CrossRoadsNews, December 19, 2009

“It took us a year to get our procedures together just to set the agenda and chair the meeting. I shudder to think what it

would be like with seven bosses telling roads and drainage which streets to pave and which sidewalks to pour.”

Kathie Gannon

Last-minute shoppers to hit mallsWith only a week left to shop for Christmas, area malls are gearing

up for procrastinators who have suddenly realized that it’s now or never to find the perfect gift, stuff the stockings and take photos with Santa.

Tene Harris, the Gallery at South DeKalb’s general manager, said traffic has been building at the Decatur mall and she is expecting this week to be good for business.

“I feel there is going to be a last-minute push,” she said Thursday. At the Mall at Stonecrest, marketing manager Donald Bieler said the

Saturday before Christmas has always been good for the Lithonia mall and he is expecting crowds of shoppers.

“We are very hopeful,” he said.

www.crossroadsnews.comDecember 19, 2009Copyright © 2009 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

Joy in givingSCENE

Secret Santas will be dropping off gifts for 400 children at the culmination of the annual Tree of Love program at the Gallery at South DeKalb. 8

If you worry that the on-slaught of holi-day parties will utterly destroy your weight-loss gains, here are tips to help weather the storm. 7

What’s a diet to do?WELLNESS

The Three Wise Men will join Mary, Jo-seph and others in the annual drive-through live Nativity that re-enacts the story of Jesus’ birth. 9

Live NativityMINISTRY

Tax increases and job cuts in DeKalb’s 2010 budget

Holidays in full swing

Volume 15, Number 33

Commission rejects city manager plan

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Higher taxes for homeowners and job losses for employees are on the table as DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis seeks to balance the county’s 2010 budget.

Ellis’ proposed $582.7 million budget – delivered Tuesday to DeKalb County commissioners – calls for: n A 1.86 millage rate increase that will add about $145 to the annual tax bill of a $200,000 house. n The elimination of 760 positions through early retirement of 400 eligible employees

and 360 unfilled positions. n A 1 percent merit increment for remain-ing employees to boost morale.n $375,000 for customer service training.

County officials estimates that 2010 revenues will be $50 million less than this year. The proposed 2010 budget is $23 million less than the 2009 budget of $606 million. It one of the smallest budget in recent memory. Just two years ago, the county’s budget was $635 million.

Ellis said the lower budget is necessary to balance fiscal prudence with delivering government services to county residents

and the tax increase and job cuts necessary to keep county services intact.

“We must make uncomfortable choic-es,” he said. “We must make discerning choices. We must make tough choices. We must keep our eyes firmly on the present challenges while maintaining the vision of what we want our county to be in the years to come.”

If approved by commissioners, the county’s millage rate will increase to 17.76 from 16.86. A mill equals one dollar of tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

County commissioners must approve a balanced budget for DeKalb by March 1.

District 7 Commissioner Connie Stokes, who chairs the board’s Budget Committee, said she had not seen the budget prior to Tuesday’s press conference, attended by five of the seven commissioners. Only Commissioners Larry Johnson and Elaine Boyer were absent.

Stokes said her committee will begin examining the budget at its Jan. 5 meet-ing.


DeKalb County will keep its CEO form of government for now, after commissioners threw out a resolution expressing sup-port for a referendum to change to a county manager model.

Calling the resolution premature and uninformed by public input, commissioners voted 4 to 3 to reject it.

Kathie Gannon, Jeff Rader, Sharon Barnes Sutton and Con-nie Stokes opposed the resolution. Elaine Boyer, the resolution’s

sponsor, was joined by Lee May and Larry Johnson in voting for it.

Stokes, the Super District 7 commis-sioner, said the time was not right to explore governmental change when pressing budget challenges are facing the county.

“We can always improve whatever it is that we’re doing,” she said. “But I just don’t think that this is the time. I think that we need to refocus on getting the budget bal-

anced and move forward on other things.”Gannon, who represents Super District 6, offered the substi-

tute motion to deny the resolution. She said that recent tweaking of county government so that commissioners can set their own agenda and preside over their meetings needed time to work.

“It took us a year to get our procedures together just to set the agenda and chair the meeting,” she said. “I shudder to think what it would be like with seven bosses telling roads and drain-age which streets to pave and which sidewalks to pour.”

Boyer, who represents District 1 and is the commission’s lone Republican, has championed ditching the county’s unique CEO form of government for years. She said her resolution was neither a “direct assault” or a personal attack on Ellis.

“This is not about the man,” said Boyer, who has served with three DeKalb CEOs. “This is about the seat, whether or not we need the seat.”

Even with the changes approved by voters in 2007, she said “this is still not the form of government that we had hoped it would be.”

“Yes, we preside over our own meeting, but there still seems

Connie Stokes

Please see CEO, page 2

Please see ELLIS, page 2

At the Gallery at South DeKalb, Santa Dion (top) greets visitors and shoppers (above left) search for gifts. Santa Jack (far left) holds court at the Mall at Stonecrest, which also hosted SpongeBob Christmas to kick off the season.

Community “This is not a referendum on the administration of Vernon Jones, nor is it a referendum on the administration of our current CEO.”

Commissioners face ‘very tough decision’ on budget Government structure to stay for now

Jennifer ffrench Parker / crossroadsnews

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis (at podium) and county finance officers explain features of his proposed budget to county commissioners.

“We have tough decisions ahead of us,” she said. “But we are going to continue to work together, the Board of Commis-sioners and the CEO. We feel this is a very, very tough decision to have to balance this budget and make the cuts and do the things that we need to do. We have to demonstrate courage. It’s not going to be easy.”

Ellis plans a dozen neighborhood meet-ings on the budget between Jan. 12 and Feb. 18 across the county.

He said county revenues for 2010 will be $552 million, more than $50 million less than in 2009. He blamed the declining revenues on the $18 million a year in lost taxes and fees from the incorporation of Dunwoody, the negative impact of fore-closures on property taxes, and declining sales tax revenues.

Ellis said he is proposing the property tax increase because a $50 million reduc-tion in the budget would result in an un-acceptable reduction in county services, especially in public safety.

By cutting 760 positions, the county hopes to save about $30.1 million – $18.1 million from eliminating the 360 unfilled positions and $12 million from the 400 earlier retirees.

The departments targeted for the most cuts in staff range from 68 people in Parks & Recreation to two in the CEO’s office. In the Police Department, 47 positions are slated for cuts, 42 in Planning and Devel-opment, 40 in the Library System, 25 in State Court, 21 in Clerk of Superior Court, 20 in Facilities Management and 18 in Property Appraisal. Juvenile Court will lose 17 people; the Tax Commissioner’s Office and the Finance Department will lose 15 people each. The Public Defenders Office, Information Systems and Public Works are slated for cuts of 13 people each.

Mike Bell, the county’s finance direc-tor, said the employees eligible for early retirement would come from those hired before 2005 who have 10 years of service

Neighborhood hearings CEO Burrell Ellis will hold 12 budget

hearings for the public between Jan. 12 and Feb. 18. All meetings will be 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. n Jan. 12 ..... McNair Academy, 2162 Second

Ave., Decaturn Jan. 14 ..... Druid Hills High School, 1798

Haygood Drive, Atlantan Jan. 19 ..... Chapel Hill Middle School,

3535 Dogwood Farms Road, Decaturn Jan. 21 ..... East Lake YMCA, 275 E. Lake

Blvd. S.E., Atlantan Jan. 25 .... Arabia Mountain High School,

6610 Browns Mill Road, Lithonian Jan. 26 .... Montgomery Elementary

School, 3995 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta

n Feb. 2 ...... Tucker Recreation Center, 4898 LaVista Road, Tucker

n Feb. 4 ...... Cedar Grove High School, 2360 River Road, Ellenwood

n Feb. 9 ..... Stephenson Middle School, 922 Stephenson Road, Stone Mountain

n Feb. 11 ..... St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 2833 Flat Shoals Road, Decatur

n Feb. 16 .... Torah Day School, 1985 LaVista Road N.E., Atlanta

n Feb. 18 .... Berean Christian Church, 2201 Young Road, Stone MountainFor more information on the 2010

budget, visit www.yourdekalb.com.

ELLIS, from pagE 1

CEo, from pagE 1

to be some problems,” she said.Boyer quoted late County Commis-

sioner Bill Brown, who said in a white paper that “the CEO has uncontrollable and complete unquestionable checks and balances only within himself or herself.”

She said the board creates policies that the CEO may choose to implement or not. She cited the no-smoking policy in county buildings that the board passed but which Vernon Jones’ administration never implemented. Boyer also said that commissioners have to ask the CEO’s per-mission to have staff members attend their community meetings.

“That’s just not right,” Boyer said. “We should not have to say ‘mother may I’ to help the citizens of DeKalb. We’re duly elected officials.”

Boyer said commissioners wouldn’t be serving their constituency if they did not raise the issue for discussion.

“There are important issues such as the budget, there are important issues such as public safety,” she said. “However, when you have to ask permission to get staff to come and help you, there’s something wrong with that and the way the system works.”

Lack of transparencyRader, who represents District 2, voted

against the resolution even though he said his “experience is somewhat at odds with those who express unqualified satisfaction”

with the Ellis adminis-tration.

“I certainly have experienced and can validate members of the commission’s ex-perience with the avail-ability of information and transparency of this administration,” he said.

“I am frustrated with the commissioners’ lack of means to hold the administration accountable for the faithful execution of our ordinances. I am frustrated with the administration’s seeming disinterest in the enumerated responsibilities of the commission including our role in capital budgeting, the fixing of fees and setting policy.”

Rader said that on several occasions in conversation, Ellis told him that he doesn’t believe the commission and the CEO office are equal branches of government.

“I do know that that analysis misses the point,” Rader said. “We have specific roles, we have important roles in which govern-ment is supposed to fix the direction of the county.”

Rader said the resolution was “unin-formed by public input and inspecific.”

“It proposes to hand the organizational act back to the General Assembly with the distinct possibility that we get back a worse framework instead of a better one,” he said. “Currently the commission is not unified, our legislative capacity is inadequate. We could go wrong with unrestrained author-ity. I don’t think that the resolution that is before us right now merits passage, but I do believe that the administrative structure of the county needs to be improved.”

May, who represents District 5, said the issue for him was about efficiency in government.

“This is not a referendum on the ad-ministration of Vernon Jones, nor is it a referendum on the administration of our current CEO,” he said. “I think that by hav-ing a manager hired and supervised by the board, that would be a more efficient form of government.”

and are 50 years and older. He said they can’t control which departments will lose the most experienced personnel because of the early-retirement offer, but if they lose too many from one department they will rehire to replace them.

Ellis wants to dedicate 1.25 mills of the millage rate increase to preserving the jobs of sworn public safety officers and main-taining current staffing levels of essential public safety personnel in the departments of Police and Fire Rescue, and the offices of the Sheriff and District Attorney. He also proposes an additional 0.61 mill increase to cover other personnel expenses.

Other recommendations in Ellis’ bud-get include:n Adding $11.2 million to the county reserve.n Using 95 percent of HOST to provide Homestead Exemption tax relief for quali-fied homeowners. n Continuing the suspension of routine vehicle replacement for 2010.n Adding $1.1 million for technology improvements at the Recorders Court to improve citation processing and facilitate the move of electronic ticketing.n Providing $225,000 for art centers. n Creating a four-member Office of In-spector General to report to an indepen-dent Board of Transparency and Account-ability to be funded from the savings.

Jeff Rader

CrossRoadsNews December 19, 20092

Community “Going forward, we should have better reporting and a better collection process in place.”

Recorders Court nomination approved CEO-led format still an issue

Nonpayers arrested in child support sweep

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DeKalb commissioners will try again in January to tweak the county’s CEO form of government as the board struggles to strength-en its hands in the face of perceived obstacles from CEO Burrell Ellis’ administration.

At the Board of Commission-ers’ Dec. 8 meet-ing, Commis-sioner Sharon Barnes Sutton proposed a reso-lution to encour-age the Georgia General Assembly to “investigate the delineation of powers” between the CEO and the board, including the power to set the purchasing policy of the county and the ability to request information from county staff.

Barnes Sutton’s resolution comes in the wake of the Dec. 8 de-feat of resolution that hd sought a referendum for a commission-manager form of government.

Commissioners voted 4 to 3 to

reject the resolution that sought to change the county’s CEO form of government, approved by voters in 1986.

District 1 Commissioner Jeff Rader expressed frustration Tues-day with the availability of infor-mation and transparency in Ellis’ administration.

The resolution said that the current delineation of powers restricts the commission’s ability to receive information necessary for the commission to make re-sponsible decisions.

Commissioners have been chafing under rules by Ellis that prohibit them from speaking to county employees without per-mission from his office. They also complain about slow response when they ask for information.

Barnes Sutton, who represents District 4 in Stone Mountain, said that the intervention of the legisla-tors is needed to clear things up.

“We need to clarify these issues to put them into effect and provide a government that is efficient and as effective as possible,” she said.

Sharon Sutton


New leadership will be in place at DeKalb Re-corders Court in January with the appointment this week of Judge Nelly Fagalde Withers as chief judge.

The DeKalb Board of Commissioners ap-proved Withers’ appointment until 2013 on Dec. 8, even as it deferred a resolution seeking to establish a process for future appointments to its second meeting in January.

Withers, who has been an associate judge at the Recorders Court since 2002, was nominated Nov. 25 by CEO Burrell Ellis. Her appointment stalled for weeks as the board, which said it has the authority to appoint the chief judge, sought to develop a process for that appointment.

Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton, who chairs the BOC’s public safety and general govern-ment committee, said going ahead with Withers’ appointment was a good compromise.

Withers will replace Chief Judge Joy Walker, who has headed the court since 2002.

The commissioners did not act on the nomina-tion of Kathy C. Crumbley to replace Joyce Head as clerk. Crumbley has served as the deputy clerk

of Recorders Court since 2003.Recorders Court, which handles traffic tickets

and county ordinance violations, has been under intense scrutiny after more than $20 million in un-collected fines were identified and the indictments of former employees in a ticket-fixing scheme.

This summer, a DeKalb grand jury found a crisis of leadership, lack of accountability, and pervasive staffing and physical problems at the court, which processes more than 230,000 traffic and misdemeanor citations a year.

Lee May supported the appointment but said he is concerned about the selection process.

“I find it troubling that there wasn’t a real process,” he said.

William “Wiz” Miller, the county’s director of public safety, said the National Centers for State Court did a complete assessment of the operations at Recorders Court, including management, col-lections, adjudication, disposition and recordings. Its full report is expected Jan. 18.

He said he got a preliminary report of critical recommendations.

“Going forward, we should have better re-porting and a better collection process in place,” he said.

Fifteen parents owing $136,497 in child sup-port payments were arrested Dec. 9 in a deadbeat parent sweep of three counties by DeKalb Sheriff Thomas Brown.

The arrested parents were among 200 who are delinquent on child support payments totaling $689,731. The delinquent payments range from $1,700 to $55,000.

Even though his office prioritizes warrant ser-vice and puts violent crimes such as murder, rape and aggravated assault at the top of the list, Brown said that during the holidays, the number of calls from custodial parents and guardians increases.

“This is the third year that we have attempted to place special emphasis on child support enforce-ment during the holiday season,” he said.

Within a six-hour period, 26 deputies visited 130 of 200 addresses in DeKalb, Gwinnett and Clayton counties.

To be released from jail, the parents can pay the amount owed or await a court hearing and a judge’s decision on their cases.

Judges have the option to sentence child sup-port violators to a work-release program, which allows the inmate to report to work but to return to the jail at the end of the workday.

CrossRoadsNewsDecember 19, 2009 3

County manager structure not a good idea for DeKalb

DeKalb’s football programs deserve better support

Superintendent pay issue spurs commentary on Web

Forum

index to advertisers

Recorders Court nomination approved 3

New leadership will be in place at DeKalb Recorders Court in January with the appointment this week of Judge Nelly Fagalde Withers as chief judge.

Nonpayers arrested in child support sweep 3

Fifteen parents owing $136,497 in child support payments were arrested Dec. 9 in a deadbeat parent sweep of three counties.

$5 million gift moves Children’s closer to goal 6

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s new state-of-the-art hospital at Hughes Spalding got a big boost last week with a donation from Kaiser Permanente of Georgia.

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QuiCk read

Eight dollars is a lot of money to a woman who is unemployed and has three children to provide for.

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.

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Submissions may be edited for clarity or space. We do not publish anonymous letters.

You can also voice your opinion about stories and Forum pieces on our website, www.crossroadsnews.com.

Be alert for safety hazards in toy selections 6

To boost purchases, retailers often offer holiday sales and specials, but sometimes the best deal may not be the safest.

Don’t let holidays derail weight-loss goals 7

The holiday season doesn’t have to wreak havoc on your weight-loss goals. TOPS Club Inc., offers these tips.

Health reform initiative focuses on prevention 7

Preventable chronic illnesses diabetes and high blood pressure are leading causes of death and disability, but of the more than $2 trillion spent on health care last year, less than 3 percent went to prevention.

Famed actress in musical 8Stage and movie actress Ruby Dee

Davis will star in “A Gift of Love,” a musical stage play written by Lithonia-based music minister James Cockerham.

Popular themes return in Nativity’s 10th year 9

The story of the birth of the baby Jesus will come alive for families on Dec. 18 and 19 at the annual live Nativity Scene at Solid Rock AME Zion Church in Lithonia.

Hiring for Census jobs to start 10

The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting applicants for temporary full- and part-time positions in preparation for its 2010 tally of the nation’s population.

I found the article regarding the move to replace DeKalb’s CEO with a county manager interesting.

I was surprised to know that Commis-sioner [Elaine] Boyer, the lone Republican, has spearheaded this move. However, if my overall opinion of the Democratic commissioners was positive, I would agree with doing away with the CEO.

Yes, a county manager could be more efficient and more effective with the right group of people. I think that it could work if the county had a more balanced mix of Republican and Democratic commissioners. This would preclude the group think and lock step orientation that have existed and appear to exist today.

Unfortunately, I believe that the current majority of Democratic commissioners would create an even greater perception of under-handed schemes, financial waste, deals with developers and more taxes that would make those who ran Tammany Hall and the Chicago

machines look like choirboys. Can you imagine how much of a puppet

a county manager would be if he was selected and controlled by the majority of the com-missioners who are Democrats? Republican Commissioner Boyer would be worse off than she is today.

I must admit that the last eight years have resulted in a negative feeling about those elected to lead this county. I must also admit that I view CEO [Burrell] Ellis in a more posi-

tive light than the previous administration. He might prove to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but I am giving him the benefit.

I have not seen the arrogance and “in your face” dictator-type of leadership that was so visible prior to his election.

In addition to being a lawyer, Ellis appears to have good interpersonal, managerial and leadership skills.

DeKalb citizens had better be careful that we do not vote for a referendum that will take us out of the frying pan and into the fire. In my opinion, the majority of the commis-sioners are only trying to gain access to more profit, more power, more prestige and more pleasure than they currently have.

CEO Ellis was elected by the people and is accountable to the people. The county manager would most likely be selected by the commissioners and accountable to the com-missioners and not the people.

Are we sure that we want this to happen?Bob Miles lives in Decatur.

Can you imagine how much of a puppet a

county manager would be if he was selected and controlled by the majority

of the commissioners who are Democrats?

Bob Miles

Looking back on this season’s DeKalb County football playoffs was a sobering ex-perience.

The players, cheerleaders, bands and band instructors, drill teams, pep squads and train-ers did their jobs. What upsets me is the lack of support from certain adults.

There are certain instructors and admin-istrators who have a disdain for football. Why are they on the payroll? If you do not like football, then you should have no future in the DeKalb County School System. Delta and AirTran have planes leaving every hour on the hour. Get out of town.

For the Georgia High School Association, let me give folks some important information. We are in a depression. From what my clients are telling me, it is worse than the 1929-1939 years. When one out of six homes is in delin-quency or foreclosure, only a bunch of idiots would overcharge families.

Eight dollars is a lot of money to a woman who is unemployed and has three children to provide for. The amount GHSA charges for games needs to be reduced until the country is out of the recession. Five or six dollars would be sufficient in the opinion of many of my unemployed clients. And out in rural areas

of the state of Georgia four dollars would be more reasonable.

Back to the adults in DeKalb County. Why are you not a member of your child’s booster club? Your donation is not tax-deductible? Then make sure your child’s booster club is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 organization.

Adults in DeKalb County need to dedi-cate themselves to getting beyond the second round of the football playoffs. Gwinnett schools are not better than we are, folks.

Thomas Anthony Jones lives in Ellen-wood.

Editor’s Note: Here are excerpts from readers’ comments on the story about DeKalb Schools Superintendent Crawford Lewis’ pay. Read all of the comments in their entirety at www.crossroadsnews.com.

Fed Up wrote on Dec 14 at 5:18 p.m.

You, Mr. Lewis decided to take a 20 percent cut; you gave up your $10,000 cost of living increase; you voluntarily took half of your earned bonus. You made all of these deci-sions and now you must live with them. We

all make bad choices sometimes. You did too. ... Live with it. ...

Concerned citizen wrote on Dec. 14 at 12:53 p.m.

I would love to be informed of those schools in other counties who share an inter-est in hiring a superintendent who does very little to nothing in districts that are predomi-nantly low-income schools. This guy is more concerned about his bottom line, nothing else. Concerned about having to hire someone else. Why?

Concerned G’parent wrote on Dec. 13 at 2:43 p.m.

It is sad that Dr. Lewis appears to be more concerned about his salary than the children in the system.

Since when did one enter the profession of teaching to become wealthy? I thought that one who entered teaching had a sincere desire to teach.

If he is truly worth his “weight in gold,” put him in a low performing school as a principal for one year and let’s see how he turns that school around... then let’s talk money.


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Finance

$5 million gift moves Children’s Healthcare closer to goal

Be on alert for potential safety hazards when making toy selections

Wellness “We are grateful Kaiser Permanente has entrusted these funds to us so that together, we can serve Georgia’s children now and in the future.”

“We hope that everyone takes just a mo-ment to really think about the gifts they are buying and make sure they are appropriate for a child’s age and development level,” she said.

The Consumer Product Safety Com-mission, which oversees toy safety, says there are 235,300 toy-related injuries treated in emergency rooms nationwide annually. It said most of the injuries – lac-erations, contusions or abrasions – were to the head and face of children. About 73 percent of the toy-related injuries were to children 14 years and younger.

Even with improved toy safety regula-tions and enforcement, the CPSC recalled 38 toys this year. With the high number of recalls, Prevent Blindness Georgia declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Month, and is offering toy-buying and gift-giving tips to all shoppers buying gifts for children. Prevent Blindness Georgia offers these tips: n Make recommendations to family mem-bers and friends about gifts that you feel are appropriate for your child. n Inspect all toys as much as possible before taking them out of the box. Once opened, go through each part of the toy to make sure there are no small parts that could be choking hazards or sharp edges. n Avoid toys that shoot or include parts

that fly off. BB guns and air guns should not even be considered toys. Flying toys caused 9,600 injuries in 2008.n Sports equipment should always be ac-companied by protective gear (such as a basketball along with eye goggles, a baseball with a batting helmet with a face shield).

Ninety percent of all sports-related eye injuries can be prevented by using the ap-propriate eye protection. n Educate yourself on what products have been recalled at www.cpsc.gov or call 1-800-638-2772.n Keep toys meant for older children away from younger ones. Closely monitor all activities to make sure smaller children do not have access to toys that are not at their age-appropriate level. n Inspect toys for sturdiness. Your child’s toys should be durable, with no sharp edges or points. The toys should also withstand impact. Dispose of plastic wrapping ma-terial on toys immediately as it may have sharp edges. n Never give toys with small parts to young children. If a part of a toy can fit inside a toilet paper roll, the toy is considered a choking hazard and is not appropriate for children under the age of 3.

For more information on safe toys and gifts, visit www.pbga.org or call 404-266-2020.

asthma and child protection.Children’s at Hughes Spalding has

71,000 inpatient admissions, emergency department visits and outpatient appoint-ments annually. The new facility, which features brighter colors, child-friendly surfaces, interactive entertainment centers, a consumer library, child life specialists and up-to-date equipment, will enhance

access and quality of care and reduce the care disparities and inequities that exist for many children in the metro area.

Dr. Rob Schreiner, Kaiser’s executive medical director, said the facility is offer-ing access to superb pediatric health care, regardless of their family’s income.

“High-quality health care will be pro-vided in a safe, modern and family-friendly environment,” he said.

Donna Hyland, Children’s president and CEO, called Kaiser Permanente’s gen-erosity a wonderful example of how groups within the health care industry are working collaboratively to solve important issues as well as serve children.

“We are grateful Kaiser Permanente has entrusted these funds to us so that together, we can serve Georgia’s children now and in the future,” Hyland said.

As a nonprofit that serves only its members, Kaiser Permanente’s robust community benefit program supports community health organizations serving the under-insured and uninsured. This year, it provided more than $21 million in community benefit funding to improve access to care and coverage for low-income populations, support to safety net clinics, scholarships for health professions, an edu-cational theater program, and grants that promote healthy eating and active living.

Kaiser Permanente President Peter Andruszkiewicz visits with patients during a Christmas party at Children’s Healthcare at Hughes Spalding.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s con-struction of a new state-of-the-art hospital at Hughes Spalding got a big boost last week with a $5 million donation from Kaiser Permanente of Georgia.

The gift, which will be made over five years, helps fund the construction and operation of the new four-story pediatric hospital that replaces the existing Hughes Spalding facility. Half of the donation will help fund health care at the hospital for metro Atlanta children who are uninsured or under-insured.

Officials from Kaiser Permanente pre-sented the gift during a Dec. 11 Christmas party for patients at the downtown Atlanta hospital. The party included a singing elf and gifts for the children.

The donation is the second high-profile gift to the hospital in a month. On Nov. 24, the family of Herman J. Russell donated $1 million to the new pediatric facility. It was the largest gift ever from an African-American family to the hospital.

Peter Andruszkiewicz, Kaiser Per-manente’s president, said the nonprofit health plan provider understands and appreciates the important safety-net role that Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and particularly its Hughes Spalding facility, has in our community.

“We want to do our part to help it

continue to serve as such a vital resource,” he said.

Because the Kaiser Permanente gift is split between construction and operation, Children’s is still shy of the $4.8 million needed by 2010 to complete the $43 mil-lion building that will house child-friendly beds, an expanded emergency department, and specialty clinics for sickle-cell anemia,

To boost purchases, retailers often offer holiday sales and specials, but sometimes the best deal may not be the safest.

Prevent Blindness Georgia, a nonprofit volunteer eye health and safety organiza-tion, advises shoppers of toys and gifts for children to be mindful of safety issues,

especially when shopping for younger children.

Jenny Pomeroy, the group’s CEO, says that hey know that families are being more budget-conscious this holiday season, but it is important to ensure that the money we do spend is spent wisely.


The Children’s

at Hughes Spalding.

For Atlanta’s growing kids.

NewThe Children’s

at Hughes Spalding.

For Atlanta’s growing kids.

©2009 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding is owned by Grady Health System® and managed by HSOC Inc., an affi liate of Children’s.

Now Open.With a new facility and a variety of specialty services, including treatment for

asthma and sickle cell, Children’s at Hughes Spalding is ready to care for more

of Atlanta’s kids. To fi nd out more, visit www.choa.org/hughesspalding

Downtown at 35 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE

Preventable chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of death and disability for Americans, but of the more than $2 trillion spent on health last year, less than 3 percent went to prevention.

Emory University’s Center for Entitlement Reform, which wants to ensure prevention remains a key health reform topic, recently launched the “Let’s Talk Health Reform” campaign to encourage health reform conversation among the broader community.

The campaign uses nonpartisan research and up-dates about reform options to help citizens achieve a bet-ter understanding of specific health care reform issues. The center says the campaign will enhance the community’s understanding of health reform through a series of informative posters, blogs and videos addressing key issues in the health care debate. The campaign encourages family members, friends and co-workers to openly discuss what they do and don’t understand about health care reform as well as talk about their top concerns

as the reform debate continues. Kenneth Thorpe, the center’s executive

director, said that most Americans would probably agree that our health care system is in need of some type of change.

“But when considering the specific issues of why reform is needed and how reform can be achieved, the community needs more facts on issues that are key to the health care reform discussion,” he said.

The center says prevention is a key issue in the debate be-cause healthy people live better lives, families and the work force are strengthened, and health care spending is reduced.

A recent study commissioned by the United Health Foun-dation and the Partnership for Prevention and American Public Health Association found that obesity accounts for nearly 10 percent of U.S. annual spending on health care. Thorpe says obesity is a risk factor for many costly but prevent-able diseases like diabetes, osteoarthritis and some cancers.

“Obesity is growing faster than any public health problem our nation has faced,” he said. “If current trends continue, 103 million, or 45 percent of American adults, will be considered obese in eight years. And that’s going to cost us, unless we make prevention a priority.”

Thorpe says that creating a healthier future for all Americans requires us to refocus on preventing, detecting and managing diseases. To participate in the discussion, visit “Let’s Talk Health Reform” at EntitlementReform.Emory.edu or join the center’s Facebook page.

The holiday season doesn’t have to wreak havoc on your weight-loss goals.

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Club Inc., offers these tips:n Don’t go hungry. Before you head out to that holiday party, have a light snack of a low-fat, high-fiber food – Yogurt, an apple with a teaspoon of peanut butter, a piece of string cheese, or veg-etables with low-calorie dip – a half-hour before you go. This will help curb your appetite and make it easier to control your intake. n Treat yourself. There’s no need to ban your favorites; decide what you want to try and then set a limit.

Cakes, cookies and pies are available year-round, so indulge in small portions of only the best seasonal, holiday foods. Just a taste of something special can be enough to quell a craving without going overboard. n Take control. Offer to bring a low-calorie dish or platter to holiday gatherings. By preparing something that you know fits into your meal plan, you’ll have at least one healthy item on hand, and other guests will likely appreciate it. n Slow your pace. Eat slowly until you are satisfied, not stuffed. It takes about 20 minutes for your body to signal that you’re feeling full, so enjoy each bite and give yourself time to know when you’ve had enough. You’ll likely consume less than usual. n Mind your beverages. Drink plenty of water to help feel full and hydrated. Adding a twist of lemon or lime to sparkling water is a lively alternative to alcohol and coffee drinks, which can actually make you feel sluggish.

Alcohol can also impair your judgment and make it difficult to stick to healthy eating resolutions. If you drink, choose light beers and wines, and limit your intake to one or two drinks per occasion. Avoid too much high-calorie seasonal favorites like eggnog, punch and full-fat hot chocolate. n Pair up with a friend. Buddies can help keep each other on track. Lean on each other for encourage-

ment to resist tempting treats or power through a workout.

Remember, you’re not the only one re-fraining from holiday overindulgence. n Keep moving. It’s easy to let workouts fall by the wayside. If you aren’t able to set aside time each day for exer-cise, commit to at least 30 minutes three days per week.

Many people con-tinue their regular walk-ing or jogging schedules year-round, but also

consider walking in malls or the building where you work. Indoor pools, weight-workout rooms, tracks and basketball courts are commonly available in com-munity facilities and schools.

Municipal ice skating rinks, both indoors and out, offer a change of pace from the usual routine, while cross-country skiing and hiking let you build up your strength while enjoying nature’s beauty.

Maintaining a workout routine also can help you manage holiday stress by releasing “feel-good” endor-phins and provide a “timeout” from stress. n Make adequate sleep - seven to eight hours - a priority, especially during this busy season. Getting enough rest can help repair your body, keep you men-tally sharp, and enable you to be more productive. n Make friends and family a priority. Although food and drinks can be a big part of the holiday season, they don’t have to be the focus.

Set aside time to spend with good friends and family, making memories that make the holidays worthwhile. n Keep your perspective. Be realistic and maintain a long-term view of your weight-loss goals. Overeating one day won’t make or break your plans; just aim to eat healthy and in moderation the next day.

Dieting can be especially difficult during the holi-days. Focus on maintaining your present weight and look toward the new year as a fresh start.

Remember, there will be many more holidays to enjoy. For more information, visit www.tops.org.

WellnessWellness By preparing something that you know fits into your meal plan,

you’ll have at least one healthy item on hand.

Don’t let holidays derail weight-loss goals Health reform initiative focuses on prevention

One way to avoid overindulging at holiday parties is to snack on healthy foods before you leave home.

Kenneth Thorpe


Scene “We constantly hear that we need to do something about our troubled youth. Larry is not just talking; he is making an impact.”

Famed actress in musical

‘Tree of Love’ gifts to be collected

3 million to travel during holiday week

‘Love and devotion’ reaches 50th year

Advocates for national parks release book

Donors will return to the Gallery at South DeKalb on Dec. 19 to drop off new unwrapped toys and gifts for Commissioner Larry Johnson’s annual program.

Ruby Dee Davis

sta�ing5 PERFORMANCES

December 18-20, 2009at the

Rialto Center for the Arts

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Stage and movie actress Ruby Dee Davis will star in “A Gift of Love,” a musical stage play written by Lithonia-based music minister James Cockerham.

Davis, a 2007 Academy Awards best sup-porting actress nominee for her role in “Ameri-can Gangster,” will lead a cast that includes actress Vivica Fox, Stellar Award winner PJ Morton, recording gospel artist Anthony Ad-eion Hill, and DeKalb’s Doowap Boiz.

The compelling story of love and trust in God opened Dec. 18 and runs through Dec. 20 at the Rialto Center for the Arts in Atlanta.

The production is a fund-raiser for B Moe Positive, a nonprofit organization that teaches at-risk youth to improve their classroom be-havior and take control of their life situation.

B Moe Positive founder Larry Veal was an at-risk youth and gang member who was kicked out of high school. He turned his life around and went on to become a straight-A student, father, counselor, teacher, lecturer and author.

Cockerham, a Christian songwriter, arranger and producer, said he was so impressed with Veal’s work that he wanted to help.

“We constantly hear that we need to do something about our troubled youth,” Cockerham said. “Larry is not just talking; he is mak-ing an impact.”

The play is directed by Rob Jackson. Dawn Axam provides cho-reography, and music producers Alton “Wokie” Stewart and Brian Cockerham have assembled top-of-the-line musicians for the orchestra directed by Warren Lankford.

Ruby Dee Davis

The first t ime Dunstan Mitchell laid eyes on Ilene, he said he would marry her.

“She was just dif-ferent,” he said. “The way she carried her-self, she just stood out.”

They married on Dec. 19, 1959, in Guy-ana, South America. On Saturday, they will celebrate 50 years of marriage.

The Mitchells, who moved to Stone Mountain 12 years ago after spending 25

years in New York, have four children, two of whom have completed tours in Iraq.

Dunstan Mitchell said there will be no big celebration be-cause his wife is sick and incapacitated and he has little money.

Still, he wanted to mark the day.“We are married for 50 years because of

God’s blessing and her love and devotion for me,” he said.

More than 3 million Georgians will take to the road and the air to visit families over the Christmas/New Year’s holiday.

The bulk of Georgians – 2.6 million – will travel by automobile and 139,000 will use airlines. They are among 87.7 million people who AAA Auto Club South projects will travel by automobile and airlines be-

tween Dec. 23 and Jan. 3.AAA’s holiday travel projections are

based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight and D.K. Shifflet Associates, which surveyed 1,350 U.S. households nation-ally.

For the complete year-end holiday fore-cast, visit www.AAA.com/news.

Outdoors enthusiasts, national park advocates and environmentalists Frank and Audrey Peter-man have added “author” to their resumes with the publication of “Legacy on the Land: A Black Couple Discovers Our National Inheritance and Tells Why Every American Should Care.”

The book tracks the couple’s odyssey through the National Park System that began in August 1995, and it swings the doors wide for African-Americans who know little of their ancestors’ involvement in the outdoors, including the Buffalo Soldiers’ conservation efforts.

Along the way, they unveil the wonders of nature and the awesome beauty that awaits all Americans in our national parks.

The book is available at www.legacyontheland .com and www.amazon.com.

Jennifer ffrench Parker / crossroadsnews

Deborah Jackson (left) of Lithonia watches as Audrey and Frank Peterman sign her copy of their book.

Dunstan and Ilene Mitchell

The community will show its love to more than 400 children “adopted” in Commissioner Larry Johnson’s Tree of Love program on Dec. 19.

Donors, who picked up names and wish lists of children in foster care at the 2009 Tree of Love kickoff on Nov. 21, will be dropping off their new unwrapped toys and gifts at the Macy’s stage at the Gallery at South DeKalb starting at noon.

The Tree of Love is celebrating a decade of giv-ing and receiving. Johnson says the program has served more than 5,000 children over the years.

On Tuesday, he said they still had seven chil-dren who needed gifts for the holiday.

“We started with over 400 children and we still have some names to go, but with the generous spirit and support of the community, I feel we will meet our goal again this year,” he said.

Performers for Saturday’s Tree of Love Christ-mas program include the Lou Walker Senior Cen-ter Choir, the African Drum Corps, McClendon School of Dance and Phusion Performing Arts Alliance.

“We are looking forward to an exciting show and invite the public to come and experience the Tree of Love Christmas program,” Johnson said.

For more information, call 404-371-2988.


MiniStry “We have so many choices and so many people are at their wits’ end and up against the wall.”

Ray of Hope production compares modern choices, biblical times

Popular themes return in drive-through Nativity’s 10th year

Christmas story to be retold in music, drama at East Metro churches

The Parable Players will present “Choices: Life and Death, Blessings and Curses” on Dec. 20.

The drive-through live Nativity at Solid Rock AME Zion Church includes the most famous scenes from the story of Jesus’ birth.

Worship Services: ...........Sundays – 7:45 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Church School: ...............Sundays – 9:30 a.m.

Victory Chapel: ...............Sundays – 11:00 a.m. (Ages 5-16)

Prayer Service: ...............Wednesdays – 6:30 p.m. Chapel

Bible Study: ....................Wednesdays – 7:00 p.m.

Mid-Wk Communion.......Wednesdays B4 First Sunday - 11:30 a.m.

4031 RAINBOW DRIVEDecatur, Georgia 30034Phone: (678) 760-1639



Dedric M. AveryPastor

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE8:30 ~ 10:00 am

THIRST for TRUTH bible studyEvery Tuesday8:00 ~ 9:00 pm

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE8:30 ~ 10:00 am

THIRST for TRUTH bible studyEvery Tuesday8:00 ~ 9:00 pm

Services are held atNew Beginning Worship Center

“Being in Position to Influence the Condition”

In musical and dramatic performances, area churches will commemorate the story of the birth of the baby Jesus.

Members of Mount Carmel Christian Church in Stone Mountain are celebrating the holidays with a dramatic musical pre-sentation and a Christmas Eve candlelight Communion.

The musical “God Speaking” takes place Dec. 20 at 10:30 a.m.; a Christmas program for youngsters 2 years and older is at 7 p.m. The Dec. 24 Christmas Eve service starts at 6 p.m.

The church is at 6015 Old Stone Moun-tain Road. For more information, call 770-279-8437.

Beulah Missionary BaptistBeulah Missionary Baptist Church

presents its Christmas musical production at 6 p.m. on Dec. 20 in the Worship Cen-ter. Beulah Missionary Baptist is at 2340 Clifton Springs Road in Decatur. For more information, call 404-241-3307.

Berean Christian Church Berean Christian Church in Stone

Mountain rounds out its observance with a gospel production and a special Christmas service. On Dec. 19, the MAD for Christ Drama Ministry presents a free gospel Christmas performance at 3 p.m., dramatizing the reasons for celebrating despite the economic downturn. A special Christmas Day worship service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 25.

Berean Christian Church is at 2201 Young Road. For more information, call 770-593-4421.

Greenforest Community Baptist “Born Unto Us,” a dramatization of the

Christmas story, will take place at Green-forest Community Baptist Church on Dec. 20 during their 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. ser-vices. The Scripture-based dramatization will include the church’s drama ministry, choirs, ushers, musicians, dance ministries and ministerial staff. The church is at 3250

“Choices: Life and Death, Blessings and Curses,” an original produc-tion by the Ray of Hope’s Parable Players, will pose tough questions about choices on Dec. 20 at the Decatur church.

The production, which will be presented at 10 a.m., depicts modern-day choices contrasted with the choices that Mary and Joseph made at the time of Jesus’ birth and their lasting impact.

Director Rona Morris-Hester, a Ray of Hope member since 1998, said the drama is a collaborative effort.

“We have so many choices and so many people are at their wits’ end and up against the wall,” she said. “They’ve lost jobs and have been impacted by the economy.”

Morris-Hester said the production is targeted at youth and young adults.

“Young people feel pressure from their peers to fit in, to be cool, and some of their choices have dire consequences,” she said.

The production is free. The church is at 2778 Snapfinger Road in De-catur. For more information, call 770-696-5100.

The story of the birth of the baby Jesus will come alive for families on Dec. 18 and 19 at the annual live Nativity scene at Solid Rock AME Zion Church in Lithonia.

Members will don period garb and re-enact the most famous scenes from the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

Mary, Joseph and the Three Wise Men will all be there, and so will the animals in the manger.

This is the 10th year for the live Nativ-ity, hosted by the former Decatur AME Zion Church, which changed its name in September. During the drive-through, families will listen to the recorded story of the birth of Jesus, nar-rated by former actor-turned-pastor Clifton Davis.

The associate pastor at the Loma Linda University Church in California starred in the 1980s TV sitcom “Amen.” He recorded the story for the church in 2005.

The “Come as you are, stay in your car” event starts at 7 p.m. both days.

Solid Rock Church is at 4065 Snapfinger Road. For more information, call 770-981-3303.

Rainbow Drive in Decatur. For more infor-mation, call 404-486-1120.

Oakhurst Baptist ChurchMembers of Oakhurst Baptist Church in

Decatur will celebrate the birth of Jesus with a Christmas Eve Vespers on Dec. 24.

The quiet service of Scripture, carols and Communion starts at 6 p.m. and con-cludes with a circle of candlelight. Child care is provided for infants and toddlers.

The church is at 222 East Lake Drive. For information, visit www.oakhurstbap tist.org or call 404-378-3677.


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Final deadlines to mail for ChristmasHiring for Census jobs to start

Finance

The U.S. Census Bureau is recruit-ing applicants for temporary full- and part-time positions in preparation for its 2010 tally of the nation’s popula-tion.

Most of the positions will start hiring in January. Hourly pay ranges from $14.25 to $20.25.

Employment testing is available by appointment only at the bureau’s DeKalb County office, 5474 Memorial Drive, Suite A, in Stone Mountain.

An online practice test is available at http://2010.census .gov/2010censusjobs/application -material/index.php.

To qualify, an applicant must:

Place Blvd., Suite 201, in Stone Mountain; and 1705 Highway 138 S.E. in Conyers. Customers can use the APC to get stamps; weigh packages; and calculate postage for Express, Priority, First-Class and Parcel Post.

“APCs make visiting a post office easier,” Wiley said. “It’s one more way we’re trying to save customers time waiting in line and offer-ing another alternative to meet their mailing needs.”

Customers can skip the trip to the post office completely by visiting usps.com, where they can print shipping labels, pay for postage and order free shipping supplies, including Priority Mail flat-rate boxes.

For more information or to locate a post office near you, visit www.usps.com.

Holiday shoppers who plan to mail their gifts have until Dec. 21 to mail First-Class and Priority Mail items in time for Christmas. For last-minute shoppers, Dec. 23 is the last day to ship Express Mail packages.

Atlanta district manager Kate F. Wiley said the U.S. Postal Service is up to the challenge.

“Americans can count on the Postal Service to deliver their holiday gifts in time for Christ-mas as we have for the past 234 years,” she said. For those who don’t want to wait in line at the post office, Wiley recommends automated postal centers, or APCs, or shipping online.

Automated postal centers are standalone mailing kiosks available in post office lobbies, including at 520 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. in De-catur; 4325 First Ave. in Tucker; 1785 E. Park

“We’re trying to save customers time waiting in line and offering another alternative to meet their mailing needs.”

n Be a U.S. citizen.n Be a legal permanent resident, or noncitizen with an appropriate work visa, and possess a bilingual skill for which there are no available qualified U.S. citizens. n Be at least 18 years old. n Have a valid Social Security num-ber. n Take a written test of basic skills. n Have a valid driver’s license.n Pass a background check.n Commit to four days of paid train-ing.

For more information, call the DeKalb regional office at 404-239-2160.


CLASSIFIEDS

Marketplacecomputers

www.jonatech.net. Laptops Spe-cial $199 & up. Parts, AC adapt-ers, Screen Repair/Sales & Virus removal. Diag fee $35 Jonatech 678-918-4445

For rent/leAseLithonia: Beautiful 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath Condo, includes appliances, washer & dryer. $800.00. Call Diane Wilkey (Coldwell Banker Cascade Realty) at 404-312-0388.

Bad Credit, Foreclosure and Evic-tion Apartments! 1, 2 and 3 bed-room apartments available. Prices start at $599.00! Move-In Specials for $99.00! Credit, Budgeting and Housing counseling required for apartment. $300 fee upfront. Call 770-256-7131.

Condo for Rent in Decatur, 1BR, fireplace, wall to wall carpet remodeled kitchen, walk out porch, upstairs unit, Alarm system. Off Snapfinger Woods Dr. 1 B Quail Run (Hillsides) $600 per mo. Contact Doug/Melba Paschal 404-349-7110

Roommates Wanted to Share a 3 Bedroom House Near South DeKalb Mall $350 Monthly. No Smoking. Cable and Utilities Included. 678-754-0791.

For sAleAKC Male and Female British Bulldogs are available for Free adoption. They need home ur-gently. Anyone interested to have one should e-mail [email protected]

HeAltH & FitnessAmerican Professional Institute Spa Rain Massage Therapy Clinic Special Introductory Offer $25.00 Massage (404) 370-1177 Ext. 178

lAndscApe/lAWn cAreLandscape Services Since 1996 Design-Installation-Maintenance Aeration, Bobcat Work, French Drainage, Concrete Work. Free Estimate. Call 770-593-1382.

moVersGideon Movers, Inc. Moves & Deliveries, In-house Moves; Loading & Un-loading. Free on-site Estimate. (404)[email protected]

serVicesRecording Studio. Basic recording $20.00 per hour. Limited time offer. Call 404-552-1725 to view studio and book studio time.

Dynamic Carpet Cleaner Biggest Holiday Sale Ever. Basic Steam Clean with Deodorizer $25 a room (2 Room Minimum). Call 770-286-8889 For a Free Estimate.

Handyman, 27 years experience. Plumbing repairs, water lines, hotwater heaters, showers, toilets, sinks, bathtubs, sewer drain clean-ing, pressure washing, gutters cleaned. Call 404-244-9193 or 404-838-6541.

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.

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Documents

CrossRoadsNews, December 19, 2009