COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY
SCENE
Residents who fought to close the Live Oak Landfill in 2004 won’t have to pull out their protest signs again. Fears that the landfill may re-open are unfounded. 2
Friends and associates share fond memories of Callanwolde’s Dr. Samuel “Sam” Goldman, who died unexpectedly on Sept. 10. 7
The story of legendary R&B artist Wilson Pickett will be staged at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center in Decatur. 9
Gas line replacement
Arts advocate remembered
‘In the Midnight Hour’
EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER
Copyright © 2012 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
September 15, 2012
Volume 18, Number 20
www.crossroadsnews.com
Two DeKalb victims of West Nile virus recovering An 84-year-old Doraville man and a 63 year-old Central DeKalb woman are DeKalb’s first 2012 human victims of West Nile Virus. The DeKalb Board of Health said Sept. 10 that both are recovering at home. The board also said that a routine screening found West Nile virus in the blood of a 25-year-old man who also lives in central DeKalb County. He has not had symptoms. “He was identified through a routine screening of blood he had donated,” the S. Elizabeth Ford Board of Health said in a statement. “His donation did not get into the blood supply.” Only 20 percent of people who become infected with West Nile virus have any symptoms at all. DeKalb District Health Director Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford said it is very unfortunate that any of our DeKalb residents have developed a West Nile virus infection. “I hope this reminds everyone to continue using precautions to avoid mosquito bites, since mosquitoes can carry the
from the virus and 21 confirmed cases statewide. Mosquitoes from 54 West Nile virus monitoring sites in metro Atlanta and 20 in coastal and South Georgia have tested positive for the virus that can lead to brain or spinal cord swelling and death. The Georgia Department of Public Health has deemed these areas at high risk for West Nile virus transmission. Confirmed cases have also been reported in Cobb, Forsyth and Fulton counties. Dr. J. Patrick O’Neal, director of health protection for the Department of Public Health, said West Nile virus is a growing concern. “The problem of mosquitoes and West Nile Virus appears to be escalating in Georgia and across the country,” O’Neal said in an Aug. 24 statement. “More West Nile virus cases have been confirmed by the third week in August than at any time in the last 10 years.” virus,” Ford said Monday. Symptoms of West Nile include headache, fever, neck Mild symptoms of an infection are fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph discomfort, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, glands or a rash on the chest, stomach and back. These can and a rash that usually develop three to 15 days after being last from a few days to several weeks. The DeKalb cases come in the wake of three fatalities Please see WEST NILE, page 2
18-year wait for rail deemed unacceptable The Federal Transit Administration’s Locally Preferred Alternative includes extending the existing MARTA rail line from the Indian Creek Station to the Mall at Stonecrest, and Bus Rapid Transit service along I-20 between downtown Atlanta and Wesley Chapel Road.
MARTA
Residents balk at projections that extend to 2030 By Donna Williams Lewis
A community meeting arranged to gather comments on environmental impacts of MARTA’S I-20 East Corridor plan took a different turn Tuesday night. Frustrated members of the audience wanted to know why rail hasn’t already been extended to the Mall at Stonecrest and balked at projections that look out to 2030. “We’ve already spent 40 years here trying to get transit and you’re talking 2030?” said Cherry Willis, a second vice president of teh DeKalb NAACP branch. “I hate to tell you how old I am, but 30 years from now I will not be riding rail.” Transit improvements in the I-20 East Corridor have been in progressive study phases at MARTA for 10 years, according to I-20 Project Manager Janide Sidifall. The year 2030 was not a construction date, but additional mandatory studies will
take at least another 10 years. “It’s unfortunately a long process but one that we have to go through to get to that ultimate realization,” Sidifall said. Two weeks ago, the Federal Transit Administration issued a notice of intent on the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) that came out of studies already conducted. The notice of intent allows the project to move into the environmental studies phase of the project development process. Under the LPA , the existing MARTA rail line would extend from the Indian Creek Station to the Mall at Stonecrest, and Bus Rapid Transit service would be developed along I-20 between downtown Atlanta and Wesley Chapel Road. The service is expected to carry almost 4.7 million riders annually. The new heavy rail is expected to reduce the annual automobile miles driven in the corridor by more than 21 million miles.
The projected cost of the improvements is nearly $2 billion and the annual cost of operations and maintenance is expected to be $18 million. MARTA officials were at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center on Sept. 11 for the second of three “public scoping meetings” on the plan held this week in Atlanta, Decatur and Lithonia. Scoping is the first step of the environmental studies phase, when agencies, organizations and the public shape the course of impact studies on a wide variety of factors including water and air quality, noise and vibration, land use and aesthetics. But environmental impact took a back seat at the Porter Sanford meeting as residents called each other to action. “We need to accept the fact that we’ve already been screwed,” said Robert Douglas, one of about 75 people who attended the meeting. “This could be a fresh start. We need
to strategize. We need to educate each other. We need to find out the process to move on this. … Twenty years from now, none of us may be here, but at least we can do this for our children.” John Evans, DeKalb NAACP president, said the community should work toward getting people who represent South DeKalb’s interests John Evans on MARTA’s board of directors. “We want you to go back and say these folks want a rail system,” Evans told MARTA officials at the meeting. “Say it, and put a period behind it.” DeKalb District 3 County Commissioner Larry Johnson kicked the meeting off by asking the audience to “please get engaged.” Please see MARTA, page 2
2
CrossRoadsNews
Community
September 15, 2012
“The more we’re educated, the more we can go forward. We can’t just focus on emotion. We’ve got to have our facts.”
State approves pipeline work at Live Oak landfill South DeKalb residents lobbied for the closure of Live Oak landfill in 2004.
By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
Live Oak Landfill, which has been the scene of much activity recently, is not reopening. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division said that the activity seen on the closed 195-acre landfill is merely work to replace an existing gas pipeline within a buffer easement. The 24-inch Atlanta Gas Light pipeline requires replacement under the Georgia Public Service Commission’s Pipeline Replacement Program. In the July 20 application for the variance to work on the pipeline, Joshua Lawson, Jacobs Engineering’s solid waste technical manager, said the portion of the pipeline that crosses through the Live Oak Landfill buffer is part of a 28-mile Eastside Pipeline Replacement Project in Clayton, DeKalb and Fulton counties. “Work within the easement will require some clearing in order to stage and operate directional drilling equipment,” Lawson wrote. He promised to replant native vegetation in the disturbed area. Lawson told EPD that in anticipation of the pipeline replacement activities, Waste Management met onsite with Atlanta Gas Light representatives and Jacobs Engineering to discuss project logistics. In the Aug. 16 letter granting the variance, EPD said the work was to begin in August
FILE
2012 and conclude in August 2013. EPD director Judson H. Turner, who wrote the letter granting the variance, said that areas disturbed during the replacement, “must be repaired and re-vegetated at the conclusion of the replacement activities.” Brenda Jackson, secretary of the South DeKalb Neighborhoods Coalition, heaved a sigh of relief at the news that Waste Management was not trying to reopen the landfill. “That’s good because we don’t have to start dealing with that again,” she said. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the SDNC fought to close the landfill, which began operating at I-285 and Moreland Avenue
in November 1986. The SDNC, which was represented by the Georgia Center for Law in the Public Interest in its lawsuit, succeeded in getting the landfill closed on Dec. 1, 2004. Waste Management fought the residents all the way to the Georgia Supreme Court but lost on appeal. When Live Oak buried its last truckload, it had garbage buried on 126 acres. It is still Georgia’s largest landfill. Melanie Henry, director of the EPD’s Solid Waste Management Unit, which monitors landfills, said there is no chance that Live Oak would ever reopen as a landfill. “It is very unlikely,” she said.
DeKalb Schools answers SACS ahead of deadline DeKalb Schools System says it has had challenges but is committed to its accrediating agency’s standards. In a Sept. 12 letter responding to AdvancED’s charges of stewardship failure on the part of the School Board and board interference in the district’s day-to-day operations, president School Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Atkinson listed 16 “systemic changes” she has made, with the school board’s approval, since joining the district a year ago. “We welcome and embrace the assistance of AdvancED in ensur-
ing we are meeting the standards,” Atkinson wrote. The district’s response comes two weeks after CEO Dr. Mark Elgart outlined the allegations against the board in an Aug. 28 letter. The district has 30 days to respond. AdvancED is the parent company of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools(SACS) which accredits the district. Atkinson said the district has implemented financial and other plans to improve upon all standards and will monitor 2013 budget carefully for compliance. “We are continuing to make
Severe infection can lead to death WEST NILE,
from page
necessary changes to address specific concerns that have been expressed by SACS, Board Members and community members,” she wrote. Atkinson listed among the changes a forensic audit of the district’s financial records which she initiates, the implementation of a modified zerobased budgeting process, restructuring of the central office – which eliminated 303 personnel, and delivering a new curriculum. In March, SACS allowed the school system to keep its accreditation on advisement after a review team said that it found some improvement.
The Senate Crematoria Study Committee, which is preparing legislative recommendations to protect Georgia citizens from undersirable environmental and potential economic growth from crematories, will hold its first meeting on Sept. 20 at the Georgia State Capitol. The 2 p.m.-4 p.m. meeting in Room 125 is chaired by Sen. Steve Henson (D-Tucker). It is the first in a series of regular meetings the committee will hold over the next three months to review the potential hazards of emissions released from crematories located near residential subdivisions. Establishing crematories in residential communities has been controversial. In July, dozens of South DeKalb residents showed up at a community meeting to tell Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Homes that they did not want a crematory at its Flat Shoals Parkway location in Decatur. Faced with strident opposition, the funeral home abandoned its plans. Henson, who represents House District 41 which includes portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, is the leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus. For more information, email steve. henson@senate.ga.gov or call 404-6560085.
Court date for accused rapist Lithonia tae kwon do instructor Adrian Spellen will be in court Sept. 17 for a pretrial hearing. Spellen is charged with raping a 9-year-old female student in 2011 at his Powerkicks Martial Arts studio in Lithonia. A DeKalb grand jury indicted Spellen on three counts of rape and aggravated child molestation on July 26, 2011. The indictment accuses him of having “carnal knowledge of ” a 9-year-old girl between May 23 and June 3. Spellen has denied the charges. He has been in jail since April 9. DeKalb Superior Court Judge Clarence Seeliger revoked Adrian Spellen his bond after the alleged victim’s uncle spotted Spellen at the studio where children were present. At the time, he was out of jail on a $100,000 bond and ordered not to have contact with children under the age of 16.
Commissioner encourage attendance at meetings MARTA,
from page
1
1
bitten by an infected mosquito. The elderly, those with compromised immune systems, or those with other underlying conditions are at greater risk for complications from the disease. Of those who become infected, most will fight off the virus without any symptoms or will develop less severe West Nile fever. But about one in 150 people bitten by infected mosquitoes will develop encephalitis – inflammation of the brain – or meningitis, which is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. About 10 percent of people with a severe form of infection die from their illness, and others suffer from long-term nervous system problems. For more information, visit www.cdc. gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm and www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm. The Department of Public Health’s surveillance data on the West Nile virus is available on O.A.S.I.S. at http://oasis. state.ga.us.
State Crematoria Committee seeks public input
“We sent the message that we want to have rail in our community,” Johnson said. “This process moves us along to make that happen.” Johnson was referring to the failed transportation special purpose local option sales tax referendum (T-SPLOST) on the July 31 ballot. He was among a lengthy list of elected officials and civic and community leaders who lobbied against T-SPLOST. Opponents said I-20 rail was past due in south DeKalb County, and a county that, particularly when Fulton and DeKalb are the only two counties that support MARTA. The penny sales tax paid in the counties over the past 40 years has contributed more than $7.5 billion to MARTA through 2011. On Tuesday, Johnson was looking forward, though. “We want to have our ducks in a row in January,” he said, referring to transportation initiatives that could come up in the Legislature. Johnson encouraged the audience to attend MARTA board, the state Legislature’s MARTOC, and Atlanta Regional Commission meetings. He said people should become familiar with MARTA’s many acronyms and
In an interview after the meeting, Sidifall said the environmental phase of the I-20 East Corridor effort will take about 12 mile extension of heavy rail from three to four years to complete. Indian Creek That phase will be followed by engi5 new heavy rail stations neering and design phases that could each n Covington Highway take several years to complete, she said. n Wesley Chapel Road Cheryl King, MARTA’s assistant general n Panola Road manager for planning, said that reaching n Lithonia Industrial Boulevard the construction phase – assuming ren Mall at Stonecrest quired local funding has been committed 1 reconfigured existing heavy rail – could take at least 10 to 12 years. station She said that acquiring private money n Indian Creek to support the project might help hasten 12.8 mile Bus Rapid Transit service that pace, “since we wouldn’t have to jump through all of the federal hoops.” 5 Bus Rapid Transit centers “It may be 10 to 15 years before we can n Five Points use [the new system] but there will be … n Glenwood Park benefits as we go along this continuum,” n Glenwood Avenue King said. n Gresham Road Down the road, there will be jobs n Wesley Chapel Road for surveyors, designers and construc2 existing maintenance facilities tion workers, and others, she said, and as Source: MARTA people see the project take shape there will be interest in investing in adjacent land. technical terminologies. MARTA will accept written comments “The more we’re educated, the more we submitted by Oct. 15 to Janide Sidifall, Ofcan go forward,” Johnson said. “We can’t fice of Transit System Planning, MARTA, just focus on emotion. We’ve got to have 2424 Piedmont Road N.E., Atlanta, GA our facts.” 30324.
I-20 East Corridor details
September 15, 2012
Community
3
CrossRoadsNews
This will be the second cleanup in the past month in which residents have been digging away the buildup of debris along curb gutters.
Residents need volunteers to help clean up curbs on Sept. 22 Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry (left) joined Rainbow Community last month on a cleanup on a half-mile portion of Rainbow Drive between Kelley Chapel and Cocklebur roads.
South DeKalb residents will clear litter and debris from portions of Wesley Chapel Road on Sept. 22. The cleanup of trash and illegal temporary signs is sponsored by the Wesley Chapel Curb Appeal Task Force and Keep DeKalb Beautiful. Between 10 a.m. and noon, volunteers, including participants from Georgia State University’s Student Support Services and Snapfinger Manor Condominium Association, will also unclog trash from catch basins and remove debris from curb gutters. The cleanup is the task force’s kick-off event that will precede the installation of the plants at major intersections along the corridor. The group will meet in the Kroger parking lot in Wesley Chapel Square Shopping Center at 2385 Wesley Chapel Road. This will be the second cleanup in the past month in which residents have been digging away the buildup of debris along curb gutters. On Aug. 11, residents of Rainbow Community Cleanup, joined by Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry cleaned the curb along a half-mile portion of Rainbow Drive between the intersections of Kelley Chapel and Cocklebur roads. In January, members of the Snapfinger Manor Condominium Association planted crape myrtles, boxwood, euonymus, azaleas and liriope near the 1-20 exit and entrance ramps to beautify the area. To volunteer or for more information, e-mail wesleychapelcurbappeal@gmail.com.
Training offers ins and outs of casting ballots
Maxine Daniels
Unregistered and registered voters can learn the ins and outs of voting at a Sept. 17 voter education and voter registration training workshop at the DeKalb Voter and Elections Office in Decatur. Maxine Daniels, the county’s election director, will lead the 6-to-8 p.m. workshop that will include a summary of changes in voting laws, a discussion of voter ID requirements, absentee voting and early voting, and upcom-
ing election deadlines. There will also be a voting booth set up to familiarize voters with how to use it. Participants also will learn how to assist individuals registering to vote. Training materials will be provided. The free workshop will be held at 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300. For more information or to register, visit www.onedekalb.com.
Food drive seeks donations Bowlers and other DeKalb residents can donate nonperishable food items during the inaugural “Strike Out Hunger” food through Sept. 30 at Suburban Lanes bowling ally in Decatur. The monthlong food drive supports the Atlanta Community Food Bank, which serves struggling families throughout North Georgia and metro Atlanta. More than 900,000 people in metro Atlanta live on incomes that put them at risk for hunger every day. Thirty percent of those in need of assistance are children. Donations can be dropped off at 2619 North Decatur Road. For more information, visit www.MoveForHunger.org.
4
CrossRoadsNews
Forum 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com
Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Graphic Design Curtis Parker Staff Writers Carla Parker Jennifer Ffrench Parker Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Advertising Sales Kathy E. Warner 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.
L CA LO ODS! GO
AL ! LOC ICES RV SE
However, it appears more help for veterans is readily available for those willing to acquire new skills, and that’s a positive in every direction.
Black male athletes need more attention to academics By Jerome E. Morris, Ph.D.
The recent suspensions of UGA’s star running back Isaiah Crowell and LSU’s Heisman Trophy finalist Tyran Mathieu (nicknamed the Honey Badger), and countless stories of black male athletes’ academic ineligibility and arrests should serve as a wake-up call to all of us – educators, parents, coaches, fans, media, politicians, or the business community – about the need to prepare black males for success beyond athletics. To increase young black males’ overall life chances as adults, we have to ensure and celebrate their academic success, and not just their sports dreams. The disproportionate number of black males in professional sports such as basketball and football says volumes about what society really values in black males. For example, despite being only 6 percent of the total U.S. population, black males represent 67 percent of the professional football players and 78 percent of the professional basketball players. But in non sports-related professions, black males represent 3 percent of physicians and surgeons and 2 percent of attorneys. Given that the vast majority of black male high school athletes will never play a professional sport, cultivating their educational success needs to be our focus and as a community, we must be in the forefront of sending this message. Here are four key strategies that would send a powerful message about our commitment to developing black male students academically. These strategies are based on
“These are wonderful examples of the skillful balancing of academics and athletics! As a community, we could see even more success stories if we also balanced our academic and athletic expectations of black male students.” Jerome E. Morris, Ph.D.
more than 15 years of research as a professor in the College of Education and as a Research Fellow at the Institute for Behavioral Research at the University of Georgia, as well as my having played high school and college football.
National Scholars Day We need a National Scholars Day for recipients of academic scholarships, similar to college football’s National Signing Day, which recognizes student-athletes who received athletic scholarships. A National Scholars Day would recognize all students who received academic scholarships, but for black male students who are overrepresented among negative social and educational statistics, such a day could be especially meaningful. Therefore, I was excited to learn that Dr. Brian Bolden, the former principal of Stephenson High School, implemented this idea I shared with him from an article that I had written. Dr. Bolden specifically implemented an Academic Signing Day this past spring at Stephenson. Academic booster clubs We need academic booster clubs that could raise resources for academic support and activities, in a similar way that athletic booster clubs support sports. Academic
booster clubs would inform students and their parents about the role of college in achieving their professional aspirations. They would support students’ preparation for admissions tests, encourage them to take college preparatory courses, monitor grades, provide tutoring, and encourage college recruiters to witness students in action, not on the football field or the basketball court, but in classrooms.
Academic camps Summer Academic Enrichment Camps, staffed by educators, could provide academic enrichment during the summer months – a time in which some children experience up to three months of academic loss. Just as athletes develop their skills year-round, so must students. Smaller coach-player ratios Sports programs thrive when they have a small player-to-coach ratio. For example, many metro Atlanta schools enroll some of the most college-ready athletes in the nation, thanks greatly to a coachto-player ratio of about one-to-six! Similarly, small class sizes can be beneficial to students – despite the political messages to the contrary, as well as the recent trend in school districts. Research has demonstrated the benefits of small class sizes for
students, particularly low-income and minority students. If school district leaders are serious about promoting student achievement, they will focus on reducing class sizes, which often exceed 25 students per teacher. In comparison, no matter how talented a head coach is, he or she would never be expected to develop a winning program without assistant coaches. Likewise, classroom teachers also need assistants. We must become as vigilant in preparing black males for academic success as we have been in preparing them for athletic success. They are multi-talented, and can succeed in the classroom just as they achieve on the football field or the basketball court. Noted examples include Myran Rolle, the Rhodes Scholar and former star football player at Florida State University, as well as academic and athletic standouts from high schools such as Tucker, Stephenson, and Columbia who have gone on to attend and play sports at elite predominantly black and white institutions such as Stanford, Harvard, Morehouse, Howard, and Vanderbilt. These young people and their parents are wonderful examples of the skillful balancing of academics and athletics! As a community, we could see even more success stories if we also balanced our academic and athletic expectations of black male students. Dr. Jerome E. Morris is a DeKalb County resident and professor of social foundation of education at UGA. He and his graduate student, Adeoye Adeyemo, are the founders of the Scholastic Model for Academic Success.
Hopefully, focus on veterans will extend beyond election By Bishonna
The VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 included the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program or VRAP.
Lately I’ve noticed a surge of programs for veterans being advertised. It’s a breath of fresh air because I see way too many that gave their life serving our nation, living in absolute despair. And while I’m smiling on the inside, I can’t help but wonder if all of this has anything to do with 2012 being an election year. Hopeful I am, naive I’m not. However, it appears more help for veterans is readily available for those willing to acquire new skills, and that’s a positive in every direction. It’s evident that what catapulted these new options was the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which included the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program or VRAP. To read more of Bishonna’s blog, visit http:// w w w. c r o s s r o a d s n e w s . c o m / p a g e s / f u l l _ s t o r y / push?blog-entry-For+the+Veterans-Finally%20 &id=19631781%23ixzz25VrQlf4u. index to advertisers
www.eastmetromarket.com BJH Attorneys & Counselors at Law.............. 10 Bryant Insurance Agency............................... 11 Burroughs Law.............................................. 11 Chapel Hill Orthodontics................................. 8 CrossRoadsNews............................................. 7 Executive Cuts............................................... 10
Circulation Audited By
September 15, 2012
Georgia Charter Schools Association.............. 8 Healthy Essentials.......................................... 11 Henry Mitchell, CPA, PC................................ 10 Hibachi Grill................................................... 11 In the Midnight Hour......................................9 Malcolm Cunningham Auto Gallery..............12
Padgett Business Services...............................6 Solid Rock A.M.E Zion Church....................... 11 Teen Reach Inc.............................................. 11 The Law Office of B.A. Thomas.................... 10 The Samuel Group........................................ 10 TLA Foreclosure Prevention......................... 10
Tree Form Landscaping................................ 10 Wells Fargo..................................................... 3 Westgate Resorts........................................... 11 Best Buy Co. Inc......................................Inserts Walgreens...............................................Inserts
Put CrossRoadsNews to Work for You!
Call 404-284-1888 for Advertising Rates & Information
5
CrossRoadsNews
September 15, 2012
Community
“We just want our money situation handled and to be treated fairly. Stop treating us like dogs. We’re just as important.”
Bus drivers push for better treatment from school district By Carla Parker
Nearly 100 bus drivers, cafeteria workers and custodians packed the Sept. 10 DeKalb School Board meeting to express frustration about pay cuts, unfair treatment, safety and other issues to the school board. Two weeks after the employees met to talk about a litany of grievances with the DeKalb School District, they lined up outside district headquarters in Stone Mountain to underscore their issues. They are fighting for fair wages, benefits, retirement, safety, social security, step increases and fair treatment. As part of its austerity measures to balance its $760 million 2012-2013 budget, the district added more furlough days and eliminated health and dental insurance subsidies for all employees. Bus driver Cathy Douglas told School Board members that they have been shouting for years and will continue to do so. “We will not be quiet,” she said. “We will shout until we receive better pay, benefits,
DeKalb School bus drivers held signs outside the DeKalb School Board meeting in Stone Mountain on Sept. 10. The drivers are seeking better pay and benefits.
Art champion remembered as gentle soul
3455 Memorial Drive • Decatur, GA 30032
Hours: Mon-Thur 11AM-10PM • Fri 11AM-10:30PM • Sat 12PM-10:30PM • Sun 12PM-10PM
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK For more info, please call
All You Can Eat!!
By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
Dr. Samuel “Sam” Goldman, who led Callanwolde Fine Arts Center for 33 years, has died. Goldman, 63, died unexpectedly at his home on Sept. 10 after experiencing respiratory distress. A public memorial service was held at Callanwolde at 10 a.m. on Sept. 13. Goldman began working at the nonprofit Samuel “Sam” Goldman arts center in 1979, doing various administrative jobs. He became executive director in 1998. In a statement Monday, Callanwolde said that during his tenure at the center, Goldman showed “the utmost dedication” to providing arts to the community and to the mission of Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. “Sam will be greatly missed and we express our condolences to his long-term companion Tom, and to his family,” the statement said. “The arts center will continue to move forward with the values and commitment to the arts that Sam inspired in us.” Executive board members Jerry Poole and Tommie Nichols will serve as Callanwolde’s interim co-directors until a new executive director is named. Goldman’s longtime friend Jan Selman was overwhelmed with sadness at the news of his passing. “The world lost a gentle soul, an angel on earth,” said Selman, co-chair of the DeKalb Creative Industries Task Force on which Goldman served. DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis said Goldman was a wonderful person whose contribution to our community was significant. “In particular, his 33 years of service at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center is not only his living legacy, but a testament to his commitment to DeKalb County, the city of Atlanta, and his love for people and the arts,” Ellis said. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be sent to the nonprofit Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, 980 Briarcliff Road in Atlanta.
step increases, and Social Security. We will not go away.” Douglas reminded the school board that bus drivers, cafeteria workers, secretaries, para-professionals, mechanic and custodians are also about the collaborative effort to educate children. “It is the bus drivers that get up at 4 a.m. to be at bus stops on time,” she said. “It is the bus drivers who deliver children to schools prepared by custodians.” Lavina Howard, who has been a bus assistant for six years, said that they are always the ones to suffer reductions. “You cut our pay, you raise our insurance,” she told the board. “Nobody matches our fidelity bond and nobody cares.” Outside the meeting, bus drivers held up signs seeking honks of support. Lillian Jackson, an 18-year bus driver, said it’s time for the employees to stand up for something. “We just want our money situation handled and to be treated fairly,” she said. “Stop treating us like dogs. We’re just as important.”
404-288-5959
LUNCH BUFFET Monday - Saturday 11 am - 3:30 pm ADULT $6.59 KIDS BUFFET 3 TO 6 YEARS $2.99 7-10 YEARS $4.59
K OUT CHEC MMER U OUR S PECIALS! S w E TIM Coupons Belo
KIDS UNDER 2 YRS. EAT FREE!
See
DINNER BUFFET Monday - Thursday 3:30 pm – Close & Sunday All Day ADULT $8.99 KIDS BUFFET 3 TO 6 YEARS $3.99 7-10 YEARS $5.59
s e m i T 5 Dine-In Time & Get 1 !! FREE
KIDS UNDER 2 YRS. EAT FREE!
BUFFET No Seafood Half Seafood Hibachi Grill All Seafood All Sushi TO GO $3.99/lb. $4.99/lb. $4.99/lb. $5.99/lb. $6.99/lb.
4
$ 00 OFF
FREE FREE Meal for 1 Kid DRINK w/up to 4 people (under 10) With Purchase
PURCHASE OF LUNCH OR $30 OR MORE DINNER BUFFET
2
$ 00 OFF
Lunch or Dinner
PURCHASE OF $20 OR MORE
of Two Adult Meals.
10% OFF
LUNCH OR DINNER BUFFET BUFFET (Up To 4 People)
DINE IN ONLY
DINE IN ONLY
DINE IN ONLY
DINE IN ONLY
DINE IN ONLY
Expires 9/30/12.
Expires 9/30/12.
Expires 9/30/12.
Expires 9/30/12.
Expires 9/30/12.
6
CrossRoadsNews
Finance New SBA videos showcase thriving business owners A new SBA video library showcasing the stories of entrepreneurs with thriving businesses is now available at www.sba. gov/stories. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s “Small Business Owners Speak” features entrepreneurs from across the country who have started or grown a business with the help of the SBA. SBA Administrator Karen Mills said everyone has a story to tell and the new platform provides an outlet for entrepreneurs and Karen Mills could inspire others. “I have the great privilege of meeting small-business owners from across the country as I travel every week,” Mills said. “But now, thanks to ‘Small Business Owners Speak,’ you can hear their stories, too.” The web page features videos submitted during SBA’s 2012 National Small Business Week video contest. It also features a map of the United States that allows users to click on videos by state or by using the drop-down menu and searching for videos by topic, such as capital, counseling, federal contracting or disaster loans. The SBA continues to accept videos that showcase clients who have benefited from its services that include counseling, training, guaranteed loans, government contracts, and disaster recovery. For more information and guidelines, visit www.sba.gov/stories.
NAACP hosts credit workshops Residents who need strategies to help repair their credit can attend a free economic education workshop on Sept. 22 at the Goodwill Career Center in Decatur. Rebuilding Your Credit, presented by the DeKalb NAACP, will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Materials will be provided by the Bank of America. The Goodwill Career Center is at 1295 Columbia Drive. Space is limited: R.S.V.P. by e-mail to naacpdek@comcast.net or call the branch at 404-241-8006.
Proponents say creating jobs and supporting American entrepreneurs should be the No. 1 priority in Congress and locally.
Job fair offers resume help and job interviews A host of government and private sector employers with job openings will participate in the Sept. 21 “Making One DeKalb Work” job fair in Decatur. During the 10 a.m.-2 p.m. event in the DeKalb County government’s Maloof Auditorium, job seekers will get to talk with hiring managers with openings paying $16,000 to $85,000 per year. Recruiting companies including Comcast, Sears, TJ Maxx, All (n)1 Security, Walmart, Life House Partners Inc., Manpower, and DeKalb County Public Safety reported new hires as communication technicians, forklift operators, police officers, 911 dispatchers, security guards, sales associates, cashiers, marketing coordinators, and facility directors. Industry professionals will also critique resumes, provide interviewing and networking tips, and explain why personal branding and marketing is beneficial to the job search. Job seekers also can visit the county’s Mobile Career Unit to create resumes, apply for positions, and meet with a work force professional. The DeKalb Workforce Development Day, which is in its seventh year, is held in recognition of September as Workforce Development Month. Job seekers can visit the Mobile Career
ment were hired. More than 65 percent have undergone some aspect of the interview process. The Maloof Auditorium is at 1300 Commerce Drive. For more information, contact Brent Sharperson, business relations specialist, at bwsharperson@dekalbcountyga.gov or 404-687-2771.
parency in Contracting Act (H.R. 3184). Proponents say creating jobs and supporting American entrepreneurs should be the No. 1 priority in Congress and locally. The act, which encourages small-business growth, would make it easier for Americans to start small businesses, supporters say. The session is co-sponsored by DeKalb Medical and DeKalb Chamber. Space is limited and registration is mandatory at www. dekalbchamber.org/calendar.html. DeKalb Medical is at 2701 North Decatur Road.
Good idea to get your financial affairs in order Dear Dave, One of my relatives just discovered she has cancer. She’s a single mom with two young kids, and I’m not sure if she’s prepared to face something like this. What are the best steps she can take financially at this point? – Shannon
“There Is No Better Time to Plan Your Legal & Tax Strategies”
Law Office of E. Noreen Banks-Ware, P.C.
(770) 593-9848
(770) 593-9849
Specializing in Small Business Monthly Accounting, Personal and Business Taxes (Electronic Filing), and Business Consulting (Payroll Service, Business Plans & Audit Service)
Family Law (Divorces,Child Support Modifications, Custody), Business Law (Incorporations, LLC, Business litigation defense), Wills, Probate, Estates, Personal Injury
E. Noreen Banks-Ware
Accountant/CEO
Attorney
Salem Panola Library
Ware Professional Building
Unit to apply for positions, construct a resume, and meet with a work force professional. Online registration is available at http:// conta.cc/NEPg1q. In April, a DeKalb Workforce Development job fair drew more than 1,300 visitors, and 20 percent of those seeking employ-
ing the business sector. Business owners and others can The Help Entrepreneurs Crediscuss the Help Entrepreneurs ate American Jobs Act (H.R. 4032) Create American Jobs Act with U.S. would double the tax cut for startup Rep. Hank Johnson on Sept. 27 at businesses from $5,000 to $10,000 DeKalb Medical in Decatur. and increase the ceiling at which The 10-to-11:30 a.m. event deductions begin to phase out from takes place in the Women’s Center $50,000 to $60,000. on North Decatur Road. Johnson, who represents the 4th Johnson will meet with constit- Hank Johnson Congressional District that includes uents, business owners, Community Improvement District representatives, and portions of DeKalb, Gwinnett, Rockdale and members of local chambers of commerce to Newton counties, also will discuss his signaget feedback on the bill and other issues fac- ture small-business bill – Fairness & Trans-
Under One Roof!
Matthew Ware
DeKalb Workforce Development’s Mobile Career Unit during the “Making One DeKalb Work” job fair.
Business owners to talk American Jobs law with Hank
For All Your Legal, Accounting and Tax Services
Padgett Business Services
September 15, 2012
3636 Panola Road • Lithonia, GA 30038 (Across from the Salem Crossing Shopping Center)
Dear Shannon, I’m really sorry to hear about this. I know cancer is scary, but please remember to pray and be there for her all you can. God willing, things can still turn out OK. When people ask if a person has their affairs in order, they’re usually asking a couple of different questions. Are you right with God? Do you have life insurance and a will? Another important thing is to have all the paperwork of your life organized and in a safe place, so someone you trust can handle the details if things don’t turn out well. Everyone should have a good term life insurance policy in place. My advice is to have a policy worth 10 times your annual income. When it comes to a will, make sure it’s state specific. Probate and estate regulations are state laws, so any will should fit guidelines for the state in which you live. Make sure, too, that she has made arrangements for any minor children. It might be a good idea to sit down and talk with two or three trusted family members or close friends and decide who will take them if the worst should happen. Whoever this is should be incredibly responsible and caring, and willing to love and raise these kids as if they were their very own. Good luck, Shannon. And God bless you and your family. – Dave Going into emergency mode Dear Dave, My wife just received news that her company will experience significant layoffs in the next two months. On top of all this, she’s one of the newest workers there. We’ve been
trying to follow your plan, but what should we do with the possibility of unemployment on the horizon? – Tyler Dear Tyler, It’s a pretty safe bet that your wife will lose her job, especially if she’s new to the company. If what she makes right now is a significant portion of your overall income, my advice would be to press pause on your Total Money Makeover and build up your savings as much as possible. I love that you guys are trying to take control of your money, but right now there are storm clouds brewing in your financial lives. Sit down together and come up with a seriously belt-tightening budget.You may have to look at the possibility of cutting some non-essentials, even television. At this point it’s probably best to batten down the hatches and prepare for the worst while hoping for the best. The best way to do that right now is save, save, save! – Dave Dave Ramsey is the author of four New York Times best-selling books on money management. His “Dave Ramsey Show” is heard by more than 5 million listeners each week on more than 500 radio stations. Follow him on Twitter at @DaveRamsey or visit daveramsey. com.
Wellness Workshop offers info, resources on sickle cell disease Individuals and families can get information about sickle cell at a free, one-day workshop on Sept. 22 at the Adamsville Recreation Center in Atlanta. The “For Adults Only With Sickle Cell Disease Workshop” is one of the events being held in recognition of September as National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. It is sponsored by the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia Inc. in partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Health Policy Center, and Southeastern Primary Care Consortium Inc. Atlanta Area Health Education Center (SPCC AHEC) Deb McGhee-McCrary, CEO of the Sickle Cell Foundation, said the 9 a.m.-to-3 p.m. workshop will help empower people with sickle cell disease to become advocates for their health, to seek appropriate medical care, and to establish a regular medical home rather than relying on emergency rooms. Participants will hear from hematology specialists with Emory University’s School of Medicine, sickle cell disease support group leaders, and patients living with the disease. The community resources segment will identify services available for uninsured sickle cell patients. Sickle cell is an inherited red blood cell disorder and trait that affects people of many racial and ethnic groups around the world, particularly African-Americans. The disorder causes blood cells to become hard and sticky and look like the C-shaped farm tool sickle. More than 2 million people carry the sickle cell gene that can be passed to their children. Georgia has one of the highest occurrence rates in the United States, and DeKalb is among the 10 counties in Georgia with the highest incidence of the disease. People with the disease are born with two sickle cell genes – one from each parent. If a person only has one sickle cell gene, it’s called sickle cell trait. About one in 12 African-Americans has sickle cell trait. A blood test can show if a person has the trait or anemia. Most states test newborn babies as part of their newborn screening programs. The Adamsville Recreation Center and Natatorium is at 3201 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive S.W. To register for the workshop, visit http://sicklecelladultworkshop.eventbrite.com, or call 404-8154996 or 404-755-1641.
7
CrossRoadsNews
September 15, 2012
Sickle cell is an inherited red blood cell disorder and trait that affects people of many racial and ethnic groups around the world, particularly African-Americans.
DeKalb Medical to promote breast-feeding Breast-feeding rates are increasing across the country, and DeKalb Medical has joined a national project to improve hospital maternity practices to better support a mother’s choice to breast-feed. Best Fed Beginnings is led by the National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality through a collaborative funding agreement with the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC’s annual Breastfeeding Report Card shows that breast-feeding rates are on the rise with increases of about 2 percentage points in breast-feeding initiation and breast-feeding at 6 and 12 months. Breast-feeding initiation increased from 74.6 percent in 2008 to 76.9 percent in 2009 births. This improvement in initiation represents the largest annual increase over the previous decade. Breast-feeding is widely recognized as the healthiest choice for both baby and mother. DeKalb Medical announced in August, which was observed as National Breastfeeding Month, that it intends to become designated as “Baby-Friendly.” The designation means that a hospital has implemented the American Academy of Pediatrics-endorsed 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, as established in the WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. Margie Hunter, executive director of Women & Infants Services at DeKalb Medical, said the project is a good fit. “One of the reasons moms choose to deliver their babies at DeKalb Medical is because of the internationally recognized breast-feeding and lactation support programs that we offer before, during and after childbirth,” Hunter said in an Aug. 15 statement. “We are excited to participate in the Best Fed Beginnings partnership.” For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard. htm#Indicators and contact Jamie Ray, manager of Obstetric Community The CDC’s annual Breastfeeding Report Card Education, at 404-501-3050. shows that breast-feeding rates are on the rise.
Walk of HEROes benefits CSB programs, services Activists of all ages can walk, run or trot at a Sept. 22 Walk of HEROes charity event in Kirkwood. The community awareness event and fund-raiser, which is in its sixth year, features a 5K walk/run, tot trot, refreshments, warm-up, prize drawings for event tickets and gift cards, community vendor booths, awards for overall and age group winners, massages, and music. It begins at 8:30 a.m. Individuals and teams can register at www.walkofheroes5k. com. Pre-registration is $20 for the general public and $15 for DeKalb CSB clients. Day of registration is $5 more. Kids can participate in the tot trot for a $7 fee. Vending booths are also available for rent for $50 each. The 5K is hosted by Brighter Tomorrows Foundation, which benefits public nonprofit mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities services provided by the DeKalb Community Service Board. Patty Clarke, who has two adult sons in the agency’s developmental disability program, said she and her family always enjoy coming out to participate. “It is exciting to see our ‘special population’ walking, participating and interacting with the public,” Clarke said. “What a joy
Individuals and teams can register for the sixth annual community awareness event and fund-raiser at www.walkofheroes5k.com.
to see them come to the finish line.” For more information, visit www.walkofheroes5k.com or contact Michelle Potter at info@dekcsb.org or 404-508-7875.
Winner of 8 Awards for Journalistic Excellence in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists’ 30th Pioneer Black Journalists Awards Competition* East Metro Atlanta’s Best Source for Local News
• Best Community / Public Affairs Reporting
• Best Hard Feature Story
• Best Deadline Reporting
• Best Soft Feature (2) -- Tie
• Best Non-Deadline Reporting
• Best Photojournalism
• Best News Series * Print Category - Under 100,000 circulation
2346 Candler Road • Decatur, GA 30034 • 404-284-1888 • www.crossroadsnews.com • www.facebook.com/crossroadsnews
8
CrossRoadsNews
Youth
September 15, 2012
The calendar committee will recommend multiple calendars, which will be posted on www.dekalb.k12.ga.us during the comment period.
Input sought on 2013 school year calendars
The Georgia Education Articulation Committee’s Probe College Fair will include more than 100 Georgia and out-of-state colleges and universities.
Probe College Fair to be at Stonecrest on Sept. 20 High school students can get information about college at a Probe colleges and universities. High school students and their parents can College Fair on Sept. 20 at the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia. meet one-on-one with college representatives. The 6-to-9 p.m. event, hosted by the Georgia Education ArticulaThe mall is at I-20 at Turner Hill Road in Lithonia. For more tion Committee, will include more than 100 Georgia and out-of-state information, visit www.gaprobe.org.
Web games, videos mark Constitution Day celebration The 2012 observation of Constitution Day on Sept. 17 will include engaging educational games, videos, and activities for all ages, and classroom lesson plans for teachers across the country. The nonprofit Bill of Rights Institute, which educates the public on the Constitution, sponsors the annual observances. This year, its interactive, www.billofrightsinstitute.org/constitution-dayresources/ – has a new series of seven-minute
constitutional principle videos that explore the constitutional principles of separation of powers, limited government, representative government, and the rule of law. The videos offer visuals from current events, an engaging historical narrative, brief scholar interviews, familiar music, and memorable quotes. Individual, or team – classroom, family, or workplace can also test their knowledge in the Constitution Duel, a 15-question
Students Excel in DeKalb County Public Charter Schools Congratulations to the students, teachers, parents and administrators at Ivy Preparatory Academy, The Museum School of Avondale Estates, DeKalb PATH Academy, DeKalb Academy of Technology & Environment and Leadership Preparatory Academy.
quiz that challenges players to defend their constitutional honor. The multiple-choice questions explor four categories; the Constitution, primary source documents, landmark Supreme Court cases, and historic people. Additional activities include Life Without the Bill of Rights? which explores how life would change without our constitutionally protected rights, and Madison’s Notes are Missing, which allows you to “travel through time” to converse with the Founders and report on the Constitutional Convention. Through Sept. 23, students and teachers can tune in to the new Constitution Day episode of the National Constitution Center’s free webcast and live chat. Just in time for the 2012 election, the engaging, interactive lesson traces the history of the American presidency and features a special introduction by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos who was former adviser and communications director for President Bill Clinton. Constitutional experts and the institute’s education staff will discuss the importance of a young nation to have an executive branch, and why some people worry about giving it too much power.
On Sept. 17-26, parents and students can offer input on the 2013-14 school year calendars to a team of DeKalb School System teachers, principals and administrators planning the calendar. Among the options being explored is a “balanced calendar” which adds an additional week of vacation each semester and extends the school year an additional week. Similar calendars have been utilized by other school districts to reduce the amount of time that students spend away from the classroom during the summer to prevent “summer brain drain.” The calendar committee will recommend multiple calendars, which will be posted on www.dekalb.k12.ga.us during the Sept. 17-26 period. Comments can be left on the website or be emailed to calendar-feedback@ fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us. The committee will review all public comments before making its recommendation to School Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson for presentation to the school board on Oct. 1. The board will vote on the calendar at its Oct. 8 meeting.
McNair High principal to share vision for school McNair High principal Glynis Jordan will share her vision for the school at a “Back to School Showcase” on Sept. 20. The theme of the 5:30-to-7:30 p.m. event is “We can, and we will, because we must.” The Back to School Showcase will offer information for students, parents and the community. Guest speakers include District 7 Commissioner Stan Watson. The program also includes breakout sessions on everything from the new Common Core State Standards to DeKalb Online Learning Academy (DOLA). McNair High School is at 1804 Bouldercrest Road S.E., in Atlanta. For more information, contact LaKeisha Griffith at 678-874-5003 or at lakeisha_n_griffith@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us.
Chapel Hill Orthodontics
We Value Your Time So We Run On Time
Students at these outstanding state and DeKalb County-authorized public charter schools posted among the highest scores in the metro area on many CRCT content areas. • Every child is different, which is why families should have a variety of options when deciding how to educate their children. • Public charter schools are free public schools that must accept all students. • Public charter schools agree to have more accountability than traditional public schools in exchange for greater flexibility and autonomy. • All public charter schools are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
For more information, visit www.brightergeorgia.com
• 50% Off Clear Braces and 24K Gold Braces • Treatment for Children, Teens & Adults
We Offer No Interest Low Payment Plans
Special Discounts For All of Our Heroes: Including Educators, EMTs, Firefighters, Health Care Workers, Law Enforcement, Military, and Parcel Workers
Call Today To Schedule Your Free Consultation! Dr. Allise M. Calloway 4919 Flat Shoals Parkway, Suite 210
(678) 418-3000
Please Visit our Website for More Information: chapelhillortho.com
September 15, 2012
Scene
9
CrossRoadsNews
The community conversation with Baird will focus on his artistic and scholarly legacy that spans more than 40 years.
From left, dancers in the musical honoring the late Wilson Pickett, (center). Television actress Cassi Davis (top), stars in the musical.
Jukebox musical to honor Wicked Wilson Pickett’s life, legacy Cassi Davis, who stars in Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne,” will be featured in “In the Midnight Hour: The Music of Wilson Pickett,” on stage Sept. 21-23 at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center. The NAACP Image Award winner and a star-studded cast will help bring to life the story of the legendary R&B artist who helped shape the genres of soul music and rhythm and influenced a generation of musicians. Pickett, one of the great soul masters of the 1960s was called “Wicked Wilson Pickett” because of what Rolling Stone magazine called his “ bone-chilling, barnyard growl” of a voice. He was born in Prattville, Ala., in 1942, the fourth of 11 children. Pickett grew up singing in Baptist church choirs and moved to Detroit in 1955 where entertainers like Little Richard influenced him. Pickett made his mark as a solo artist with “It’s Too Late,” which entered the R&B charts in 1963. “In the Midnight Hour,” which he recorded in 1965 at Stax Records topped the
R&B charts, was no. 21 on the US pop charts and reached no. 12 on the United Kingdom pop charts. It sold over a million copies and got a gold disc. Mustang Sally Mustang Sally” followed in 1966 and “Funky Broadway” in 1967. Over his 40-year career, rhythm and blues vocalist known as “the Wicked Pickett” recorded more than 50 songs that made the U.S. R&B charts and frequently crossed over to the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and influenced a generation of performers. The Grammy award winner died from a heart attack on Jan. 19, 2006 at the age of 64. The musical’s show times are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Conceived by Kenneth Green, the Broadway-style theatrical production is filled with songs, dance and drama. It takes fans on the exciting jouirney through the life of musi con, who died in January 2006. As a prelude to the musical production, the exhibit, “Wilson Pickett: 25 at the Top,”
Lewis Grizzard words at ART Station Actor and Daytime Emmy Award winner Bill Oberst Jr. will channel once again the late AJC columnist, humorist and author Lewis Grizzard, on Sept. 28-30 at ART Stattion in Stone Mountain. Oberst will perform “Lewis Grizzard: In His Own Words” from selections from his books and columns. Grizzard, who grew up in Moreland, Ga., was “this generation’s Mark Twain.” He died in 1994 at age 47 after undergoing his fourth open heart surgery. Show times are Sept. 28 at 8 p.m., Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. The ART Station Theatre located at 5384 Manor Drive in Historic Stone Mountain Village. Tickets can be purchased at www.artstation.org or by calling 770-469-1105.
Bill Oberst, Jr. plays the late columnist and humorist Lewis Grizzard.
Event creator to share how she did it Poet and essayist Gwen Russell Green will share her 20-year journey organizing poets and artists to share their craft on Sept. 22 at the Stonecrest Library. Green’s signature poetry events have involved more than 100 artists of various genres and has been presented at arts centers,
libraries and other community venues. The 2-to-4 p.m. program will culminate with an open mic where artists can read from their works. Stonecrest Library is at 3123 Klondike Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 770-482-3828.
Author to talk up new novel at library Author and playwright Ayad Akhtar will be featured on Sept. 18 at the September Festival of Writers at the Decatur Library. Akhtar’s new novel, “American Dervish,” shows readers the powAyad Akhtar erful forces at work on young men and women growing up Muslim in America.
It’s an intimate, revealing debut novel written by a young author who grew up in the Midwest. The New York Times calls the book “an immensely entertaining coming-of-age story” about a young man falling in love for the first time and finding it leads him into an act of devastating consequences. The talk begins at 7:15 p.m. The library is at 215 Sycamore St. in downtown Decatur. For more information, call 404-370-3070.
is open at the performing arts through Sept. 25. It features video footage of the legendary singer, some of his gold records, clothing, photos, posters, musical scores, original programs, recordings and awards. It is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat-
urdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center is at 3181 Rainbow Drive in Decatur. For tickets, visit www.wilsonpickett.com, e-mail Jennifer.n.dwyer@gmail.com or call 404-558-8851 for more information.
Poet to appear at Auburn library Baird, who was born in BarPoet Dr. Keith Baird will read bados, is a retired professor and some of his poems and sign copies administrator of African World of his new book of poems, “Signs Studies and the Humanities, most and Wonder,” on Sept. 22 at Aurecently at Clark Atlanta University. burn Avenue Research Library in In addition to scholarly writing, he Atlanta. has published book reviews, essays The 4 p.m. community converand poetry and his co-author of sation with Baird will focus on his “Sea Island Roots” with his wife Dr. artistic and scholarly legacy that Keith Baird Mary Twining. spans more than 40 years. He is currently a freelance editor. The free event will be facilitated by The Auburn Avenue Library is at 101 Baird’s daughter, Dr. Diana Baird N’Diaye, who is the folklife curator and cultural heri- Auburn Ave. N.E. For more information, call tage specialist at the Smithsonian Museum. 404-730-4001.
10
CrossRoadsNews
September 15, 2012
FINANCIAL
HOME SERVICES
The Samuel Group, Inc.
Marketplace Reach More of the People Who Matter Most – Local Customers! Call 404-284-1888 to Advertise in the CrossRoadsNews Marketplace
TREE FORM LANDSCAPING 770-495-7816 770-307-8863
Custom Built Outdoor Firepits Flagstone Patios and Sidewalks
Loans for Churches, Restaurants, Day Care Centers, Multi Family Properties, Office Buildings and other commercial properties. Purchases or refinancing. All credit considered. Closings as quick as 7 days.
Pruning • Bobcat • Backhoe Clean Up • Stackstone Concrete Driveways
404-870-9070
www.treeform.net
www.thesamuelgroupinc.com
ATTORNEYS
ATTORNEYS
DENTAL
FINANCIAL
BJH
School Law Attorney Representing Teachers
Antonio the Barber!
Weekly Self-Improvement Workshops
Johnson Hopewell Coleman, LLC “EXPERIENCED LAWYERS, EXPERIENCED MINDS”
The Law Office of B.A. Thomas, LLC
404-525-6902
4919 Flat Shoals Parkway, Ste. 116 Decatur, GA 30034
1st Time Clients $5 Off Cut & Shave $3 Off Cuts
Appointments Available Today!!
404-754-9223 Direct Line
1. Introduction to Bankruptcy 2. How to Build Up Your Credit Score 3. How to Start and Manage a Small Business 4. How to Start and Manage a Nonprofit Entity 501(c)3 5. QuickBooks® Software Training for Small Business
Saturdays, Starting 9/15/2012 11am-1pm • $40/Session Bankruptcy • Personal Injury & Workers Comp • Family Law/Divorce/Custody Wills/Probate/Trusts • Criminal Defense • Corporate & Business Law
Find Local Goods & Services
www.eastmetromarket.com
4262 Clausell Court | Suite A | Decatur, GA 30035 P:404.289.2244 F:404.289.2888 www.bjhlawyers.com
5300 Memorial Drive, Suite 123G • Stone Mountain, GA 30083 (678) 663-6229 • henrymitchell2007@yahoo.com henrymitchellcpa.com
One-order, one-invoice, multi-newspaper placement service!
Reach more than 15 million households served by over 1,020 suburban and community newspapers around North America and Canada. 25-word ad starts at $240 weekly. Discount Contact Rates Available. For more information, call 404-284-1888 Autos DONATE YOUR VEHICLE Receive $1000 GROCERY COUPONS. UNITED BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION. Free Mammograms, Breast Cancer Info www.ubcf.info FREE Towing, Tax Deductible, Non-Runners Accepted. 1- 800-728-0801 CASH FOR CARS! Any Make, Model or Year. We Pay MORE! Running or Not. Sell Your Car or Truck TODAY. Free Towing! Instant Offer: 1-888-545-8647
Business Opportunity Make Up To $2,000.00+ Per Week! New Credit Card Ready Drink-Snack Vending Machines. Minimum $4K to $40K+ Investment Required. Locations Available. BBB Accredited Business. (800) 962-9189
Bank! www.SuperCashDaily.com More Amazing Opportunities @ www.LegitCashJobs.com A REWARDING CAREER that lets you earn money while helping others! Want to be your own boss, set your own hours? Independent Consultants needed for Restaurant.com Unlimited Earning Potential. No previous sales experience req’d. Tools & full training provided. Learn more at http://sales.restaurant.com/IC
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: ACTORS/MOVIE EXTRAS Needed immediately for upcoming roles. $150-$300 per day depending on job requirements. No experience, all looks needed. 1-800-951-3584 A-105. For casting times/locations
Education & Training
This is creating MILLIONAIRES! Earn $30,000 to $50,000+ weekly with ABSOLUTE proof. This is real! Call 1-800-887-1897 (24 hrs.) This is a serious life changer!
ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 800-488-0386 www. CenturaOnline.com
$294.00 DAILY MAILING POSTCARDS! Guaranteed Legit Work. Register Online! www. ThePostcardGuru.com ZNZ Referral Agents Needed! $20-$95/ Hr! www.FreeJobPosition.com Multiple $100 Payments To Your
AIRLINES ARE HIRING- Train for hands on Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified- Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (877)818-0783
Financial SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS. WIN or Pay Nothing! Start Your Application In Under 60 Seconds. Call Today! Contact Disability Group, Inc. Licensed Attorneys & BBB Accredited. Call 877-865-0180 Ever Consider a Reverse Mortgage? At least 62 years old? Stay in your home & increase cash flow! Safe & Effective! Call Now for your FREE DVD! Call Now 866-967-9407
Health & Fitness Canada Drug Center is your choice for safe and affordable medications. Our licensed Canadian mail order pharmacy will provide you with savings of up to 90 percent on all your medication needs. Call Today 888-459-9961 for $25.00 off your first prescription and free shipping.
home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 888-903-6658
for the DVD and FREE Good Soil book! 866-969-1041
Diabetes/Cholesterol/Weight Loss. Bergamonte, a Natural Product for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and weight. Physician recommended, backed by Human Clinical Studies with amazing results. Call today and save 15% off your first bottle! 888-470-5390
Advertise your product or service nationwide or by region in up to 12 million households in North America’s best suburbs! Place your classified ad in over 750 suburban newspapers just like this one. Call Classified Avenue at 888-486-2466 or go to www. classifiedavenue.net
Attention Joint & Muscle Pain Sufferers: Clinically proven allnatural supplement helps reduce pain and enhance mobility. Call 888-474-8936 to try Hydraflexin RISK-FREE for 90 days #1 MALE ENHANCEMENT! Guys size does matter! Buy the Blue Pill Now 40 100mg, 20 mg Pills +4 Free. For only $99.00. Discreet Shipping. 1-800-491-8942
Misc. For Sale
ATTENTION SLEEP APNEA SUFFERERS with Medicare. Get FREE CPAP Replacement Supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, prevent red skin sores and bacterial infection! Call 866-993-5043
SAVE 65 Percent & Get 2 FREE GIFTS when you order 100 Percent guaranteed, deliveredto- the-door Omaha Steaks Family Value Combo NOW ONLY $49.99. ORDER Today 1- 888697-3965 use code 45069TLS or www.OmahaSteaks.com/value75
ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a FREE Talking Meter and diabetic testing supplies at NO COST, plus FREE
MANTIS Deluxe Tiller. NEW! FastStart engine. Ships FREE. One-Year Money-Back Guarantee when you buy DIRECT. Call
Henry K. Mitchell Certified Public Accountant Certified Fraud Examiner
Miscellaneous
SAVE on Cable TV-InternetDigital Phone. Packages start at $89.99/mo (for 12 months.) Options from ALL major service providers. Call Acceller today to learn more! CALL 1-877-7367087 DISH Network. Starting at $19.99/
month PLUS 30 Premium Movie Channels FREE for 3 Months! SAVE! & Ask About SAME DAY Installation! CALL - 877-992-1237 Buy Gold & Silver Coins - 1 percent over dealer cost. For a limited time, Park Avenue Numismatics is selling Silver and Gold American Eagle Coins at 1 percent over dealer cost. 1-877545-5402 Gold and Silver Can Protect Your Hard Earned Dollars. Learn how by calling Freedom Gold Group for your free educational guide. 877-714-3574 SHARI’S BERRIES - Order Mouthwatering Gifts for any occasion! 100 percent satisfaction guaranteed. Hand-dipped berries from $19.99 plus s/h. SAVE 20 percent on qualifying gifts over $29! Visit www.berries.com/extra or Call 1-888-851-3847 *REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL! * Get a 4-Room All-Digital Satellite system installed for FREE and programming starting at $19.99/ mo. FREE HD/DVR upgrade for new callers, SO CALL NOW. 1-800-699-7159
Reader Notice As a service to you – our valued readers – we offer the following information: This newspaper will never knowingly accept any advertisement that is illegal or considered fraudulent. If you have questions or doubts about any ads on these pages, we advise that before responding or sending money ahead of time, you check with the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Line and/or the Better Business Bureau. They may have records or documented complaints that will serve to caution you about doing business with those advertisers. Also be advised that some phone numbers published in these ads may require an extra charge. In all cases of questionable value, such as promises or guaranteed income from work-at-home programs, money to loan, etc., if it sounds too good to be true – it may in fact be exactly that. This newspaper cannot be held responsible for any negative consequences that occur as a result of you doing business with any advertisers. Thank you.
11
CrossRoadsNews
September 15, 2012
SPECIALS
Marketplace
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Time or Financial Freedom, which do you need? We can help. Free details visit http://StartYourOwnEconomy.com
FOR RENT/LEASE 5 Bedroom Brick Ranch, 3 Bath, Complete Basement, Fenced Yard, Near MARTA, Decatur Area. $800/month. Call 404-2882122. Two Hair Salons for Rent. $500 and $866/month. 678-755-5955. Space for Sunday Church Services. Seats 125. $50-75/hour. 678-755-5955.
erphoto@gmail.com; www. curtisparkerphoto.com.
Watch your home or business over your smart phone and IPad. Call 404-590-3996 or www. smartshieldsecurity.com
TRAVEL The Explorers. Exciting Christmas Shopping. Jockey Lots South Carolina. Over 2,300 Store. Dec 2, 2012. Cost $40. Jemma 404643-4625.
WANTED Licensed Barbers Needed. 3,500 sq. ft. shop on Candler road with great walk-in traffic. 678-4995491. Come see.
Commercial Kitchen. Use it when you need it. $60/hour. 678-7555955
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.
GET A FREE AD!
When You Buy One of Equal Value
Scan the Code to Get Your Free Ad! YOUTH SERVICES
FOR RENT / LEASE
Furnished Office Suites For Rent from $350
INSURANCE
HELP WANTED Driver: $2,500 Sign-On Bonus. Hiring Solo and Team Drivers. Great Benefits Package. Excellent Home Time. CDL-A Required. Students Welcome 888-441-9358 www.superservicellc.com
SERVICES Event Photography - Corporate or Non-Profit. Also, studio or environmental portraits on location. 404-322-7322; curtispark-
FINANCIAL
6440 Old Hillandale Drive, Lithonia ★ High visibility from I-20. Minutes from The Mall at Stonecrest. ★ Ideal Office location for Lawyers, Accounting Firms, Real Estate Companies, Insurance Agencies, Auto Brokers, Architects, Engineers, Business/Life Style Consultants and other Corporate (for profit and not for profit) Executive Office Use.
• Free Wi-Fi • Free Parking • On Site Property Manager
• Monitored Entry From 9-5 • 24/7 Key Card Access
For Information, contact James Burroughs jamesburroughs@burroughslaw.com • 770-484-4044 / 678-938-2281
HEALTH / WELLNESS
“Mount up with wings as eagles!” EMPLOYMENT
SENIOR DAYCARE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Solid Rock A.M.E. Zion Church announces the opening of the position of Executive Director for its Friendship Center. The ministry of the Center is to individuals who suffer from Alzheimer and debilitating illnesses. In summary, the Executive Director is responsible for the overall operation of the Adult Day Care Center which includes the following objectives and other duties as required by the Board Chairman and supportive organizations: Communicate the program to the communities at large; Develop procedures/guidelines and provide oversight for the entire staff and volunteers; Monitor and oversee the purchasing and expenditures of the Center; Monitor hiring practices and maintain accurate personnel files. The ideal candidate should have some experience and/or training in the area of elderly care, managerial, budgeting, and administration. Interested persons should submit a resumé to: Office of the Pastor, Solid Rock A. M. E. Zion Church, 4065 Snapfinger Road, Lithonia, Georgia 30038. The deadline for submission is September 24, 2012.
12
CrossRoadsNews
Dekalb County’s
September 15, 2012
only Dealer! ForD linColn
tHe oPPortunity oF a liFetiMe is Here
A Division of Malcolm Cunningham Ford
your First, last and only stoP! We NoW ReNt Buy WitH
$
0
dOWn!
Example: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300, STK#A3008. Buy for 72 months at 3.75% APR with $0 down is $379 per month. Plus tax, tag and title with approved credit.
At
need Credit?
2004 Ford
30%
priCes stArt
under We CAn $ Help!!!
ExplorEr limiTEd
On EvEry New Ford F-Series, Super Duty, and Crossover!!!
678.502.2005
Leather, Sunroof, STK#A3015
7995
$
5000
Example: 2004 Cadillac DTS, STK#A3010A. Sale Price $3995.
2005 mErCEdEs-BEnz
C230 KomprEssor
STK#A3066A
10,995
$
2009 nissan
2007 Ford
EdgE
sEnTra
Off MSRP
ForD F-150 neW 2012
Super Gas Saver, Stylish, STK#A3070
10,995
reg Cab
$
STK#A3034
12,995
$
2011 ToyoTa
2008 mErCEdEs BEnz
Super Gas Saver, Nice & Clean, STK#A3004
V12, Navigation, Rear Camera & More, STK#A3032A
Corolla
s63 amG
STK#128299 • MSRP $27,184
Malcolm Cunningham Discount: $4689 Factory Rebate $3500 You Pay $18,995
13,995
$
2005 ToyoTa Sequoia Leather, Sunroof, 4X4 STK#A3041 ............................. $9995 2009 NiSSaN SeNTra Auto, P/W, P/L, CD, STK#A3070 .................................... $9998 2009 HoNda CiviC Coupe Sporty and a Great Gas Saver, STK#A2041....... $13,995
ThaT’s Over 30% Off MsrP!
2006 volkSwageN JeTTa gli Leather, Sunroof, Alloy Wheels, STK#A3078 $13,995 2006 iNfiNiTi g35 Leather, Sunroof, Alloy Wheels, STK#A2084A ................. $13,995
2009 ToyoTa Camry le Loads of family fun!! STK#A2031 ......................... $14,555
Hurry! tHis Deal Won’t last long! 2012 ForD
MPg Fiesta se 38 HW y*
MSRP $19,404 - $4516 Malcolm Cunningham Discount - $1000 Factory Rebate=
all neW
FoCus se
13,888 STK#124021
all neW
Fusion se
all neW
2013 ForD
2012 ForD MSRP $24,764 - $4376 Malcolm Cunningham Discount - $3500 Factory Rebate = Sale Price
16,888 $ 7800
all neW
2013 ForD
STK#121142
2008 CadillaC CTS A Must See Clean, Luxury at its best! STK#A2080 ....... $18,995 2008 volvo S80 Leather, Sunroof, Alloy Wheels, STK#A3063 ..................... $18,995
Off MSRP!
exPlorer
22,888
$
MSRP $31,529 - $4641 Malcolm Cunningham Discount - $1000 Factory Rebate =
25,888
$
STK#137030
STK#133015
all neW
Flex
26,888 $ 8800
2008 leXuS rX 350 Great Luxury SUV, STK#A2092 .................................... $22,995
2008 leXuS eS 350 STK#A3026 .................................................................. $21,995 2009 liNColN mkS THX Pkg, NAV, Backup Camera, Sunroof, Leather, STK#A3050 $21,995 2009 merCedeS-BeNz Clk350 Leather, Sunroof, STK#A3046 ................. $22,995 2009 leXuS eS 350 Leather, Sunroof, P/W, P/L and more, STK#A2072........ $23,595
2009 Bmw 328i Sport Pkg, Leather, Sunroof, Luxury & Performance, STK#A3020 $23,995
2009 ToyoTa veNza Leather, Sunroof, STK#A3076 .................................... $24,995 2008 merCedeS-BeNz e350 Luxury, Luxury, Luxury, Loaded, Sport Pkg, STK#A3007 $24,995
Plus Many, Many MorE!
Prices plus tax, tag, and title. All offers with approved credit. *Offers expire 9/16/2012.
$
STK#126716
2009 NiSSaN maXima Leather, Sunroof, STK#A3062................................. $20,995
2007 audi q7 Navigation, Leather, Sunroof, STK#A3079 .............................. $24,995
2012 ForD MSRP $35,769 - $4381 Malcolm Cunningham Discount - $4500 Factory Rebate = Sale Price
That’s Over
2008 merCedeS-BeNz C300 Leather, Sunroof, Sport Pkg, STK#A3006, 2 to choose from starting at $19,995
2010 aCura TSX Loaded, NAV, Sunroof, Leather & more, STK#A3013.......... $20,999
MSRP $29,284 - $5396 Malcolm Cunningham Discount - $1000 Factory Rebate = Off MSRP!
2007 iNfiNiTi m35 Leather, Navigation, Sunroof, STK#A3061 ...................... $18,995
2007 Bmw 530i Leather, Sunroof, Sporty, STK#A2093 ................................ $20,995
Mustang
$
That’s Over
2010 dodge CHarger All Power, Upgraded Wheels, STK#A3072 ................. $17,995
15,888 $ 6,200 STK#124761
2009 HoNda aCCord eX-l Loaded, Sunroof, Leather, Like new, STK#A2026 $15,995 2008 HoNda aCCord eX-l Leather, Sunroof and more!! STK#A2066 ......... $16,495
$
That’s Over
2006 merCedeS-BeNz C280 Leather, Sunroof, STK#A2097....................... $15,995 2011 NiSSaN alTima STK#A3058 ................................................................ $15,995
2012 ForD MSRP $22,174 - $4286 Malcolm Cunningham Discount - $2000 Factory Rebate = Sale Price
$
2006 merCedeS-BeNz e500 STK#A3001A, 2 to choose from starting at.... $14,995
Off MSRP!
Plus tax, tag, and title with approved credit. Includes all factory rebates. *Based on 2012 EPA Estimates. See dealer for complete details. Expires 9/16/2012.
5675 Peachtree industrial blvd
770.621.0200 www.MalcolmCunninghamFord.com
A Division of Malcolm Cunningham Ford
(7 70) 987-9000 I-20, Exit Wesley Chapel To Snapfinger Woods Drive
Sales Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-8pm • Closed Sunday
www. MalcolmCunninghamAutoGallery .com
4C (10.5”) × 16” 35064-MCAQ (9-15) Crossroads FC (lm)
PLUS TAX, TAG, AND TITLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT. INCLUDES ALL FACTORY REBATES. SEE DEALER FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. EXPIRES MONTH END. EXCLUDES HARLEY DAVIDSON, RAPTOR AND SVT MODELS.
all neW
49,995
$