FORUM
HOLIDAY
Commendable, but flawed
Ringing sensations
MARTA’s hopes for TODs along the East Line extension are promising, but the overall plan has a major flaw. 6
Handbell choirs from six metro Atlanta churches will ring in the holidays with a Christmas concert on Dec. 3. 7
Let’s Keep DeKalb Peachy Clean Please Don’t Litter Our Streets and Highways
EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER • STONECREST
Copyright © 2017 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
November 25, 2017
Volume 23, Number 30
www.crossroadsnews.com
DeKalb Medical, Emory Healthcare announce merger plan By Rosie Manins
DeKalb Medical will become part of the Emory Healthcare system if a planned partnership goes ahead in 2018. The two nonprofit institutions said Nov. 14 that they have signed a letter of intent to develop a strategic partnership, in which DeKalb Medical would come under the Emory Healthcare system – Georgia’s largest. In a joint statement, they said the partnership would allow for continued growth and expanded services to better serve the community.
Robert Wilson, president and CEO of DeKalb Medical, said the nonprofit health system is excited about the future. “Our community has counted on us for 56 years and we’ve always been here – growing to meet Robert Wilson our community’s needs,” he said. “This partnership will strengthen our ability to continue to deliver high quality community-based healthcare.” Both health systems say they anticipate finalizing the partnership in 2018, after
receiving final approval from regulatory agencies. Emor y Healthcare CEO Jonathan Lewin said both institutions have a commitment to providing exceptional care to the community, and a partnership would strategically support that Jonathan Lewin effort. “We understand the importance of both community hospitals and academic medical centers in delivering optimal care to our patients,” said Lewin, who is also executive
vice president for health affairs at Emory University. DeKalb Medical, which has three hospitals in Decatur and Lithonia and 50 physicians group offices, hit a rough patch late last year when John Shelton resigned as CEO and about 60 workers were laid off amid financial strain. The health care system, which has 115 providers in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, also did away with about 80 vacant positions in the latter part of 2016. In August 2016 John Katsianis resigned as DeKalb Medical’s chief financial officer for Please see PARTNERSHIP, page 2
Publix, Kroger closings portend ‘grocery gap’ Residents face loss of large markets in Hairston corridor
A Publix spokeswoman has confirmed that this supermarket on Hairston Road at Covington Highway will close on March 3, 2018. The Florida-based chain has not officially notified local customers, but the spokeswoman said it is planning to do so at least a month prior to closing.
By Lyle V. Harris
Publix Super Markets’ announcement that it will shutter its Decatur store at South Hairston Road and Covington Highway next spring comes as Stone Mountain shoppers are still reeling from the unexpected closure of the Kroger at North Hairston and Memorial Drive last month. The recent moves are raising alarms among customers, community leaders and county officials who are now hoping to prevent an exodus of name-brand shopping chains from the area. Publix spokeswoman Brenda Reid confirmed that the store, which coanchors the Hairston Crossing shopping center at 2075 South Hairston Road with a Walgreens, will close on March 3, 2018, after 15 years at that Brenda Reid location. The Florida-based chain has not officially notified local customers, but Reid said it is planning to do so at least a month prior to closing. Reid said the store has been underperforming for some time now. “We appreciate the support we have gotten from customers and it’s with a very heavy heart that we close any store,” she said. “Unfortunately, we just weren’t able to make that store profitable.” Reid said store employees have already been notified of the impending closure. Once the store goes dark, she said customers will be encouraged to patronize Publix’s other south DeKalb markets at Flakes Mill Road, Panola Road and Glenwood Road – the closest of which is about three miles away. DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, who represents District 5 where
Sharif Williams / CrossRoadsNews
the Publix is located, convened a high-level meeting Wednesday to discuss the issue. The meeting at the county’s government office in downtown Decatur reportedly included Reid, DeKalb Chief Operating Officer Zach Williams and other county officials. Johnson said last-ditch pleas to convince Publix representatives to keep the store open were unsuccessful. “They told us that the store had not been profitable for 10 years and they struggled to keep it open and continued to operate in the red,” Johnson said. “It’s very unfortunate, but they’re a for-profit corporation and I understand their decision.” Hairston Crossing shopping center also has a Marco’s Pizza, Chase bank. and Lucky Panda restaurant. Kimp Walton, who lives around the corner from the Publix, says he shops there about four times a week and expects the closure will be a major setback for his fam-
ily, which includes five children, and his neighborhood. “I can’t imagine the ripple effect if [Publix] leaves.” Walton said. “If we lose this store, it will impact a lot of us who shop there because they have better quality groceries than the other stores in our area.” Janice Carr, 66, a retired microbiologist, has lived in Walton’s subdivision for 50 years. She is skeptical that economics is solely behind the scheduled closing. Carr first heard about the impending closure from an employee of the SunTrust bank branch inside Publix. “I don’t know if you call it racism but they just don’t treat people who live in this area the same as other places,” said Carr, who describes herself as an “old white woman with white hair.” “They just treat us crummy. I also think we as a community haven’t demanded better. These stores close and we don’t get anything
of quality to replace them.” The news about Publix has whipsawed through nearby subdivisions and emerged as a trending topic on Nextdoor, the hyperlocal website that serves as a virtual bulletin board. Just a few miles north in Stone Mountain, Publix’s impending closure has sparked a foreboding sense of déjà vu. On Oct. 13, the Kroger store in the Hairston Village Shopping Center at 965 North Hairston Road, near Memorial Drive, closed after 18 years in business, leaving a so-called “grocery gap” in the community. In a press release explaining the decision, Kroger said the store experienced declining sales and negative profit over an extended period of time. “Its closure was necessary to make Kroger more competitive in the market,” the statePlease see CLOSINGS, page 3
CrossRoadsNews
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Community Arrest in death of man found near Stonecrest
By Rosie Manins
An Atlanta man has been arrested in South Carolina in connection with the death of Sergio Ulysses Collins, whose body was found in a parking lot near the Mall at Stonecrest on Oct 20. Collins, 27, of Atlanta was shot multiple times; he was found dead inside his white Pontiac Grand Prix. The vehicle was parked outside the DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse in the 8100 block of Mall Parkway Sergio Collins in Lithonia and was discovered by a DeKalb Police officer at about 4:30 a.m. on Oct. 20 during a routine patrol of the area. Police believe Collins was killed on Oct. 17 in the 200 block of Elm Street in Atlanta. It is unclear how his body ended up 23 miles away, inside his car. On Nov. 2, FBI agents arrested 29-yearold Purcious Smith in Charleston, S.C., on charges of felony murder and armed robbery in connection with Collins’ death. Smith, of Atlanta, is being held in custody Purcious Smith in Charleston for extradition to Atlanta on the charges. Atlanta police issued a missing person alert for Collins the week of his death, saying they had reason to believe he was in danger. Collins was last seen in the area of Spencer Street in Atlanta on Oct. 14, and police had asked the public to help find him and his white 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix. A “gofundme” campaign started by Collins’ wife, Shauna Carter, on Oct. 20 has reached $170 to date. Carter says her husband was kidnapped and shot twice, “once in the left side of his face and once on the left side of his body.” “This happened to such a great man, he loved his family, he loved his child, he loved me, he was a church-going man, he didn’t deserve to be done that way,” she said on the campaign page. “I’m so hurt I haven’t slept, I haven’t ate, they took my soul away from me, this didn’t supposed to happen to him,” she said.
“This is only the first step in protecting the rights of immigrants and refugees.”
U.S. ups the ante on Project Safe Neighborhoods By Rosie Manins
Project Safe Neighborhoods, which has proved to reduce violent crime in metro Atlanta communities, particularly in DeKalb County, is getting a boost from the federal government. The national law enforcement program, which awarded almost $500,000 to DeKalb police last year, is being reinvigorated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions as part of crime prevention strategies managed under the Department of Justice. “Project Safe Neighborhoods is not just one policy idea among many, it is the centerpiece of our crime reduction strategy,” Sessions said on Oct. 5. “Taking what we have learned since the program began in 2001, we have updated it and enhanced it, emphasizing the role of our U.S. attorneys, the promise of new technologies, and above all, partnership with local communities. With these changes, I believe that this program will be more effective than ever and help us fulfill our mission to make America safer.” In 2016, Project Safe Neighborhoods awarded a $499,899 grant to the Brookhaven, Chamblee and DeKalb County police departments to reduce gang violence. The money also allowed the Rehoboth Baptist Church
A Forest Park man has been arrested for allegedly robbing five different banks throughout metro Atlanta, including one in DeKalb County. Conyers police arrested MacKenzie Nathaniel Brunson, 27, on Nov. 9, after Atlanta police received an anonymous tip from Crime Stoppers the day before. The FBI asked for the public’s help on Nov. 6 to MacKenzie Brunson identify and locate a suspect who was caught on video robbing several banks. It offered an undisclosed reward for information leading to the robber’s arrest. Brunson allegedly robbed two banks on Oct. 14 and made off with undisclosed amounts of money from each. He also tried
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is not just one policy idea among many, it is the centerpiece of our crime reduction strategy.” U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions
in Tucker to provide youth services, in an effort to prevent young people from becoming involved with gangs and crime. “The Northern District of Georgia has actively participated in Project Safe Neighborhoods since its inception,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn. “PSN produced a marked reduction in violent crime in communities in metro Atlanta, where it has been implemented,” he said. Brookhaven Police Chief Gary Yandura said the PSN strategy has been effective in reducing gun crime and gang violence within the city. “The Brookhaven Police Department has used the PSN grant funds received last year to strengthen our anti-gang strategy,” Yandura said. “Joining forces with the Chamblee Police Department and DeKalb County Police Department, as well as our federal partners and our research and prevention partners,
has resulted in significant and strategic investigations that will ultimately reduce gang violence in our communities,” he said. Sessions has issued a memo directing United States attorneys to implement an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates the lessons learned from PSN. He has also activated six other crime prevention strategies, which will see 40 additional assistant U.S. attorney positions in 20 locations nationwide; more police on the streets due to a $98 million COPS Hiring Grant for local law enforcement departments; seed money from the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force to help locally focused gang investigations identify connections between lower-level gangs and national-level drug trafficking organizations; a critical training and technical assistance center and hotline; Crime Gun Intelligence Centers in Phoenix, Ariz., and Kansas City, Mo.; and a nationwide expansion of an urgent trace program for firearms. “According to the FBI, the violent crime rate has risen by nearly seven percent over the past two years, and the homicide rate has risen by more than 20 percent,” Sessions said.
Decatur formalizes ‘non-detainer’ rule for ICE requests By Rosie Manins
The city of Decatur is formally restricting collaboration between its police department and U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE), following the example set by several municipalities and counties within metropolitan Atlanta. Decatur is the second city in DeKalb to codify a previously unwritten policy for its police department – that no person should be detained by Decatur police in order for ICE officers to collect and deport them, unless ICE presents a judicially issued warrant. ICE routinely issues requests called “detainers” or “administrative immigration warrants,” asking local law enforcement departments to detain individuals for upwards of 48 hours to allow time for ICE officials to pick up immigrants from local facilities for potential deportation. Several federal court rulings have suggested that jailing people based on ICE detainers can violate their constitutional rights. Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss said for more than 11 years it has been an unwritten policy and practice among the city’s police that people should only be detained upon a judicially issued warrant. Over the summer Merriss, Decatur police and the city’s attorney worked to formalize
Serial bank robbery suspect arrested By Rosie Manins
November 25, 2017
unsuccessfully to rob three more banks on Oct. 16, 27 and 28. Police said Nov. 17 that Brunson was in the Rockdale County jail. His mugshot was compared to surveillance footage from the banks, and a note demanding money from one of the banks matched a book police located in Brunson’s vehicle. The FBI said Nov. 6 that the first two bank robberies were committed at Fifth Third Bank branches inside Kroger supermarkets at 3240 South Cobb Drive in Smyrna and 590 Cascade Ave. S.W. in Atlanta. The next robbery occurred on Oct. 16 at the Chase Bank at 2491 Village Creek Landing in Atlanta in DeKalb. Other robberies took place on Oct. 27 at the Wells Fargo Bank at 1459 Moreland Ave. S.E. in Atlanta, and on Oct. 28 at the PNC Bank inside the Kroger at 2685 Metropolitan Parkway S.W.A in Atlanta.
that rule in writing. The rule was completed late September. Decatur police are now instructed to “not arrest, hold, extend the detention of, transfer custody of, or transport anyone solely on the basis of an immigration detainer or an administrative immigration warrant, including an administrative immigration warrant in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.” The general order manual for Decatur police also states the department does not make the assumption that a detainer or request for notification from ICE is an indication that a person is unlawfully present. “That is for other law enforcement agencies and the court system to determine,” it states. Anyone arrested by Decatur Police is taken to the DeKalb County Jail on Memorial Drive. Clarkston was the first municipality in DeKalb County to formalize a non-detainer policy for its officers earlier this year. In September, after President Donald Trump removed protections for illegal immigrants brought to America as children, Atlanta implemented its own non-detainer policy. The DeKalb, Fulton, Clayton and Fayette county police departments also operate under almost identical policies. There are an estimated 400,000 illegal
immigrants in Georgia, the seventh highest number of undocumented foreigners in any U.S. state. About 42,000 of those are living in DeKalb, census data shows. Mexicans make up about 56 percent, or 220,000, of Georgia’s illegal immigrants, with other large groups from Guatemala, India, Honduras and Korea. An estimated 11.4 million immigrants are living illegally in the U.S. Decatur’s non-detainer policy is being applauded by several organizations, including Hate Free Decatur, the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, Project South and the Georgia Not1More Coalition. “This is only the first step in protecting the rights of immigrants and refugees,” Sara Patenaude, a Hate Free Decatur founder, said Oct. 2. The groups also want Decatur to adopt a comprehensive ordinance spelling out its protections for immigrants and refugees in detail. “We are grateful to the commission and city manager for this statement of support to our immigrant friends and neighbors who live in fear of ICE coming into their homes, places of work and worship, brutalizing them and their families and communities,” Patenaude said. “We believe that by upholding the human rights of all people, regardless of status, we will build communities that are safer, more equitable, and more just.”
Expanded services key to merger between Emory, DeKalb Medical PARTNERSHIP,
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personal reasons, and on Nov. 11, 2016, the institution’s board accepted the resignation of chief operating officer Dane Henry, effective immediately. His reason for leaving was not made public. DeKalb Medical’s staff of 3,900 includes 820 doctors in 55 specialties. DeKalb Medical’s 2017 fiscal year statistics show there were 24,736 annual admissions, 560,176 outpatient visits, 130,106 emergency visits and 4,386 births. Emory Healthcare, established in 1905, is the largest health care system in Georgia and includes the clinically integrated Emory Healthcare Network, established in 2011, with nearly 2,000 Emory and private practice physicians in 70 specialties and
seven hospitals in metro Atlanta. It also comprises the Emory Clinic, Emory Wesley Woods campus, 200 provider locations across Georgia, and nearly 60 urgent care clinics in metro Atlanta, as well as Emory Specialty Associates, an outreach physician practice organization with 34 locations in 11 counties statewide. Emory Healthcare, the clinical component of Emory University, is part of Emory’s Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center, an academic health center comprising hospitals and clinics as well as schools of medicine, public health and nursing, the Winship Cancer Institute, and Yerkes National Primate Research Center. It has total operating revenue of more than $4 billion a year and gets more than $500 million in annual research funding.
CrossRoadsNews
November 25, 2017
Community
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“I want to continue working to bring people together to get things done in Congress for the American people and my constituents specifically.”
Congressman to seek seventh term representing 4th District
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) is running for office for a seventh term in 2018. Johnson, who lives in Lithonia, announced his bid for another term on office on Nov. 13. He said that having served during the terms of three presidents, he is committed now more than ever to public service. Hank Johnson “Because of the daunting challenges we face as a nation, I want to continue working to bring people together to get things done in Congress for the American people and my constituents specifically,” he said. Johnson was elected in November 2006 to represent the 4th Congressional District, which includes portions of DeKalb, Rockdale Newton and Gwinnett counties. He is a senior member of both the Judiciary and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, and the top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, which oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He says he is committed to protecting and improving access to affordable health care, getting a fair and livable wage for hard-working Americans, and ensuring adequately resourced public education, affordable college, and a robust vocational
training system that prepares young people and adults for modern-day jobs. “I am asking for your vote to send me back to Congress to continue my work on these and other critical issues that face our communities, our state and nation,” he said. Prior to taking his seat in Congress, Johnson, an attorney, served five years as the DeKalb County commissioner for District 5. In 2014, a Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia study ranked him the
18th most effective Democrat in the 112th Congress, based on the number of bills introduced or sponsored, the significance of the bills, and how far each made it in the legislative process. The study, which judged effectiveness by looking at a lawmaker’s proven ability to advance a member’s agenda items through the legislative process and into law, also ranked higher than any of his Republican colleagues from Georgia. Johnson says he is proud to be a member of Congress. His bills protecting consumers and
citizens’ civil liberties include the Arbitration Fairness Act and the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act. He also filed the Police Accountability Act and the Grand Jury Reform Act in the wake of police shooting deaths of unarmed black men across the country. “I want to thank the people of Georgia’s 4th Congressional District for entrusting me with the honor of representing them in the U.S. House of Representatives,” he said. The 2018 Democratic primary will be May 22, 2018. The general election will be on Nov. 6.
Johnson introduces 3 criminal justice reform bills By Rosie Manins
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson has introduced three new criminal justice reform bills designed to restore trust between police and the public. Johnson, who represents Georgia’s 4th District, introduced the Cooling Off Period Elimination Act of 2017, the Police Accountability Act, and the Grand Jury Reform Act on Nov. 9. They are co-sponsored by fellow Democrats from 16 states and the District of Columbia. A senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, Johnson is seeking to restore trust between police and the communities they serve and level the playing field to root
out discrimination and disparities in the justice system. His efforts come on the heels of several high-profile criminal cases against police officers that have sparked nationwide outrage alleging a double standard in justice served between law enforcement and civilians. Johnson says he supports law enforcement officers, as they have a difficult job to uphold the law and protect and serve the public and keep civilians safe from harm. “They should be commended, and we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude,” he said. “But law enforcement officers are not above the law and should be held accountable like anyone else.” The Cooling Off Period Elimination Act
would prevent any state or local law enforcement agency from receiving federal funds if that agency has in effect a cooling-off period – defined as a period of time following an officer-involved shooting, during which individuals investigating the shooting are prohibited from communicating with any officer involved in the shooting. The Police Accountability Act would expand the Department of Justice’s authority to investigate wrongdoing by police by making it a federal crime for police officers to commit murder and manslaughter. The Grand Jury Reform Act addresses concerns that the nation’s grand jury system is flawed in the investigation of police for the killing of civilians.
Supermarket chains cite stores’ financial losses, reject calls to reconsider Construction materials fill the parking lot in front of the former Kroger on North Hairston Road near Memorial Drive. Signs in the window alert would-be shoppers of the store’s demise. Sharif Williams / CrossRoadsNews
CLOSINGS,
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ment said. The company also expressed its commitment to continue serving customers and directed them to other stores elsewhere in Stone Mountain, Tucker and Decatur. Kenneth Saunders, chairman-elect of the South DeKalb Improvement Association, said the nonprofit organization is planning to discuss the grocery store closures at its next meeting. “The closing of the Kroger, and the pro-
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posed closing of Publix, could really harm our community,” Saunders said. “This really doesn’t make sense especially when Publix claims they’re all about community in their advertising but they’re leaving a community that has supported them for so long.” Walton, the longtime Publix customer, said if the store abandons his community as planned, he will vote with his feet – and his wallet – when it comes to grocery shopping in the future. “I think it shows lack of respect,” he said.
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“If that happens, I will not shop at the Publix stores at Panola or Flakes Mill. If they’re not willing to invest in and support my community, or at least have a conversation with us before they leave, why should I support them?”
Commissioner Johnson said she will be working proactively with county officials to identify strategies to attract and retain high-quality grocery stores in DeKalb for her constituents including Reid, the Publix spokeswoman.
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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 Editorial Intern Rosie Manins Front Office Manager Catherine Guy Multimedia Editor Sharif Williams
CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsNews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. 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 advertisements, 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 25, 2017
“Given these numbers, MARTA’s insistence on building more heavy rail lines seems shortsighted at the very least.”
MARTA’s East Line rail extension promising, but flawed By Curtis Parker
I read with great interest the article about Transit Oriented Developments along MARTA’s planned extension of the East Line to Stonecrest (CrossRoadsNews, Nov. 18, 2017). Like many longtime residents of South DeKalb, I’ve longed for the day when construction would begin on this long-overdue extension, and wondered why it’s taken so long to get to this point. But that’s water under the bridge, and the potential for transit-oriented develop- Curtis Parker ments at Covington Highway, Wesley Chapel and Panola roads, and Lithonia Industrial Boulevard is exciting, to say the least. However, there are problems with the proposed extension that go beyond the proposed developments. My first and most pressing concern is with the continued dialogue around using heavy rail to complete the project. Heavy rail is a dinosaur. No one is using it anymore. It costs too much to build, and the environmental impact far outweighs the benefits of the rail transit we desire. Even now, the heavy rail extension MARTA is proposing will take another 10 to 20 years to build, and the first shovel of dirt has yet to be moved. Light rail is a much better option. It is cheaper to build, requires less maintenance, and produces a fraction of the negative environmental impact of heavy rail. Nationwide, the average cost for light rail construction is about $35 million per mile, versus the $208 million per mile – $2.5 billion for 12 miles – estimated for the East Line heavy rail extension. Across the country, cities and metropolitan regions are using light rail to create new or expand their existing transit systems. There are at least 30 light rail systems currently in use, in cities like Seattle, Phoenix and Dallas – all three of which completed new projects in 2016. Dallas, which started building its DART light rail system in 1996, has 93 miles of light rail, with 64 stations spread across four lines. In 2016, it moved up implementation of a 26-mile Cotton Belt line in its 20-year financial plan for FY2017. Denver’s Transportation Expansion Project, dubbed T-REX, includes 13 new light-rail stations and improvements to an existing station, the purchase of 34 light-rail vehicles, a new maintenance facility and a communications control center, all at a cost of $27.6 million per mile. Given these numbers, MARTA’s insistence on building more heavy rail lines seems shortsighted at the very least. I think there is a better option, and it goes like this:
Forget about heavy rail For the reasons cited above, replace the plans for heavy rail with a light rail alternative. The cost savings for construction would be immense, and the right-of-way acquisitions and environmental impacts already in place for the heavy rail project should translate very easily into a light-rail implementation. It would also eliminate, and perhaps even answer, GDOT’s concerns about potential “managed lanes” being built on I-20, similar to those on I-85 in Gwinnett. Denver’s T-REX project rebuilt interstate highways I-25 and I-225 and simultaneously added a light rail expansion for a total cost of $1.67 billion over five years, including 17 miles of highway improvements and 19 miles of double-track light rail. Completed in 2006, the project came in under budget and 22 months ahead of schedule. With the cost savings from this realignment, several exciting and innovative implementations are possible. For starters, instead of extending the heavy line from the Indian Creek station, have the light rail extension cross over I-285 near Covington Highway and link to the Kensington station. This positions Kensington as a multimodal transfer point, not only linking the light rail
Dallas, which started building its DART light rail system (above) in 1996, has 93 miles of light rail, with 64 stations spread across four lines. Completed in 2006, Denver’s T-REX project (left) came in under budget and 22 months ahead of schedule.
Stonecrest Line to the heavy rail East Line, but also providing easy access to north- and southbound I-285, something Indian Creek cannot do. The Kensington multimodal transfer station also becomes a hub for the granddaddy of Transit Oriented Developments, linking existing government and judicial centers, business and commercial offices, and residential developments. Relocate the jail and replace it with a high-rise hotel or office building, or a new DeKalb County Government Complex, and Memorial Drive at I-285 begins to look like Atlantic Station.
Seek new directions But don’t stop there. My vision has an even bigger picture for the future of transit in DeKalb County. Once again using money saved by converting to light rail, continue the line north along I-285 to Perimeter Mall, with stops – future TODs? – near North DeKalb Mall, Northlake Mall, Mercer University and the former GM Plant. To save even more money, use existing DOT rights-of-way along I-285, going above and along the Perimeter as often as possible. At the same time, fast-track – no pun intended – the long-promised I-20 Rail Line westbound inside the Perimeter, but with a major change in its final destination. Instead of going to downtown Atlanta, which the East Line already does, turn left somewhere between Candler and Gresham roads, head southwest through East Atlanta toward south Moreland Avenue near I-285, and from there head over to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. This “DeKalb Airport Line” could tie into the multimodal station at Kensington, or it could originate as a split destination at Wesley Chapel, where riders could choose between heading on to Atlanta or Dunwoody, or turn southwest toward the airport. Based on current costs, all three of these projects – about 50 miles total – could be built for a lot less than the $2.5 billion estimated for heavy rail to Stonecrest, and they could be built in far less time. ONE DeKalb, personified Taken together, these transit initiatives would impact DeKalb County growth for years to come. Among other things, they would: n Position DeKalb County at the forefront of sensible use of rapid transit that benefits all areas
of the county. n Place DeKalb squarely in the “Aerotropolis” conversations around Hartsfield-Jackson, instead of its current “oh-by-the-way” mentions. Imagine the potential for all of DeKalb, and especially the new cities of Stonecrest and Greenhaven, if visitors can arrive at HartsfieldJackson and catch a train straight out here, instead of having to go downtown first, then change trains, then endure stop after stop to get to these destinations. n Put real teeth into the ONE DeKalb initiative, by uniting DeKalb’s public and private leadership – legislators, county commissioners, mayors and city leaders, business and professional groups – as one voice seeking positive change for the entire county. n Create boatloads of jobs in the county, both during construction and beyond, as the predicted TODs begin to take shape. n Give MARTA the makings of a truly regional rail transit system, one that takes people where they want to go. No longer the “Downtown Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority,” MARTA will have taken a major step toward becoming the Metro Atlanta Regional Transit Authority, which is what it should have been all along. Finally, if implemented, this plan would address a fairness issue that has gone on far too long. In the years since MARTA began operation of the East Line in 1979, Fulton and DeKalb taxpayers have poured millions of dollars into the system, with relatively little return-oninvestment in terms of rail service for DeKalb. Not only do all of DeKalb’s rail lines point only to downtown Atlanta, the number of rail miles, and stations, in DeKalb pale in comparison to those in Fulton County. I see it like this: After all these years, Fulton County has a rail system that links its north and south ends. DeKalb County deserves just as much. I would like to see all stakeholders in DeKalb – public, private and business leaders, educators, residents and commuters – embrace this model as DeKalb’s preferred alternative for transit expansion, and return DeKalb to its rightful place as metro Atlanta’s most exciting, innovative and forward-thinking region. If indeed, as indicated in the article, November 2019 is the earliest a transit referendum can be placed on a ballot, this should be it. Curtis Parker is a co-owner of CrossRoads News. He and his wife, Editor/Publisher Jennifer Parker, have lived off Wesley Chapel Road since they moved to Atlanta in 1993.
CrossRoadsNews
November 25, 2017
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MACYS.COM PROMO CODE: HURRY25 See macys.com/deals for online exclusions
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EXCLUDES ALL: Deals of the Day, Doorbusters, Everyday Values (EDV), Last Act, Macy’s Backstage, specials, Super Buys, athletic clothing/shoes/accessories, baby gear, watches, cosmetics/fragrances, designer handbags, designer jewelry/watches, designer sportswear, electrics/electronics, furniture/mattresses, gift cards, jewelry trunk shows, select licensed depts., previous purchases, restaurants, rugs, services, smart watches/jewelry, special orders, special purchases, select tech accessories, toys, 3Doodler, American Rug Craftsmen, Anova, Apple Products, Ashley Graham, Avec Les Filles clothing, Barbour, Brahmin, Breville, Briggs & Riley, Brooks Brothers Red Fleece, COACH, Demeyere, Destination Maternity, Dyson, Eileen Fisher SYSTEM, Fitbit, Frye, Global Cutlery, Hanky Panky, Jack Spade, Judith Leiber, Karastan, kate spade new york, Kenneth Cole men’s shoes, Kiehl’s, KitchenAid Pro Line, Le Creuset, Levi’s, littleBits, Locker Room by Lids, Marc Jacobs, select Michael Kors/Michael Michael Kors, Michele watches, Miyabi, Movado Bold, Natori, Nike swim, Original Penguin, Panache, Rimowa, Rudsak, Sam Edelman, Shun, Spanx, Staub, Stuart Weitzman, S’well, Tempur-Pedic mattresses, The North Face, Theory, Tommy John, Tory Burch, Tumi, UGG®, Uttermost, Vans, Vitamix, Wacoal, Wolford & Wüsthof; PLUS, ONLINE ONLY: kids’ shoes, Allen Edmonds, Birkenstock, Hurley, Johnston & Murphy, Merrell, RVCA & Tommy Bahama. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer except opening a new Macy’s account. Purchase must be $25 or $50 or more, exclusive of tax and delivery fees.
EXTRA
MACY’S CARD/SAVINGS PASS DOESN’T APPLY TO DOORBUSTERS
20 OFF %
SELECT SALE IN STORE AND SELECT SALE & CLEARANCE ONLINE: CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES. EXTRA 15% OFF SELECT SALE IN STORE AND SELECT SALE & CLEARANCE ONLINE: JEWELRY, SHOES, COATS, SUITS, DRESSES, LINGERIE, SWIM FOR HER; MEN’S SUIT SEPARATES & SPORT COATS AND HOME ITEMS. USE YOUR MACY’S CARD OR THIS PASS 11/22-11/25/17. MACYS.COM PROMO CODE: HURRY See macys.com/deals for online exclusions
EXCLUDES ALL: Deals of the Day, Doorbusters, Everyday Values (EDV), Last Act, Macy’s Backstage, specials, Super Buys, athletic clothing/shoes/accessories, baby gear, watches, cosmetics/fragrances, designer handbags, designer jewelry/watches, designer sportswear, electrics/electronics, furniture/mattresses, gift cards, jewelry trunk shows, select licensed depts., previous purchases, restaurants, rugs, services, smart watches/jewelry, special orders, special purchases, select tech accessories, toys, 3Doodler, American Rug Craftsmen, Anova, Apple Products, Ashley Graham, Avec Les Filles clothing, Barbour, Brahmin, Breville, Briggs & Riley, Brooks Brothers Red Fleece, COACH, Demeyere, Destination Maternity, Dyson, Eileen Fisher SYSTEM, Fitbit, Frye, Global Cutlery, Hanky Panky, Jack Spade, Judith Leiber, Karastan, kate spade new york, Kenneth Cole men’s shoes, Kiehl’s, KitchenAid Pro Line, Le Creuset, Levi’s, littleBits, Locker Room by Lids, Marc Jacobs, select Michael Kors/Michael Michael Kors, Michele watches, Miyabi, Movado Bold, Natori, Nike swim, Original Penguin, Panache, Rimowa, Rudsak, Sam Edelman, Shun, Spanx, Staub, Stuart Weitzman, S’well, Tempur-Pedic mattresses, The North Face, Theory, Tommy John, Tory Burch, Tumi, UGG®, Uttermost, Vans, Vitamix, Wacoal, Wolford & Wüsthof; PLUS, ONLINE ONLY: kids’ shoes, Allen Edmonds, Birkenstock, Hurley, Johnston & Murphy, Merrell, RVCA & Tommy Bahama. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer except opening a new Macy’s account. Extra savings % applied to reduced prices.
BLACK FRIDAY PRICES IN EFFECT 11/22-11/25/17. Merchandise will be on sale at these & other sale prices through 1/2/2018, except as noted.
5
N710
NAME: THX/BL AA ER
JOB ID WEEK:
COLOR
SIZE: 4
(10.5
RUN: 1
REL: 11 PUBS: PM: COPY: ART: TECH:
CrossRoadsNews
6
Holiday
November 25, 2017
“Now I can encourage others to keep the faith and never give up hope – never let your circumstances determine your destiny.�
Family left homeless by Hurricane Irma thankful this holiday season By Rosie Manins
Patrice Dunn thought she’d be homeless for the holidays, but the mom of five has a lot to be thankful for. Dunn and her children, ages 14, 13, 8, 4 and 2, lost their home and the majority of their possessions on Sept. 11, when Hurricane Irma tore through DeKalb County and caused a large tree to crash through the roof of their rented four-bedroom brick house on White Oak Drive in Decatur. The tree almost killed Dunn’s eldest child, Teecyara, who was lying on her bed just seconds before the tree collapsed through her bedroom ceiling, its limbs piercing her mattress. Dunn said this Thanksgiving she is most thankful for life. “We could have been dead this Thanksgiving,� she said. “My daughter could have been gone because the tree split her bed in half, so I am thankful for my kids’ lives, our health, and my strength that I never lost my mind.� Trapped in the house by branches and debris which blocked her front door, Dunn and her children were rescued by neighbors who heard noise of the tree crashing into her house and ran to help. Left with barely more than the clothes on their backs, Dunn, a Louisiana native with no family in Georgia, and her children struggled day-to-day for nearly two months, not knowing how or when help would arrive. She and her children stayed in about a dozen different motel rooms, thanks to the generosity of neighbors and friends, who coordinated help for her through the Nextdoor app. People she didn’t know donated one or two nights’ accommodation at a time. After being homeless for seven weeks,
Patrice Dunn and her five children – sitting on her knees and standing around her – had Thanksgiving dinner provided by the Lithonia-based Xi Xi Zeta chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Members, pictured with her above, read of her plight in CrossRoadsNews after a tree fell felled by Hurricane Irma destroyed her home in September. They presented her with a turkey and a $150 gift card on Nov. 20 and also promised to provide provide gifts for her family at Christmas.
they finally moved into a new rented house on Nov. 1. Dunn said the period of homelessness was the darkest and most depressing period of her life. She is eternally grateful to her neighbors, the wider White Oak Drive community, and representatives from DeKalb’s Commission District 3, who spent countless hours reaching out to people and checking on her, making sure her family had food and shelter. “I actually was about to give up hope,� Dunn said. “They are angels and if I had a thousand tongues I still couldn’t thank them enough.� While homeless, she said she sought help from several agencies and neighborhood churches, but it was the efforts of individuals
PUBLIC NOTICE SRTA REQUESTS COMMENT ON Change in Fare Payment Methods, and Reduction of the Calendar Monthly Green Zone Fare
who kept her going. Dunn says she was recently able to get assistance from Action Ministries, for a deposit and rent for her new house. On Nov. 21, three days before Thanksgiving Day, members of the Lithonia-based Xi Xi Zeta chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, who read of her plight in CrossRoadsNews, gave her a $150 gift card to make sure her family had a great Thanksgiving, The sorority also promised to fulfill some wish list items for the family this Christmas. Faye Rashid, Xi Xi Zeta president, said the chapter’s principles include Faye Rashid service to the community and that helping the Dunn family was a “no-brainer.� “The holiday season can be stressful for many and having an unforeseen incident such as one experienced by the Dunn family can exacerbate that stress,� she said. Rashid said they just wanted to bring a smile to the faces of each member of the Dunn family. “We just wanted them to have a Thanksgiving to remember, when at times the light of hope may have been dim, � Rashid said. Dunn says it means the world to receive help, especially from total strangers who are motivated by the goodness in their hearts. While her family was unable to make it
home to Louisiana to celebrate Thanksgiving with family, Dunn says she was just grateful she was able to spend it with her children in a new house. “I’m thankful for my home and for God taking me through the storm because if I didn’t go through it I never would have known how it feels to be homeless with five kids,� she said. “Now I can encourage others to keep the faith and never give up hope – never let your circumstances determine your destiny.� Dunn located her current home late October on her last attempt driving through her neighborhood looking for a house. She stopped to talk to a man painting the outside of a house and learned he was the landlord. She told him her story, he gave her a tour of the property and they started lease arrangements. “It was only God who was working in my favor,� she said. “I feel blessed to be in a new home because God did not let me give up hope. He may not have come when I wanted him to, but he is always on time and I just had to keep the faith.� Dunn says her children, who attend Druid Hills High, Druid Hills Middle and Peachcrest Elementary, are adjusting “fairly well� and she’s pleased they haven’t had to change schools as a result of their new residence, which is just around the corner from their old home. “They are happy to just have a home and a normal life again,� she said. The new house is larger than the one that was destroyed by the tree and was condemned, and best of all, the rent is the same amount. Her children now have their own bedrooms and the family shares two full bathrooms instead of one and a half. They family is still in need of several items, including dressers and clothes – particularly winter jackets. Dunn, who is unable to work because of a recent hip replacement, also needs living room furniture and televisions, which were stolen from her former home when they were forced to vacate it. For 2018, Dunn’s hopes and plans are simple – to have a better year than this one. “I want to get my house in order and get back to church and go into the New Year smiling, knowing that I made it, still in my right mind and I have my kids,� she said. “As long as we are healthy and have each other 2018 will be much better.�
Comment Period: November 14, 2017, through December 15, 2017 The State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) asks for public comment (under the 1964 Civil Rights Act) on its eventual conversion to accepting only cash and Breeze Cards, the eventual elimination of magnetic stripe tickets, and a reduction in the calendar monthly Green Zone Fare available to group purchasers of Xpress services. A public hearing to receive comment on the proposed updates will be held: Date:
December 5, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Location: SRTA Offices 245 Peachtree Center Avenue, NE Suite 2200 Atlanta, GA 30303 An overview of the changes can be obtained and comments can be made at www.xpressga.com. The public may also request an overview and provide comments by calling Xpress Customer Service at 844-977-7742. The public hearing is accessible to people with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency. Accessibility and language services will be provided free of charge, upon request, as available. For more information or to request reasonable accommodations and/or language services, please contact Parker Martin at pmartin@srta.ga.gov or 404-893-6193. For TTY/TDD, please call 711 or 1-800-255-0056. En EspaĂąol – 1-888-202-3972. Si la informaciĂłn que se necesita en otro idioma, comunĂquese con 844-977-7742. č›°ç¸ č–Śč ”č§Ľé’‚čĽŽäŚ´ĺŻ”č›žč¨?č˜˜č˜ŠŕŽ†ĺŻžĺ€ťçˇŠG844-977-7742ŕŹ&#x; 㼉⸨ᴴâ?˜âŞŹă›Źă›¨âŚ?䙸ă&#x;ˆäš?᡹ă&#x;¤844-977-7742 âŚ?âąŹă˘ŒâľˆâŁ â?źâ?˜. 1ŕąX WKÂśQJ WLQ O¢ Fŕ™Q WKLŕąW WURQJPŕŽ‹W QJÂśQ QJ஡ NKÂŁF VDX Ă“Âľ OLÂŹQ Oŕ“F 844-977-7742.
DeKalb Medical Tree Lighting set
Families can join DeKalb Medical on Nov. 30 for its Christmas Tree lighting on the front lawn of the North Decatur campus. The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and includes live music, refreshments and a display of unique gingerbread creations. Participants will get to vote on their favorite. Lights on the tree will recognize, honor or remember loved ones and residents and treelighting participants can donate in honor of their loved ones at www.dekalbmedical.org. Donations will also be accepted at the tree lighting.
The lights will be turned on at 7 p.m. Guests can also take a peek at the hospital’s newly renovated Emergency Department reception area. DeKalb Medical is also accepting donations of new, plain T-shirts and drawstring or elastic sweatpants for its Emergency Department closet. In case of inclement weather, the tree lighting ceremony will be held inside the Dr. Bobbie Bailey Tower. Complimentary parking is available. For more information, call 404-501-WELL or visit www.dekalbmedical.org
CrossRoadsNews
November 25, 2017
Holiday
7
The handbell concert was created by five former school music teachers.
Christmas handbell concert brings music of the season ‘Gift of Love’ Handbell choirs from Antioch A.M.E Church in Stone Mountain and Greater Travelers Rest Baptist/House of Hope Atlanta in Decatur will perform in the Christmas Handbell Concert on Dec. 3 in Atlanta. The two South DeKalb churches will be among six interdenominational churches performing together in the 15th annual concert, which takes place this year at Friendship Baptist Church, 80 Walnut Ave., S.W. The other participating churches are Ebenezer Baptist, Friendship Baptist, First Baptist Church of East Point, and Ben Hill United Methodist Church. The free concert starts at 5 p.m. The handbell concert was created by five former school music teachers Rosalyn Lewis, a member of Friendship Baptist; Sharon Phillips of Greater Travelers Rest Baptist; Cynthia Terry of Ebenezer Baptist; Sarah West of Antioch A.M.E, and Greta Glenn of First Baptist Church of East Point. All five are directors of their churches’ handbell choirs. Constance Williams directs Ben Hill UMC handbell choir. For more information, call Sara Phillips Handbell choirs from six metro Atlanta churches, including two from Stone Mountain and Decatur, at 770-906-4639. will perform in the 15th annual Christmas Handbell Concert on Dec. 3.
mission project collecting gifts Greenforest Community Baptist Church families and others can pick children to benefit from the church’s fifth annual “Gifts of Love” mission project for the Forest at Columbia Children and Parents through Dec. 10. The annual “Walter Johnson Memorial Doll/Toy Ministry,” sponsored by the church’s Visitor Ministry and the Deacon Family Ministry Leaders is collecting donations to bring holiday cheer to 88 children in the apartment community on Dec. 16. Benefactors can pick a family’s name and purchase a gift for child and return the wrapped gift by Dec. 10. For more information, contact Brenda Ausberry at bausberry@aol. com, or Josephine McLeod at jamallen48@gmail.com, or call 404-4861120.
in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Legal Notices 11/04, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25
Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: 17FM10776 Tamasia Lamatina Cowins PLAINTIFF VS Derrick Wynel Cowins DEFENDANT TO:
are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Tamasia Lamatina Cowins, 624 Wesley Club Dr., Decatur, GA 30034. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Oct. 30, 2017. Witness the Honorable J.P. Boulee, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 30th day of Oct., 2017 11/04, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25
By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Oct. 27, 2017. You are hereby notified that Oct. 13, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You
Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name(s) of MINOR CHILD(REN) in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: 17FM11196-8 Christina Carter-Harper filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Oct. 10, 2017 to change the name(s) of the following child(ren) from: Aubrey Drew Carter-Harper to: Aubrey Drew Carter. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within the time prescribed in OCGA 19-12-1(f)(2) and (3). Dated: Oct. 20, 2017 11/04, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25
Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County
Public Notice
State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: 17FM11014-4 Notice is hereby given that the Petitioner, Howard Michael Kingcade filed this petition to the Superior Court of DeKalb County, Georgia on October 20, 2017 to change the name from: Howard Michael Kingcade to Michelle B. King. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. This the 20th day of October 2017 11/04, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25
Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT
Public Notice
HOME SERVICES
MISCELLANEOUS Free Turkeys! DeKalb County National Pan Hellenic Council hosting a “giveaway” Dec. 2nd; 10am-2pm or until gone; Browns Mill Elem; 4863 Browns Mill Rd., Lithonia
11/04, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25
Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name(s) of MINOR CHILD(REN)
11/04, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25
Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name(s) of MINOR CHILD(REN) in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: 17FM11124-10 Abdisalan Saacid Warsame filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Oct. 23, 2017 to change the name(s) of the following minor children from: Sabirin Abdisalan Saacid to Sabirin Abdikadir Mohamed; Ilyas
in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: 17FM9918-7 Maleeya Adams filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Sept. 20, 2017 to change the name(s) of the following child(ren) from: Kingsley Jabborah Harris to: Kingsley David Adams. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within the time prescribed in OCGA 19-12-1(f)(2) and (3). Dated: Aug. 20, 2017
MARKETPLACE RATES Place your MarketPlace line ad here – up to 20 words for $25. Additional words are $3 per block of five words (maximum 45 words). Boxed Ads (with up to 3 lines bold headline): $35 plus cost of the classified ad. Send ad copy with check or credit card information and contact phone number (if different from ad) to MarketPlace, CrossRoadsNews, 2346 Candler Road, Decatur, GA 30032, or e-mail to marketplace@crossroadsnews.com. Our deadlines are at noon on the Friday one week prior to publication, unless otherwise noted.
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Civil Action Case Number: 17FM11122-10 Notice is hereby given that the Petitioner, Abdisalan Saacid Warsame filed this petition to the Superior Court of DeKalb County, Georgia on October 25, 2017 to change the name from: Abdisalan Saacid Warsame to Abdikadir Mohamed Ahmed. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: Oct. 23, 2017
Abdisalan Saacid to Ilyas Abdikadir Mohamed; Hirsi Abdisalan Saacid to Hirsi Abdikadir Mohamed; Sundus Abdisalan Saacid to Sundus Abdikadir Mohamed; Faahiye Abdisalan Saacid to Faahiye Abdikadir Mohamed. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within the time prescribed in OCGA 19-12-1(f)(2) and (3). Dated: Oct. 23, 2017
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CrossRoadsNews
8
November 25, 2017
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11/16/17 2:27 PM