Ocgn 03 04 17

VOLUME 22 NUMBER 46

FREE

MARCH 4, 2017

Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews

MARTA to host citywide listening sessions

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uring the month of March, City of Atlanta residents will have a chance to let MARTA officials know their vision for expanded bus and transit services during citywide MORE MARTA Listening Sessions.

On select dates from March 7 through March 28, attendees can participate in the scheduled MORE MARTA meetings—an interactive listening session that provides residents with an opportunity to share ideas on the Authority’s future expansion and service enhancement projects fueled by the recently passed half-penny tax referendum.

Below are the scheduled MORE MARTA Listening Sessions: Tuesday, March 7 Rosel Fann Recreation Center 365 Cleveland Ave., SE Atlanta, Ga. 30354 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Riding MARTA: Take Bus Route 78 Wednesday, March 8 The Agape Community Center 2353 Bolton Road, NW Atlanta, Ga. 30327 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Riding MARTA: Take Bus Route 60

DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond: Bye’ bye’ blight

Commissioners approve funding for CEO’s top priorities

Michael Thurmond

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eKalb CEO Michael Thurmond plans to roll up his sleeves and help clean up DeKalb. Literally. Thurmond will kick off the Operation Clean Sweep blight reduction initiative on Saturday, March 11, 8 a.m., at Wade Walker Park, 5585 Rockbridge Road, Stone Mountain.

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved the county’s 2017

operating budget of $1.3 billion, which funds Thurmond’s top priorities of addressing the county’s water billing crisis, employment and blight.

The board approved $2.6 million for Operation Clean Sweep, a year-round initiative to target blight, litter, illegal dumping and cleaning up debris in county storm drains, streets, sidewalks and rights-of-way. As part of the $2.6 million approved, the county plans to buy four street sweepers, a front loader, dump truck, trailer and other equipment.

“Anyone who lives, works or who visits here should be able to walk and drive along the streets of DeKalb County free without encountering excessive litter and debris,” Thurmond said.

“Residential blight did not appear overnight and will not be easily remediated, but I am convinced that a more focused, multi-departmental blight remediation strategy, in cooperation with civic groups, faith leaders and the private

sector, will result in improved quality of life for us all,” CEO Thurmond said.

During the kickoff event along Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road at Rockbridge Road, Thurmond will join county crews from Sanitation, Beautification, Roads and Drainage and Parks and Recreation as they perform litter and debris removal along streets curbs and storm drains, mowing and street sweeping.

To address DeKalb’s high water bill crisis, commissioners approved Thurmond’s request for $1.5 million.

“During the next 90 days, the administration will implement strategies that will reduce errors associated with maintaining our meter inventory,” Thurmond said. “We will improve efficiencies in meter installation and data management billing. Greater emphasis and investments will be made in customer service training and employee See Blight, page 9

DeKalb group heads to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to eye tourism

Thursday, March 9 Helene Mills 515 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. Atlanta, Ga. 30312 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Riding MARTA: Take Bus Route 3 Tuesday, March 21 Cascade United Methodist Church 3144 Cascade Road, SW Atlanta, Ga. 30311 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Riding MARTA: Take Bus Route 71 Wednesday, March 22 Cathedral of St. Phillip 2477 Peachtree Road Atlanta, Ga. 30305 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Riding MARTA: Take Bus Route 110 Thursday, March 23 Big Bethel AME Fellowship Hall 220 Auburn Ave. Atlanta, Ga. 30303 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Riding MARTA: Take Bus Route 3 For more details, visit www. itsmarta.com/expandmarta or contact MOREMARTA@itsmarta.com.

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group of DeKalb County leaders left by motor coach for Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on March 2 to visit several tourist attractions, including two sports facilities that are similar to the Atlanta Sports City at Stonecrest complex, which was recently announced for the new city of Stonecrest.

About 20 people participated in the two-day trip organized by Discover DeKalb Convention and Visitors Bureau. The group included Discover

Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/ OCG News

DeKalb Executive Director James Tsismanakis, Patrick Henderson and Zeric Foster, who are bringing the $200 million Atlanta Sports City at Stonecrest entertainment facility to DeKalb, and Vaughn Irons of APD Solutions, the developer for the Stonecrest project.

“The trip is designed to help people understand the tourism value of communities and how they are catalysts for economic development,” said Irons. “Pigeon Ford gives us the

closest correlation to Stonecrest primarily because it has the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the same way we have our national heritage area at Arabia adjacent to an area which offers tourism aspects.”

Irons said the candidates who are running for offices in the city of Stonecrest were invited on the trip to learn more about tourism economic develSee DeKalb group, page 7

PAGE 2 •MARCH 4, 2017 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

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MARCH 4,2017 • PAGE 3

Stonecrest election going slowly so far

EDITOR/PUBLISHER Valerie J. Morgan editor@ocgnews.com

GENERAL MANAGER Glenn L. Morgan gmorgan1@ocgnews.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Richard S. Hill richardhill@ocgnews.com

On Common Ground News is published weekly by On Common Ground, Inc. The newspaper serves DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Rockdale and Henry counties.

The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher or the newspaper’s advertisers.

No portion of this newspaper may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher.

More candidate debates, forums set

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arly voting for the special election in the new city of Stonecrest is off to a slow start with only 57 people casting votes in the first three days, elections officials say.

DeKalb County Elections Director Maxine Daniels said there are 33,000 eligible voters in the new city, however, she is not expecting a big turnout even

by March 21, Election Day, since this is only a municipal election.

“Typically, we expect a 5 percent turnout. So, we’re looking at about 1,500 voters expected altogether,” Daniels said. “Hopefully, it will

We reserve the right to reject material and advertisements we deem inappropriate.

pick up.”

Meanwhile, community groups are working to get out the vote. The following organizations have notified On Common Ground News of candidate forums/meetand-greets they are hosting for the public to attend: Monday, March 6: The DeKalb Coalition for Voter Education and Mobilization will host a meet-and-greet for the city of Stonecrest candidates, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Lithonia.

Tuesday, March 7: The DeKalb County NAACP will

host a candidate forum for all contestants, 6:30 p.m., at Salem Bible Church, 5460 Hillandale Drive, Lithonia.

Thursday, March 9: The Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce is presenting

Stonecrest Candidates City Council, Post 1

Mayor

On Common Ground News

a forum for the mayoral candidates, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson will moderate the forum.

P.O. Box 904 Lithonia, GA 30058 (678) 526-1910 News 24/7 @ www.ocgnews.com

Douglas E. Favors II

Important Dates

Charles E. Hill II

Jason Lary, Sr.

Charles Ross

Jimmy Clanton, Jr.

City Council, Post 2

City Council, Post 37

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arly Voting Period: Feb. 27-March 17, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at DeKalb County’s main precinct on 4380 Memorial Drive Suite 300, Decatur, GA March 21: Voters should go to their assigned precincts to cast their ballots for the general election, which is the last day to vote.

April 18: Runoff election, if needed

Plez A. Joyner

Alexis Bethel Morris

Gretchen Jones Torbert

Rob Turner

Jazzmin Randall Cobble

City Council, Post 5

City Council, Post 4

Geraldine Champion Jesses “Jay” Cunningham

Eric Hubbard

Mary-Pat Hector

Jonathan “JP” Phillips George Turner Jr.

Diane Daniels Adoma

Richard Stone, photo not provided

Stonecrest residents sought for elections study, mock election

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he Concerned Citizens of Stonecrest is hosting an Election Focus Study and mock election on Wednesday, March 8, 6 p.m., at the Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road, Lithonia.

Organizers say the event is not a debate or meet-and-greet with the candidates but rather an opportunity for Stonecrest residents to express their perceptions, opinions, beliefs, and

attitudes on a number of topics of concern. A moderator will ask the audience to share their views on public safety and education, parks and recreation, code enforcement, economic development and other topics as they relate to the new city. The audience will also participate in a mock election to choose City Council members and the mayor of Stonecrest.

Focus Study participants must

provide identification showing that they live in one of the five districts in the city of Stonecrest.

Participants also must have a cell phone with texting capability.

Participants will see the results they submit by cell phone in real time. Those interested in participating in the Election Focus Study are encouraged to arrive early. The maximum capacity for this event will be limited to 155 participants.

Tammy L Grimes

LLoyd Morrison

PAGE 4 •MARCH 4, 2017 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

Coming Up

Compiled by Mackenzie N. Morgan.

attractions, world-renowned dining and Southern hospitality, your reunion will feel right at home in Gwinnett.

Just 30 minutes north of downtown, Gwinnett is home of top-ranked Parks & Recreation facilities, where families can swim, grill out, enjoy lakeside barbeques or gather in modern, accessible pavilions and facilities.

With over 100 hotels from limited to full-service, families on any size budget can find group-friendly, comfortable and well-maintained accommodations. For more information, visit exploregwinnett.org.

Free chair Tai Chi class helps seniors find balance Seniors 50 years and older and Parkinson’s patients are invited to attend a slow-paced workshop doing chair Tai Chi Friday, March 10, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., at the Centerville Community Center, 3025 Bethany Church Road, Snellville.

This low-impact class is suited for seniors wanting to improve their balance and fall prevention. People with Parkinson’s disease benefit from this class by improved functional mobility, gait, strength, cognition, balance, and quality of life. The cost is $5 per class for Gwinnett County residents.

Register in class or online at www.pdgladiators.org.

For online registration information, call 770-450-0792. For class information, call 404-786-4650.

Hairston Crossing Library offers Read to a Pet program

Early readers can practice their reading skills by reading to a dog from the Pet Partners therapy animal program on Saturday, March 11, 2 to 3 p.m., at Hairston Crossing Library, 4911 Redan Road, Stone Mountain.

Open to first eight participants ages 5 to 12.. Groups of 5 or more, please call branch for appointment. Please call or visit the branch to register. For more information, call 404-508-7170.

ATLANTA

Daffodil Day at Oakland Cemetery In partnership with the Georgia Daffodil Society, Historic Oakland Foundation presents the third annual Daffodil Day, a celebration of spring’s ubiquitous bloom, on Saturday, March 11, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Oakland Cemetery, 248 Oakland Ave, SE, Atlanta.

Enjoy a day in Oakland’s Victorian gardens with guided walks, garden presentations, a cut flower display, dialogue with local daffodil and gardens experts, a plant sale, book signing, children’s activities, and more.

Daffodil Day is free and open to the public. Proceeds from Daffodil Day’s plant sale and related activities benefit Historic Oakland Foundation’s gardens team.

For more information, including driving and parking directions, visit www.oaklandcemetery.com.

High Museum offers free admission Everyone receives free admission to the High Museum of Art, on Sunday, March 12, 1280 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta. Enjoy special family-friendly programming from 1 to 4 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month as part of Family Fun at the Woodruff Arts Center. For more information, visit www.high.org.

DEKALB

DeKalb Parks and Recreation hosts glow in the dark 5K Join the DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs for the Neon 5K Fun Run at Mason Mill Park on Saturday, March 11, 6:30 p.m., 1340 McConnell Drive, Decatur. This glow-in-the-dark event is less about speed and more about enjoying a night of fun with your friends and family. All fitness levels are welcome.

Race registration is $15. Register online at dekalbcountyga.gov or at any DeKalb County recreation center by March 4.

GWINNETT

Explore Gwinnett to host ABCs of Planning A Family Reunion workshop Explore Gwinnett is hosting a family reunion workshop on Friday, March 10, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at The Center for Civil and Human Rights, 100 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd. NW, Atlanta.

The seminar will cover everything you need to know to host a successful family reunion. Jam-packed with civil rights heritage and history, family

ROCKDALE

Tykes, tots and teens consignment items for sale Shop 30,000 square feet of clothes, toys, baby equipment, books, games, youth furniture, décor and more, for babies, kids, teens and expecting moms on Saturday, March 11—18 at the Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers.

Find all brands at a fraction of the retail price. Accepting sellers as well.

Hours vary each day, so visit www.TTTsale.com for sale hours and more information.

Volunteers needed for Hands Across Rockdale 2017 The sixth annual Hands Across Rockdale will take place on Saturday, May 6. The steering committee is seeking sponsors, service projects and volunteers for this year’s day of service.

Hands Across Rockdale is a community initiative that aims to promote the spirit of volunteerism within the Conyers-Rockdale community while providing service to those in need. In 2016, nearly 300 volunteers were placed at 15 different project sites throughout Rockdale.

Those interested in helping to make Rockdale a better place are encouraged to visit www.handsacrossrockdale.org.

Please check with the event organizer before you go.

To submit your event to Coming Up, email editor@ocgnews.com. We choose events that are free or a nominal cost to our readers.

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MARCH 4, 2017 • PAGE 5

Dickerson, Anderson to hold legislative town hall in Conyers

State Rep. Pam Dickerson

State Sen. Tonya P. Anderson

State Rep. Pam Dickerson (D-Conyers) and State Sen. Tonya P. Anderson (D-Lithonia), will host a legislative town hall on Saturday, March 4, 10:15 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Nancy Guinn Library, 864 Green St., Conyers.

The legislators will provide insight on what’s happening under the Gold Dome, discuss upcoming legislation, and give constituents the chance to share their questions and concerns.

Gannon thanks community for stepping up for food drive

Household hazardous waste recycling event set for DeKalb residents

The DeKalb County Sanitation Division will host a biannual household hazardous waste recycling event on Saturday, March 25, 8 a.m. – noon, at the Sanitation Division’s Central Transfer Station, 3720 Leroy Scott Drive, Decatur.

The event, sponsored by the DeKalb County Sanitation Division in partnership with MXI Environmental Services LLC, offers event participants an opportunity to properly dispose of dangerous household chemicals that are no longer in use.

Hazardous materials such as aerosols, batteries, adhesives, flammables, lawn care products, fluorescent light bulbs, photo chemicals, artist supplies, paint and paint-related products will be accepted. Items such as agricultural waste, ammunition, pharmaceuticals, radioactive materials, biohazardous and biomedical waste will not be accepted. Participants will be limited to 10 gallons of paint per vehicle.

Participation is free and only open to DeKalb County residents. Proper identification to prove DeKalb County residency may be requested.

For more information, contact the Sanitation Division’s customer service team at 404-294-2900 or sanitation@dekalbcountyga.gov, or visit www. dekalbsanitation.gov.

A food drive hosted by several DeKalb County officials collected nearly 3.5 tons of food, a “ton” more than previous years.

“The level of participation in this year’s canned food drive was incredible and the community really stepped up to help tackle food insecurity in DeKalb.

I’m pleased to report our collaborative efforts collected enough food for 5855 meals,” said DeKalb Commissioner Kathie Gannon.

Kathie Gannon Gannon kicked off the month-long food drive in January, partnering with District Attorney Sherry Boston, Solicitor Donna Coleman-Stribling, Superior Court Clerk Debra DeBerry, Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson, State Court Clerk Melanie Wilson, as well as, DeKalb’s senior centers and libraries. Canned goods were donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank to help restock their pantry that serves citizens in DeKalb County and surrounding metro areas.

“Many people give during the holidays, however the need for food goes far beyond,” r Gannon said. “There are people every day that must make hard choices: pay their utilities or buy food; buy their prescriptions or buy food; fix their car or pay for food. Those are difficult choices and they disproportionately affect seniors and children.”

For more information about how you can continue to help “out fox hunger,” visit acfb.org.

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Call Today 404-220-8719 - 24/7- To Schedule

PAGE 6 •MARCH 4, 2017 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

All three Rockdale high schools named AP Honor Schools

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ll three Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) high schools – Heritage, Rockdale County and Salem – were named 2017 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools by State School Superintendent Richard Woods, a distinction the schools have achieved for more than seven consecutive years.

“Advanced Placement coursework provides the highest level of rigor in addition to the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school,” said RCPS Superintendent Richard Autry. “I am proud of our teachers, students and administrators for consistently achieving this recognition over many years, demonstrating their commitment to academic excellence in all of our high schools. In addition to Advanced Placement, many students choose Move On When Ready to obtain college credits while in high school. We want all of our students to graduate with an advantage, whether choosing higher education, the military or the workforce after graduation.”

All three high schools were recognized in the AP STEM Schools category.

Rockdale County High School was also recognized in the AP STEM Achievement category.

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Rockdale County High School and Salem High School were recognized in the AP Humanities category.

Heritage High School and Rockdale County High School were recognized in the AP Access and Support category.

Advanced Placement classes and exams are administered by the College Board, which also administers the SAT. AP classes offer rigorous college-level learning opportunities to students in high school. Students who earn a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP exams may receive college credit. RCPS offers AP courses at every high school, including the Rockdale Career Academy and Rockdale Virtual Campus. Examples of courses include: U.S. History, World History, Economics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Calculus, Statistics, American Literature, World Literature and Art. Definitions of each category provided by the Georgia Department of Education are: AP Challenge Schools – Schools with enrollments of 900 or fewer students and students testing in four of the core areas (English, math, science, and social studies).

AP Access and Support Schools – Schools with at least 30% of AP exams taken by students who identified themselves as African-American and/or Hispanic and 30% of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

AP Merit Schools – Schools with at least 20 percent of the total student population taking AP exams and at least 50 percent of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

AP STEM Schools – Schools with students testing in at least two AP math courses and two AP science courses (AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP

Environmental Science, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science A).

AP STEM Achievement Schools – Schools with students testing in at least two AP math courses and two AP science courses and at least 40 percent of scores on AP math and science exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

AP Humanities Schools – Schools with students testing in the following AP courses: at least one ELA course, two social science courses, one fine arts course and one world language course.

Fifteen Rockdale County Public Schools ‘beat the odds’ for 2016

ifteen of 18 schools within Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) made the list of Georgia schools that “beat the odds” in 2016. These schools performed better than statistically expected on the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).

The CCRPI is Georgia’s accountability system that measures schools and school districts on a 100-point scale, based on multiple measures.

The Georgia Department of Education’s “Beating the Odds” analysis predicts a range within which a school’s CCRPI score is statistically expected to fall given the school’s size, grade cluster, student mobility, and student demograph-

ics (including race/ethnicity, disability, English learners, and poverty). If an individual school’s actual CCRPI is above the predicted range, then that school beat the odds.

As a Strategic Waiver School System (SWSS), individual schools must meet annual CCRPI performance targets. This “Beating the Odds” statistical analysis serves as a “second look” if that target is not met.

“This statistical analysis simply gives us another viewpoint of our performance,” says RCPS Superintendent Richard Autry. “I am very pleased that our district has one of the highest percentages of its schools beating the odds for five

years. RCPS schools continue to outperform other schools with like characteristics throughout the State of Georgia. This affirms our commitment to ‘All Means All.’” “We view these schools as major success stories,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods says. “In fact, it’s difficult to fully express the magnitude of what they’ve achieved. Statistically, a high rate of poverty presents multiple barriers to achievement, but these schools are beating the odds and doing excellent work on behalf of Georgia students.”

Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families to honor community volunteers

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ive students invested in community service in Rockdale County are finalists for the Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families’ 2017 John K. Morgan Scholarship.

This is the seventh year the Rockdale Coalition has offered the $4,000 scholarship for a student who has demonstrated outstanding community service in Rockdale County and plans to continue that level of commitment while pursuing post-secondary education. The scholarship is named for John K. Morgan, former president and chief executive officer of Acuity Brands Lighting and community advocate.

Since the inception of the scholarship, more than $39,500 has been awarded to deserving students in Rockdale County.

Finalists for the 2017 John K. Morgan Scholarship include: Jazz Duncan (Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology); Galilea Garcia (Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology); Ivy Gonzalez (Heritage High School); Laurel Holmes (Rockdale

Magnet School for Science and Technology); and Jada Johnson (Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology).

“We were once again overwhelmed by the talent and commitment these students have shown throughout their careers by giving so much of their time and talents to help others in need,” said Director of Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families Michael Hutcheson.

Highlights of community service demonstrated by the five finalists include: • Jazz Duncan cites the Rockdale Autism Support Group’s iCan Shine Bike Camp, Jasmine House Foundation, Rockdale Juvenile Court/Teen Court and the Drug Free Community Coalition as her most meaningful areas of service.

• Galilea Garcia cites her involvement with St. Pius Catholic Church’s Lifeteen Program, serving in a leadership role at the Jovenes En Cristo (Teens in Christ) youth retreat, being a peer mentor at the Magnet School and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta VolunTEEN program volunteer as motivation

for community service.

• Ivy Gonzalez’s cites volunteerism with organizations such as Kate Caruso Light the Way’s Camp Kate, Walking Home Together, a non-profit animal shelter, and Do It for Jared Foundation, an organization in memory of a friend who lost his battle with sickle cell anemia.

• Laurel Holmes is a lifelong Girl Scout, is passionate about serving the special needs community and, seeing a need, created her own service organization, Women on the Way to Success (WOWS), for young women at her school.

• Jada Johnson cites her involvement in Beta Club, serving the Emmanuel Community Church food pantry and volunteering as an AWANA youth leader.

The scholarship winner will be announced at the Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families Annual Awards Reception on March 24, 6 p.m., at the Rockdale Career Academy.

The 2017 recipient of the F. William Hughey Community Service Award will

be presented to Levette Thompson. The award is presented annually to a person who has demonstrated outstanding community service in Rockdale County. Thompson is a long-time Rockdale County resident. Her volunteer efforts include organizing and supervising neighborhood cleanup projects for the Fieldstone View/Country Walk neighborhoods, mentoring youth and developing a plan to help her neighborhood deal with drug trafficking. Thompson was instrumental in assisting Rockdale County secure a $700,000 federal grant to revitalize her community. A $500 cash donation will be given to the local community service organization of Thompson’s choice.

Tickets for the Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families Annual Awards Receptions are available for $20 per person and are available at http:// 2017coalitionawards.bpt.me. The event includes food catered by students in the Rockdale Career Academy culinary arts program and recognition of the scholarship finalists.

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MARCH 4, 2017 • PAGE 7

GPTC presents annual State of the College Address

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eorgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) is on the cutting edge of preparing students for high-demand jobs in the state of Georgia, GPTC President Jabari Simama said during his State of the College Address.

“As we come together for the 2017 State of the College Address, I am pleased to announce the state of our college is exceptional,” said Simama. “Our student body today looks very much like the workforce of tomorrow.

Our college is providing a pipe-

Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/ OCG News

line of skilled graduates who are well-prepared for high-demand career fields.”

Simama delivered his address to leaders from business and industry, as well as elected and appointed officials, during a breakfast meeting on the college’s DeKalb campus.

Simama highlighted innovative academic programs for which the college is known, including its film and television production department. He said Georgia Piedmont is partnering with the

DeKalb group continued from page 1

opment and three decided to attend, paying their own way: Jimmy Clanton; Jay Cunningham; and Jason Lary.

Irons said the group planned to visit the Cal Ripken Experience and Rocky Top Sports World to get an idea of the kind of economic development the Stonecrest project would bring. He said although both of the Tennessee sports facilities are on a smaller scale than the one planned for Stonecrest, visiting the sites would provide valuable information.

The group’s itinerary also included meeting with officials from Le Conte Center, the Wilderness at the Smokies family resort, WonderWorks and Herschend Family Entertainment, which has properties in the Pigeon Forge-Gatlinburg area and owns Stone Mountain Park in DeKalb, all with Stonecrest in mind.

Irons said Henderson and Foster through their company, Atlanta Sports Connections, have successfully raised about $40 million for the $200 million Stonecrest project from private investors in St. Louis, Washington, D.C., Florida and Chicago. They plan to generate the remaining $160 million through revenue bonds.

“We’re not using a general obligation bond. A general obligation bond requires a referendum to be approved by the taxpayers. We’re not planning to do that.”

Irons said the Stonecrest project is a private deal that has been vetted by Cadillac-Fairview, which is selling all of the 197-acre tract it had left at Stonecrest.

“What a lot of people don’t really understand is that Stonecrest is a master-planned community and Cadillac-Fairview can only sell the property to qualified developers and investors. Cadillac-Fairview has vetted this project in great detail,” Irons said. “They looked at it and approved it back in the fall.

This isn’t something where the deal came together a couple of weeks ago. They took their time to evaluate the team, the project—everyone who’s involved. The DeKalb Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has done the same thing.”

Irons said meetings also were held to discuss the project last fall with heads of homeowners associations, pastors and other leaders in the Stonecrest community, as well the Stonecrest Business Alliance.

Discover DeKalb’s Executive Director James Tsismanakis said he expects the Stonecrest project to bring 3 million visitors a year to the Atlanta Sports City at Stonecrest complex, which will accommodate more than 22 sports and will host amateur and professional sports events throughout the year.

Georgia Film Academy to offer a certificate program in film and television production, which Gov. Nathan Deal recently stated is a $6 billion growth industry in Georgia. Other key academic areas Simama mentioned included advanced manufacturing, 3D printing, drone technology, cyber forensics, and transit and transportation technologies.

“Georgia Piedmont Technical College partners with high schools in its four-county service area to offer dual enrollment classes, and this has become a very popular initiative,” Simama stated.

The Move On When Ready (MOWR) program allows high school students to enroll in college classes while obtaining both high school and college credit.

Simama also touted many of the college’s other initiatives, such as adult education, continuing education and customized business and industry training.

Experts predict that over 60% of jobs that will exist in 2020 most likely will require some form of post-secondary training, and Georgia Piedmont stands ready to help train the 21st centu-

ry workforce, Simama said.

“At $89 per credit hour, Georgia Piedmont Technical College remains one of the best higher-ed values in the state,” Simama said.

“For a third of the cost of attending the University of Georgia, a student at our institution can earn a higher education credential.

The decision to enroll at Georgia Piedmont is a wise investment.”

In his speech, Simama also touched on transfer agreements that will allow Georgia Piedmont’s students to transfer seamlessly to four-year colleges and universities. He highlighted a groundbreaking agreement that Georgia Piedmont put into place this month with Clark Atlanta University.

“This agreement is a multitiered partnership that will expand college access to individuals who never dreamed they could graduate from a university as prestigious as Clark Atlanta,” said Simama. “Under this new agreement, an individual can go from not possessing a high school diploma to earning a Ph.D. This is further evidence of how we are making a difference in the communities we serve.”

DeKalb Library awarded grant to assist at-risk youths

DeKalb County Public Library is one of 75 recipients in the nation to receive a grant from the American Library Association (ALA) for a book club program for at-risk young people. The reading and discussion program, called the Great Stories Club, will focus on teen violence and suicide.

The first program will be held on Saturday, March 25, at the DeKalb County Board of Health. The library is partnering with the DeKalb County Office of Youth Services to conduct the book club. The Office of Youth Services works to help at-risk children in DeKalb and has selected 25 teen girls for participation. The teens will read and discuss three books focusing on teen violence, bullying and suicide.

“So many teens in our community struggle with issues of violence and suicide; and much of the time, adults are painfully unaware of what they’re going through,” said Gina Jenkins, the Library’s Youth Services Coordinator.

“We think this program is a wonderful opportunity to use literature to begin important conversations with our young people about these problems and how to deal with them.”

Book titles for the program are Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher; It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini; and Romeo and Juliet, a graphic novel illustrated by Matt Weigle. Selected by library advisors and humanities scholars, the books were chosen to resonate with reluctant readers who deal with complex issues such as violence, incarceration and poverty.

The Great Stories Club grant is administered by ALA’s Public Programs Office in partnership with the Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, including the Library Services for Youth in Custody and Library Services to the Incarcerated and Detained interest groups. The Great Stories Club is made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

PAGE 8•MARCH 4,2017 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

DeKalb Medical begins Emergency Department renovation

Thanks to generous contributions from the community, the DeKalb Medical Foundation exceeded its $2.1 million campaign goal and the hospital will begin the first phase of the expansion and renovation of the Emergency Department on the North Decatur campus, officials announced.

The project is expected to be completed in December.

The DeKalb Medical Emergency Department on its North Decatur campus serves more than 70,000 patients every year. The renovation will reduce wait times and create a more modern environment of care, officials say.

The project is made possible through donations to the DeKalb Medical Foundation’s Building the Future of Emergency Medicine campaign, including a $100,000 gift from the DeKalb Medical ED doctors.

“We are so grateful to our donors and the community for making this renovation possible,” said Kathy Peters, chair of the DeKalb Medical Foundation “This will enable DeKalb Medical to better serve members of our community when they come to the hospital for emergencies.”

Eric Dennin, director of Emergency Services, praised the project.

“These renovations will positively affect our community, our staff and our hospital partners,” said Dennin said. “One such impact is the creation of an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) intake area that will allow our EMS partners to get in and out of the Emergency Department more efficiently. Spending less time in the hospital allows them to get back out in the community faster.”

Dennin said another example of the positive impact the project will have is the creation of a modernized Clinical Stabilization Unit, where patients experiencing behavioral health conditions can receive dedicated care in a secure environment.

Other improvements include: • Creation of a new intake area for ambulances which will enable the emergency personnel who bring patients to us to get back into the field more quickly.

• Addition of a Radiology Room with x-ray to be used exclusively for ED patients.

• Addition of 14 new patient care rooms.

• Addition of a bereavement room to give loved ones a private, comforting space to grieve.

• Creation of a secured Clinical Stabilization Unit for Behavioral Health Patients • An Upgraded Nurse Call System.

• A Redesigned central work station to create an open format and better visualization of the patients.

“Our redesigned Emergency Department will ensure our reputation for clinical excellence will be matched by the convenience we offer

to our patients,” said Robert (Bob) Wilson, CEO of DeKalb Regional Health System. “We are grateful to the community for their generosity, and we are proud to continue our commitment to serve our patients with compassion and innovation.”

While the Foundation has exceeded its goal for the Emergency Department renovation project, donations are still being accepted to extend the project further. For more information, call 404-501-5956 or visit www.dekalbmedical.org.

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DeKalb Chamber honors MARTA’S Avondale Development project

MARCH 4,2017 • PAGE 9

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A $120 million mixed-use development, led by MARTA’s reinvigorated transit-oriented development (TOD) program, was named 2017 Project of the Year by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce.

The TOD, located in the Avondale Estates community, is currently under construction and will feature a pedestrian-friendly development comprised of 378 market-rate apartments as well as 92 affordable, independent housing options for seniors. The development, known as “E. Co” in reference to the project’s proximity to East College Avenue, also includes 22,000 square-feet of commercial space for future entertainment, dining and retail businesses.

“We are elated and honored to be recognized for our E. Co project as we work to enhance our transit options and reimagine various stations throughout our system,” said MARTA GM/CEO Keith T. Parker. “At MARTA, we are always exploring innovative ways to enhance the overall transit experience by introducing new amenities, innovations and conveniences for our broad range of customers across the region.”

The E. Co project sits on 7.7 acres of previously underutilized parking.

The converted site will connect visitors and residents directly to the East Decatur Greenway PATH and a designated greenspace, creating a more walkable community.

Last December, MARTA broke ground for the mix-used development.

It is the Authority’s fourth TOD project to begin construction. The first phase of the E. Co development is scheduled for completion in 2018.

“MARTA has been a critical partner of the Chamber and DeKalb County, and the MARTA Avondale Station TOD is crucial to connecting DeKalb County to the metro Atlanta region and preparing us to support future growth,” Katerina Taylor, DeKalb Chamber President and CEO said.

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retention.”

Another initiative of Thurmond that received funding is the DeKalb Works Summer Employment Strategy. Under the $250,000 program administered by WorkSource DeKalb, 155 eligible youths between the ages of 14 and 24 will have the opportunity to earn wages and develop employment skills. The youths will be placed with private and public employers for six weeks in a work-based training environment.

“I believe this subsidized employment opportunity will provide our young people with resources to buy basic needs such as food, clothes and school supplies,” CEO Thurmond said. “A job often means much more than a paycheck. It can also mean connection with a lifelong mentor, career path exploration, practical training and the development of soft skills.”

A schedule of Operation Clean Sweep efforts will be posted on DeKalb’s website at www.dekalbcountyga.gov.

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PAGE 10•MARCH 4,2017 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM Rockdale County Tax Sale

Under and by virtue of certain tax Fi.Fa.’s issued by the Tax Commissioner of Rockdale County, Georgia, in favor of the State of Georgia and County of Rockdale against the following named persons and the property as described immediately beside their respective name(s). There will be sold for cash or certified funds at public outcry, before the Courthouse door in Conyers, Rockdale County, Georgia, between the legal hours of sale, on the first Tuesday in March, the same being March 7, 2017. The below listed and described properties, or as much thereof as will satisfy the State and County tax execution on the respective individual and property will be sold between the legal hours of sale, 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. This is a buyer beware sale and all property will be sold as is. The Tax Commissioner makes no warranty, neither expressed nor implied, as to title, and all properties are subject to all recorded covenants, easements, and right of ways. Properties are sold under the power of a tax sale deed with specific rights of redemption. Each defendant and tenant in possession, if applicable, has been notified of levy time and place of sale. Purchaser shall pay for title, all transfer cost, all taxes, advertising cost and recording fees. Pursuant to Georgia Law, payment will be required within one (1) hour of the completion of the tax sale. In the event a bid is not properly paid, the property may be re-offered at 2:00 PM on the day of the sale, or the following day that being March 8, 2017.

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MARCH 4,2017 • PAGE 11

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