VOLUME 22 NUMBER 33
FREE
NOVEMBER 19 2016
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
PCA accepting applicants for energy assistance
Orientation 101 for Georgia’s new lawmakers
V
ernon Jones was among the newly-elected state legislators who attended orientation on Nov. 15 at the he Partnership for Community state capitol in preparaAction, Inc. (PCA) is accepting tion for the 2017 General applications for its Low InAssembly. come Home Energy Assistance Program Although Jones, a (LIHEAP). Seniors ages 65 and older as Democrat, was elected well as those who are medically homebound may apply now. The general pub- on Nov. 8 over a Republican candidate to lic application period will begin Dec. 5. represent House District The program is available to resi91, which includes parts dents in DeKalb, Gwinnett, Rockdale, of DeKalb and RockNewton, and Walton counties who heat their homes with natural gas, electricity, dale counties, he is not a propane, wood, kerosene, or coal. Elibrand new state legislagible applicants must meet the income tor. Before serving two guidelines of 60% of the median houseterms as DeKalb’s CEO
T
hold income for Georgia, and provide the following information: • Proof of income for all household members 18 and older for the last 30 days; 90 days, if irregular income. If no income, a Zero Income Form will be provided at your appointment. All household members with no income must be present during the appointment time to complete this form. • Most recent home heating bill. • Most recent electric bill. • Verification of Social Security cards for all household members or some other legal proof of Social Security number. Tax returns are not an acceptable document. A secure and verifiable document is needed for the person applying for the household to prove identity and citizenship. Bringing copies of these documents, along with the originals, will expedite wait time at application intake. To schedule an appointment, call 404537-4300 or go online at www.pcaction. org. For safety and health reasons, the PCA is discouraging walk-in applicants and does not permit long lines from forming outside the building. Eligible participants may receive a one-time payment per program year of $310 or $350, depending on family income. Funding for the LIHEAP program is provided by the Georgia Department of Human Services, Public Service Commission and H.E.A.T.
from 2001 to 2008, Jones served as a state lawmaker from 1993 to 2000. “I’m excited to be back. I have the experience and I understand how to effect change. I’m looking forward to working with the governor, the Speaker of the House and across party lines,” said Jones. “My job is to represent District 91 and create bi-partisan support for improvements in DeKalb and Rockdale counties. Improving the transportation gridlock is going to be my No. 1 concern.”
Vernon Jones
Oprah comes to Decatur bar to film season 2 of Greenleaf
By Mackenzie N. Morgan
D
eKalb County business owners, Wendell and Isis Robinson, recently got the surprise of a lifetime when executive producer Oprah Winfrey walked through the doors of their Decatur bar, Juicy’s Joint. Winfrey visited the restaurant on Nov. 10 to film an episode for season 2 of Greenleaf, the television drama series that follows the lives of the Greenleaf family and their corrupt mega church in Memphis, Tennessee. The show, which premiered June 2016, was written by Craig Wright and features a star-studded cast including Keith David, Lynn Whitfield, and Merle Dandridge. Robinson said he and his wife were thrilled to meet Oprah. “We didn’t find out until the day before the shoot that Oprah would actually be on location and were sworn to secrecy,” said co-owner Wendell Robin-
Juicy Joint owners Isis Robinson Wendell and pose with Oprah Winfrey.
son. “She’s a very intelligent and gracious individual – and a hard worker. She came in, greeted us and got right to work. After the filming, Ms. Winfrey thanked us again for allowing them to use our bar and took photos with my wife and I,” said Robinson. To accommodate the shooting, the business
closed down for three days to setup, shoot and breakdown the set. “It’s just incredible to see how much work goes into filming a television show. It was truly a pleasure to watch the filming behind the scenes,” said Robinson. See Greenleaf page 6
Juicy’s Joint is situated near the bustling intersection of Glenwood Road and Columbia Drive in the former Tanqueray Lounge. Robinson said he has worked tirelessly to rejuvenate the bar and attributes the renovations as a reason for their bar getting select-
PAGE 2 •NOVEMBER 19, 2016 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
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NOVEMBER 19, 2016 • PAGE 3
Showing the Thanksgiving Spirit
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. We reserve the right to reject material and advertisements we deem inappropriate. On Common Ground News
P.O. Box 904 Lithonia, GA 30058 (678) 526-1910 News 24/7 @ www.ocgnews.com
Donate a suit for our returning heroes
I
Food donations pour in to help the needy
t took a small army of volunteers to unload the trucks filled with food, beverages and household products for the drive-through mobile pantry in Rockdale County, a week before Thanksgiving Day. The grocery bags and boxes that volunteers assembled for those in need contained not only food, but in some cases, cough drops and other medicines and small gifts such as headsets. The free event was hosted by the Resource Center for Community Action, Inc. (RCCA) at the county annex parking lot, which is located at 1400 Parker Road in Conyers. The food was given out on a first-come, first-served basis and was one of the first such initiatives in metro Atlanta to get under way this holiday season. “This effort impacts about 300 families but serves about 2,000 people when you consider the number of people are in each individual family served,” said Siddiya Swift, who runs the RCCA. “We are thankful to be able to help others and show our continued support.” This year, the RCCA, which provides free food and other assistance for needy residents in Rockdale and Newton counties, received some help for its Thanksgiving food give
RCCA’s mobile pantry drew a flock of people who waited in their cars to receive food. Rockdale Chairman-Elect Oz Nesbitt (below) accepts donations that will be distributed at the Olivia Haydel Senior Center.
away from the mayor of Lovejoy. Mayor Bobby Cartwright, who owns a farm in Lovejoy, donated several pallets of collard greens, Swift said. “RCCA worked with another nonprofit to host a mobile pantry in Lovejoy and the mayor and other county officials were so pleased with the work that we did in Lovejoy that he decided to donate greens from his farm to us for our Rockdale event,” said Swift. “I just thank him so much for giving back to another community.” While the RCCA assisted families, Rockdale County’s Chairman-Elect Oz Nesbitt prepared to assist senior citizens with his own annual giveaway. Nesbitt held a turkey drive in collaboration with Courtesy Ford, located at 1636 Dogwood Drive in Conyers. The dealership served as the drop-off point for
turkey donations going to about 200 seniors during a giveaway on Nov. 20, 3 p.m., at the Olivia Haydel Senior Center, 1240 Dogwood Drive in Conyers. “There is much to be thankful for and I am grateful to the people who make all of this come together for our seniors,” said Nesbitt. “It feels great to be giving away turkeys again this year.” Nesbitt said he hopes to be able to give out at least 200 turkeys. Meanwhile, in DeKalb County, Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church, 1879 Glenwood Ave., Atlanta planned to give away 500 Thanksgiving baskets on Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to noon. The church is hosting a shoe drive collecting gently-worn shoes for Haiti during the food basket giveaway. The Women in DeKalb NAACP and DeKalb Com-
missioner Larry Johnson will give away free turkeys on a first-come, first-served basis on Saturday, Nov. 19, 11 a.am. to 2 p.m., at the Gallery at South DeKalb Mall parking lot, 2801 Candler Road, Decatur.
DeKalb adds several sites to dispute water bills Farmers Insurance is conducting a suit drive for male and female military veterans. Darold Honore, who recently opened a Farmers Insurance office in the city of Lithonia, says gently-used suits are being accepted at his office for the drive. “The suits will be given to veterans who need attire to search for jobs. Over 1 million military personnel will be making the transition to the civilian workforce and we are asking the community to join Farmers Insurance in donating clean, gently-used suits for them,” said Honore. Honore’s new office is located at 6844 Main St., Lithonia. For more information, call 678-749-7434.
DeKalb County residents wishing to dispute their water bills now have additional times and locations throughout the county to begin the dispute process. In September, DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May issued a moratorium through the end of 2016 on the disconnection of residential water accounts that have been contested through the Utility Customer Operations Center’s Customer Assurance Team. “By adding these additional sites
and times, we are providing convenient locations to accommodate varying schedules to help address customers concerns about their water bills,” Interim CEO May said. At these locations, water customers will be able to speak with county representatives about their bills and place their accounts in dispute. During the dispute period, customers with disputed accounts will be required to pay their average bill based on 12 months or six billing cycles prior to the anom-
aly bill. There will be no water service disconnections for customers whose accounts are in dispute and who have paid their average bill through the end of 2016. In addition to notifying the Utility Customer Operations Center at 774 Jordan Lane in Decatur, or calling (404) 371-3000 to speak with a customer service representative, water customers can visit the following locations:
Name Address Date Latin America Association Building 2750 Buford Hwy.,Atlanta, GA 30324 1 1/16/16 Stonecrest Mall 2929 Turner Hill Rd.,Lithonia, GA 30038 11/19/16 Pan Asian Center - Doraville 3510 Shallowford Rd.,Atlanta, GA 30341 11/30/16 Perimeter Mall 4400 Ashford Dunwoody Rd.,Atlanta, GA 12/1/16 North Lake Mall 4800 Briarcliff Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30345 12/3/16 Brookhaven Public Library 1242 N Druid Hills Rd., Atlanta, GA 30319 12/5/16 DeKalb County Fire Department - Station 4 4540 Flakes Mill Rd., Ellenwood, GA 30294 12/7/16 South DeKalb Mall 2801 Candler Rd.,Decatur, GA 30034 12/10/16 North DeKalb Mall 2050 Lawrenceville Hwy., Decatur, GA 30033 12/17/16
Time 1 - 4 p.m. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 1 - 4 p.m. 6 - 8 p.m. 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. 6:30 - 8 p.m. 1 - 4 p.m. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
PAGE 4 •NOVEMBER 19, 2016 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
Op/Ed: Opinions and Editorials
Should the Electoral College pick our President? By Randal Mangham On Dec. 19, the Electoral College’s 538 members are slated to gather at their respective state capitols to cast the formal vote for President. As registered citizen voters, we only indirectly determine who will be President by choosing Electors, thus the winner of the popular vote can still lose. It has been stated that to lose the popular vote and win the Electoral College is a violation of democracy, one that defies the principle of “one man, one vote.” A Yale professor stated that the Founders created the Electoral College to protect slavery. The question is should the people elect the President or the Electoral College? Only 29 states have laws mandating that electors support the winner of the state popular vote. Discontented electors could vote for someone else and change history. Could this be the reason for the softening of the Trump rhetoric since there is a move by some electoral college members, “Moral Electors,” to vote for neither Trump nor Clinton and require the House of Representatives to choose a President? The Moral Electors are hopeful that Trump’s polarizing persona could convince enough Republican electors to sideline him. Electors are facing pressure from anti-Trump forces. Georgia elector Baoky Vu resigned after he came out against Trump. Trump won the popular vote in states mak-
ing up 290 electoral votes — and he’s leading narrowly in Michigan, which carries another 16 electoral votes. If all of them vote for Trump, he’ll win 306 electoral votes, easily exceeding the 270-vote majority he needs to become President. That’s why there is a long-shot move seeking to flip 37 Republican colleagues. “Faithless electors,” those who vote contrary to the will of their states’ voters, are rare in American history, and have never swung the outcome of an election. In 2004, a Minnesota elector slated to support John Kerry cast his vote for Kerry’s running mate, John Edwards. And the last time there was more than one faithless elector voting for president came in 1872, when Democratic candidate Horace Greeley died after Election Day. Now there is a national movement to require that electors support the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote. The proposal, called the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPV), has been passed by 10 states and the District of Columbia. Some believe implementing this would be a disaster. Maybe the smaller states would not receive the same attention as the more populous. Would it deepen the divide between rural and urban? In 2009, HB 408 was introduced in Georgia to Elect the President by National Popular Vote and to join the interstate compact to elect the President by national popular vote. It failed. In a deeply divided country, Mr. Trump joins John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Ben-
Greenleaf continued from page 1
ed.
“I think they were drawn to the bar because we’ve put a lot of work into upgrading the bar to give it a more modern aesthetic, while at the same time not compromising the intimate feel our patrons love,” Robinson said. “Atlanta has tons of bars and we are honored that they chose a small bar like ours. It is so uplifting to have an opportunity like this come to our neighborhood where homelessness and re-gentrification run rampant. I think that says a lot about the potential of our community and this is definitely a boost for the neighborhood.” Robinson said the bar will celebrate its two-year anniversary in December. Initially, Greenleaf location scouts approached Robinson to see if the bar was a good fit for the film. After sifting through several bars, location managers selected Juicy’s Joint. “It was very exciting. The community has been so supportive of Juicy’s Joint and I think it is awesome that now they can say, ‘hey that’s my bar’ and they’ll be very proud to see their local pub on national television,” said Robinson. Robinson said he hopes this leads to future opportunities for the community and that as a business owner, he is committed to being a beacon of hope for the community. In October, Juicy’s Joint, along with the nonprofits The PlayMakers, Simply United Together, Coming Up Together, Georgia Storm and the Kim Jackson Group collaborated to host a Feed the Homeless event at Shoal Creek Park, 3642 Glenwood Rd., Decatur. They also formed a team to participate in the Susan G. Komen breast cancer walk in Atlanta. For the holidays, Juicy’s Joint is gearing up to host a community outreach event on Sunday, Nov. 20, 1 to 4 p.m. at Shoal Creek Park. They will be giving away toiletries, food, clothing, coats and shoes for those in need. Grooming services also will be provided by volunteer barbers and beauticians as well as a mobile shower.
Anytime Notary Call to schedule your appointment 678-468-6852
jamin Harrison and George W. Bush as the only presidents who won without the popular vote. The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). It also preserves the constitutionally mandated Electoral College and state control of elections. It changes the way electoral votes are awarded by states in the Electoral College, instead of the current 48 state-by-state winner-take-all system (not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, but since enacted by 48 states). It assures that every vote is equal, every voter will matter, in every state, in every presidential election, and the candidate with the most votes wins, as in virtually every other election in the country. NPV would also give a voice to the minority party voters in each state and district. Now their votes are counted only for the candidate they did not vote for. Now they don’t matter to their candidate. With National Popular Vote, every vote, everywhere would be counted equally for, and directly assist the candidate for whom it was cast. Is it time to give this serious debate and consideration? Maybe to keep a “more perfect union” we need a system to pay attention to the smaller less populous states as well as less popular political views. Randal Mangham is an attorney, minister and former judge and former legislator sponsoring NPV legislation and election laws.
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NOVEMBER 19, 2016 • PAGE 5
New DeKalb website sports new look, improved accessibility
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or the first time in approximately seven years, DeKalb County has updated its nearly 2,400page website to make it more user-friendly, customer-focused and easy to update. The new website is adaptable on mobile devices and easily translates into dozens of languages. “We have been rebuilding our website to create greater access, transparency and responsiveness,” said DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May. “The website is a tool most people use as the primary interface with government and government resources. It should change and grow with technology.” In addition to a more contemporary look, the new website features a number of
improvements to enhance the user experience. • Responsive to mobile devices: Elements within the webpage adapt for maximum visibility across all platforms. • Improved menu structure for intuitive use: Website content is organized by subject to make the most popular requests easy to locate. • Google Language Translator: This feature makes the website accessible to all of DeKalb’s diverse cultures. • Social media feeds: Twitter and Facebook feeds display prominently on the home page. • Calendar and event management: With just a one click, county events can auto-populate users’ calendar and/
or Google Map applications. • ADA compliant: Those with vision impairments will be able to utilize the website using screen readers or other assistive technologies. • Searchable contact pages: To easily find the person in charge of every county department. • Drupal Content Management System: Easy for content managers to ensure information is fast and accurate in today’s changing environment. • Improved analytics: Promotes the locations that users seek most often, and identifies content that users no longer need. Diversified Technologies LLC was selected to design the website, which was developed in
collaboration with the Citizens Website Advisory Committee, comprised of representatives appointed by the Chief Executive Officer and the DeKalb Board of Commissioners. “The input from the Citi-
zens Advisory Committee was invaluable. They represent our audience, and their needs were our top priority,” said Interim CEO May. To see the new site, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov.
Pet waste disposal units installed at three Rockdale parks In an effort to help reduce water pollution, Rockdale Recreation and Maintenance and Rockdale Water Resources (RWR) have partnered to install pet waste disposal units in parks that border Rockdale’s waterways. Recreation and Maintenance and RWR are encouraging citizens to use these pet waste disposal units installed recently at Black Shoals Park, Daniels Bridge Trailhead and Lakeview Park. According to the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, studies show that pet waste in urban areas is a “significant contributor of pathogens and nutrients” to the watershed. Pet waste that is not properly disposed of can be carried by rain runoff directly into nearby water bodies. Storm drains in streets and neighborhoods
usually flow directly to a stream, river or estuary without any treatment. Untreated animal waste can become a source of harmful bacteria in water. “Just as we don’t want human sewage in our water, it is important to prevent pet waste from being carried into our waterways because of negligence,” said Sue Sanders, Recreation and Maintenance Director. “Pet waste contains nutrients that can cause excessive growth in a river or lake, and as it decays, it uses up oxygen fish and aquatic life need. So please use the new pet waste disposal units conveniently placed throughout the Rockdale Count park system.” For more information, call Recreation and Maintenance at 770278-7529 or RWR at 770-278-7400.
Early voting set in DeKalb’s District 7 runoff election
A runoff will be held on Dec. 6 in the special election for Commission District 7. Gregory Adams and Randal Mangham are in the race. Candidate Diane Adoma is contesting the race and has asked for a recount. Adoma who garnered 15.39 percent of the vote, during the Nov. 8 election, was within a one percent margin of Mangham, who qualified for the District 7 runoff with 16.27 percent.
Early voting will begin on Monday, Nov. 28, and continue through Friday, Dec. 2. All early voting will be held at the main office of the Voter Registration and Elections office located at 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, in Decatur. Voting hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All voters should enter the advance voting site through the side entrance of the Registration and Elections office since there will be only one voting room for this election.
Ballots will be automatically mailed to voters over 65 or individuals who are disabled, if they so designated that status on their applications for the Nov. 8 election. Other voters in the district who wish to receive a mailed absentee ballot must submit an application no later than 4 p.m. on Dec. 2. Signed applications may be faxed to 404-2984038 or emailed to voterreg@dekalbcountyga.gov.
City of Stonecrest to hold elections With the approval of the incorporation of the city of Stonecrest, the new municipality must now elect a mayor and city council. In accordance with the Georgia elec-
tion calendar, March 21, 2017, is the earliest date for holding that election. The Board of Registration and Elections will schedule the election and set the dates for qualifying at the board’s Jan.
12, 2017 meeting. Precinct cards will be mailed to voters within the city to inform them of their council districts.
PAGE 6 •NOVEMBER 19, 2016 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM TO CONTACT US
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People
Movers & Shakers in the Community
Rev. Vandy C. Simmons appointed to Antioch AME Church STONE MOUNTAIN – The Rev. Vandy Carl Simmons has been appointed as the new pastor of Antioch African Methodist Episcopal Church in Stone Mountain. Rev. Simmons is the successor of the newly-elected Bishop Stafford J. N. Wicker, Rev. Vandy Simmons who served as pastor for the past 24 years. A native of Tifton, Georgia, Rev. Simmons is the former pastor of Trinity AME Church in Atlanta, where he served for the past four years. Rev. Simmons served the Whigham Circuit (Ce-
dar Springs and Ebenezer AME churches) in Grady County, the South Georgia Conference; New Hope AME Church in Haralson, GA; Mt. Pleasant AME Church in Atlanta, New Grant AME Church in East Point, GA, and Trinity AME Church in Atlanta. Rev. Simmons is a retired teacher who taught and coached in Tift, Dougherty, and Clayton counties. During his residency in Tift and Dougherty, he served as a Scout Leader and a local NAACP president. While serving at Mt. Pleasant AME Church, he implemented Mt. Pleasant Community Outreach Program, which focused on youth literacy and leadership. While serving at Trinity AME, following the leadership of long-term pastor, the Rev. Jeffery B.
Cooper, General Secretary, he led the way in extending outreach ministries, and stabilizing the finances of the church. Under his leadership, the Trinity Early Learning Center received 501c3 status and became Quality Rated, serving more than 100 children. He expanded ministries specifically targeting youth, elderly, and the marginalized. He is deeply committed to his family. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Bonita Morrow Simmons, an employee of the Atlanta Public School System. He is a father of two sons, Vandorian of Lake City, Florida and Vankeithin of South Korea, and one daughter, Vankeila, of Houston, Texas, and the grandfather of Nakai and Dorian.
Nicole Jordan becomes first African-American female named principal librarian for major orchestra
ATLANTA – The Grammy® Award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce Nicole Jordan as the orchestra’s Principal Librarian and the first African American woman to be named Principal Librarian of a major orchestra. Jordan joined the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as Assistant Principal Librarian in Oct. 2011. Prior to joining the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, she served as library fellow with The Philadelphia Orchestra for three years. “The Atlanta Symphony is thrilled to promote Nicole, after a rigorous and grueling international audition process, to the position of Principal Librar-
ian,” said Evans Mirageas, vice president of Artistic Planning. “We look forward to her leadership for many years to come in this important role for our institution.” “The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is a cornerstone of Atlanta’s diverse arts and culture,” said Jordan. “I am honored to be a part of such a renowned group of musicians and the organization that supports them.” In addition, Nicole Jordan has previously held positions as Ensemble Librarian at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, Librarian for Symphony in C and Head Librarian for the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Jordan holds degrees in viola performance from
the University of Minnesota-Duluth and music history from Temple University. Celebrating its 72nd season, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performs a full schedule of more than 150 concerts, including educational and community concerts, each year for a combined audience of more than half a million.
Nicole Jordan
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NOVEMBER 19,2016 • PAGE 7
Advisory: Check TSA website before holiday travel
With an expected uptick in the number of air travelers this Thanksgiving holiday, getting to the airport early with your acceptable identification in hand is the best way to ensure smooth holiday travel and reduce checkpoint delays. “The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) offers a wealth of information on its website about acceptable forms of identification when traveling through airport security checkpoints,” said Department of Driver Services(DDS) Commissioner Bert Brantley. “Any Georgian using a temporary ID issued from a DDS center should bring additional identification or arrive early to avoid delays that
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could impact your travel.” Customers may access the TSA web site for a list of acceptable identity documents at https://www. tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification. It is recommended arriving up to two hours ahead of departure for domestic travel and three hours ahead for international. All DDS administrative offices and customer service centers will be closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday on Thursday, Nov. 23 and Friday, Nov. 24. Before visiting the DDS, visit www.dds.ga.gov to use Online Services or to Skip a Step! and complete the necessary paperwork before arriving.
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