discipline will help him in college. “I work hard. I will do anything,” he said. “I’m a coachable kid. Hopefully I’ll grow some more. I ended the season at 6 foot, 1-1/2, now I’m 6 foot, 2-1/2. I’ve been drinking my milk and orange juice.”

Crews among graduates getting ready for college athletic careers By McKenzie Jackson

For two weeks, 2009 Southwest DeKalb High School graduate and long distance runner Amber Crews has been donning her track shoes and going for an early morning run at either Southwest DeKalb High or Chapel Hill Middle. Crews, 18, signed a full track & field scholarship with Southern University in February and now she is preparing for college athletics. “I’ve started doing my runs in order to get my base work back up,” she said. “I’ve been doing maybe an hour or 45 minutes depending on how I feel.” Odds are Crews, who will run crosscountry and track at Southern, isn’t the only DeKalb graduate using the summer months to prepare for the college athletic field. This year 191 graduating seniors signed athletic scholarships totaling over $9.6 million. Crews was among 20 athletes who signed track scholarships. Ninety-five seniors signed football schol-

arships worth a total of $5.6 million, 33 basketball players signed for $1.62 million, 15 baseball players signed for $330,056, and 10 soccer athletes signed for $576,000. Five softball, five volleyball, four wrestling, two swimming and two tennis players signed for $577,564. Crews said it’s important that she prepare for cross-country and track. “I really need to get my base back up, so that I’ll be ready for cross country when I get there,” she said. “I just want to build up my stamina so that I know I can run the mileage.” While in high school Crews ran cross country and she competed in the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays, two-mile and one-mile runs, and 1500m dash. Last fall in cross country, Crews finished 13th DeKalb, ninth in Region 6-AAAA and 37th in the state finals, but then she exploded during the spring track season. She won the 800m dash at the DeKalb County and Region 6-AAAA meets, and was the runner-up at the AAAA state finals.

Crews, who will run the 800m and 1500m at Southern, said she is excited about competing in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. “I’ve been keeping up with the different meets and so far it looks like the SWAC championships are very competitive between Jackson St., Grambling, the school I’m going to and Alabama St.,” she said. “I’m just looking forward to competing to see how I would do.” Crews said that it takes a lot of discipline to be a successful long distance runner. “It takes a lot,” she said. “You have to put in a lot of running to make sure that you have enough stamina. Even when you think you have enough, you can always use an extra run.” Crews said she also learned that you have to believe in yourself. “This year it was more critical for me to believe in myself, because I was all I had besides my family and teammates; and it was up to me,” she said. “I knew what I did this year would affect how colleges looked at me and Amber Crews is hitting the track now to prepare other things like that to get a scholarship.” for the track season at Southern University.

LPGA event at Mystery Valley to introduce girls to game of golf Young female golfers can pick up golfing tips June 14 at the LPGAUSGA Day 2009 presented by Inbee Park at Mystery Valley Golf Club in Lithonia. Golf Day, hosted each year by the H&J Junior Golf program, seeks to make golf accessible to girls and further their interest in the game. During the 4:30 p.m. event, girls will participate in putting, chipping and pitching activities. Jerome Brown, director of H&J Junior Golf, said organizers hope to expand their reach and elevate girls’ enthusiasm toward golf.

Tyler Lawrence, a junior golfer from the First Tee program at East Lake, will also be on-hand. LPGA Tour player and 2008 U.S. Women’s Open Champion Inbee Park provided a donation to the LPGA Foundation in order to make the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Day 2009 a special event. Admission is free. Mystery Valley Golf Club is at 6094 Shadow Rock Drive in Lithonia. For more information, email Jerome Brown at H7jjuniorgolf@ bellsouth.net or call 404-3887450.

LPGA-USGA Girls Golf of Stone Mountain invites girls ages 7-17 to learn more about the game at Mystery Valley Golf Course.

CrossRoadsNews

June 13, 2009

Youth

“I’ve seen cases of victims that have done things because they felt they needed to do them to protect themselves.”

Football pro tackles bullying during session at Browns Mill Center By McKenzie Jackson

Atlanta Falcons defensive end Chauncey Davis is used to tackling quarterbacks and opposing ball carriers, but on June 5 he tackled the subject of bullying. Davis, an NFL player since 2005, spoke to more than 50 youth involved in DeKalb Parks and Recreation’s Summer Camp program about bullying and football during a 45-minute anti-bullying session at Browns Mill Recreation Center in Lithonia. Davis, who hosted the event as part of the Chauncey Davis Foundation’s anti-bullying campaign, said something has to be done to combat bullying and to help build the self-esteem, of both the person being bullied and the bully. “As adults, if we don’t intervene now, we will hear more and more reports of suicides, gun violence, depression, drug/alcohol abuse, higher dropout rates and more with our young people,” he said. The event also included antibullying speeches from DeKalb Juvenile Court Judge Desiree Peagler, DeKalb Commissioner Lee May, Clayton Police Gang Task Force member Detective William Clenden, and DeKalb School System police officers Detective R. Beck and Sgt. W.L. Pinckney. Peagler told the elementary through high school kids that children who are bullied sometimes don’t tell adults; instead they try to take matters into their own hands.

Atlanta Falcons defensive end Chauncey Davis shakes hands with a camper after speaking at an anti-bullying rally at Browns Mill Recreation Center in Lithonia.

McKenzie Jackson / CrossRoadsNews

“And you know what happens to them?” she said. “They end up getting in trouble. I’ve seen cases of victims that have done things because they felt they needed to do them to protect themselves.” Peagler told the youth that if they threaten, fight or steal something from someone, they have committed a crime.

“You don’t want to end up in my courtroom,” she said. Clenden talked to the youth about gangs. He told the kids to stay away from gang members. “Know in the long run, the only thing that is going to happen to you if you get involved in these groups is you are going to get caught,” To close out the event, Davis

AKA chapter awards scholarships The Stone Mountain/ Lithonia Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority awarded $10,000 in scholarships to six area graduates.

took questions from youth. The kids asked him everything from whether he knew former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick to what college he attended. Davis also signed autographs and posed for pictures with the kids. Davis lamented suicide victim Jaheem Herrera, a Dunaire Elemen-

tary School student whom family members say committed suicide because he was constantly bullied at school. “That’s one life that could have been saved,” he said. “He could have become a professional football player, teacher, astronaut, lawyer, doctor or even the president. But now, we will never know.”

DeKalb County School System Parents

The Parent Resource Centers

Are Open Throughout the Summer with Workshops and Activities for You and Your Family

Three 2009 South DeKalb high school graduates were awarded a total of $5,000 in scholarships on May 31 at a reception at the Wesley Chapel Library in Decatur. They were among six students who got $10,000 in scholarships from the Stone Mountain/Lithonia Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Scholarships recipients are: Amber Flanigan of Miller Grove, who received $2,500 towards her education at the University of Georgia; Dustin Reese of Redan was awarded $1,500 scholarship toward her studies at Georgia Tech; and Stephenson graduate Annisah Friall, who is attending Tennessee State

University, received $1,000. Joy Monet Kajogbola of Wheeler High, who is going to the University of North Carolina, received $2,500; Khali Jones of Carver School of Health Science received $1,500 towards Tuskegee University, and Ashleigh Williams of Benjamin Mays High received $1,000 towards Florida A&M University. Since 1993, the Stone Mountain/Lithonia Chapter of AKA has awarded $92,900 in scholarships to high school seniors in order to assist in their postsecondary education. Past recipients have gone on to colleges and universities like Georgia State, Florida State, Spelman, Georgetown and Howard.

Lewis noted in list of top educators DeKalb School System Superintendent Dr. Crawford Lewis was ranked as a top tier educator in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s second annual “Industry Focus – Who’s Who Guide to Atlanta’s Top Educational Leaders.”

In the May 2009 article, Lewis, the school district’s superintendent of five years and a 31-year educator, is recognized alongside private school headmasters, college presidents, university chancellors and deans.

Atherton Elementary 1674 Atherton Dr. Decatur, GA 30035 678-874-0333 M-W-TH-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. E. L. Miller Elementary 919 Martin Rd. Stone Mountain, GA 30088 678-676-3333 T-W- TH-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Fairington Elementary 5505 Phillip Bradley Dr . Lithonia, GA 30038 678-676-8724 M-W-TH-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Jolly Elementary 1070 Otello Ave. Clarkston, GA 30021 678-676-5832 M-T-W-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Avondale Middle 3131 Old Rockbridge Rd. Avondale Estates, GA 30002 678-875-0148 T-W-TH-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Cedar Grove Middle 2300 Wildcat Rd. Decatur, GA 30034 678-874-4248 T-W-TH-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Chapel Hill Middle 3535 Dogwood Farm Rd. Decatur, GA 30034 678-676-8548 M-T-W-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Columbia Middle 3001 Columbia Dr. Decatur, GA 30034 678-875-0546 M-T-TH-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Wednesday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. McNair MS 2190 Wallingford Dr. Decatur, GA 30035 678-874-5147 M-T-W-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Sequoyah Middle 3456 Aztec Dr. Doraville, GA 30340 678-767-7945 M-T-TH-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Wednesday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Cross Keys High 1626 N. Druid Hills Rd., NE Atlanta, GA 30319 678-874-6139 M-W-TH-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Visit a Center Near You! For Additional Info Call the Centers Directly or Call the District Office at 678-676-0312, 678-676-0250, or 678-676-0736

CrossRoadsNews

June 13, 2009

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