crossroadsnews, september 18, 2010
DESCRIPTION
CrossRoadsNews, September 18, 2010TRANSCRIPT
www.crossroadsnews.comSeptember 18, 2010Copyright © 2010 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
COVER PAGEDocumentary onscreenSCENE
Lithonia vid-eographer Eddy Anderson’s film about the his-toric Flat Rock Community will be screened at the Cinefest Film Theater in Atlanta. 8
A group domi-nated by lawyers and bankers pep-pered county offi-cials with questions about DeKalb’s new foreclosure registry ordinance at a Sept. 14 information meeting. 6
Questions about foreclosureFINANCE
The DeKalb Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Frater-nity is taking applications for its Young Men of Excellence mentoring program . 9
Raising up menYOUTH
Volume 16, Number 1
Friends Celebrate ‘a MiraCle’Teenager survives bout with deadly flesh-eating illness
Carla Parker / CrossroadsNews
Makaila Wills, 19, is recovering from an attack by a flesh-eating bacteria. Supporters are hosting a fish-fry fundraiser to help pay her medical bills.
DeKalb receives $2.35 million for fight against obesity
By Carla Parker
Four months ago, Makaila Wills was a happy-go-lucky teenager celebrating her 19th birthday.
The 2009 Columbia High School gradu-ate was working at a downtown Decatur Chick-fil-A where she has had a job since high school.
On her May 10 birthday, she and her family had dinner at her favorite restaurant on Panola Road to celebrate.
Back at home later that night, Makaila’s back began aching and swelling.
“It was real painful,” she recalled this week. “When it started to swell, it felt like dead weight. It got so bad that I had to crawl to the bathroom and hop around.”
Four weeks later, doctors gave her a diagnosis – necrotizing fasciitis, a deadly flesh-eating disease.
No one knows where, when or how Makaila contracted the disease, which is caused by streptococcus bacteria, better known as strep.
Makaila’s doctor at Emory Hospital be-lieves she came in contact with someone who had Group B strep.
An infected person can pass along the infection from an open wound, scratch or cut.
At first doctors thought she had shingles and muscle spasms.
The disease was only diagnosed through a blood test that found a high number of white-blood cells.
By then, the bacteria had eaten into her left arm, wrist, right ankle and leg.
Makaila said she got lucky.“The infection was heading to my bones,”
she said. “If it had gotten to my bones, I wouldn’t have my leg right now.”
She lost muscle and tissue from her toes, right shin and left arm and spent a month in the hospital recovering from surgery to repair the damage. Her recovery has been slow, but in August, Makaila resumed her
chemistry studies at Georgia Perimeter Col-lege’s Decatur campus.
She moves slowly but is getting to class with the help of friends and kind strangers, who hold doors open for her and watch her take careful steps going up and down stairs.
To aid her recovery, Makaila is in need of one-on-one treatment from a physical therapist at a cost of $300 to $400 a day.
She also needs special shoes to help her keep her balance.
Makaila does not have health insurance, and her mother, Cassandra Harris, said her hospital and other medical bills already have
reached $50,000.To help out, friends, relatives and church
members are hosting a “Celebrating a Mira-cle” fish fry on Sept. 25 to raise money to help the family with her medical bills.
Audrey Trottie, the friend who is hosting the event for Makaila at her Decatur home, said fish plates are $5 and benefactors also can bid to pay a portion of the hospital bills in a silent auction.
Trottie, who goes to church with the fam-ily at Beulah Baptist Church, said she has known Makaila since she was 13 years old and said she deserves the help.
“Makaila and her mom are a wonderful family,” Trottie said. “She is an energetic girl who was stricken by this disease and made a miraculous recovery. We just want to help her out.”
It takes place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.“The theme is love, so everyone should
wear red,” Trottie said.John Crays, owner of the Chick-fil-A
where Makaila has worked for three years, said he and her co-workers have been sup-portive.
Please see MAKAILA, page 9
DeKalb’s battle with the bulge got a $2.35 million boost this week from the Obama administration.
The county’s Board of Health was one of 10 communities in eight states – and the only Georgia agency – to get some of $31 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to fight obesity.
In a statement Wednesday, the Board of Health said it will use the $2.35 million to fund a 24-month project to create policies, systems and environments that improve
physical activity and nutrition and reduce the risk factors that contribute to childhood and adult obesity.
Dr. Les Richmond of the board’s Com-
munity Health and Prevention Services Division said DeKalb was chosen because of its history of success using evidence-based strategies to eliminate obesity and reduce
“The DeKalb County Board of Health has a long prevention history working with a variety of community partners, such as the DeKalb County School System,
faith-based groups and health advocates, to address health problems such as obesity, improving physical activity and promoting good nutrition.”
Dr. Les Richmond
tobacco use in the county.“The DeKalb County Board of Health
has a long prevention history working with a variety of community partners, such as the DeKalb County School System, faith-based groups and health advocates, to address health problems such as obesity, improving physical activity and promoting good nutri-tion,” he said.
The grants, announced Sept. 14, are part
Please see GRANT, page 2
2 Community “We’re determined to build a more united America with jobs, justice and education for all.”
Civil rights groups to rally in Washington for jobs, Obama
Edward O. DuBose, head of the Georgia Conference of the NAACP, said civil rights organizations will gather in Washington on Oct. 2 in support of the One Nation Working Together movement.
By Carla Parker
Jobs, justice and education are some of the issues that the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP and other civil rights orga-nizations will march for when they rally in Washington on Oct. 2.
Thousands of citizens from all back-grounds and beliefs are expected to gather at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington in support of the One Nation Working Together movement. The groups – which include the Georgia Minimum Wage Coalition, Geor-gia Association of Black Elected Officials, the Peoples Agenda, and Concerned Black Clergy – said they are heeding a call to “put people back to work” and “pull America back together” in response to the floundering economy, new assaults on human and civil rights, and declining public school systems.
Edward O. DuBose, president of the Georgia Conference of the NAACP, said it’s time to take a stand.
“We’re determined to build a more united America with jobs, justice and education for
all,” he said.DuBose said the march and rally are not
a response to Fox News personality Glenn Beck’s march and rally held in Washington on Aug. 28.
“This march and this rally is not about Glenn Beck, and it’s not about seeing who can mobilize the most people to Washington, D.C.,” he said.
Instead, DuBose said they are marching
Grant to help the Board of Health create a healthier, active community
of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Communities Putting Prevention to Work funding to states. Since February, it has awarded more than $491.8 million to U.S. territories and communities to support statewide and community-based policy and environmental changes in nutrition, physical activity, tobacco control, expanded tobacco quit lines, and cessation media campaigns.
This is the Board of the Health’s second
award this year. In March, it got $3.2 mil-lion for tobacco control, expanded tobacco quit lines, and cessation media campaigns through the American Recovery and Rein-vestment Act.
Both local grants will be administered by the board’s Health Assessment and Promo-tion program.
Christopher Holliday, the department’s manager, has high hopes for them.
“We anticipate that these two awards will significantly move us toward working with
local partners to create long-term plans that will help to create a healthier community.”
First lady Michelle Obama applauded the grants targeting obesity.
“As I’ve seen throughout the year in my work with Let’s Move! prevention works when it comes to improving the health of our families,” she said. “These critical invest-ments will help more communities across America tackle serious health challenges like childhood obesity, while promoting physical activity and healthy eating.”
for safe workplaces, energy independence and green jobs. He said they also are march-ing to end racial profiling, to advance civil and human rights, and to fix the broken im-migration system.
Partners like the nonprofit 9 to 5 Atlanta, which works to strengthen the earning ability of low-wage workers, say they are marching in support of economic recovery.
Charmaine Davis, 9 to 5 Atlanta’s lead organizer, said that jobs should lift people out of poverty and not keep them in the cycle of poverty.
“Everyone should be paid a living wage so they can provide for his or her family, and not just a minimum wage,” she said.
In America, minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour.
DuBose said they also are marching in support of President Barack Obama.
“We march to give him the voice that he needs to move policies forward, legislations forward in Congress,” he said.
For more information, call 404-577-8977.
The DeKalb County Putting Prevention to Work initiative will work with community partners and local government officials to create a Master Active Living Plan.
The plan will include a policy that will allow neighborhood residents access to school recreational facilities, offering them easy access to places for physical activity, and establishing community vegetable gardens in local parks. The changes will make it easier for children and adults to eat healthier and be more physically active.
GRANT, fRom pAGe 1
CrossRoadsNews September 18, 20102
3
By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
Richard Stogner, who was former CEO Vernon Jones’ executive assistant for eight years, will now be CEO Burrell Ellis’ as well.
The DeKalb Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Sept, 13 to appoint Stogner for a one-year term.
Stogner is volunteering his services for a year at no cost to the county.
He replaces Keith Barker, who was fired on Sept. 1 for an extramartial affair with a Watershed Department secretary.
Ellis tapped Stogner for his chief operating officer and executive as-sistant on Sept. 10 and the Board of Commissioners expedited its vote.
He said that he is pleased that Stogner has agreed to join his manage-ment team.
“In addition to his demonstrated public management expertise, his decision not to accept a salary is clear evidence of his integ-rity and commitment to DeKalb County,”
Community “They’ve both called me for fundraising at various time – to which I’ve responded generously.”
Two DeKalb housing officials face ethics probe over donations
Stogner to serve as Ellis’ executive assistant for a year without pay
Richard Stogner
All home lending products are subject to credit and property approval. Rates, program terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Not all products are available in all states or for all amounts. Other restrictions and limitations apply.
© 2010 JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Chase and EMC customers, if you are struggling to keep up with your mortgage payments, we want to help. Atlanta Chase Homeownership Centers are holding a Homeowner Assistance Event, Friday, September 17 through Monday, September 20. Chase Loan Advisors will walk you through the options available, and find the best solution for your needs. We’ll even pay for parking. Don’t miss this opportunity.
Struggling With Mortgage Payments?
We’re Here To Help.
Chase mortgage customers are invited to a special Homeowner Assistance Event.
4 Day Event:September 17 through September 20, 20108:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Hyatt Regency Atlanta265 Peachtree Street NEAtlanta, GA 30303
Need help but can’t come to the event? Visit chase.com/homeownershipcenters, or call 1-866-550-5705, to find the Homeownership Center closest to you.
Atlanta2English_10.5x8_BW.indd 1 9/8/2010 9:38:51 AM
Ellis said.Stogner, who has 40 years of public
service throughout metro Atlanta, is well-known and recognized as a top-notch public administrator. Before coming to DeKalb in 2001, he worked for the city of Atlanta and Fulton County governments, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and the At-lanta and U.S. Olympic committees.
As Jones’ executive assistant from Jan. 1, 2005, to Dec. 31, 2008, Stogner began with a salary of $200,000 a year and got an auto-mobile allowance. In case of termination, he would get six months salary.
Ellis’ office did not provide details of Stogner’s volunteer contract at press time.
In addition to overseeing day-to-day operations, Stogner will focus on developing recommendations for filling current admin-istrative vacancies, preparing the 2011 fiscal budget recommendations, and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of county operations throughout DeKalb.
Ellis said that the feedback about Stog-ner’s appointment has been overwhelmingly positive.
In e-mails and telephone calls, everybody seems happy with it, he said.
By Jim Walls
Two DeKalb County housing officials face an ethics inquiry into their requests for charitable and political donations from a developer doing business with their agency.
The county’s Board of Ethics voted unanimously Sept. 14 to hold a formal hearing on its complaint against former state Rep. George Maddox and Dorothy Williams. Both serve as commission-ers on the board of the DeKalb County Housing Authority.
Maddox acknowl-edged asking developer Dave Dixon to donate to two unsuccess-ful political campaigns in 2006 and 2008 and, last year, to help pay for a new roof for his church.
Williams said she asked Dixon for dona-tions for charities benefiting senior citizens.
Dixon said he or his business gave them each $2,500 for a total of $5,000.
DeKalb’s Code of Ethics provides that county officials may not “directly or in-directly request, exact, receive, or agree to receive a gift, loan, favor, promise, or thing of value for himself or another person if … it tends to influence him in the discharge of
his official duties.”Williams and Maddox
said the donations had no influence on their deci-sions as housing officials.
The issue came to light after Dixon, whose NorSouth Cos. work as a partner with the author-ity, proposed reapprais-
ing land last year to move a North DeKalb redevelopment project forward.
NorSouth and the authority had invested in the property but could not sell it at values established before the economic downturn. “It was pretty clear that we were unable to
sell those tracts at prices that were set in 2005 and 2006,” Dixon said Wednesday.
NorSouth and the authority’s staff worked up a proposal to reappraise the land so the project could be completed. But Ster-ling Bethea, the authority’s then executive director, told Dixon he thought Maddox and Williams would be hostile to the idea.
Dixon, in an e-mail, responded by offer-ing to approach the commissioners:
“Given what you’ve shared with me about potential opposition to our appraisal pro-posal, I’m planning to call Comm. Maddox and Comm. Williams and see if I can talk to them before the meeting. They’ve both called me for fundraising at various times – to which I’ve responded generously – so I feel like I have enough of a relationship to at least call them and discuss ‘where we are’ in a quiet environment.”
On Wednesday, Dixon told the Ethics Board, he only meant that he knew them well enough to talk to them about it.
“I think that was probably unfortunate
phrasing on my part,” he said. Bethea discouraged Dixon, records show,
and he never made the calls. Williams and Maddox, in affidavits, said the authority’s board discussed the reappraisal idea but did not pursue it.
Both said they believe Bethea raised the issue more than six months after the fact in retaliation for their questions about his job performance.
Dixon’s e-mail, dated Sept. 22, 2009, was not forwarded to top county officials for review of a possible ethics violation until April.
Bethea resigned in June. The Ethics Board scheduled an Oct.
19 hearing after hearing everyone’s expla-nations. Board members said they want to know more about the donations, which member Isaac Blythers characterized as bargaining chips.
Jim Walls is editor and founder of atlan-taunfiltered.com, a web site that investigates public and political malfeasance.
George Maddox Dorothy Williams
CrossRoadsNewsSeptember 18, 2010 3
4 Forum
index to advertisers
Civil rights groups to rally for jobs, Obama 2
Jobs, justice and education are some of the issues that the NAACP and other civil rights organizations will march for when they rally in Washington on Oct. 2.
Housing officials face ethics probe over donations 3
Two DeKalb County housing officials face an ethics inquiry into their requests for charitable and political donations from a de-veloper doing business with their agency.
Two running for district attorney seat 5
Only two lawyers will vie for the DeKalb district attorney position vacated by Gwen Keyes Fleming on Sept. 4.
Flat Rock UMC votes to give up sanctuary 5
The congregation of Flat Rock United Methodist Church will vacate the $1 million sanctuary they opened in 2004.
Foreclosure ordinance called vague by bankers, lawyers 6
Bankers and lawyers think DeKalb’s new Foreclosure Registry ordinance is vague and will load them down with more paperwork.
Johnson launches anti-crime fight 6
Residents and businesses along the Glenwood Road corridor in Decatur will help Commissioner Larry Johnson proclaim “Enough Is Enough!” to crime in their com-munity.
Symposium targets infant deaths 7
Advocates for children will share effec-tive grass-roots strategies at an interactive symposium on Sept. 24.
Stories of black pioneers on stage 8
“Madam,” a musical that tells the story of Madame C.J. Walker, and the awarding-win-ning drama “Black Angels Over Tuskegee,” are onstage this month.
Mentoring program for boys under way 9
Boys as young as 7 can now sign up for the Young Men of Excellence (YME) Mentor-ing Program offered by the DeKalb Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
Agape Christian Counseling Center .............. 11Before & After Fitness Center ....................... 11Chapel Hill Orthodontics ................................ 7Chase ............................................................. 3Community Lenders ...................................... 11Decatur Pediatric Group, P.A. ........................9DeKalb County Schools ..................................9
DeKalb Technical College ..............................9DirecTV ....................................................6, 10DoMaro Uniform Services ............................. 11Dreamz Catcher Productions .........................8Elegancer Coiffeurs ....................................... 11Exotic Thai Restaurant .................................. 11
F.I.E.R.C.E. Dance Team ............................... 10Felecia’s Hair Care for Children ................... 10Kool Smiles P.C. ............................................. 7Law Office of Trichelle Griggs Simmons ....... 11Macy’s ...........................................................12MARTA ........................................................... 5
Mini Mall ....................................................... 11Mystery Valley Golf Club ................................6Rainbow Park Baptist Church ......................... 2The Law Office of B.A. Thomas .................... 11The Samuel Group (2) .................................. 11The Spa at Stonecrest ................................... 11
QuiCk read
How about North DeKalb build a garbage dump on the GM Doraville property and you keep your garbage on your side of town.
CrossRoadsNews is pub-lished every Thursday by CrossRoads News, 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 concep t , de -sign and content of CrossRoads News are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the writ-ten permission of the publisher.
Advertisements are pub-lished upon the represen-tation that the advertiser is authorized to publish the submitted material. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold harm-less from and against any loss or expenses resulting from any disputes or legal claims based upon the contents or subject mat-ter of such advertisments, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement.
We reserve the right to re-fuse any advertisement.
2346 Candler Rd.Decatur, GA 30032
404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007www.crossroadsnews.com
Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker
General Manager Curtis Parker
Staff WriterCarla Parker
Advertising Sales Cynthia Blackshear-Warren
Circulation Audited By
www.eastmetromarket.com
LOCAL
SERVICES!LOCAL
GOODS!
Readers carry dialogue forward on crossroadsnews.com
Black men must confront racism, bigotry to survive
Anonymous wrote on Monday, Sept. 6
Dear Name One – You have named just about everything we have in South DeKalb in three lines. You support my issues very well.
The transfer of DeKalb Parks to Dunwoody for only 100 dol-lars an acre pretty much wipes the small slate clean that you speak of. Add in the Very Nicely remodeled South DeKalb Mall and two new WalMarts and that’s about it for the last 20 Years! 20 Years of DeKalb’s contributions to Dunwoody, Tucker and Brookhaven would take a Big Book!
Oh! And don’t forget the Gar-bage – We get all of DeKalb’s Gar-
bage! Those mountains along 285 at Moreland Ave use to be Valleys, now they are mountains of North DeKalb’s garbage.
How about North DeKalb build a garbage dump on the GM Doraville property and you keep your garbage on your side of town. Fair is Fair, isn’t it! Or is your neighborhood just too good for your own garbage? “HYPOCRISY” ~ Keep your own garbage in your own back yard!
Name One wrote on Saturday, Sept. 4
Jerry Myer Jackson Jr: Do you have any sense of reality? Or do you just make up stuff as you go?
The Browns Mill aquatic com-plex, the Sanford Performing Arts Center, the Lou Walker Seniors Center, the Wade Walker Park renovation, the new Arabia Moun-tain High School, etc., etc. South DeKalb is getting the overwhelm-ing majority of new government construction.
You are certifiable if you think South DeKalb has “been neglected for years.” We live in the same county. The commissioners want to redevelop the GM plant as the tax revenue could be substantial and it would benefit the ENTIRE county.
Enough with the South DeKalb vs. North DeKalb nonsense. The
county provides poor service to the entire county. Let’s work together instead of whining about being “neglected”!!!
Jerry Myer Jackson Jr wrote on Thursday, Sept. 2
South DeKalb County has been neglected for years. Commissioner Kathie Gannon spoke up for the development of the GM Doraville property noting that it would put DeKalb citizens back to work.
Dear Commissioner Gannon; The infrastructure repairs to the streets and sidewalks of South DeKalb can wait no longer. If not now Commissioner Gannon, when?
It is quite evident to me that there is a underground agenda to diminish the character, ability, op-portunities, and essence of being a polished, progressive and produc-tive Black man.
Through mass media manipu-lations, political gerrymandering, legal and judicial manipulation, corrupt corporate insider cut-throating, and religious compro-mising, the African-American male image is being systematically assaulted with the intent of being completely destroyed. The plan-tation mentality of emasculating the strength of qualified African American men is contributing to national racial tension on the rise in this country.
Mainstream America needs to accept that when America has been in serious trouble throught out her history, it has always been a African American, God-fearing man that has brought stability to an unstable nation.
Rather than fighting against or resisting the innovative, intel-ligent, insightful, and inspirational contributions of African American men, mainstream America should recognize, celebrate, embrace, and
respect the contributions of African American men.
Without question, African American women have also carried their cross of human suffering in American history. And often times our women have had to be the woman and the man in the home, community, and the church. Which confirms my point that... African American men, from the beginning of this country, have always had to confront the demons of racism and bigotry to survive in a nation that wants them to fail.
Systemic racism, oppression, character assassinations, silent big-otry, employment discrimination, and institutional-invisible barriers are still seeking to marginalize black males. A prime example is how the United States Senate will not take up confirmation hearings for 130 nominees that President Obama is
seeking to have confirmed to per-form their duties and help stablize the nation. In 18 months Presi-dent Obama has had to deal with internal opposition like no other president in American history.
And I would dare to write, the primary reason for opposition is this: If the Congress would dili-gently work with President Obama to restore America, he will be re-membered as the black President who pulled America back from the brink of disaster. That type of success and recognition is not what the bigots and the haters want to remember.
If there has even been a time in American history to study the contributions of African-American men, it’s now. Globalization has literally destroyed the African-American community structure. Black farmers in rural communi-
ties, and urban manufacturing centers like Detroit and others have been ravaged because of globaliza-tion. Globalization has created an imbalance in the need of African-American unskilled male labor. Lack of employment for African American men was systemically created by outsourcing jobs to find cheap labor.
Today mainstream America is more concerned about what’s go-ing on in Beijing and New Delhi than what’s going on in Oakland, Detroit, East St. Louis, Southwest Atlanta, the Bronx and every other heavily populated African Ameri-can community.
Finally, do you think if U.S. Army Gen. McChrystal were a black man and spoke against the president, vice president and other government leaders in a time of war, he would have simply lost his command? I believe if McChrystal were black, he would been court-martialed and sent to prison for treason. Instead, as usual, an ar-rogant white male gets a pass, even if he disrespected the president and the highest office in the land.
Kevin Oliveira lives in Mc-Donough.
If the Congress would diligently work with President Obama to restore
America, he will be remembered as the black President who pulled America
back from the brink of disaster. Kevin Oliveira
CrossRoadsNews September 18, 20104
5Community “We voted to surrender the deed to protect our credit rating.”
Johnny Waits (left) and Vera Whitaker are among longtime members who hate to see Flat Rock United Methodist Church lose its building.
Vote DeKalb to get people to early polls
Flat Rock UMC votes to give up sanctuary
Two running for district attorney seat
Eliminated Bus Routes:ll
7, 11, 17, 18, 22, 28, 38, 44, 45, 52, 54, 57, 59, 67, 69,70, 72, 77, 88, 91, 96, 97, 105, 113, 118, 122, 137, 139,151, 160, 200, 216, 245, 273, 311, 328, 329, 341, 364,376, 389, 397. Braves Shuttle and Lakewood Shuttle for 2011.
• Go to www.itsmarta.com for interac-tive links showing bus route changesand text descriptions.
•Call 404-848-5000 and ask one ofour Customer Service agents to helpyou plan your trip.
• Printed booklets are in RideStores ormailed upon request through the web-site or by calling Customer Sevice at404-848-5000.
•Maps and descriptions will be postedin all bus bays to help guide you.
Modified Bus Routes:ll
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27,30, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 42, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 55, 56, 58,60, 66, 68, 73, 74, 75, 78, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 89,93, 95, 99, 103, 104, 107, 111, 114, 115, 116, 117, 119,120, 121, 520L, 521E, 123, 125, 126, 132, 140, 143, 148,150, 153, 155, 162, 165, 170, 172, 178, 180, 181, 183,185, 186, 189, 193
MARTA Service ChangesSeptember 25, 2010
New frequencies. WEEKDAYS
6 AM to 7 PM � 15 minutes7 PM to 1 AM � 20 minutes
WEEKENDS: � 20 minutes
Reduced Breeze Card Cost. Breeze Cards will be reduced from $5 to $1. You will need to add fare at the time of purchase.
Now it’s Easier to Load Breeze Cards on Buses. You no longer need to ask the bus operator for assistance. Only BreezeCards can be reloaded at the bus farebox (NOT Breeze Tickets). 1. Tap Breeze Card on the bus farebox. 2. Insert cash. 3. Tap BreezeCard once on the farebox to load transfer.Breeze Tickets Can No Longer Be Reloaded.The Breeze Ticket will still cost 50¢. However, it can only be used oncefor either a one-way trip, round trip, or 1 Day Pass.Fare Increases for Multi-Day Passes.
Routes/Scheduling Information Center.Weekdays 7 AM to 7 PM; Weekends/Holidays 8 AM to 5 PM
Customer Services Center. Weekdays 8 AM to 5 PM
Five Points Info Booth. Weekdays 7 AM to 7 PM
Fewer Restrooms OpenThere will be nine restrooms availiable for public use: Bankhead,College Park, Doraville, Edgewood/Candler Park, Five Points, H.E.Holmes, Indian Creek, Lindbergh and North Springs. Restrooms will beavailable from 6 AM to 7 PM. (Five Points will close at 10 PM.)
Two RideStores Will Remain Open• OPEN at Airport and Five Points stations.• CLOSED at Lenox and
Lindbergh stations.
Reduced Fare and Lost & Found Office HoursReduced Fare Office will remain open at Lindbergh HQ and Five Pointsstations with new hours. Weekdays 9 AM to Noon and 2 to 4 PM. Lost &Found open until 5 PM.
Automated Phone System Will Check Your BreezeBalanceOn Sept. 25 the Call Center will no longer provide Breeze CardBalance information. Instead, you can use the automated telephone sys-tem at 404 848-5000 to check your balance. You can also visitwww.breezecard.com, use a Breeze vending machine, or check atRideStores in the Airport & Five Points stations.
New hours.WEEKDAYS � 4:45 AM to 1 AM
WEEKENDS � 6:00 AM to 1 AM
Every night at 7 PM:Red Line Turnback @ LindberghGreen Line Turnback @ Vine City
www. i t smar ta .com 404 -848 -5000 TTY: 404 -848 -5665
One-Way . . . . . . . Remains $2Reduced Fare . . . Remains 90¢1-Day Pass . . . . . . Remains $82-Day Pass . . . . Changes to $113-Day Pass . . . . .Changes to $134-Day Pass . . . . Changes to $15
7-Day Pass . . . . Changes to $1730-Day Pass . . . Changes to $68Mobility Pass . . Changes to $115The number of children under 46” tall whocan ride free with a paying adult changes willalso be changed to a maximum of two.
Modified Rail Service:ll
Customer Call Center Hours changing..l
How to Prepare for Bus Route Changes:
BREEZE Changes: October 3, 2010
The congregation of Flat Rock United Methodist Church will va-cate the $1 million sanctuary they opened in 2004.
About 80 church members voted Sept. 12 at a congregational meeting moderated by UMC Dis-trict Superintendent Sharma Lewis, to surrender the deed to SunTrust Bank, which holds the church’s $750,000 mortgage. They also voted not to disband the 150-year-old church and to continue as a minis-try elsewhere.
Johnny Waits, a longtime mem-ber of the church, said Sunday, Sept. 12 was to be the congregation’s final day at the church, but that they were given the opportunity to hold their Sept. 19, 26 and Oct. 2 services there.
“We voted to surrender the deed to protect our credit rating,” he said.
Waits said the church members will begin meeting at Flat Rock Elementary on Oct. 24 or earlier if they can work the details out.
“We wanted to stay in the com-munity,” he said.
The church, which was founded
by ex-slaves, has anchored the historic Flat Rock Community in Lithonia since 1860.
Members opened the 350-seat sanctuary at 4542 Evans Mill Road on April 4, 2004. The church’s rolls include members of 18 families who have lived continuously along Flat Rock, Crossvale and Evans Mill roads since the 1800s and whose ancestors were among the founders of the church.
Troy Benton, the church’s pas-tor, was out of town at a revival in Detroit and was unavailable at press time.
A visiting pastor, the Rev. Lanier Perriman, will preach at the Sept. 19 service.
Waits said he did not know if Benton would be back for the final two services in the building.
Flat Rock UMC is like hundreds of churches nationwide that have fallen behind on their mortgage payments or have received foreclo-sure notices. Waits said members are heartbroken about losing the church building.
“It’s just the way the economy is and how the giving is,” he said, “but we are going to keep going.”
To encourage voters to hit the polls for the Nov. 2 general and special elections, DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis and Board of Commissioners presiding officer Larry Johnson kicked off Vote DeKalb, a nonpartisan early voting campaign, on Sept. 15.
The campaign is encouraging DeKalb voters to take advantage of early, advance and absentee voting.
Absentee polls open Sept. 20. Advance voting takes place Oct. 25-29.
“Advance and early voting gives residents multiple opportunities, other than on election day, to partici-pate in one of our country’s most important activities of civic engagement,” Ellis said.
Johnson, who represents Commission District 3, said it is good to get out to the polls early.
“This is a part of our right,” he said “It shows people that you are enthused. It shows people that you excited. It reminds people how important and critical it is to vote.”
Vote DeKalb is hoping to drive 100,000 early voters to the polls before the Nov. 2 election.
It is relying on religious institutions and civic or-ganizations to encourage parishioners and members
to get involved in the political process by establishing a 100 percent early-voting campaign within their congregations and organizations.
Oct. 4 is the deadline to register to vote in the November elections.
The absentee polls will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Voter Registration & Election Main Office, 4380 Memorial Drive in Decatur. In-per-son early voting will be held only at the main office.
Advance voting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at:n Voter Registration & Election Main Office, 4380 Memorial Drive in Decatur.n Clark Harrison Building, Room A, 330 W. Ponce De Leon Ave. in Decatur.n Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive in Decatur. n DeKalb County Fire Headquarters, Training Confer-ence Room, 1950 West Exchange Place in Tucker.n Chamblee Civic Center, 3540 Broad St. in Cham-blee.
For more information on Vote DeKalb, contact the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment at 404-371-2881 or [email protected].
Only two lawyers will vie for the DeKalb district attorney position vacated by Gwen Keyes Fleming on Sept. 4.
When qualifying ended on Sept. 10, DeKalb Solicitor-General Robert James and Decatur attorney Constance Pinson Heard had qualified for the Nov. 2 Special Election.
James, who was completing his first four-year term as solicitor-general and was running unopposed for re-election in November, resigned the office on Sept. 7 to run for district attorney.
Heard, a 63-year-old family and criminal law at-
torney, did not return telephone calls by press time Thursday. A 1968 Spelman graduate who has been in practice since 1997, she is not well-known among DeKalb lawyers and many people said this week that they know little about her.
The victor in the special election will complete the three-and-a-half years left on Keyes Fleming’s term be-fore running for re-election for a full four-year term.
Keyes Fleming, who was DeKalb DA for five and a half years, left to become the Region 4 administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She was picked by President Barack Obama for the position.
Weekend paving resumes on I-20 eastboundMotorists will be hitting the
brakes again on Interstate 20 as work crews continue the highway’s $28.6 million resurfacing project.
Weather permitting, crews will close one lane on the ramp from I-285 southbound to I-20 east-bound and two lanes from Lithonia Industrial Boulevard to Turner Hill Road.
DOT Area Engineer Thomas Parker said if the weather cooper-ates, they hope to wrap up all of the
paving, except the top layer in the two eastbound left lanes.
“Next weekend we expect to begin the eastbound right lane and the ramps,” he said.
Work hours are weeknights from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. and on weekends continuously from Fri-day night at 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Monday.
The project, which has been un-derway since June 18, is resurfacing 9.8 miles of I-20 between Columbia
Drive and Turner Hill Road. It has snarled traffic and made the week-end commute difficult for residents and interstate travelers.
The work continue on week-nights and weekends until fall when the temperatures get too low to pave. It will be completed in the spring. The project is a joint venture of contractors E.R. Snell Contractors Inc., and Pittman Con-struction. For more information, call 511 or visit www.511ga.org.
CrossRoadsNewsSeptember 18, 2010 5
6
Finance
FinanCe “We want to comply with the ordinance, but we’re more concerned about the added paperwork and fees.”
Apply for scholarships, look for job to pay for college
New foreclosure ordinance called vague by bankers, lawyers
Johnson launches anti-crime fight Businessman gets leadership award
Carla Parker / CrossroadsNews
Chris Morris of DeKalb Community Development speaks at the Foreclosure Registry meeting.
Dear Dave,I’ll be starting college next fall. Is it OK to
take out student loans if you have no other income to live on while you’re in school?
– Mandy
Dear Mandy,Wait a second! What do you mean you
don’t have any other source of income to live on while you’re in school? Didn’t anyone ever teach you about a little thing called work?
I worked 40 to 60 hours a week all through college, and I still graduated in four years. Nowadays, many people would call that child abuse. It’s absurd!
Don’t try to box me into a corner with the ridiculous notion that you have to take out student loans to go to college. You do not! Did you know that only 57 percent of people who start college actually graduate? That means 43 percent don’t. And guess what they have? Student loan debt and no degree!
Here’s what I want you to do. First, apply for every college scholarship you can find.
Next, get a job! You may even have to take a couple of part-time jobs, but so what? Once you’re there, live in the dorm and eat dorm food, too. It won’t kill you. And a state college, where you can get in-state tuition, is always a good idea. If there’s one close by you can save even more money by living at home.
Is a college education important? Sure, it is. It’s a great thing, and I recommend going to college.
But is student loan debt a necessary part of getting a degree and achieving success in life? Absolutely not!
– Dave
Dear Dave,My fiancée is from a wealthy family. The
other day, her father suggested a prenuptial agreement. I’m not sure what to think about this. What’s your opinion on prenups?
– Jeremy
Dear Jeremy,It sounds like her family values its money
more than it values their relationship with you. That could be a problem. If your bride-to-be feels the same way, then you shouldn’t marry her.
In most cases there’s just a really bad spirit that goes along with prenups. It’s basically planning your divorce in advance. One of my daughters just got married, and I never even thought of suggesting a prenup-tial agreement.
There may be one exception to this rule. If your fiancée was already wealthy on her own, I might change my answer. Extreme wealth has a tendency to attract a whole lot of weirdness and dishonesty. I’ve even told my wife to get a prenup if I die and she marries again. This is different than just the potential to be wealthy, like your case.
You can still have a wonderful marriage, even if you don’t see eye-to-eye with her family on this. But both of you need to be on the same page and of one mind. That’s why I think it would be a really good idea for you guys to address this before the wedding with a heart-to-heart talk and some premarital counseling!
– Dave
Residents and businesses along the Glenwood Road corridor will help Commissioner Larry Johnson proclaim “Enough Is Enough!” to crime in their community.
On Sept. 21 at 6 p.m., a “Busi-ness Night Out” will be held at 4467 Glenwood Road, hosted by shopping plaza owners Newburger Andes.
Johnson is launching his Glenwood Renaissance Initiative to fight crime along the corridor between Columbia Drive and Covington Highway, the scene of several violent incidents. Johnson, who represents District 3, hopes to send the message that residents and business owners are taking the community back.
“One of my goals is to establish a mini-
precinct in the shopping plaza at 4467 Glenwood to help increase po-lice presence in the area,” he said.
Beginning at 6 p.m. on Sept. 23, an Enough Is Enough! Community Awareness March will proceed from the old Kmart shopping center to the I-285 bridge to symbolize that the residents and business owners are staking their claim on the com-
munity. An Enough Is Enough! Community Awareness meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 28 at Covenant Ministries Cathedral, 1700 Covenant Ministries Blvd. in Decatur.
Residents, business owners and police will discuss strategies to combat crime and successfully take back the streets.
For more information, call 404-371-2425.
Larry JohnsonW. Shamsid-Deen
Waleed Shamsid-Deen, president and CEO of AVF Inc., is the recipient of Leader-ship DeKalb’s Sue Ellen Owens Award.
Shamsid-Deen, a 1999 Leadership DeKalb graduate, was nominated by the South DeKalb Business Association.
He received the award on Sept. 14 at Agnes Scott College at Leader-ship DeKalb’s 2010 Annual Meeting.
Shamsid-Deen is the founder of Youth VIBE – Vision, Industry, Business and Empowerment, a nonprofit business men-toring program that exposes students and youth to entrepreneurship.
During its first decade, the curriculum was a biweekly, summer program. After
receiving a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant in 2006, Youth VIBE became a free after-school program for teens interested in aca-demic enrichment and “real world” business applications.
The program now operates at the DeKalb Transition Academy; Towers, Martin Luther King Jr., and Southwest DeKalb high schools;
and the Mohammed Schools of Atlanta. Participants get preparation to increase test scores; have the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking dialogue with guest speakers; learn to polish their writing, public speaking, strategic planning and conflict resolution skills; and get tours of area busi-nesses. For more information, visit www .youthvibe.org.
By Carla Parker
Bankers and lawyers think DeKalb’s new Foreclosure Registry ordinance is vague and will load them down with more paper-work.
At a Sept. 14 information meeting about the registry that takes effect Oct. 25, a group of about 50 people dominated by bankers and lawyers bombarded DeKalb Commis-sioner Connie Stokes and other county offi-cials with questions about the ordinance that was approved in July by the DeKalb Board of Commissioners.
Michael Keller, a banker at Decatur First Bank, said the ordinance’s language is unclear and that the new registration process will cause more unnecessary work for them.
“We already have a registration process in place and they just created a whole new different process,” Keller said. “We want to comply with the ordinance, but we’re more concerned about the added paperwork and fees.”
The Foreclosure Registry requires own-ers of foreclosed properties to pay a $175 fee to register the property with the county. Violators will be fined $1,000 per day, per
property.Commissioners hope the registry will
help the county protect residential neigh-borhoods from blight caused by inadequate maintenance of thousands of vacant prop-erties.
In July, DeKalb had 14,510 foreclosed properties. In many instances, county of-
ficials are unaware of who owns them and are unable to locate the owners.
Stokes, who spearheaded the ordinance, said the county needs to know who to call on if properties are neglected.
“The intent really is to let people know there are consequences if you don’t take care of these properties,” she said.
DeKalb residents like East Lake Terrace Neighborhood Association President Brenda Pace, who attended the meeting at the De-catur Library in downtown Decatur, said the ordinance is a great idea because unkempt foreclosed homes make the neighborhood look bad.
“Somebody needs to take responsibility to what they let happen,” Pace said. “We can’t even sell our homes. Our property values have gone down.”
East Lake Terrace has more than 50 fore-closed homes.
Robert Broome, the Atlanta Board of Realtors’ director of governmental affairs, expressed concern about the lack of a time frame for filing.
“Usually we would see something there about us having ‘X’ number of days to file, but the ordinance is silent about that.” He said property owners won’t know how long they have to register their properties before fines kick in.
County officials said they are still work-ing out some details and will post the final ordinance before the Oct. 25 deadline.
Stokes said two more meetings will be held before the ordinance goes into effect.
CrossRoadsNews September 18, 20106
7
Wellness
Wellness For African-Americans, the infant mortality rate more than doubles the rate of all other races in the United States.
Experts to discuss green initiativesSymposium targets infant deaths
NASCAR freebies for blood donors
Child Safety Day offering free car seat checks, accident prevention tips
Alan D. Hecht
NASCAR fans who participate in the sixth annual Drive for Life blood drive on Sept. 21 can get a pace car ride around Atlanta Motor Speedway and other freebies.
The blood drive, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the infield Media Center, is seeking to collect 350 pints of blood.
Blood donors also will get a commemo-rative T-shirt; a free round of golf at a par-ticipating Robert Trent Jones Course; and a chance to win a ticket package for two to the 2011 Labor Day race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a $1,000 gas card or a Richard Petty Driving Experience.
The drive mobilizes NASCAR fans to help meet the ongoing need for more than 1,200 blood donations every weekday. Most healthy people 17 years and older, or 16 years old with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds are eligible to donate blood and platelets.
Atlanta Motor Speedway is at 1500 Tara Place in Hampton, about 30 miles south of Atlanta on U.S. 19 and 41 in Henry County.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “atlantaspeedway” or call 1-800-733-2767.
Advocates for children will share effective grass-roots strategies at an interactive sym-posium on Sept. 24 at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center in Decatur.
The “Hope – Harm in the Hood” sym-posium will focus on infant mortality, black-on-black crime, child abuse, domes-tic violence, education impotency, health disparity solutions and HIV/AIDS, among other issues.
It is being held in recognition of National Infant Mortality Awareness Month, which is observed across the country in September.
“Hope – Harm in the Hood” is sponsored by Glorious Solutions, founder of the Angel of Glory Monument, an African-American angel monument created to memorialize the lives of children who have died too soon.
Annually, 2 million babies worldwide die within their first 24 hours. The United States
has the second-worst newborn death rate in the modern world. For African-Americans, the infant mortality rate more than doubles the rate of all other races in the United States. Every eight hours a child in Georgia dies before his or her first birthday.
The 9 a.m.-to-noon symposium brings together health care providers, legal pro-fessionals, policy-makers, educators, law enforcement, church leaders, social workers, community leaders, and others concerned about black children and their families.
Registration is $20. A benefit concert – “Wings: Celebrating Love, Life & Legacy” – at 7:30 p.m. will feature local and national artists.
The Porter Sanford Center is at 3181 Rainbow Drive in Decatur. For more in-formation, call 404-376-5066 or visit www .angelofglorymonument.com/Events.html.
Business Policies” include Green-peace director Amy Larkin, the Carbon Disclosure Project’s Vice President Zoe Antitich, Coca-Cola Enterprises President John Burgess, EPA’s Climate Change leader Ken Mitchell, UPS environment director Steve Leffin, and Emory University School of Law-Environmental pro-fessor Larry Sanders.
Georgia Power’s Sustainability Group and environmental specialist chair Rochelle Routman and Jeff West, director of sustain-ability, Shaw Industries, also are expected to speak.
The Georgia International Convention Center is at 2000 Convention Center Con-course. Seating is limited.
To register, visit www.greeninitiatives conference.com.
Corporate and govern-ment leaders, professors and environmental advocates on the cutting edge of greening America will discuss sustain-ability at the 2010 Green Initia-tives Conference on Sept. 29-30 at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park.
Former Vice President Al Gore’s TheClimateProject.org will open the conference with a State of the Industry address, and Dr. Alan D. Hecht, director for sustainable development in the Envi-ronmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development, will deliver the opening keynote address.
Other speakers for “Green Initia-tives: Convergence of Government and
Parents, caregivers and other drivers can get tips on keeping youngsters safe in and around cars on Sept. 25 at Nalley Automotive Super Center in Decatur.
The 11 a.m.-to-2 p.m. event is part of Child Safety Day. It will include free car seat checks and demonstrations and displays about keeping children safe in cars and pre-venting driveway accidents and heat-related illness and death.
By Georgia law, all children 6 years and younger must be in an approved, properly installed safety seat.
Children should be in a booster seat until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall and about age 8.
All children younger than 13 years old are safest in the back seat, away from the air bag, dashboard and windshield.
Statewide, 258 children under age 12 were killed in car crashes between 2004 and 2007. Nine of them died in DeKalb County.
Safe Kids of DeKalb, the Nalley Auto-motive Group, the DeKalb County Board of Health and the Trial Lawyers Section of the DeKalb Bar Association are sponsors of Child Safety Day.
Nalley Automotive Super Center is at 1555 Church St., at the corner of Church Street and North Decatur Road.
For more information about child pas-senger safety, visit www.dekalbhealth.net or contact Janet Weisman, the DeKalb Board of Health’s injury prevention coordinator, at 404-294-3719 or [email protected] .ga.us.
Georgia law says that all children 6 years and younger must be in an approved, properly installed safety seat.
In Addition, We Provide Special Discounts For All of Our Heroes:Including Educators, EMTs, Firefighters, Health Care Workers,
Law Enforcement, Military, and Parcel Workers
BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIALS
• Receive $100 OFF Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment • 50% Off Clear Braces and 24K Gold Braces • Treatment for Children, Teens & Adults
Call Today To Schedule Your Free Consultation!
Please Visit our Website for More Information: chapelhillortho.com
(678) 418-3000
Dr. Allise M. Calloway4919 Flat Shoals Parkway, Suite 210
We Offer No Interest Low Payment PlansWe Offer No Interest Low Payment Plans
CrossRoadsNewsSeptember 18, 2010 7
8“Madam,” a musical that tells the story of Madame
C.J. Walker, and the awarding-winning drama “Black Angels Over Tuskegee,” starring actor and heartthrob Lamman Rucker, are onstage this month at Porter San-ford III Performing Arts Center.
“Madam,” which is headed to Broadway, explores the life of the philanthropist, entrepreneur, pioneer and first American woman – black or white – to become a millionaire by her own achievements.
Walker made her fortune by developing and mar-keting a hugely successful line of beauty and hair care products for black women.
The musical runs through Oct. 3 with showtimes at 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $20.
“Black Angels Over Tuskegee,” which was written and directed by NAACP award winner Layon Gray, opens Sept. 23 and runs through Oct. 10.
It tells the story of six men embarking upon a journey to become pilots in the United States Army Air Forces. It will showcase the talent of Rucker, who is best known for his roles in Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married?” and “Why Did I Get Married, Too?”
The drama explores the black pilots’ collective strug-gle with Jim Crow, their intelligence, patriotism, dreams of an inclusive fair society, and brotherhood.
Showtimes are at 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Both productions are presented by Herman LeVern Jones’ TheatreSouth Atlanta production.
The Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center is at 3181 Rainbow Drive in Decatur. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 404-691-9133.
Capitol City Xpress (above left) brings jazz and swing to Lawrenceville Road United Methodist Church on Sept. 19; Sentimental Journey Orchestra (above) performs on Sept. 26.
Film on Flat Rock to be screened
Stories of black pioneers on stage
‘A Taste of Decatur’ offers foodies plenty of sweet, cool and hot treats
Eddy Anderson’s documentary “Flat Rock – Where Home Is” takes a look at the historic ommunity in Lithonia.
The musical “Madam” tells the story of beauty and hair care magnate Madame C.J. Walker, America’s first female self-made millionaire.
Lamman Rucker stars in “Black Angels Over Tuskegee,” a drama that explores the journey of six black men to become military pilots. Both plays are onstage at the Sanford Center.
Scene “Madam” explores the life of the first American woman – black or white – to become a millionaire by her own achievements.
Metro Atlanta’s jazz and swing band Capitol City Xpress will be entertaining audi-ences at Music for Missions on Sept. 19, and on Sept. 26, Sentimental Journey Orchestra will be onstage at Lawrenceville Road United Methodist Church in Tucker.
Capitol City band formed in 2006 to help preserve the music genre.
The 17-member Sentimental Journey Orchestra, a favorite Atlanta dance band, will showcase the big-band sound it has been
playing for more than 30 years.Both concerts start at 7 p.m.Music for Missions concerts support the
outreach ministries of the church. Concerts are free but donations are expected. Over its 12 seasons, the concert series has had 174 performances and raised more than $85,000 for church missions and for charities.
The church is at 3142 Lawrenceville Highway. For more information, call 770-939-3717.
Hot plates of fish and sweet cool treats will be plentiful when Decatur Cooperative Ministry hosts “The Garden of Eatin’: A Taste of Decatur” on Sept. 25 at the Decatur-DeKalb Family YMCA.
The 5-to-8 p.m. event will feature mouthwatering sam-ples from more than 20 restaurants, a silent auction full of fun and unique items, and live entertainment.
“A Taste of Decatur,” which is in its 15th year, will deliver a mix of delicious food and desserts from Decatur-area fa-vorites like Pastries a Go Go, Feast, Farmstead 303, Nathalie’s Fish House, Nicola’s, Skip’s, Dairy Queen and more.
Guests can bid on auction items like bed-and-breakfast
stays, original photographs and pottery, portable electron-ics, kids’ packages, and tickets to local events and attrac-tions.
Tickets are $25 in advance and can be purchased at Pas-tries a Go Go, the 17 Steps, and Kyoto Joe’s or by contacting the DCM offices at loretta@decaturcooperativeministry .org or 404-377-5365, Ext. 7. Family and child discount tickets are available.
Decatur-DeKalb Family YMCA is at 1100 Clairemont Ave. in Decatur.
For more information, visit www.decaturcooperative ministry.org or call Beth Vann at 404-377-5365, Ext. 8.
Food and fun abound at “A Taste of Decatur” at the Decatur-DeKalb Family YMCA on Sept. 25. The event includes a silent auction and live entertainment.
Jazz, swing and big-band music on tap for Music for Missions patrons
Eddy Anderson’s documentary “Flat Rock – Where Home Is” will be screened Sept. 23 at Cinefest Film Theater in Atlanta.
The film takes a sobering look at the historic Flat Rock commu-nity in Lithonia.
It also features research con-ducted at the Flat Rock Cemetery by Georgia State University An-thropology and Historic Preserva-tion faculty and students.
A question and answer session with Anderson, GSU archaeologist and professor Dr. Jeffrey Glover, and Johnny Waits, president of Flat Rock Archives, will follow the 7 p.m. screening.
Cinefest Film Theater is at 66 Courtland
St. SE, Suite 240 in Atlanta.For more information, call 770-808-0030
or visit www.flatrockarchives.org.
CrossRoadsNews September 18, 20108
9Youth “You think things like this can’t happen to you because you’re young, but God can change your life in the blink of an eye.”
Friends, church plan fund-raiser
Mentoring program for boys
Run/walk to honor grandparents
Carla Parker / CrossRoadsNewsMakaila Wills rests her leg between classes at Georgia Perimeter College on Wednesday. She also bears the scars of flesh-eating bacteria that attacked her on her land hand.
Families can celebrate their elders at a 5-mile Run/Walk/Stride for Grandparents on Sept. 19 at Stone Mountain Park.
The event, hosted by Carlton-Carew EP Foundation, begins at 7 a.m. at the Studdard Picnic Area. At 12:30 p.m., grandparents can relax, eat barbecue and share stories about their lives. T-shirts will be given out as well.
The event is part of observances for Na-tional Grandparents Day, celebrated on Sept. 12 “to honor grandparents, to give grandpar-
ents an opportunity to show love for their children’s children, and to help children become aware of the strength, information and guidance older people can offer.”
Former President Jimmy Carter pro-claimed the first Grandparents Day in 1989. It is celebrated annually on the first Sunday after Labor Day.
Stone Mountain Park is off U.S. Highway 78 East. For more information, call Cynthia Jarrett-Thorpe at 404-569-0229.
“While she was in the hospital, we visited her, sent her cards and flowers,” he said. “We were very concerned about her.“
Crays called Makaila a tremendous employee with a great attitude.
“She is very good with people,” he said. “Since she’s been back, we have her work-ing short shifts, one or two days a week for an hour – just moving her along slowly until she gains all of her strength back and is able to work a full shift.”
Makaila, who loved to dance and drive, said she is looking forward to being able to do those things again. She said that her sud-den illness dramatizes how fragile life is.
“You think things like this can’t happen to you because you’re young, but God can change your life in the blink of an eye.”
Donations also can be made to Makaila Wills at Bank of America, Account No. 334-015-712-441.
“Celebrating a Miracle” will be at 2382 Clifton Springs Road in Decatur. For more information, contact Audrey Trottie at trotact @aol.com or 404-399-6524.
MAKAILA, froM pAge 1
DeKalb County School System AnnouncesThe Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA)
Supplemental Educational Services (SES)2010-2011
Free TutoringFree tutoring is available for your child under Federal ESEA
Schools must offer Supplemental Educational Services in the areas ofmath and reading/ language arts.
Free tutoring is available for your child if he or she• attends a Title I elementary, middle, or high school (eligible schools
are listed below) that is included on the “Needs Improvement” list and• receives free or reduced-price lunch
Eligible Schools Avondale High Freedom Middle Miller Grove Middle Avondale Middle Indian Creek Elementary Redan High Bethune Middle International Student Center Shadow Rock Center Cedar Grove High Lithonia High Stephenson High Clarkston High Lithonia Middle Stone Mill Elementary Columbia High M.L. King Jr. High Stone Mountain High Cross Keys High McNair Discovery Learning Stone Mountain Middle Eagle Woods Academy McNair High Toney Elementary Elizabeth Andrews High McNair Middle Towers High
The Enrollment Dates are August 30, 2010-September 24, 2010The Application Deadline is September 24, 2010
For more information, call the DeKalb County School SystemOffice of School Improvement at 678-676-0309
or contact your local school SES Liaison
Where
The William Bradley Bryant Center 2652 Lawrenceville Highway Decatur GA 30033
DeKalb County School System invites you to attend its Supplemental Educational Services (SES) Providers Fair where you will be able to discuss
guidelines and procedures for receiving service for your childWhen
Saturday, September 11, 2010, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Saturday, September 18, 2010, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
APPL$ &'( )'*
)ALL +&*'LL,+&-
).ll 0u.rter5 2787
August 23rd
Appl>?.t>@A Bl@s>Ag C.te
deD.lEte?FGeduH.dI>ss>@AsH
'* B.ll J7JK2LMKLN22 eOtG P
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTION
Boys as young as 7 can now sign up for the Young Men of Excellence (YME) Mentor-ing Program of the DeKalb Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
The Nu Mu Lambda chapter started YME in 2007 under the organization’s national ini-tiative “Go to High School, Go to College.”
Reynaldo Green, YME’s director, said that he and his fraternity brothers created the program to impact young males in DeKalb County. It emphasizes academics, attitude and attendance in school.
Green said he wanted to help ensure that male students with varying risk factors remain in school, strive for academic success and prepare for college life.
“We wanted to address some of the issues in the community like the school dropout rate and teen pregnancy, and give young men some positive influence,” Green said.
The program is accepting 30 to 35 boys in grades four through 12 from south DeKalb County. YME uses a team mentoring ap-proach with one mentor for every two to three mentees. Mentors commit a minimum of one year to their mentees, who can stay in the program as long as they like.
YME’s curriculum centers on developing good character, self-esteem and essential life skills. Topics include goal-setting, conflict resolution, team building, peer pressure, communication and family matters.
Mentees also do community service and take field trips to expose them to real world problem-solving and to build skills through face-to-face educational experiences.
For more information or to sign up for YME, visit www.youngmenofexcellence.org, or contact Reynaldo Green at [email protected] or 404-936-1919.
Members of Alpha Phi Alpha work with students in their Young Men of Excellence program.
CrossRoadsNewsSeptember 18, 2010 9
10CLASSIFIEDS
AdoptionsADOPTION- A loving alterna-tive to unplanned pregnancy. You choose the family for your child. Receive pictures/info of waiting/ approved couples. Living expense assistance. 1-866-236-7638
AutosDonate Your Car Civilian Veter-ans & Soldiers Help Support Our U.S. Military Troops 100% Vol-unteer Free same Day Towing. Tax Deductible. Call and Donate Today! 1-800-404-3413
Business opportunitiesALL CASH VENDING! Incred-ible Income Opportunity! Candy, Gumball, Snack, Soda...Minimum $4K-$10K Investment Required. Excellent Quality Machines. We Can Save You $$$$. 800-962-9189
PAID IN ADVANCE! Make $1000 Weekly Mailing Brochures from home. Income is guaranteed!
Call DEBT SETTLEMENT USA. FREE Consultation: 1-877-476-1684
IT’S YOUR MONEY! Lump sums paid for structured settlement or fixed annuity payments. Rapid, high payouts. Call J.G. Went-worth 1-866-523-7557 A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
HeAltH & FitnessBACK BRACE Covered By Medicare/Ins. Substantial relief. Comfortable Wear. 1-800-815-1577 Ext. 423 www.LifeCareDia-beticSupplies.com
lAnd For sAle20 Acre Ranches ONLY $99 per/mo. $0 Down, $12,900 Near Growing El Paso, Texas. Owner Financing, No Credit Checks. Money Back Guarantee. Free Map/Pictures. 800-755-8953 www.sunsetranches.com
Misc. For sAleDIRECTV DEALS! FREE Prof Installation! 5 Mos FREE!
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.
D i s c o u n t C o n t a c t R a t e s A v a i l a b l e . F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l 4 0 4 - 2 8 4 - 1 8 8 8
reAder noticeAs a service to you – our valued readers – we offer the following
information: This newspaper will never knowingly accept any advertise-ment 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 conse-
quences that occur as a result of you doing business with any advertis-ers. Thank you.
suburban newspapers just like this one. Call Classified Avenue at 888-486-2466 or go to www.classifiedavenue.net
reAl estAteLARGE ARIZONA BUILDING LOTS FULL ACRES AND MORE! Guaranteed Owner Fi-nancing No credit check $0 down - 0 interest Starting @ just $89/mo. USD Close to Tucson’s Intl. Airport For Recorded Message 800-631-8164 Code 4001 or visit www.sunsiteslandrush.com Offer ends 9/30/10!
tiMesHAresSELL/RENT YOUR TIMESHARE FOR CASH!!! Our Guaranteed Services will Sell/ Rent Your Unused Timeshare for CASH! Over $78 Million Dollars offered in 2009! www.sellatimeshare.com (800)640-6886.
285+Channels when you get NFL SUNDAY TICKET for $59.99/mos. for 5 mos. Ends 10/06/10. New Cust only. DirectSatTV 800-360-1395
MiscellAneousAdvertise 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 815
When You Miss CrossRoadsNews, You Miss News You Can Use!
Call 404-284-1888 for Subscription Rates & Information
No experience required. Enroll Today! www.startmailingnow.com
Hygienitech Mattress Cleaning &Upholstery Cleaning/ Sanitiz-ing Business. New “Green” ry, Chemical-Free process removes bed bugs, dust mites, and harm-ful allergens. Big Profits/Small Investment. 1-888-999-9030 www.Hygienitech.com
educAtion & trAiningAIRLINES ARE HIRING- Train for high paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program.Financial aid if qualified- Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (877)818-0783
eMployMent opportunitiesEarn up to $150 per day Under-cover Shoppers Needed to Judge Retail & Dining Establishments Experience Not Required Call Now 1-877-737-7565
ACTORS/MOVIE EXTRAS Needed Immediately for upcom-ing roles $150-$300 per day
depending on job requirements. No experience, All looks needed. 1-800-951-3584 A-105. For cast-ing times /locations:
Earn $1000 a Week processing our mail! FREE Supplies! Help-ing Home-Workers since 2001! Genuine Opportunity! No experi-ence required. Start Immediately! www.national-work.com
Bartenders in Demand. No Experience Necessary. Meet New People, Take Home Cash Tips. Up to $200 per shift. Train-ing, Placement and Certification Provided. Call (877)879-9154
EARN $1000’s WEEKLY! Receive $12 for every envelope stuffed with our sales materials. Free 24-hr. information. 1-800-682-5439 code 10
FinAnciAlBURIED IN DEBT? Over $12,000 worth? SAVE Money-Get Out Of Debt FASTER! One Affordable Monthly Payment.
CALLING
ALL DANCERS
AGES 7-16
F.I.E.R.C.E DANCE TEAM
WORK WITH ATLANTA’S PREMIERE CHOREOGRAPHERS!
LEARN JAZZ HIP HOP & MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUES!
WORK WITH ATLANTA’S PREMIERE CHOREOGRAPHERS!
LEARN JAZZ HIP HOP & MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUES!
FINDING INDIVIDUALS EAGERLY REACHING FOR CONSISTENT EXCELLENCE
END YOUR YEAR KNOWING SOME OF THE HOTTEST DANCES!
LOCATED AT GRESHAM PARK
RECREATION CENTER
DANCE TEAM BEGINS OCT. 10, 2010
SUNDAYS 3pm – 5pm
CAPS AND SUBSIDIZE FUNDING
CALL NOW FOR M
ORE INFORMATIO
N
678-278-8403
CALL NOW FOR M
ORE INFORMATIO
N
678-278-8403
Beautiful BabesBeautiful BabesHair Care for Children
Located Inside Fidel’s Signature Salon 5045 Memorial Drive • Stone Mountain, Ga. 30083
Ms. Felecia
Call for Monthly Specials
678-887-6203
Hair Care for Children
• PRESS & CURL• BRAIDS• QUICK WEAVES• HEALTHY HAIRCARE
ADULTS ACCEPTEDbeautifulbabeshaircare.vpweb.com
CrossRoadsNews September 18, 201010
11French Drainage System 770-593-1382.
personAl cAre Senior Housing Community (60+) Emma Cares - Safe & Loving community. Share housing w/other seniors. Near shops, entertainment & MARTA 770-885-2537.
serVicesHad hardships lately? Facing Foreclosure, Job Lost, Pay Cut, Unemployed, Illness, Adjustable rate, Keep Your Home! Obama’s Home Made Affordable Program May Help You. Certified Housing Counselor - Free Consultation. 404-288-8381.
MArKetplAce rAtesPlace 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 Market-Place, CrossRoadsNews, 2346 Candler Road, Decatur, GA 30032, or e-mail to [email protected]. Our deadlines are at noon on the Friday one week prior to publication, unless otherwise noted.
CLASSIFIEDS
MarketplaceBusiness opportunities
Prosper while helping other people! $500-$100 per day for returning phone calls. No Selling. www.easybucks4u.com
Looking for motivated internet people to market an Extraordi-nary money-making software to home-based businesses. Make unlimited $200 payments instantly. www.gotleads.ws
coMputersComputer Sales Repair. Virus Re-moval, Upgrades, Repair Laptop broken Screen,Networking,Free Diagnostics. Specialize in Apple Repairs. 404-288-7942 or 770-482-2426
eVents & seMinArsAttention Tuskegee Alumni: The DeKalb County Tuskegee Alumni Club will meet Sept. 25, 2010, in the the Piccadilly Cafeteria at South DeKalb Mall. Call Nathan, 404-735-6176.
For rent/leAseLithonia 3 bedroom, 2 bath, wood floors, 2-car garage, total electric, great area, New Birth/Mall. $1000, 770-322-3787, 770-833-9398
gArAge sAlesCommunity Flea Market Vendors, Fun, Food, Music & Community Outreach October 2, 2010, 9am to 4pm Victory Church 1170 N.
Hairston Rd. Stone Mountain. Vendor Tables $30.00 Call 678-476-6000.
Big Garage Sale. 6291 Silver Spur Dr., Lithonia, GA 30058. Furniture, appliances, clothes. Lawnmowers, good condition. Sept. 4, 18, 25.
Help WAntedNew Jerusalem Christian Academy, 3900 Memorial College Ave., hiring qualified Early Educa-tion Teachers. Must have resume & Criminal Background Check. 404-292-2046/770-981-7408.
lAndscApe/lAWn cAreNext Day Lawn Maintenance Service. Bobcat Work, Hauling,
36 WeekWeight Loss Study!
Stonecrest Mall Lithonia Location
CALL TODAY770-979-0090
Before And After Fitness Center is seeking a limited number of participants to take part in an innovative 36 Week Weight Loss Study. Participants must have 15-100 lbs of weight to lose and be able to attend three 30 minute sessions per week, eat on plan for 5 days with 2 days off, plus be accountable to your coach.
Valued at over $449, You Pay Absolutely No Study Fee to participate. All that we ask is that you cover the low weekly maintenance fee. BEFORE
Before And After Fitness Center is seeking a limited number of participants to take part in an innovative 36 Week Weight Loss Study. Participants must have 15-100 lbs of weight to lose and be able to attend three 30 minute sessions per week, eat on plan for 5 days with 2 days off, plus be accountable to your coach.
Valued at over $449, You Pay Absolutely No Study Fee to participate. All that we ask is that you cover the low weekly maintenance fee.
Pat S. lost 40 lbsand 28 inches!
The Samuel Group,
Inc.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.
404-870-9070www.thesamuelgroupinc.com
Wall Street experienced professionals providing business plans, incorporations, financial
statement preparation and other consulting services.
The Samuel Group404-870-9070
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & CONSULTING
MINIMALL7173 COVINGTON HWY • LITHONIA, GA 30058
678-755-5955
$20 – $95 hr.FOR RENT: Hair Salon
Restaurant
FREE!Sell urStuff for
www.minimall1.com
Family Law (Divorce, Modification, Legitimation, Child Support and Name Change).
Other Practice areas are Wills, Criminal Law, Traffic Citations, DUI and Personal Injury.
Payment Plans Available
LAW OFFICE OF TRICHELLE GRIGGS SIMMONS
CALL 404-304-5854
Community Lending Services
Get a Loan. Avoid bankruptcy. Pay your bills, outstanding loans. Credit
cards, Auto Personal, Business, Home
Debt consolidationAll credit welcome, No fees.
Quick! Call 1-877- 627-6886
Pre-marriage & Marriage CounselingSeparation & Divorce
Crisis, Substance Abuse,Depression, Anxiety,
Guilt, Anger, Grief, Stress
www.acctraininginst.com
Dr. Al Hibbert404 512-5010
ChristianCounseling
Special Invitation to Senior Citizens, Come See What We Have for You!
THIS MONTH’S SPECIALS(Tuesday & Wednesday Only)
Shampoo & Set ................................. $20Touch – Up ........................................ $40Cut Only............................................. $10Braids................................................. $30Weaves (Quick) $50 (Sew-In) $75 & up
Restrictions Apply On All Services
• All Children’s Services Are 50% OFF• ½ OFF Eye Lash with Hair Care Service• Free Lock Corn Rows with Hair Lock Service• Free Eyebrow Arch with Hair Care Service
Additional Services are $10 Extra
Celebrating over 40 years of Service to the Candler Road Community
Elegancer Coiffeurs2004 Candler Road • Decatur, Ga.
404-289-6844
Elegancer Coiffeurs2004 Candler Road • Decatur, Ga.
404-289-6844
NOWOPEN
770-484-9923
Now Serving: Lunch Menu $699 Get Soup or Salad, Special Vegetarian Entrée, Spicy Tofu Veggies, Panang Curry Veggies, Ginger Tofu
Chef from VegetarianRestaurant Café
Sunflower, Atlanta
8075 Mall Pkwy • Suite 110Lithonia, GA 30038
Next to Firehouse Subs
Satay • Spring Rolls • Pad Thai • Crazy DrunkenChicken Mosman • Salmon Panang
Monday – SundayLimit 1 Coupon Per Table • Expires Sept. 30, 2010
Exotic �ai CuisineExotic �ai CuisineAuthentic Thai Cuisine • Inexpensive Fine Dining
TAKE $5 OFF Lunch or Dinner with a minimum
$20 purchase per table
SPA at Stonecrest8052 Mall Parkway, Suite 104 • Lithonia, GA 30038
678-672-4100www.spaatstonecrest.com
Now Offering Nail Art
Back 2 School Massage Special
$60 for Swedish massage
Back 2 School Massage Special
$60 for Swedish massage
Visit OurWebsite for
MORE SPECIALS
CrossRoadsNewsSeptember 18, 2010 11
12at Macy's, where it all comes together
Advertised items may not be at your local Macy’s. Prices and merchandise may differ on macys.com. 6080009.For store locations and hours, log on to macys.com
GIVE THE GIFT OF CHOICE...A Macy’s Gift Card is easy for you and it’s the perfect choice for anyone! Ask your Sales Associate or order by phone: 1-800-45-MACYS. Terms and conditions apply to Gift Cards. Details in store.
Vantex® Skin Bleaching Creme helps improve skin's clarity as it helps fade discolorations including age spots and dark blemishes. 2 oz. $25. ★ WebID 172227Daily Protecting Moisturizer SPF 15 has UVA/UVB protection, botanical extracts and Vitamins A and E to help guard against environmental causes of dry, uncomfortable skin. 4.2 oz. $26. ★ WebID 477531
Fashion Fair® skincare
★ Enter the WebID in the search box at macys.com to order.
26806_6080009A.indd 1 9/15/10 7:38:39 PM
CrossRoadsNews September 18, 201012