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
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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
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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
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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-