CrossRoadsNews, November 1, 2014 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COMMUNITY

WELLNESS

SCENE

Care and prevention portal

Priscilla’s back!

The Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library, which had been closed for more than five months, finally reopened for patrons on Oct. 31. 2

The Georgia Department of Public Health has launched a one-stop connection to care for HIV-positive residents. 7

Macy’s famous Pink Pig is back to entertain kids of all ages at Lenox Square during the busy holiday shopping season. 11

Library back in business

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

November 1, 2014

Volume 20, Number 27

www.crossroadsnews.com

Candler Road project back on track, lane closures ahead By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Motorists and businesses will have to contend with traffic interruptions and water shutoffs as crews restart the waterlines installation project on Candler Road.

By the Dec. 15 deadline, contractor Kemi Construction will install a 36-inch transmission main between the Candler Road/I-20 ramp and Valley Ridge Drive and an 8-inch waterline between I-20 and Toney Drive, install new fire hydrants, and resurface the road between I-20 and the cemetery. Wendell Brown, Watershed Management construction manager, said they will be able to pave the road only if the weather cooperates. “We can only lay asphalt if it’s above 3036 degrees,” he said. The project will resume in mid-January with the installation a 12-inch waterline

The Candler Road Waterline Replacement, Landscaping and Resurfacing Project is under way again and motorists and businesses along the busy corridor can expect traffic interruptions and water shutoffs through Dec. 15. Kenneth Saunders Jr,. the county’s program director for Capital Improvement Projects, said contractors are working on a firm deadline to complete a portion of the 3.7-mile project before the peak holiday shopping season. “We know that is a busy shopping area and we want to be done as soon as possible,” Please see CANDLER, page 2 he said.

FILE

Hot races fuel rosy voter turnout projections If elected, U.S. Senate candidate from left, Michelle Nunn and the “Georgia Five” – Doreen Carter, Liz Johnson, Robbin Shipp, Connie Stokes and Valarie Wilson – would give Georgia unprecedented female leadership in US and state government.

State contests attract many to early polls By Jennifer Ffrench Parker and Ken Watts

When the polls open at 7 a.m. on Election Day on Nov. 4, more than 395,000 DeKalb registered voters will be eligible to cast ballots. Democrats on the ballot are hoping that the majority of them will vote to help make a difference in the hotly contested U.S. Senate and governor’s races. Democrat Michelle Nunn and Republican David Perdue are battling for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Saxby Chambliss. Incumbent Republican Gov. Nathan Deal is facing a stiff challenge from Democrat Jason Carter, and for first time in the Georgia’s history, five African-American women – Valarie Wilson, Connie Stokes, Doreen Carter, Robbin Shipp and Elizabeth “Liz” Johnson – are seeking statewide offices. Wilson is running for state school superintendent; Stokes is seeking to become lieutenant governor; Carter is running for secretary of state; Shipp, for labor commissioner; and Johnson, insurance commissioner. The women’s run in Georgia is unprecedented. In the entire United States, there are only two African-American women serving in statewide executive positions. DeKalb Elections Director Maxine Daniels said Thursday that they are hoping for a 55 percent turnout on Tuesday. Her rosy prediction is partly due to brisk early voting that the county has seen since Oct. 13. For the Nov. 4 general election, DeKalb has 455,716 registered voters. Through Thursday morning, 59,886 of them had already voted, the second-highest number in the state. In Fulton County, 70,511 people had voted early. On Oct. 26, DeKalb’s historic Sunday voting yielded 3,888 voters, the highest

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

A long line of voters stretched in all directions for the historic Oct. 26 Sunday Voting at the Gallery at South DeKalb in Decatur.

number of ballots cast in a single day of early voting. Statewide, 709,992 had voted early. The final day to vote early was Oct. 31. On Election Day, all neighborhood polling stations will be open until 7 p.m. and all voters will cast ballots at their assigned precincts. For last Sunday’s voting, pastors at churches in Decatur, Lithonia, Stone Moun-

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Pastor Pam Driesell pray for Gov. Nathan Deal (left) and challenger Jason Carter at a Georgia Faith Forum on Oct. 22 in Atlanta.

tain, Ellenwood and Atlanta urged their congregations to take advantage of the first-ever Sunday polls in the county. Some churches provided transportation to the voting site at the Gallery at South DeKalb and the DeKalb Elections Office in Decatur. The national Souls to the Polls initiative and the faith-based Freedom Sunday 2014 campaign, which kicked off in September in more than 2,000 churches nationwide, encouraged black churches to highlight the importance of voting and urge their members to vote. Beulah Baptist, Pilgrim Cathedral, Great-

er Piney Grove Baptist, and New Life Baptist are offering rides to the polls, but many of the Sunday voters at the Gallery at South DeKalb made their own way to polls. Most of the Sunday votes – 3,053 – were cast at the DeKalb Elections Office on Memorial Drive and at the Gallery at South DeKalb. The remaining 835 people voted at the Chamblee Civic Center in North DeKalb. Terah Johnson, a social worker who lives in Druid Hills and attends Greater Travelers Rest Church in Decatur, said the Sunday Please see ELECTION, page 3

CrossRoadsNews

Community

November 1, 2014

“All the shelves and books have been dusted, and our computers are working. We are ready to go.”

Wesley Chapel Library reopens after five-month closure By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

After being closed for more than five months, the Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library reopened for business on Oct. 31. Branch manager Peggy Ramsey-May and her staff were busy sprucing up the library on Thursday in preparation for patrons who had been forced to visit branches on Flat Shoals Parkway, Candler Road and Panola Road during the closure. “All the shelves and books have been dusted, and our computers are working,” Ramsey-May said. “We are ready to go.” The popular library branch closed on May 24 after thieves gutted its HVAC unit of all its copper and left the branch on Wesley Chapel Road in Decatur without air conditioning. The HVAC unit was repaired and the branch reopened briefly on June 17. Two days later, thieves returned and stole the copper again. The branch closed again on June 19 and stayed closed through Oct. 30. Alison Weissinger, the DeKalb Public Library director, said Oct. 28 that minor improvements were made to the branch while they waited for the new HVAC unit.

Children’s librarian Mia Buggs (from left), branch manager Peggy Ramsey-May and circulation supervisor Jeannine Jones removed the closed sign Thursday.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

“We took the opportunity to clean the carpet and pressure wash the pavement out front,” she said, The library’s computers also were replaced, and Ramsey-May said the branch got new color printers. “It’s the first time that we have had a color printer,” she said. While the branch was closed, dust settled on everything. Ramsey-May said everything

got a thorough dusting. “Our custodial staff wiped everything clean,” she said. “They dusted on top of the shelves and every book was taken off the shelves and dusted.” The Wesley Chapel branch was one of eight county facilities and 16 school buildings vandalized by copper thieves over the summer. The vandalized county properties included the Flat Shoals, Redan-Trotti and

Hairston Crossing branch libraries; the Community Achievement Center in Decatur; and the Redan Recreation Center in Lithonia. School district properties that were attacked included Rainbow, Dunaire, Edward Bouie, Fairington, Midvale, Murphey Candler, Oak View and Pine Ridge elementary schools; Columbia, McNair, Miller Grove, Redan, Salem, Stephenson and Druid Hills middle schools; and Martin Luther King Jr. High. Repairs and replacement costs totaled more than $1.5 million for both the county and the DeKalb School System. Hari Karikaran, DeKalb’s Facilities Management director, said refrigeration technology has changed and the new unit installed at the Wesley Chapel branch has no copper in it. Copper tubing also was stolen from air conditioning units at a number of area churches, including Hillcrest Church of Christ and Green Pastures Christian Church in Decatur and Antioch AME Church in Stone Mountain. DeKalb Police believe most of the copper thefts were the work of one or two individuals recorded on security videos but have yet to catch them.

Property, business owners to be notified of water shutoffs on corridor CANDLER,

from page

between Valley Ridge Road and Dawes Road with a completion date of April 2015. The Candler Road contract, which extends from Memorial Drive to I-285, was originally awarded to Kemi Construction for $7.2 million. It got under way in April 2013 and is replacing 1960s and 1970s underground water mains and making streetscape upgrades like new sidewalks, road striping and repaving, median landscaping, and other infrastructure improvements. The project is one of 83 being funded by the county’s $1.35 billion Capital Improvement Program that is making improvements

to its water and waste-water system. The county halted it in May to make a change order and other changes. Residents and businesses had complained about the extended time and the negative effects the project was having on their businesses. They also complained that the county did not notify them about the extent of the project and the amount of disruption it would cause. The $1.3 million change order, approved Aug. 12 by the Board of Commissioners, extends the contract from June 28, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2015. MaLika Hakeem, the project’s outreach coordinator, said water would be shut off for one to four hours at a time when new lines

are being connected to the existing main. She said affected property and business owners would be given ample notice. For example, seven to eight businesses and residences will lose their water next week, but Hakeem said they would be notified on Oct. 31 so they can make arrangements for water to drink and to flush their toilets. During the expected lane closures, primarily between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., businesses would have access to their properties. Responding to questions from business owners at an Oct. 29 information meeting on the work resumption at the Scott Candler Library, Brown said steel plates will be left flush with the roadway and rimmed with

asphalt to prevent damage to vehicles. Sharon Giles, who owns a small shopping center with three hair salons at 2420 Candler Road, said her tenants are concerned about the impending water shutoffs. Hakeem assured her that they would notified and the contractor will work around their schedules. “This will be a tough process for all of us,” she said. “We are all going to be inconvenienced by the construction, the water shutoffs and the road plates, but just know the benefit at the end of this – you will have more reliable water service.” For more information, call MaLika Hakeem at 770-621-7209.

Show Your PRIDE, South DeKalb! R Don’t Litter R Mow, Trim & Paint R Clean to the Curb

A PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE FROM CROSSROADSNEWS

CrossRoadsNews

November 1, 2014

“I almost died for the right to vote. Some of my friends died. We’re still alive, so you have to go out there and vote like you never voted before.”

Nunn garners support from John Lewis and DeKalb County By Ken Watts

U.S. Senate candidate Michelle Nunn says she will represent all of Georgia’s citizens if she is elected. The Democrat, who faces Republican David Perdue in the Nov. 4 general election for the seat that is being vacated by Republican Saxby Chambliss, said she is a pragmatic problem-solver. “I want to make sure that we’re helping to create the conditions for job growth, raising the minimum wage while preserving Social Security and Medicare, universal access to pre-k and an affordable pathway to college,” Nunn said at an Oct. 27 Get Out the Vote rally at the Gallery at South DeKalb in Decatur. Nunn had just received the endorsement of civil rights icon John Lewis before an enthusiastic crowd of about 250 people in the mall’s parking lot, where on Oct. 26, 1,191 voters had cast ballots in a historic Sunday vote in DeKalb County. She touted her record of activism as cofounder and executive director of Hands On Atlanta, a private nonprofit devoted to volunteerism and community service. Performers at the rally included R&B and gospel singers Ann Nesby, Dorinda ClarkCole and Patti Austin. Nunn, the daughter of legendary Sen. Sam Nunn, took the stage after an emotional introduction by Lewis, the U.S. representative from Atlanta’s 5th Congressional District. Lewis called Nunn a “smart, gifted” force who would help “move Georgia into the 21st century.” He urged residents to continue turning out at the polls for early voting through Oct. 31 and on Election Day, Nov. 4.

Michelle Nunn, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, speaks to supporters on Oct. 6 at a 4th District fundraiser in Decatur.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Calling on memories of the 1965 Bloody Sunday March across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Lewis, who was beaten in the head by police, said he “gave a little blood” on that bridge in Selma, Ala. “I almost died for the John Lewis right to vote,” he said. “Some of my friends died. We’re still alive, so you have to go out there and vote like you never voted before.” Through Oct. 29, 58,740 voters have cast early ballots in DeKalb. The county has

455,716 registered voters, and 386,711 of them are considered “active voters” because they have voted in the past two elections. Several polls show Nunn 2 percentage points to 3 percentage points ahead of Perdue, but many pundits consider the race too close to call. Even with a strong African-American turnout for the general election, to defeat Perdue, Nunn needs a third of the state’s white voters to vote for her. Perdue’s TV ads have sought to characterize Nunn as a “rubber stamp” for President Barack Obama who scores low approval ratings with whites.

The tactic has forced Nunn into a balancing act of maintaining good relations with the president while emphasizing her own track record in public service and her political independence. “I’ve spent maybe 45 minutes of my life with President Obama,” she said in an Oct. 26 debate with Perdue at Georgia Public Broadcasting in Atlanta. Alice Bussey, who lives in Ellenwood, said she supports Nunn’s candidacy and was impressed with her appearance at the rally. “She had the wisdom to not make a speech but got right to the point talking about issues and solutions,” Bussey said.

DeKalb board plans to expand Sunday voting after favorable response ELECTION,

from page

poll at the mall on Candler Road was very convenient. “My church is down the street so I can go to service, come straight here and go home,” she said. Keith Cooper, a swimming pool designer from Decatur, said Sunday voting is a longoverdue idea. “Obviously when you work during the week, Sunday is probably the only time that you have,” he said. “It’s a smart idea. They need to continue with it.” Within the first 90 minutes of the polls opening at noon, poll workers at the South DeKalb mall said 338 voters had voted. When the polls closed at 5 p.m., 1,191 people had voted. Another 1,862 people voted at the DeKalb Elections Office. Many residents who took advantage of the Sunday voting said they didn’t need any prodding. LaToya Ward, a human resources worker, said voting is a civic obligation no matter what day it is available. “Just doing what I’m supposed to do,” Ward said while waiting in a long line that meandered through the mall’s center court. “I’m registered to vote and I’m getting to vote.”

However, other Sunday voters were drawn by the two most hotly contested political races. Michelle Cooper of Decatur said the hot races for governor and the U.S. Senate lured her to the early polls. She said she voted for Nunn for Senate and Jason Carter for Georgia governor. “I didn’t like the fact that [Gov. Nathan Deal] didn’t expand Medicaid in the state to extend Obamacare to more people,” she said. May Smith, who was voting after Sunday services at Ray of Hope Church in Decatur, said she is dissatisfied with the state of the economy and public schools. “I just think the state could be run better,” she said. While she has no children of her own, Smith said she wants her nieces and nephews to have a great education. “I think the schools can be improved,” she said. Sam Tillman of the DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections, which approved Sunday voting in September in hopes of boosting voter turnout, said Monday that the board is pleased with the response to Sunday voting and plans to expand it in future elections.

Amendments, referendum on ballot Voters in the Nov. 4 general election rehabilitative services for Georgia citizens also will vote on two proposed consti- who have survived neurotrauma with head tutional amendments and a statewide or spinal cord injuries?” referendum on the ballot. This is not a tax but a charge added to reckless driving fines. The amendments are: n “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be Proposed statewide referendum amended to prohibit the General Assembly n “Shall property owned by the University from increasing the maximum state income System of Georgia and utilized by providers tax rate?” of college and university student housing This would keep legislators from and other facilities continue to be exempt increasing the current maximum state from taxation to keep costs affordable?” income tax rate. This would give privately owned stun “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be dent dormitories and parking decks a taxamended to allow additional reckless driving exempt status because of their contracted penalties or fees to be added to the Brain and obligation to serve the university with Spinal Injury Trust Fund to pay for care and which they are affiliated.

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Forum 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts Graphic Design Curtis Parker Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Advertising Sales Kathy E. Warner Billing Clerk Catherine Guy Circulation Manager Jami Ffrench-Parker CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsN ews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Advertisements are published upon the representation that the advertiser is authorized to publish the submitted material. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless from and against any loss or expenses resulting from any disputes or legal claims based upon the contents or subject matter of such advertisments, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

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November 1, 2014

“Instead of just banking on blacks not showing up at the polls, Deal is touting his support of charter schools and criminal justice reforms.”

We have great power in ballot box – let’s exercise it I got a surprise in the mail on Oct. 27 – a mailer from a Republican. The election mailer came from Georgia’s incumbent Gov. Nathan Deal. Why was it so surprising? I have lived in the same house in south DeKalb County since 1993. I am an engaged voter. I have voted in every election since I moved here. Why is this the first time that a Republican – any Republican – has ever sent me an election flier? What is so different in this election, I asked myself. I know that Deal is in a tight race with Democratic candidate Jason Carter, but I think there is more going on here. Things are changing in Georgia and the Republicans are finally getting the message. Georgia’s electorate is turning color, demographically that is. The number of registered voters who are white dropped from nearly 63 percent of the state’s total in 2008 to 58 percent for this election. Along with that, the percentage of black voters has remained a steady 30 percent of the state’s 6 million-plus registered voters. The state’s other non-white groups, Hispanics, Asians, and “other,” are climbing as a total share of the voter rolls. In 2010 when Republicans claimed every statewide office and large majorities in the General Assembly, 441,000 fewer black voters cast ballots than in 2008 when President Barack Obama was elected. Even though this is a non-presidential election year, the important

I have lived in the same house in south DeKalb County since 1993. I am an engaged voter. I have voted in every election since I moved here. Why is this the first time that a Republican – any Republican – has ever sent me an election flier?

As I See It Jennifer Parker

U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Saxby Chambliss is up for grabs and Democrat Michelle Nunn has a good chance of getting it. In 20 years of publishing a wellread, politically engaged newspaper in South DeKalb, this election season was the first that I have been approached by both black and white Republicans seeking to place editorials in our newspaper “to educate black voters.” Why the sudden urge to educate us? Instead of just banking on blacks not showing up at the polls, Deal is entreating us with a slick mailer touting his support of charter schools and criminal justice reforms that “dramatically lowered black inmate incarceration.” Clutching his hand in the flier is a black man, Artesius Miller, a Morehouse graduate and leader of Utopian Academy for the Arts, and the message is “Nathan Deal – Governor for All Georgians.” The word All is underlined. The flier opens up to reveal a photo montage of Deal surrounded

by black women and hugging a black girl and the message that he “Stood Up for Us.” Across the state, minority populations are growing, and AfricanAmericans have grown the nerve to run for offices outside of their own communities. Just look at the five black women – Valarie Wilson for state school superintendent, Connie Stokes for lieutenant governor, Doreen Carter for secretary of state, Robbin Shipp for labor commissioner and Elizabeth “Liz” Johnson for insurance commissioner – on the Nov. 4 ballot for statewide offices. Three of them – Wilson, Stokes and Carter – are from DeKalb County. If DeKalb voters show up at the polls in great numbers on Nov. 4, all five of these women could ride Nunn and Carter’s coattails into state leadership. DeKalb has 455,716 registered voters. Of that number, 386,711 are active voters because they have cast ballots in the last two elections. Contrast that to 2000 (a mere 14 years ago) when the number of registered voters in DeKalb was 333,430, and only 272,150 were active voters, When you drill down on 2014 DeKalb voter statistics, you find that black voters account for 52.8 percent of the county’s registered

voters, whereas statewide, AfricanAmericans account for 30 percent of voters. When you look at the gender breakdown of our voters, you find that black women make up 30.8 percent of DeKalb voters. What an awesome voting bloc that would be. No wonder I am finally getting attention from Deal. Through Wednesday this week, 58,740 DeKalb voters have already voted. It is one of the largest early turnouts in the county. Though good, it is still a tiny fraction of the county’s registered voters. On Oct. 26 for the county’s historic Sunday vote that was so vehemently opposed by Sen. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody), 3,888 people cast ballots. The bulk of those votes was cast in South DeKalb, at the DeKalb Elections Office and at the Gallery at South DeKalb. Carter, who has yet to send me an election mailer at home, could also triumph over Deal and bring new leadership to the state, but he, Nunn and the five black women on the ballot will only claim victory if DeKalb voters – especially those in South DeKalb – show up in large numbers at the polls. We have great power in the ballot box. The Republicans now know it. Do we know our own power? Will we exercise the vote for which our ancestors fought and died? If you haven’t yet cast your ballot, will you honor your ancestors by voting on Nov. 4? Jennifer Parker is the editor and publisher of CrossRoadsNews.

James and Ellis need to settle case and end the nightmare By Allen Moye

District Attorney Robert James has to make a difficult decision about what to do with a case that seemed so promising during the investigation but in court, against talented opposition, did not live up to the promise. Suspended CEO Burrell Ellis has a similar and equally difficult decision to make about his own future courses of action. Both men were elected by the voters to protect the best interests of DeKalb, and I hope their sense of duty will guide each to bring this “Clash of Titans” to an end. During his first term of office, James has brought Ellis, the county’s CEO, and Crawford Lewis, the superintendent of schools, to court. I am sure James did not like the outcome of the case against Lewis any more than he liked the Oct. 23 mistrial order. But he should recognize that he has done DeKalb good service by highlighting the pervasive nature of the “culture of corruption” which continues to sully the name of our county. His investigations have stirred to action the voters in DeKalb whose silence over the last 14 years has allowed that culture to be built. While he has not prosecuted

“Ellis must understand that the worst outcome of this situation for DeKalb County would be for him to return to the job from which he has been suspended. Even if he is not convicted, the evidence against him was damning.” Allen Moye

Vernon Jones, as at least two grand juries in the past 14 years have recommended, he at least has riled the voters sufficiently to keep Jones from being elected to another office from which he could have done unimaginable mischief. James has found allies in the battle against corruption in unlikely places. Interim CEO Lee May, who as a commissioner dragged his feet on some reform issues, has become a champion of ethical government. While May’s Organizational Task Force has excluded citizens from membership, across the county other organizations composed of ordinary citizens, such as Blueprint DeKalb and DeKalb Citizens for Good Government, have organized and are demanding reform. Even though his cases did not have the outcomes in court that James might have hoped for, his efforts have not failed because DeKalb is on the mend, and those politicians who put their own inter-

ests before those of the county may soon be headed for the junkyard. Ellis has just such a decision to make. In light of the information coming from the jury about how deeply divided they were during their deliberations, Ellis could decide to stand and fight. Criminal cases generally do not get any better with age. Assuming he can continue to afford them, he has assembled a very talented legal team to defend him. Craig Gillen will no doubt discuss with Ellis a change of venue, given that the hour-by-hour coverage of the trial has so saturated the metropolitan area that it is hard to believe 12 people exist who have not heard something about the trial, the evidence and the outcome. But in light of the sympathy evoked in the jury for Ellis, they may decide that a change of venue only benefits the prosecution. However, any retrial anywhere in Georgia will necessarily spread the word

about DeKalb’s corruption, further damaging the county’s reputation and stalling its recovery. Ellis must understand that the worst outcome of this situation for the people of DeKalb County would be for him to return to the job from which he has been suspended. Even if he is not convicted, the evidence against him was damning. Were Ellis to return to the position of CEO, what honest business would ever want to do business here? What honest contractor would ever want to seek a permit from DeKalb? How many more millions would we have to pay for work that was done by those whose only qualification was that they were willing to pay tribute? In the interest of the people of DeKalb who elected both James and Ellis, these two political titans must end this nightmare and settle this case. Only then can DeKalb really begin to heal and rebuild its reputation. Allen Moye is a retired federal prosecutor and lifelong resident of DeKalb. He served in 1979 as chair of the DeKalb County Government Reorganization Commission, the charter commission created by the General Assembly to propose a new

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November 1, 2014

CrossRoadsNews

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Wellness

CrossRoadsNews

November 1, 2014

“We are taking these proactive steps to protect the health of the people of our state, and this new policy is an altogether effective and appropriate response at this time.”

Deal issues aggressive Ebola policy Travelers from Ebola-affected countries now face more aggressive monitoring procedures when they arrive in Georgia. Because Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is one of five points of entry into the United States from Ebola hot spots in West Africa, Gov. Nathan Deal issued a new policy on Oct. 27 that includes monitoring whether symptomatic or not and quarantine if needed. He said the state is taking every necessary precaution to ensure that Georgia stands prepared to manage the risks of Ebola. “We are taking these proactive steps to protect the health of the people of our state, and this new policy is an altogether effective and appropriate response at this time.” The policy was developed with the Georgia Ebola Response Team that Deal created by executive order on Oct. 20. Public Health Director Brenda Fitzgerald is chair. Travelers will be screened at the airport by quarantine station medical personnel.

Screening includes measuring temperature and checking for symptoms and history of any exposure to known Ebola patients. Travelers showing symptoms will be isolated immediately and transferred to a designated hospital for evaluation. Those with no symptoms will be monitored. n Category 1 – High risk. Travelers with known direct exposure to an Ebola patient. They will be subject to quarantine. n Category 2 – Low risk. Travelers from affected area with no known exposure to an Ebola patient. They will sign a monitoring agreement to self-check their temperature and symptoms twice per day and report results to Public Health. Those who fail to report during the 21-day incubation period will be put in mandatory quarantine. n Category 3 – Medical personnel who actively treated Ebola patients. They will be issued a 21-day active monitoring order and will be visually monitored or visited at their homes by Public Health twice per day.

The DeKalb Medical Auxiliary presented a check for $44,670 to the DeKalb Medical Foundation at the Annual Volunteer Banquet at Smoke Rise Country Club. The funds will be used to renovate the hospital’s Comprehensive Breast Center Reception Area at the North Decatur campus. Pictured are Dane Henry (from left), executive vice president and chief operating officer; Bob McMahan and Judy McMahan, foundation board co-chairs; Leigh Minter, executive director, DeKalb Medical Foundation & Volunteer Services; and Annette Benefield, auxiliary president.

Breast center to be renovated A $44,670 check from the DeKalb Medical Auxiliary will help DeKalb Medical transform its Comprehensive Breast Center on the North Decatur campus into a more modern healing center. The auxiliary presented the check to the DeKalb Medical Foundation at its Annual Volunteer Banquet at Smoke Rise Country Club. The funds will be used to renovate the newly named Maureen and Roy Vandiver, M.D., Comprehensive Breast Center Reception Area, which the hospital said will be

done in phases to allow for a better patient flow and experience for visitors and so not to inconvenience patients. Leigh Minter, the foundation’s executive director, said the auxiliary also has donated more than 38,000 volunteer hours to DeKalb Medical in the past year alone. “Their efforts continue to translate into great improvements for the hospital,” Minter said on Oct. 27. For more information, visit www.dekalbmedical.org.

Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 Noon - 5 p.m. Lower Level, The Mall at Stonecrest

Live Healthy & Prosper! When CrossRoadsNews presented the first Health & Wellness Expo in 2006, it immediately became the biggest celebration of health and wellness in East Metro Atlanta and has attracted more than 6,000 people annually to the Mall at Stonecrest. During the 10th anniversary celebration, we will once again provide information, health screenings and other resources to empower residents to eat healthy, be more active, and know their health status. We will also recognize the exhibitors, sponsors, performers and other supporters who have helped us carry the message of wellness to our community for the last decade.

Limited Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunities available on a first-come, first-served basis.To reserve your space, call 404-284-1888 or email kathy@crossroadsnews.com

More than 6,000 attended the 2014 Expo

Deadline to Book: Dec. 19, 2014

We hope you will join us in this celebration of Health & Wellness in our community.

November 1, 2014

Wellness

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“We know that an HIV-positive individual receiving and adhering to an appropriate treatment regimen is 96 percent less likely to pass HIV to someone else.”

CAPUS offers one-stop online connection to HIV/AIDS care The Georgia Department of Public Health has launched the Georgia CAPUS Care Portal, a one-stop online connection to care for HIV-positive residents. More than 50,000 people living in Georgia are HIV-positive. One in five of them doesn’t know his or her status, and 45 percent of them are not in care. The CAPUS Care Portal – gaCAPUS. com – is a clearinghouse for all information related to HIV/AIDS in the state. It is administered by the HIV Prevention program of the Department of Public Health and is the result of two years of planning and creation. CAPUS, which stands for Care and Prevention in the United States, is a crossagency project led by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that is working to create more efficient and effective systems to improve HIV testing, linkage to and retention in care, specifically targeting highest-risk minority populations. Georgia was one of only eight states in the United States to be awarded part of a $44.2 million grant from the CDC. Georgia DPH received $7.5 million to be used in part for the design and implementation of the CAPUS Care Portal. It says that finding sustainable HIV treatment and care is the single, most important connection HIV-positive individuals can make. But for many, navigating through different systems can become so frustrating that a connection to care is never made. Dr. Patrick O’Neal, the department’s

Grants support prevention of chronic diseases The DeKalb Board of Health is getting more than $928,000 in Health and Human Services grants to support programs aimed at preventing chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson said the grants, funded in part by the Affordable Care Act, will strengthen state and local programs aimed at fighting these chronic diseases, the leadHank Johnson ing causes of death and disability in the United States, and help lower the nation’s health care costs. “These grants represent progress in our work to change the health care paradigm from simply treating the sick to one that also helps keep people well,” Johnson said. “The Affordable Care Act is the greatest effort in 60 years to cut the health care gap, and these HHS grants are an integral part of that strategy.” The Board of Health funding is part of nearly $212 million awarded in September in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The grants will be used to help reduce rates of death and disability due to tobacco use; reduce obesity prevalence; and reduce rates of death and disability due to diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says tobacco use, high blood pressure and obesity are the leading preventable causes of death in the United States. “These grants will enable state and local health departments, national and community organizations, and other partners from all sectors of society to help us prevent heart disease, cancer, stroke and other leading chronic diseases and help Americans to live longer, healthier and more productive lives,” he said. For more information, visit HHS.gov.

More than 50,000 people living in Georgia are HIV-positive. The Georgia CAPUS Care Portal is a clearinghouse for all information related to HIV/ AIDS in the state.

director of health protection, said HIV information currently available online can be confusing or conflicting, “The CAPUS Care Portal cuts through the haze, bringing HIV-positive individuals and pro- Patrick O’Neal viders closer to the truth – treatment is prevention,” he said in an Oct. 7 statement. “We know that an HIV-positive individual receiving and adhering to an appropriate treatment regimen is 96 percent less likely to pass HIV to someone else.” By answering five simple questions in the

easy-to-use Eligibility Portal, users will learn immediately whether they may be eligible for services from the Ryan White Program, a federally funded initiative that works with cities, states and local community-based organizations to provide HIV-related services to people who do not have sufficient health care coverage or financial resources for coping with HIV disease. Continuing toward care is even simpler. Users indicated as eligible for Ryan White services in the portal can request that a provider in the nearest Ryan White clinic contact them directly and discreetly to arrange for a clinic appointment. At the clinic, a Ryan White caseworker helps determine individual

care, often at no cost. The Mapping and Testing Tool provides important data everyone can use to connect more Georgians with quality HIV treatment and care. The public component features a testing map, which lists testing event dates and locations along with a graphic display of HIV/AIDS incidence in the state. Community organizations and health care providers can use the HIV Continuum Visualizer – a specialized map for health care professionals to make better decisions on testing, outreach and linkage-to-care by using current surveillance or incidence data. The DPH says normal Web searches can’t match the portal’s Resource Directory – an online tool to help locate local services for people living with HIV and AIDS. By selecting an area of the state, users are connected with essential services in the most important categories: HIV testing, medication assistance, oral health, food assistance, case management, treatment, housing assistance, mental health, substance abuse, primary care, family planning, shelters, funeral services, legal services, spiritual resources, LGBTQ friendliness, and transportation. The Medical Information Pages cut through confusing information and provide relevant, fact-based information for people living with HIV/AIDS, service providers, and anyone wanting to know more. To explore features of the portal, visit gaCAPUS.com. For more information, call 1-800-551-2728.

Doc Talks Upcoming Seminars at DeKalb Medical Mindful Eating this Holiday Season Monday, November 10, 2014 6:30–7:30 p.m. Community Room at DeKalb Medical – Hillandale campus As the holidays approach, learn how to use all your senses to choose food that is both satisfying and nourishing. Through interactive techniques, diabetes educators and dietitians will explain how to select the right foods at parties, understand physical fullness, become a food critic, calm your holiday stress without overeating and change your relationship with food.

Is Heartburn Burning You Up? Tuesday, November 18, 2014 6:30–7:30 p.m. Theatre at DeKalb Medical – North Decatur campus Do you wonder if you will be taking antacids and pills the rest of your life to treat your heartburn? Hear from DeKalb Medical’s Heartburn Solutions Center professionals as they discuss how you can keep chronic heartburn from disrupting your life and your enjoyment of the holidays. Our expert panel includes: Mark Stern, M.D., Scott Steinberg, M.D., dietitian Leslie Tranter and nurse navigator Pam Briggs. Call 770.415.2383 or visit www.dekalbmedical.org

For a referral to a DeKalb Medical physician or to reserve your space for these free seminars, please call 770.415.2383. Light refreshments will be served. Parking is free. www.dekalbmedical.org

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Youth DeKalb Schools lands tech grant DeKalb students will have greater access to technology through an $8.4 million grant from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. The Connections for Classrooms grant will be used to “implement digital and blended learning, improve achievement, and align with the Governor’s Digital Learning Task Force,” the DeKalb School System in an Oct. 27 statement. Superintendent Michael Thurmond said they are thankful for the support and recognition that will help the district build a 21st century learning environment. The district will install interactive boards and 100 percent wireless connectivity in every classroom, add 19,000 new computers, and expand Internet capacity and controlled access to the Web. The grant to DeKalb is the largest single amount awarded to a school district. A total of 143 school districts, two state charter schools and one state school applied for more than $198 million.

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November 1, 2014

“We appreciate your continued focus on fostering activities that ensure all students can achieve success.”

Fall back into good habits with Nov. 2 time change Clocks fall back on Nov. 2 for the return to Eastern Standard Time. Before going to sleep Saturday night, remember to set your clocks back an hour and enjoy the extra hour of snooze Sunday. The annual fall-back routine also is a good opportunity to: n Check your smoke detector to make sure the batteries are still good and that it is working. With cold weather and efforts to warm ourselves, risks of fire increase and a working smoke detector increases the chance of surviving a fire. n Revisit your child’s sleep routine. As it gets darker earlier each night, parents and caregivers can help children sleep better. Children younger than 5 years old need at least 11 hours of sleep and kids 5 to 10 years old need at least 10 hours. Those older than 10 need at least nine hours of sleep. Dr. Stephanie Walsh, medical director of Child Wellness at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, says that lack of sleep can set kids up for obesity, and obesity can lead to a host of serious illnesses. She offers these tips for better sleep: n Establish a sleep routine. Try to have your child Stephanie Walsh go to sleep and wake up at about the same time, even on weekends and during the summer. n Nix electronic devices near bedtime. Light from cell phones, computers, tablets and televisions signal your child’s body that it’s

time to gear up. So flip the off switch (and remove devices from the bedroom) at least 30 minutes before bed. Not only will this help kids begin to settle down, it’ll help limit screen time. n Calm the mind. Anxiety and racing thoughts can make it tough for the body and mind to relax and rest. Before bedtime, try reading a book to your child or playing soothing music. An added bonus for helping your kids get enough sleep: You get more downtime. For more information and tips, visit www.strong4life.com.

Most kids adjust within week Child sleep consultant Lori Strong suggests that parents get a jump on Eastern Standard Time by turning back their clocks on Friday night and using Saturday to help their children adjust. “It will be easier to go with the flow on Saturday and Sunday instead of just on Sunday,” she said. Strong, founder of Austin, Texas-based Lori Strong Strong Little Sleepers, says most children adjust to the time change within a few days to a week. “This is a great time of year to evaluate what you are doing and make any necessary changes to improve your child’s sleep,” she said. For more information, visit www.stronglittlesleepers.com.

Wadsworth Magnet is Beta School Red Ribbon contest for shutterbugs Wadsworth Magnet School for High Achievers is a National Beta School of Distinction. In an Oct. 24 congratulatory letter to the school’s principal, Dr. Cornellia Crum, National Beta Club CEO Bob O. Bright said Wadsworth has “every right to be proud of its notable accomplishment.” “This national award speaks highly of your commitment to academic rigor and illustrates your dedication to preparing students for college and career readiness,” he said. The Beta School award comes on the heels of the school being named a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School for Exemplary

High Performance by the U.S. Department of Education in September. Bright said Wadsworth’s students understand the importance of the Beta qualities of high academic achievement, rewarding and nurturing worthy character, improving student leadership skills, and exemplifying the Beta motto, “Let Us Lead by Serving Others.” Bright added that a National Beta Club in the school provides a unique learning experience that allows students to achieve lifelong goals. “We appreciate your continued focus on fostering activities that ensure all students can achieve success,” he wrote.

prizes, and one prize for a school Students, families and schools decoration will be awarded. have until Nov. 4 to enter the Red To enter: Ribbon Photo Contest for a chance to win an iPad and $1,000 for their n Students and families decorate k-12 school of choice. their home’s front door, mailbox or The contest, which promotes fence with a double-looped red ribdrug awareness and prevention bon and the theme “Love Yourself. among youth, helps mark the 29th Be Drug Free.” Schools may decoannual Red Ribbon Week, observed rate any part of their campus. Peggy Sapp Oct. 23-31. n Take a photo with your decoraPeggy Sapp, president of the National tion and upload it to www.RedRibbon.org/ Family Partnership, said the contest can help enter. children make smart decisions and grow up n Ask family and friends to vote for your safe, healthy and drug-free. entry beginning Nov. 5. Ten families nationwide will be selected n Eleven winners will be announced on for the iPad and $1,000 donation grand Dec. 5.

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Finance

“We hope judges will give sentences that reflect how flagrantly someone has ignored the law.”

Fines, jail time for illegal signs Water billing process improved Business signs placed on utility poles, in rights of way and along roadsides will soon become an expensive way for business owners to advertise in DeKalb County. The illegal signs could result in fines up to $1,000 and up to six days in jail. The new aggressive enforcement measures were recently implemented by DeKalb Clean and Beautiful. Gordon Burkette, the department’s manager, said illegal sign posters are on notice. “We have county employees photographing the signs so we can document the locations and Gordon Burkette enter phone numbers from the signs into a database,” Burkette said in an Oct. 10 statement. He said each photograph is stamped with a date, time and location. The sign is removed after it has been photographed, and a sharply worded recorded phone message is sent five to seven times to the number on the sign, warning that the signs were illegally posted and that legal action could be taken. Burkette said the program is a simple, low-cost approach to a growing problem of bootleg signs. He said they contribute to visual clutter and are a safety hazard. “They distract drivers and may obstruct their view of oncoming traffic,” he said. Burkette said the illegal signs create an untidy appearance and send the message that no one cares how the area looks. “A neat, well-cared-for area discourages crime and litter and is appealing to residents, visitors, business owners and potential customers,” Burkette added. The database of phone numbers from

illegally posted signs will be used to help prosecute offenders. “When the same phone number appears again and again, it suggests that the same person or business is guilty of multiple offenses,” Burkette said. “We hope judges will give sentences that reflect how flagrantly someone has ignored the law.” Burkette said the message on the sign is irrelevant. “We don’t care whether they advertise a business, a political candidate, a yard sale or whatever,” he said. “If they are posted illegally, they must come down.” Burkette said neighborhood associations that are vigilant in reporting and removing signs will be rewarded and DeKalb Clean and Beautiful is now training community organizations for its “Sick of Signs” brigades to help rid communities of illegal signs. The Stone Mountain CID is among the first organizations to embrace the new sign ordinance. Emory Morsberger, the CID’s president, welcomed the program. “This program will make our area even more attractive for new and growing businesses,” he said. Joey Chapman, president of Air Filter Sales and Service Inc., a business within the Stone Moun- Emory Morsberger tain CID, also applauds the measure. “Bootleg signs on poles and corners are symbolic of blight and decline,” Chapman said. “We are excited to work with DeKalb Clean and Beautiful to clear the problem.” For more information, visit http://web .co.dekalb.ga.us/beautiful/index.html or call 404-294-2010.

DeKalb has updated and improved its water billing process and is investigating higher-than-average water bills experienced by some county customers. Chief Operating Officer Zachary Williams said the county is actively resolving 5,640 affected accounts. “It is our top priority to ensure the accuracy of all bills and that citizens have the resources available to understand their bills and make payments on time,” he said. Improvements to the water billing process include: n Resolution of affected accounts. A letter with a targeted bill audit between Oct. 15Dec. 15 has been distributed to residents identified with recent bills totaling twice their normal averages or greater. n Additional staffing and phone lines. The addition of 35 customer service represen-

Program for micro-entrepreneurs The Start:Micro-Entrepreneur Accelerator Program is recruiting microentrepreneurs in the Clarkston and East Lake communities for a free program offering training, mentorship and financial support. Information sessions will begin Nov. 3, and the deadline to apply is Nov. 19 for Clarkston and Dec. 1 for the East Lake program. The 14-week program has a $30,000 loan pool in each community to support the most promising micro-entrepreneurs, who must meet strict attendance standards. Fifteen to 20 participants will be selected in both communities. They will get business training, mentorship support, and early-stage financing to develop viable

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV8496-2++ Richard Garfield Messick, Jr. Plaintiff Vs. Olga Amparo Quintero Defendant To: By Order of the Court for service by publication dated September 9, 2014 you are hereby notified that on September 9, 2014, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for Uncontested Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of the Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: No Attorney. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days

of September 9, 2014. Witness the Honorable Asha F. Jackson, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 29th day of September, 2014

Petitioner, Pro se 4415 Riverwood Circle Decatur, GA 30035 (404) 388-9560

Petitioner, Pro se 5678 Cedar Craft Lane Lithonia, GA 30058 678-431-3601

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Notice of Petition to Change Name of Adult

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV9841-3++ Carmen DeCarlo Allen, filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on June 4, 2014 to change the name from: Carmen DeCarlo Lamb to Carmen DeCarlo Allen. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: June 4, 2014 Carmen Allen aka Carmen Lamb

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV10028-2++ Donyiele Nichole Daniels filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on October 20, 2014 to change the name from: Donyiele Nichole Daniels to Carmen Donyiele Nichole Johnson. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: Oct. 10, 2014 Donyiele Nichole Daniels

in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

and sustainable microbusinesses. Since 2013, 24 entrepreneurs have graduated in Clarkston with $60,000 in lowinterest loans. Upcoming information sessions: n Nov. 3 – 6-7 p.m. at the Villages of East Lake, 460 East Lake Blvd. in Atlanta. n Nov. 6 – 6-8 p.m. at Toomer Elementary School, 65 Rogers St. N.E. in Atlanta. n Nov. 8 – 10 a.m.-noon at Clarkston First Baptist Church’s Family Life Center, 3999 Church St. in Clarkston. n Nov. 15 – 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Zaban Recreation Center, 241 Daniel Ave. S.E. in Atlanta. For more information and to apply, visit www.startmeaccelerator.org.

filed suit against you for Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of the Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: LaToshia Cordova, 88 Clay Street, SE, Atlanta, GA 30317. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of September 30, 2014. Witness the Honorable Clarence R. Seeliger, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 2nd day of October, 2014

Legal Notices 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/1

tatives will help answer questions and resolve customer billing concerns. The automated payment phone line is currently open to all customers at 404-371-6294. n Sixty satellite payment locations. Satellite sites have opened at local Kroger, Citgo, Walmart and other retail locations to provide easy bill payment options. A map and list of locations can be found at http://www. dekalbwatershed.com/PDF/authorized_payment_locations.pdf. For questions or more information, email dekalbwaterbillingfn@dekalbcountyga.gov, visit www.dekalbwatershed.com or call 404-378-4475. DeKalb residents also can visit the Department of Finance’s Water and Sewer Billing table at the DeKalb Neighborhood Summit on Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Tucker High School, 5036 LaVista Road.

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV9485-3++ Latoshia Cordova Plaintiff Vs. George Cordova, Jr. Defendant To: George Cordova, Jr. 3319 Old Salem Road, SE Conyers, GA 30013 By Order of the Court for service by publication dated September 30, 2014 you are hereby notified that on September 25, 2014, the above-named Plaintiff

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV9538-9++ Ruth Marisol Ramos-Marroquin Plaintiff Vs. Andres Morales-Gonzales Defendant To: Andres Morales-Gonzales By Order of the Court for service by publication dated September 30, 2014 you are hereby notified that on September 26, 2014, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for Petition For Declaration of Custody. You are required to file with the Clerk of the Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Donald M. Coleman, Bar #177450, 246 Sycamore Street, Suite 120, Decatur, GA 30030.

Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of September 30, 2014. Witness the Honorable Mark Anthony Scott, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 30th day of September, 2014 10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/08

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV9691-7++ Barbara M. Porch Plaintiff Vs. Andre Christopher Porch Defendant To: Andre Christopher Porch 1200 Fairview Street Decatur, GA By Order of the Court for service by publication dated October 15, 2014 you are hereby notified that on October 3, 2014, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of the Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Barbara Porch, 1417 Queen Place, Decatur, GA 30035. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of October 15, 2014. Witness the Honorable Daniel M. Coursey, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 15th day of October, 2014

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November 1, 2014

Harris and Berry have collected a variety of perspectives on slavery, emancipation and black life in Savannah from the city’s founding to the early 18th century.

Retired TV anchor to share story

Daina Ramey Berry and Leslie M. Harris will talk at the Decatur Library on Nov. 6 about “Slavery and Freedom in Savannah,” a book they edited.

Scholars to discuss slavery in Ga. Nationally recognized scholars Leslie M. Harris of Emory University and Daina Ramey Berry of the University of Texas will talk about “Slavery and Freedom in Savannah” on Nov. 6 at the Decatur Library. Their discussion begins at 7:15 p.m. “Slavery and Freedom in Savannah” is a richly illustrated, accessibly written book modeled on the very successful “Slavery in New York,” a volume Harris co-edited with Ira Berlin. In the new book, editors Harris and Berry have collected a variety of perspectives on slavery, emancipation and black life in Savannah from the city’s founding to the early 18th century. Written by leading historians of Savannah, Georgia and the South, the volume in-

cludes a mix of longer thematic essays and shorter sidebars focusing on individual people, events and places. Harris, Winship Distinguished Research Professor in the Humanities, 2011-2014, is author of “In the Shadow of Slavery,” in which she challenged the prevailing view of slavery as a phenomenon of the southern United States with little impact or importance in the North. Berry’s research includes 19th-century American history, comparative slavery, and Southern history with emphasis on the role of gender, labor, family and economy among the enslaved. The library is at 215 Sycamore St. in downtown Decatur. For more information, call 404-370-3070.

Author to dish on imagination American novels like Mark Twain’s Best-selling author Azar Nafisi, “The Adventures of Huckleberry who sings the praises of literature in Finn,” Sinclair Lewis’ “Babbitt,” and “The Republic of Imagination,” will Carson McCullers’ “The Heart Is a discuss the book on Nov. 3 at First Lonely Hunter.” Baptist Church Decatur. Nafisi is also the author of the The two-hour talk begins at 7 New York Times best seller “Readp.m. ing Lolita in Tehran.” “The Republic of Imagination,” The church is at 308 Clairean impassioned and original tribute mont Ave. in Decatur. to the vital importance of fiction in Azar Nafisi For more information, visit www.dekalb a democratic society, blends memoir and polemic with readings from Nafisi’s favorite library.org.

Former TV news anIn February 2014, she chor Amanda Davis will was found not guilty of share her personal journey DUI in a November 2012 of grace and new begincrash that injured another nings at the second annual driver. Davis was sentenced women’s empowerment tea to 20 hours of community fundraiser on Nov. 1 at the service and ordered to pay Mary Hall Freedom House a $200 fine. in Atlanta. The tea benefits the A Journey of Grace nonprofit Mary Hall Freetakes place from 11 a.m. to dom House, which provides 1 p.m. in Freedom Hall. treatment, recovery, housDavis, who has battled ing and support services to alcoholism, was an Atlanta Amanda Davis, a 30-year anchor, help women with children TV news anchor for 30 retired from Fox 5 in 2013. break the cycle of addiction, years and received mulpoverty and homelessness. tiple Emmys, numerous awards from the To purchase a table or a ticket, visit http:// Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, the maryhallfreedomhouse.org or contact Marprestigious Edward R. Murrow Award, and a tha Moore at martha.moore@mhfh.org or Gabby Award from the Georgia Association 770-642-5500. of Broadcasters. Mary Hall Freedom House is at 200 HanShe retired from Fox 5 in 2013. nover Park Road.

Veterans to speak at Nov. 5 program Retired Maj. Gen. Marcelite J. Harris, the first African-American female general of the U.S. Air Force, will speak at DeKalb’s 13th annual Veterans Day Program on Nov. 5 at the Porter Sanford III Performing Marcelite Harris Arts Center. The 11 a.m.-to-noon program will be followed by a Veterans Resource Fair and Exposition in the atrium. It is free and open to the public. Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is Nov. 11. The program’s theme is “We Are United.” Harris, who received a Bachelor of Arts in speech and drama from Spelman College in 1964, retired on Feb. 22, 1997. Her 30year career includes a number of firsts – the first woman aircraft maintenance officer for the Air Force, the first woman deputy com-

mander for maintenance, and one of the first two women air officers commanding at the U.S. Air Force Academy. James M. Blaylock, president of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Foundation, also James Blaylock will speak at the event. The Marine Corps veteran served in Vietnam as a rotary wing aviator. He is a longtime Decatur resident and veterans advocate and a founding board member of the Georgia Veterans Leadership Program and the DeKalb Veterans Affairs Task Force. The Veterans Expo, which ends at 2 p.m., will feature workshops, panel discussions and resource tables for veterans. The Porter Sanford Center is at 3181 Rainbow Drive in Decatur. For more information, visit www. onedekalb.com.

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Scene

“She’s in need of a bone marrow transplant. Her bone marrow doesn’t make the blood cells she needs.”

Macy’s Pink Pig rides herald the holidays By Ken Watts

Priscilla the Pink Pig – one of the surest signs of the approaching holiday season – is up and running outside Macy’s at Lenox Square in Buckhead. The pink train ride kicked off Oct. 30 with VIP riders who are patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The kids and their families took the first ride of the season through the life-sized storybook scenes that include a pink tunnel, a forest of Christmas trees, and walls of mirrors. Six-year-old Marli Wilson of Hartwell, who is battling severe aplastic anemia, got the season’s first ride. “It was awesome,” she said as the train rolled to a stop. “I want Marli Wilson The Pink Pig is a cherished Atlanta holiday tradition. Rides are available now to go again.” Marli’s mother, Kayla Wilson, said it means a lot through Jan. 4 near Macy’s at Lenox Square. The train rides through life-sized storybook scenes to the delight of kids and the young at heart. to see her daughter happy. “She’s in need of a bone marrow transplant,” she said. “Her was reintroduced to a new generation in 2003. bone marrow doesn’t make the blood cells she needs.” The $3 ride opens to the public Nov. 1 through Jan. 4. While she awaits a donor, Marli is being treated at Children’s It is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. There Healthcare. are discounts for multiple rides. Four-year-old McKinley Parks, who got a bone marrow Macy’s at Lenox Square is at 3393 Peachtree Road N.E. in transplant in February from her 2-year-old sister, Jordan, was Atlanta. thrilled with her ride. For the full schedule, including hours of operation, visit The Parks sisters are from Tallahassee, but they’ve been www.macys.com/pinkpig. staying with their grandparents in Stone Mountain during their follow-up treatments at the hospital. Their father, Darryl Parks, said they are grateful to Children’s Healthcare and Macy’s for making the train ride possible. The creative talents of DeKalb Public Library emThe Pink Pig is a cherished Atlanta holiday tradition for ployees will be on display in the Employee Art Expo at more than 50 years. the Decatur Library. The holiday ride dates back to the 1950s when it debuted The monthlong exhibit features a range of art forms. as a children’s ride at the downtown Rich’s department store, It is open in November during library hours. which was acquired by Macy’s. Some items are for sale. Proceeds benefit the DeKalb Priscilla – the original Pink Pig – began as a monorail along Library Foundation. the ceiling of Rich’s. It gave children the experience of “flying The library is at 215 Sycamore St. For more informaover” the toy department. tion, call 404-370-3070. Later, another pig – Percival – was added and they became known as the Pink Pig monorail twins. Priscilla the Pink Pig

Art expo benefits library group

Gabbie McGee

Georgia Me

Queen Sheba

Music, poetry at library R&B/jazz vocalist Gabbie McGee and spoken word artists Georgia Me and Queen Sheba will headline Scribes & Vibes on Nov. 8 at the Stonecrest Library in Lithonia. The program, which includes art by Eliot Stiles, takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. It is suitable for all ages and open to the public. Reservations are required and are available at www. scribesandvibes.net or by calling 770-482-3828. The event is sponsored by Friends of Stonecrest Library and Expressable Ink. The library is at 3123 Klondike Road. For more information, call 770-482-3828.

Family storytelling fest Children in pre-k through fifth grade and their families can participate in the Triple Tales Family Festival on Nov. 1 at the Decatur Library. The two-hour storytelling fest begins at 11 a.m. There will be games and fables, folktales and fairy tales by acclaimed storyteller Barry Stewart Mann. Participants are welcome to wear costumes representing their favorite storybook characters. The festival is sponsored by the Organization of DeKalb Educators, Peach Seed Youth Storytelling Festival, Kuumba Storytellers, and Southern Order of Storytellers, and the limit is 125. To register, email ireaduread@hotmail.com or anne50w@aol.com. The library is at 215 Sycamore St. For more information, call 404-508-7190, Ext. 2257.

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