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CrossRoadsNews, January 30, 2010
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“I am just grateful that I had the
opportunity to clear up this matter and I can go back
to focusing on my work.”
Sharon Barnes Sutton
www.crossroadsnews.comJanuary 30, 2010Copyright © 2010 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
Cure for clogsWELLNESS
A Lithonia entrepreneur has hit upon an environmentally friendly way to keep used cook-ing oil from clog-ging sewer drains by recycling it into biodiesel fuel. 7
Sheldon Fleming of Wonderland Gardens (right) and volunteers are reclaiming the historic Lyon Farm off Browns Mill Road in Lithonia. 4
Freshen up the old farmCOMMUNITY
Writings of Frederick Doug-lass and other historic African Americans will be read during a Black History Month event at Arabia Mountain High School. 9
Legendary authorsSCENE
Commissioner: Financial problems in the pastVolume 15, Number 39
By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
DeKalb Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton said this week that the outstanding warrants for writing bad checks that sur-faced last week were an isolated incident and doesn’t affect her work on the county commission.
“That’s in the past,” she said Wednesday. “It was before I was elected. It has nothing to do with how I serve my constituents.”
But information surfaced this week of a string of charges for writing bad checks and default judgments for delinquent loans dating back to 1996.
Atlantaunfiltered.com, a website that investigates elected officials, unearthed and reported Thursday on the charges
and judgments in court records in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. The public record shows a trail of debts and financial prob-lems that included missed car payments, garnishment of her teaching salary, and the loss of her $162,000 Stone Mountain
home last September when she unable to make her mortgage payments.
In the midst of her financial problems, Barnes Sutton reported loaning $49,500 to her 2008 campaign for the seat on the Board of Commissioners.
The court records also show that some of the charges for writing bad checks were dismissed because the statute of limita-tion had run out. In others, Barnes Sutton pleaded no contest and paid the outstand-ing charges.
But on Wednesday before the records were found, Barnes Sutton, who represents District 4 in Stone Mountain, said the bad checks totaling $1,000 to a Costco in Gwin-nett County were written in 2007, before she ran for office. She said that she was
unaware of them before the police found them last week.
“I don’t remember writing those checks,” she said. “It didn’t look like my handwriting. It could be a case of identity theft. I have my lawyer looking into it.”
If she wrote the checks, Barnes Sutton said she could have missed them in 2007 because of personal issues she was going through, including the death of her late husband, which she did not want to talk about.
“I was taking care of a lot of transac-tions,” she said. “Something could have gone through my account.”
To clear her name, Barnes Sutton said
Please see BARNES SUTTON, page 3
DeKalb Superior Court Chief Judge Cynthia Becker (far left) urges members of the DeKalb Board of Commissioners Budget Committee to consider the impact of funding cuts to the county’s justice system.
Judges argue case to avoid deep cuts in budget
By Jennifer Ffrench Parker and Lee Williams
DeKalb County’s austerity budget is eliciting howls all the way to the courts.
On Thursday, judges from Superior, State, Probate, Magistrate and Juvenile Courts showed up at the Board of Com-missioners’ budget meeting to press the case for fewer cuts. The county is grappling with a $50 million reduction in revenues and must trim that much from its 2010 budget.
Superior Court Chief Judge Cynthia Becker, who led the charge on behalf of the courts, said the judges showed up in person because the proposed cuts of 17 percent are of great concern to them.
“We are the first line of defense,” she said. “People come in with foreclosures, dispossessors, increase in child support contempts, and increase in domestic violence. When the economy tanks, people lose their jobs. They come to court as the first line of defense to say, ‘I need help.’ ”
The 10 courts and departments, which are funded at $53 million in the current budget, will only get $47.8 million in the proposed 2010 budget. The cuts range from
$1.2 million in Superior Court, to $18,197 in Juvenile Court.
Becker said that there is a “delicate and fine balance” with our constitutional obligations to the community, the func-tioning of a healthy court system and the economy.
“We have seen that,” she said. “We un-derstand that.”
CEO Burrell Ellis’ proposed $582.7 million budget calls for a 1.86 millage rate increase, job cuts and reduction in spend-ing in most departments.
Becker said it’s wrong for the county to lump the courts in under public safety.
“We are a separate constitutional arm of government, critical to the functioning of this county,” she said. Becker said Supe-rior Court cannot and will not absorb the
proposed 17 percent cut. “It will disrupt the continuum of justice
which must be protected constitutionally,” she said. “We are charged with making sure that 24/7 that every citizen, every person in this county receives the protection pro-vided by the Bill of Rights. We can’t do that with a 17 percent cut.”
The Board of Commissioners’ budget committee, chaired by District 7 Commis-sioner Connie Stokes, has been holding meetings with department heads and con-stitutional officers, as it searches for more cuts in lieu of the 1.86 millage increase proposed by Ellis.
The Board of Commissioners must ap-prove a balanced budget by March 1.
The proposed cuts for the courts and its departments amount to $5.3 million. Only the Sheriff Office, the District Attorney’s Office and Recorders Court are spared.
Becker says the cuts will hamper service and create a backlog.
She said drug court saved the county $2 million last year and asked the commission not to cut its budget. She suggested that the county use the drug court testing lab.
“If you test your employees here, you
can pay $15 or $20 per person instead of $50,” she said. “ We can keep the money in the county.”
Earlier in the week, the eight judges on the DeKalb State Court wrote to the CEO and the commissioners to “highlight our serious concerns over the detrimental effects” that the proposed budget cuts will have on the court system and urge them to reconsider.
State Court Chief Judge Edward Car-riere said the cuts will affect the local resi-dents as much as the court staff.
“It will greatly affect the services,” Carriere said. “Anytime you have a cut in funding, it will have an impact on the level of services you provide.”
In the letter, the judges said the cuts will affect the areas of domestic violence and DUI law enforcement.
The judges said it makes no sense to provide funding for law enforcement, but cut the services on the post-arrest follow-through, which deters repeat offenders.
“This approach is akin to fully funding the ambulance service, while cutting back on the trauma care available at the end of the ride,” the judges wrote.
“This approach is akin to fully funding the ambulance
service, while cutting back on the trauma care available at the
end of the ride.” DeKalb County State Court Judges
Photos by Jennifer ffrench Parker / crossroadsnews
1
CrossRoadsNews January 30, 201022
Community Police said speeding and drag racing were believed to play a factor in the crash.
Help with power bills available
Warrants revealed financial woes
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We list it • We negotiate it • You live to fight another dayCommunity budget meetingsDeKalb residents can tell CEO Burrell
Ellis what they think about his proposed 2010 budget and the tax increase he wants to help fund it.
Ellis’ neighborhood budget meeting will be at the Tucker Recreation Center, 4898 LaVista Road, on Feb. 2 at 7 p.m.
On Feb. 4, the meeting will be at Cedar Grove High School, 2360 River Road in Ellenwood, and on Feb. 9, it will be at Ste-phenson Middle School, 922 Stephenson Road in Stone Mountain.
Ellis’ proposed $582.7 million budget, which is now before the DeKalb Board of Commissioners, calls for a 1.86 millage rate that would add about $145 to the annual tax bill of a $200,000 house. It also calls for the elimination of 760 positions and $375,000 for customer service training.
Because of declining revenues, the 2010 budget has to be $50 million less than the 2009 budget.
Commissioners must approve a bal-anced budget by March 1.
Students charged in teen’s deathBy Lee Williams
Stone Mountain High School students Shaheed Saunders and Tomcum Siripan-hya were charged on Thursday in connec-tion with the accident that killed schoolmate Tanesha Williams on Jan. 19.
Saunders and Siripanhya, both 17, allegedly were driving cars involved in the accident, which occurred a short distance from the school after classes ended for the day.
DeKalb Police Officer Jason Gagnon said both were charged with racing, vehicular homicide and reckless driving. Saunders also was charged with improper passing.
Both were booked and released on bond. Saunders was released on a $21,000 bond and Siripanhya on a $20,000 bond. Police said speeding and drag racing were believed to play a factor in the crash.
Police say Saunders was traveling east on Central Avenue in a green Crown Vic-
toria when he lost con-trol in a curve near the school. Saunders was allegedly trying to pass Siripanhya’s gray BMW in a racing game.
During the crash, Saunders’ car hopped the curb and struck three students. Williams
died shortly after at Grady Me-morial Hospital.
Saunders told police after the accident that the BMW had struck his car in the rear, causing him to lose control and strike the teens.
Witnesses at the school said the two students were racing. Af-ter the crash, Siripanhya allegedly
left the scene. He contacted police later and gave his side of the story.
On Tuesday, more than 1,500 class-mates, friends, family and teachers attended Williams’ funeral at Victory for the World Church in Stone Mountain. Williams, 14, was described as a good child who excelled in school and worked to better her com-munity through Youth in Action.
T. SiripanhyaS. Saunders
By Donna Williams Lewis
People struggling with their heating bills can get help with them through the Georgia Department of Human Services.
The agency’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program received about $65.4 million in federal funds for low-income, elderly and disabled Georgians.
Assistance is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and the program closes April 30 or when funds are exhausted.
In most cases, payments will be made directly to the home energy supplier for gas, electricity, propane gas, wood, coal or kerosene.
Qualifying applications will receive payments of either $310 or $350.
Eligible families must have a household income equal to or less than 60 percent of the state median income. Applicants must bring proof of income for those 18 and older for the last 30 days.
If income is irregular, bring 90 days proof of income; recent home heating bill; photo identification and proof of Social Security numbers for everyone in household.
To qualify, applicants must bring their most recent fuel bill or statement of service from their heating provider; verification of age for the elderly; and Social Secu-rity numbers and proof of income for all household members for the previous 30 days (paycheck stubs, a letter granting public assistance, Social Security or unem-ployment benefits).
To make an appointment for help, DeKalb County residents can call 404-537-4310 or visit a LIHEAP service location to make an appointment in person.
LIHEAP Income requirementsOne-person household ............ $21,458Two people ...............................$28,061Three people ............................$34,663Four people .............................. $41,266Five people ...............................$47,868Six people ..................................$54,471Seven people ............................$55,709Eight people .............................$56,947
For each additional person, add $1,238 to annual income.
DeKalb LIHEAP locationsn Peace Baptist Church, 1399 Austin Drive, Decatur. Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.n Housing Authority Resource Center, 481 Electric Ave., Decatur. Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.n Atlanta DeKalb Human Services, 30 Warren St. S.E., Atlanta. Second floor. Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.n Partnership for Community Action Inc., 815 Park North Blvd., Clarkston. Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 404-929 2500, 404-929-2451, 404-929-2452 or 1-800-869-1150.
Tanesha Williams
she took care of the outstanding payments Jan. 21.
“I paid them,” she said. “I am just grate-ful that I had the opportunity to clear up this matter and I can go back to focusing on my work.”
Barnes Sutton, a DeKalb County teach-er, was elected for the first time in Novem-ber 2008 after several runs for office.
She took office in January 2009 and chairs the Board of Commissioners’ Public Safety Committee and serves on its Budget Committee.
Her personal financial problems surfaced on Jan. 20, when her car struck an unoccupied parked car on a private property on LaVista Road. During the investigation, the DeKalb Police officers found the warrant for her arrest for “De-posit Account Fraud” from the Gwinnett County Sheriff ’s Office.
Instead of arresting Barnes Sutton, the officers advised her “to go directly from the scene of the accident to Gwinnett Sheriff ’s Office and get the matter resolved.”
For that decision, the officers – Assis-tant Chief F. J. Kliesrath, Capt. T. S. Dedrick and Lt. C. T. Whittington – received written reprimands for a violation of departmental policy.
DeKalb Public Safety Director William Miller said Tuesday the violations were a first offense for the officers. He said his investigation revealed the need for ad-ditional supervisor training throughout
the police department and a policy update concerning the proper handling of warrant verifications.
“The training and policy update have been already begun within the depart-ment,” he said.
Barnes Sutton said she did not ask for any special treatment from the officers and was unaware of police procedures for handling warrants.
“I don’t pretend to know their proce-dures,” she said. “I was very grateful that they allowed me to contact my attorney and take care of it.”
Asked if the same courtesy should be extended to all her constituents, Barnes Sutton said she would expect the police to follow what is customary for them.
“In my lifetime I know that profes-sional courtesy is extended all the time,” she said.
“I am sorry if anyone was reprimand-ed.”
Barnes Sutton said that her constituents are supportive of her.
“They are telling me to hold my head up and be strong,” she said. “They tell me that people go through things and I must be strong.”
She says she wants to put the warrants behind her. This week, she attended all Board of Commissioners meetings, includ-ing Thursday’s budget committee meeting into the county’s proposed 2010 budget.
“I am moving on,” she said. “I am just trying to work hard for DeKalb and to be the best commissioner I can be.”
BARNES SUTTON, fROm pAgE 1
CrossRoadsNewsJanuary 30, 2010 3 3
Volunteers spruce up historic Lyon Farm in Lithonia
Leadership nominees sought
Community
index to advertisers
Students charged in teen’s death 3
Stone Mountain High School students Shaheed Saunders and Tomcum Siripanhya were charged on Thursday in connection with the accident that killed schoolmate Tanesha Williams on Jan. 19.
AARP Tax-Aide offers free help to local seniors 5
With the April 15 tax deadline looming, senior citizens can once again get free help filing their tax returns.
200 to train for green jobs 5Two hundred low-income and disad-
vantaged adults will get green job training skills as part of a $1 million “Goodwill Goes Green” project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
2010 CrossRoadsNews Expos ......................122010 Health & Wellness Expo ....................... 2African American Outreach Initiative ............ 3Barnes & Linder DBA Liberty Tax Service ..... 11Beautiful Smiles Family Dentistry ..................6CDC Federal Credit Union ............................. 5Comfort Suites Northlake ..............................9
Dreamz Catcher Productions .........................9Ella’s Caring Hands Adult Day Care ............. 10Felicia V. Anderson CPA LLC .......................... 5Future Movement Radio ................................9Georgia Center for Female Health .................6Gibbs Garage ................................................ 11Kameron Dunmore ........................................8
Leonard Scott, CPA ...................................... 10MARTA ........................................................... 5Kaiser Permanente ........................................ 7Newburn Reynolds Photography .................. 11Outback Insurance ....................................... 10ReMax of Buckhead ....................................... 5Ruth, MacNeille & Knudsen, P.A. .................. 11
SCI Communications ..................................... 11SWH Apparel ................................................. 5The Law Office of B.A. Thomas .................... 11Tiny Mae Productions - “The Meeting” .........9Wireless Global Solutions ............................. 11Zip2Save ....................................................... 11
QuiCk Read
“It was a humbling experience being on that farm. It’s not very often that one gets to experience history in its rawest form.”
Nonprofits can hone grant writing skills 5
Nonprofits can get information about growing their organizations at the Feb. 5 Partnership Alliance Learning Series hosted by 4th District Congressman Hank Johnson.
Kaiser marks opening of 4th DeKalb facility 6
Kaiser Permanente cut the ribbons on its new medical center on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Decatur on Friday.
PSA test can help spot prostate cancer early 6
One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and black men are twice as likely to die from the disease than men of any other race.
Green solution for reusing leftover grease 7
Fran Roberts likes to cook and all her friends and family members know it. When it comes to fried turkeys, she is their go-to person. Ditto for the fried chicken and the pork chops, too.
Political ax grinding does harm to DeKalb County 8
More often than not, when there is a political ax to grind, the unforeseen collat-eral damages harm a far greater number of people than the originally intended target.
Love, relationships to be discussed 9
Matters of love and relationships will be on the agenda at the Relationship Clinic at Pilgrim Cathedral of Atlanta in February.
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
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General Manager Curtis Parker
Advertising Sales Cynthia Blackshear-Warren
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What’s on your mind?We welcome your com-
ments on issues of importance to the community. E-mail us at [email protected]. Please include a contact num-ber where we can reach you if necessary. Your contact infor-mation will not be published.
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.
Nominations for Leadership DeKalb’s Class of 2011 are being accepted now.
Eric Greenwood, the group’s selection committee chairman, said that each year, approximately 50 established and emerging leaders are accepted for the intensive 10-month training program.
Open houses for prospective members, who must be DeKalb residents, will be held Feb. 2 at the DeKalb Medical Women’s Center, 2701 North Decatur Road in Decatur, and on Feb. 9 at DeKalb Medical at Hillandale, 2801 DeKalb Medical Center Parkway in Lithonia.
Both open houses begin with a networking reception at 5:30 p.m. and the programs run from 6 to 7 p.m.
Leadership DeKalb is in its 24th year of training leaders for the com-munity. Many of its graduates are in politics, government and business.
Reservations can be made by e-mailing [email protected] or by calling 404-373-2491. For more information, visit www.leadershipdekalb .org.
By Donna Williams Lewis
Twenty volunteers will head to the historic Lyon Farm on Feb. 6 to continue efforts by Wonder-land Gardens to rehabilitate the 48-acre farm.
This will be their second trip in three weeks.
On Jan. 18, volunteers spent part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday helping remove debris from the historic DeKalb County farm off Browns Mill Road in Lithonia.
Sheldon Fleming, founder and executive director of Wonderland Gardens, said they have made the farm, which was purchased by DeKalb County as part of its watershed management program, an ongoing rehab effort.
“Twice a month, we’ll have a service day there,” he said.
The Lyon Farm, named for the family that owned it from 1827 to 2003, is part of the buffer for the Pole Creek wastewater treatment plant.
Slave quarters are still intact on the property, and the volun-teers who worked there on King Day seemed awed by evidence that slaves had once worked and lived on the property.
“It was a humbling experience being on that farm,” Fleming said. “It’s not very often that one gets to experience history in its rawest form.”
Dave Butler, greenspace envi-ronment manager for DeKalb’s Natural Resources Management office, said the county hopes to restore buildings on the prop-erty, which include a blacksmith shop.
Butler envisions a “living farm” there similar to McDaniel
Farm Park in Duluth, where visitors can see a restored 1930s cotton farm.
Fleming has a personal con-nection with the Lyon family.
He leased a nursery from Harold Lyon from 1980 to 1987. The nursery was at the corner of Panola Road and Browns Mill Road, where a Chevron station is now located.
Fleming closed the nursery after his sister Kelly, was abducted and murdered.
A decade later in 1995, he started the 10-acre nonprofit Wonderland Gardens in her memory. He broke ground on the old Mathis Dairy property on Rainbow Drive in June 1996. The garden now shares the 20-acre property with the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center.
On Feb. 6, volunteers will clear debris and build a fence from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Volunteers must pre-register. Call 404-680-1900.
Wonderland Gardens founder Sheldon Fleming (left) and volunteers spent King Day cleaning up the hisoric Lyon Farm in Lithonia. They are going back Feb. 6.
Ramsey gets new rolesState Sen. Ronald Ramsey Sr. (D-
Lithonia) has several new leadership roles at the state Capitol this session.
Ramsey was appointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee; the State Workforce Investment Board, under the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development; and the Georgia World Congress Center Au-thority Oversight Committee.
Ramsey, who lives in Lithonia, repre-sents the 43rd District, which includes portions of DeKalb and Rockdale counties.
“This is an exciting opportunity to serve the citizens of Georgia with this expanded level of responsibility,” he said.
The Senate Judiciary Committee works with civil and criminal legislations.
Ronald Ramsey
CrossRoadsNews January 30, 201044
FinanCe “The valuable training they receive can help them out of poverty and promote self-sufficiency through employment.”
Green jobs skills training for disadvantaged
AARP Tax-Aide offers free help to local seniors
PALS offering nonprofits lots of tips, resources
Cuts hits local Sam’s Club
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MARTA’s Fiscal Year starts July 1, 2010.
Our financial challengeswill impact you!
Please Join Us!MARTA Community Forum
Saturday, February 6, 201010:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
MARTA Headquarters2424 Piedmont Road, NEAtlanta, Georgia 30324
WANTED: YOUR IDEAS FOR MARTA!• What routes and services should be cut?• How much should we increase fares?• What are the best ways to help MARTAfinancially?
Come out and tell us what you think!
Each forum will include a brainstormingsession on possible solutions to MARTA’s
current financial challenges.
For more information:Visit our website at www.itsmarta.com or
call us at 404-848-5686.
METROPOL I TAN ATLANTA RAP ID TRANSIT AUTHOR ITY
FINAL DAYS!Nomination Period Ends
Jan. 31
www.crossroadsnews.com
Nonprofits can get information about growing their organizations at the Feb. 5 Partnership Alliance Learning Series hosted by 4th District Congressman Hank Johnson.
During the 9 a.m.-3 p.m. meeting at DeKalb Technical College, participants will hear from representatives from fed-eral agencies about resources and grants.
The Georgia Center for Nonprofits will offer tools and information on writ-ing grants and proposals.
Participants can sign up online at http://hankjohnson.house.gov.
For more information, call PALS coor-dinator Paulette Suggs at 770-939-2016.
Seventeen employees lost jobs at Sam’s Club in Lithonia this week as the company cut 11,000 positions.
The Bentonville, Ark.-based company said Jan. 24 that it will trim about 10 percent of its work force as it streamlines to face in-creased competition from rival warehouse retail chains Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club that offer wider assortments and smaller packages. The announcement comes weeks after Sam’s Club, considered Wal-Mart’s weakest unit, closed 10 stores nationwide and cut 1,500 jobs.
The workers, mostly part-timers, did product demonstration
With the April 15 tax deadline loom-ing, senior citizens can once again get free help filing their tax returns from AARP Tax-Aide.
This year, the group will operate two South DeKalb sites. It is opening a new site on Feb. 4 at Fairfield Baptist Church, 6133 Redan Road in Lithonia.
The Lithonia site will operate Thurs-days from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. through April 15.
The second site, located at the Austin Drive Senior Campus, 1989 Austin Drive in Decatur, will open Feb. 2 and operate on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
AARP Tax-Aide is part of the AARP Foundation, the charitable, nonprofit arm of AARP. It provides high-quality free income tax assistance and tax form preparation to low- and moderate-income taxpayers with special attention to adults who are 60 years and older.
Last year, more than 32,000 AARP Tax-Aide volunteers helped more than 2 million people file their personal income tax forms.
For more information, visit www .aarp.org/taxaide or call 1-888-227-7669.
By Lee Williams
Two hundred low-income and dis-advantaged adults will get green job training skills as part of a $1 million “Goodwill Goes Green” project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvest-ment Act.
Goodwill Industries of North Geor-gia will work with DeKalb Workforce Development, DeKalb Technical College, Radiance Solar, Handcrafted Homes Inc., Greater Atlanta Home Builders Associa-tion, Georgia Trade Up, Southface Energy Institute, Saint Philip AME Church and the DeKalb Housing Authority to provide job training and placement for residents who are chronically unemployed, in-cluding people with disabilities, older workers, the homeless and high school dropouts.
The local grant is part of a $7.3 mil-lion grant awarded to Goodwill Indus-tries International to offer get skills train-ing and job placement in weatherization, construction and solar energy jobs.
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson said the grants will help workers gain access to jobs of the future.
“The valuable training they re-
ceive can help them out of pov-erty and promote self-sufficiency through employment in renew-able energy industries, he said. ” U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis announced 38 grants nationally totaling $150 million on Jan. 13.
She said the Pathways Out of Poverty grants will help workers in disadvantaged communities gain ac-cess to the good, safe and prosperous jobs. “Green jobs present tremendous
Hank Johnson Hilda L. Solis
and offered product sampling at the store, which caters to small busi-nesses. Their jobs were eliminated as Sam’s Club turns over product demonstration to Shopper Events, an outside marketing firm.
Marshall Bacote, manager of the store on Turner Hill Road, said the employees at his store were among 319 terminated in Atlanta.
Shopper Events, which takes over on Feb. 17, is expected to hire roughly the same number of people. Bacote said the employees will have the opportunity to apply to work with them. “They are interviewing now with the new company.”
opportunities for people who have the core skills and competencies needed in such well-paying and rapidly growing industries as energy efficiency and renewable energy,” she said.
Locally, Goodwill partners will help identify and train partici-pants.
Applications and start dates for training were not available this week.
Timothy Conner, Saint Philip AME’s facilities director, said the Atlanta hurch will provide referrals and provide weatherization train-ing and seminars.
DeKalb Technical College Presi-dent Robin Hoffman said they will provide training at the college’s newly established Green Technolo-gies Academy.
CrossRoadsNewsJanuary 30, 2010 5 5
Wellness
Focus is on disaster preparedness as foul weather season hits high gear
PSA test can help spot prostate cancer in early stages
CHOICE clients help pack medical supplies for Haiti
Kaiser marks opening of 4th DeKalb facility
Wellness “Though severe weather comes in different forms, by being prepared for one, you are prepared for them all.”
Kaiser Permanente cut the ribbons on its new medical center on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Decatur on Friday.
The office, which opened at a cost of $1.8 million, is the nonprofit HMO’s fourth DeKalb location.
It also operates offices on Panola Road and Mall Parkway in Lithonia and in Tucker.
The 5,442-square-foot office is in renovated space in the Artisan Building at 201 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. It includes exam rooms, a laboratory, a pharmacy and basic radiology.
Physicians from the Southeast Perma-nente Medical Group will offer internal medicine and pediatrics for Kaiser Per-manente members.
The center will open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
As part of the grand-opening fes-tivities, Kaiser Permanente presented a $10,000 grant to the Decatur Education Foundation to help fund its “Farm to School” initiative, a grass-roots effort to connect Decatur schools with local farms to help improve student nutrition and engage students in farming.
The new center increases Kaiser’s work force in DeKalb to 280 employees.
For more information, visit kaiser permanente.org.
Georgia’s bad weather season is al-most here and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security is sponsoring Severe Weather Awareness Week, Feb. 1-6, to focus on disaster pre-paredness.
Charley English, the agency’s director, said that Georgia is susceptible to nearly every type of natural disaster.
“Though severe weather comes in different forms, by being prepared for one, you are prepared for them all,” he said this week.
Because it could take emergency workers 72 hours or more to reach cer-tain areas to open roadways and restore utilities, GEMA says it is important for residents to be self-sufficient for three days or longer to help them survive cir-
cumstances that might otherwise be tragic.Some areas of the state, including DeKalb
County, are still recovering from storms that caused millions of dollars in damage in 2009.
Severe Weather Awareness Week also is supported by Ready Georgia, local EMAs, and the National Weather Service.
English said Georgians who take the time to educate themselves on possible threats are twice as likely to be prepared.
Ready Georgia, a statewide preparedness campaign, offers these tips:n Prepare a kit of emergency supplies.
Include at least 3 gallons of water per person for drinking and sanitation; at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food and a manual can opener; a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries;
flashlight and extra batteries; first-aid kit; whistle to signal for help; face mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place; moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation; wrench or pliers to turn off utilities; local maps; specific items for children, family members’ special needs or pets; cash or travelers checks; important documents in a waterproof container; and blankets and warm clothes.n Be sure every family member knows im-portant phone numbers for schools, offices, home and emergency services. Identify an out-of town contact, who may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.n Identify a meeting place near your home where family members can meet if sepa-
rated during severe weather, and one away from your home where family members can meet if your neighborhood is not ac-cessible. Map out evacuation routes, and always keep at least a fourth of a tank of gas in your car.n Know your insurance policies and whether your home is in a flood zone.n Stay informed about severe weather. Find out what type of disasters could occur and how you should respond. Learn your community’s warning signals and evacu-ation plans.
For more information, visit www .ready.ga.gov, www.gema.ga.gov, www .srh.noaa.gov/ffc and www.redcross.org. Contact the DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency at 770-270-0413 or [email protected].
The outpouring of help for Haiti in the aftermath of its Jan. 12 earthquake includes volunteers from the DeKalb Community Service Board’s CHOICE Program.
Choosing Habilitation Opportunities in Community Environments is a com-munity-based day rehabilitation program that serves individuals with developmental disabilities.
Its clients have been helping MedShare prepare medical supplies for shipment to
the impoverished Caribbean country, in-cluding plastics and other materials.
MedShare, a Decatur-based nonprofit, provides medical surplus items to medical-ly underserved communities worldwide.
It has already made five shipments of 5,000 boxes of requested medi-cal supplies to organizations in Haiti. CHOICE will continue to assist MedShare as a part of its community outreach volun-teer program.
Wanda Major (left) and Philantria Mims help pack supplies at MedShare.
Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia will provide free PSA tests Saturday at the 2010 Health & Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest.
By Lee Williams
One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and black men are twice as likely to die from the disease than men of any other race.
It’s unclear why the cancer, which causes impotence and attacks the bladder, bowels, hips, legs and spine, afflicts black men more than other ethnic groups.
Dr. James Benton, a radiologist at Ra-diotherapy Clinics of Georgia in Decatur, says that African-American men have a higher rate of prostate cancer and a higher death rate from the cancer.
“So if they should get it, they’re more likely to die from it than their white coun-terparts,” he said.
Benton, who has written a number of articles on prostate cancer, said the dispro-portionate incidence in black men could be
attributed to diet, genetics, stress and the environment, but no one knows for sure.
Early screening and detection is key to fighting prostate cancer. On Jan. 30, Radio-therapy Clinics will offer prostate cancer screening at the CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia.
Debbie Wright, Radiotherapy Clinics’
community outreach coordinator, said that during the noon-to-5 p.m. event, they will offer free prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, tests to African-American men 40 and older or with a family history of the disease and to all men who are over 50.
The PSA test can cost $70 to $400 at a private doctor’s office.
In its early stages, prostate cancer ex-hibits no symptoms. By the time symptoms appear, the cancer typically has already progressed. Once the cancer spreads, the patient could experience excessive urina-tion, blood in the urine and impotence. The cancer also can trigger pain in the hips, spine and ribs and damage spinal nerves, which could result in weakness or numb-ness in the legs and feet and loss of bladder and bowel function.
For more information, visit rccancer centers.com or call 404-320-1550.
DeKalb Counts!We move forward when you send it back.
Complete and return your 2010 Census form by April 1, 2010.
Join us for the
CENSUS NIGHT OUTMarch 25, 2010 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Festivals, block parties, BBQs, etc. to raise awareness
and motivate residents to participate in the 2010 Census
CENSUS CARAVANS Join us as we drive through
neighborhoods raising awareness about the censusMarch 13, 2010
Memorial Drive/Glenwood/Candler Road/Ellenwood area
March 20, 2010Buford Highway Corridor
March 27, 2010 Wesley Chapel/Covington Hwy/
Panola Rd/Redan Rd/Rockbridge Rd
For more information, contact the office of Commissioner Connie Stokes at 404-371-3053, [email protected] or visit www.conniestokes.org
“The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office strives to offer citizens prevention,
protection, and peace of mind to support your health and wellness goals in 2010.”
Gwendolyn Keyes FlemingDistrict Attorney
CrossRoadsNews January 30, 201066
WellnessWellness “This is really, really good. They give me buckets. I fill ’em up and
they come and get them. It’s extremely convenient.”
Lithonia entrepreneur has green solution for leftover cooking oil
Come and find out what we knowGood health is more than just preventing illness. It’s about feeling good all the time—in your body, mind, and spirit. So having the right health plan goes a long way in helping you stay healthy.
If you’re eligible for Medicare, you’ll want to hear about our Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage (HMO) plans. Join us at our upcoming seminar and find out how Senior Advantage can play a healthy role in your life. There’s no cost to attend, but reservations are recommended. And feel free to bring a friend!
Meet a Kaiser Permanente physician and learn the value of Kaiser Permanente.
February 3 at 10 a.m. Kaiser Permanente Stonecrest Medical Center 8011 Mall Parkway Lithonia
Contact us for more information.Seating is limited. To reserve your space at our informational meeting, call Senior Advantage toll free at 1-866-796-1385 (TTY 1-888-758-6054 for the deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
H1170_N001901 (08/07/2009)SKU 60042579 GA
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insert ion date(s ) :descr ipt ion:
s ize/color:publ icat ion(s ) :
Kaiser Permanente Senior AdvantagedyJan28_kpsa-GA-CrossRoads_ROP.pdfJan. 28, 2010“Doctor-Yes” H1170_N001901 (08/07/2009) | SKU 60042579 GA10” x 8”; b&w; non-bleedcross roads p: 415.512.7780 | f: 415.512.7859
T H I S S L U G D O E S N O T P R I N T
is no seCret HeALtHGOOD
Can’t make it to the meeting? We’ll come to you, whether it’s to your home or the corner coffee shop. Call the numbers above to schedule a one-on-one visit, with no cost or obligation.
Or you can visit our Web site at kp.org/medicare to find out more about Senior Advantage.
Get up. Get out. And thrive.A sales representative will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs, call toll free 1-866-796-1385 (TTY 1-888-758-6054), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Kaiser Permanente is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract.
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Inc. 3495 Piedmont Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
Fran Roberts likes to cook and all her family members and friends know it.
When it comes to fried turkeys, she is their go-to person. Ditto for the fried chicken and the pork chops, too.
“I do a lot of cooking for the family,” she said. “I cook Southern. I also take on other flairs and flavors.”
But with all that cooking, Roberts ends up with lots of used cooking oil and no easy way to dispose of it safely.
“A fried turkey takes five gallons of oil,” she said.
When she could, Roberts drove from her rural Lithonia home into the city of Decatur to drop off her used oil at a recy-cling place. When she couldn’t, she dug a hole on her large property, filled it up with trash, and poured in the oil.
But she was never comfortable with that option.
“I was annoyed,” Roberts said. “I felt that it gets in the ecosystem and wasn’t good for the ground.”
Now Roberts and other DeKalb and Fulton homeowners have a choice.
Green Grease LLC, a Lithonia-based company that partners with the Environ-mental Protection Agency’s Waste Wise program, is offering free pickup of used cooking oil from homes and apartment communities.
The company recycles the cooking oil into clean-burning biodiesel fuel for use in trucks and buses.
Warren Crawley, who launched Green Grease in the spring of 2008, says that in-stead of dumping used cooking oil down the kitchen drain or putting it into the trash where it ends up in the landfill, home-owners can now call them to pick it up.
Roberts signed up for the free service in December, just before she began all her holiday cooking.
“This is really, really good,” she said Wednesday. “They give me buckets. I fill ’em up and they come and get them. It’s extremely convenient.”
Crawley says Roberts’ is one of nearly 1,000 single-family homes and 6,000 apartment units he now serves in metro Atlanta.
Together they are recycling 5,000 gal-lons of cooking oil a month.
Statewide, Crawley estimates that more than 500,000 gallons of used cooking oil is poured down pipes in household drains and dumped into landfills monthly.
DeKalb County’s “No Fog No Clog” campaign seeks to build awareness about disposal of fats, oil and grease in the sewer pipes. The county says they enter the plumbing system through the kitchen sink, home garbage disposals and toilets; coat the inside of plumbing pipes; and empty into the county’s sewer system, causing sanitary sewer overflow that backs
up wastewater into homes, businesses and manholes.
Before he launched his oil recycling business, Crawley was a building contrac-tor when the housing market tanked.
He got into the cooking oil recycling business quite by accident.
In 2007, he said he was looking over his receipts for diesel fuel for the trucks he used in his building business and discov-ered that he had spent $12,000 on fuel.
That was when his then 16-year-old son, Warren II, suggested that he consider using biodiesel fuel by recycling the fam-ily’s and neighbors’ used cooking oils.
While restaurants and other commer-cial and institutional establishments must follow EPA guidelines for disposing of their oils, no such requirements exist for resi-dential users of cooking oil, and Crawley found out that there are no companies that will pick up used oils from residences.
Crawley started out just collecting his family’s and his neighbors’ used cooking oils and bought a kit for converting cook-ing oil into biodiesel fuels for his trucks. He
said that each gallon of oil yields a gallon of clean-burning fuel.
Next he began surveying people about what they were doing with their used cooking oil.
“They told us that they did one of four things,” he said. “They poured it down the drain with hot water, they put in down their toilet and flushed, they put it in bottles in the trash, or they poured it in the back yard.”
Pouring cooking grease in the drains clogs county sewers and putting it in the trash sends it to the landfill. In the back yard, it contaminates the ground and at-tracts rodents.
Green Grease offers families a conve-nient and guilt-free way to dispose of their grease with no harm to the environment.
Residential customers pay a one-time $10 registration fee and get a 1.25 gal-lon spill-proof container with childproof caps for their used cooking oils. When the bucket is full, they call Crawley and place their Green Grease containers at the home’s curbside. If entire subdivisions or apartment complexes sign up, Crawley said they get a monthly pickup day.
Crawley now has 20 salespeople who get $4 out of each registration fee. He said his salespeople are making $300 to $400 a day, signing up new customers.
Based upon current responses, he expects more than 150,000 homes will sign up with Green Grease by the end of the year.
He is negotiating to purchase a 10-acre site with a 27,000-square-foot building on Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road in Lithonia to open a biodiesel conversion facility.
For more information or to sign up, visit www.greengrease.info or call 404-736-3692.
Warren Crawley makes a pickup at Columbia Mill apartments in Decatur.
CrossRoadsNewsJanuary 30, 2010 7 7
8Why would any ethics law not be good
enough to be applied statewide? Furthermore, if any new ethics law is appropriate for school boards in
general, would it not be good enough for the entire Georgia General Assembly?
Eugene Walker
It would be a shame if the DeKalb School Board were unable to govern ourselves and adopt a strong set of
ethics guidelines, but whether it comes from the state or from ourselves, we
need a code of ethics. Paul Womack
In the Federalist Papers, James Madi-son wrote, “… if men were angels, no government would be necessary.” Well, if elected officials were angels, no codes of ethics would be necessary either.
But elected officials are merely people, flawed and imperfect and subject to temp-tation, ignorance and error, which means that they should be controlled by external rules that provide transparency, and most importantly, accountability.
The DeKalb County School Board desperately needs a set of rules governing the official behavior of its members – not because we’re bad, but because we are human beings who have taken on an awesome responsibility.
Imagine a private company with an annual bud-get of more than $850 million, more than 102,000 customers, and 13,285 employees – without a clear set of rules governing its board of directors. Give that company the ability to levy taxes and condemn property, and you have the DeKalb School Board. That’s too much power without any of the checks or balances that the people of this county expect and deserve.
There’s currently no rule against me using my position as a member of the school board to get a job in the school system for one of my relatives. There’s nothing that says I can’t serve on some other DeKalb County board, even if serving on that board would create an obvious conflict of interest.
There’s no oversight board, official watchdog nor ombudsman watching over the me (or any of the other board members); no clear set of rules we could turn to if I had an ethical question – and were I to do something that was obviously wrong, there’s no mechanism to punish me, remove me from of-fice, or undo any damage I might have done to the school system. This lack of guidance is not some mere loophole in the law – there’s no law to even put a loophole in!
Currently, School Board members are guided only by their own instincts. And since we’re all only human, we are subject to both honest mistakes and errors of opportunity. That’s no way to run any gov-ernment, especially one as important as the school system.
Yet when presented with an opportunity to take a single, tiny step to protect taxpayers and students from potentially unethical actions by board mem-bers, a majority of my colleagues voted to table the discussion. I can’t think of a good reason why any elected official would vote against ethical standards – though I can think of a few bad ones.
Forum If it were not for the teachers and the students, there would be no need for the superintendent’s job.
Board’s actions show need for oversight
People who have most money want rest of us to make do with less
Political ax grinding does harm to DeKalb County
Kameron Michael Dunmore
May 31, 2001- Feb. 2, 2009
Gone too soon but your smile lives in our hearts always…We thought of you with love today but that is nothing newWe thought about you yesterday and days before that too,
We think of you in silence. We often speak your name.All we have are memories and your picture in a frame
Your memory is our keepsake with which we’ll never partGod has you in His keeping. We will always have you in our hearts.
Love Always, Mom, Dad, & KiaraUntil we meet again
Show Yourself Some Love This Holiday Season
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If not for sub-stitute teachers, those students would be without a teacher.
Wh i l e bu s drivers, cafete-ria workers and maintenance per-
sonnel are the lowest paid, so are the para-professional substitute teachers. They are held to the same professional standards as a regular teacher who makes $90 per day.
Substitute teachers in general are the “illegitimate children” of the school system that no one likes to talk about. Most sub-stitute teachers prefer to work as a regular substitute teacher because of the low pay of the paraprofessional substitute teacher. Who wants to make $58 per day when you can make $90 for the same duties?
Para substitute teachers are ousted out
of the sub-finder system that teachers can use to get a replacement in their absence.
This constitutes a problem for the para-professional teacher when it is mandatory for them to be absent.
Poor stewards of tax moneyAll in all, the superintendent should not
accept his raise. He should think about the hard-working teachers who are working for pennies. Additionally, the School Board members need a wake-up call, too.
If it were not for the teachers and the students, there would be no need for the superintendent’s job or their jobs. They need to think about the people who elected them to make good decisions regarding taxpayers’ money. This they have not done and have failed tremendously as good stew-ards over taxpayers’ money.
Miriam Knox Robinson lives in Deca-tur.
It seems that the people who make the big money always want more and expect the little people to survive on less, and that is supposed to be acceptable.
Teachers nowadays are required to perform more duties in the class with no consideration of their worth. In addition to disciplinary problems, paperwork, more computer work and more students in the class cut into real teaching time.
It is a continuous cycle of more this and more that, and no one gives a hoot about more requirements and the number of children they have to teach. Yet the super-intendent thinks he is underpaid for his district size, i.e., the number of children, and his experience.
Give me a break! If his focus is on dedication to his job, district size should not be important because he isn’t teaching them anyway.
It is amazing how justification can be
made for his pay raise. However, when it comes to the “green stuff,” dedica-tion gets blown right out of the window. I guess you could call it “going green.”
Substitute teachers ignoredThe only time substitute teachers are
mentioned is if there is a problem with a student and it gets on television. Otherwise, they are forgotten and have not received a raise in approximately 10 years.
Substitute teachers in general are a vital part of the educational system. There will always be a time when a regular or parapro-fessional teacher has to be out of the class-room and a substitute teacher is needed.
More often than not, when there is a political ax to grind, the unforeseen collateral damages harm a far greater number of people than the originally intended target.
Take state Rep. Mike Jacobs, for example. Angry with former CEO Vernon Jones and myself, this Republican lawmaker sought to legislatively exact political revenge. He convinced the Georgia General Assembly to pass a statewide law that only affected the Development Authority of DeKalb County.
The Development Authority of DeKalb County used to bring in hundreds of millions in new investment and thousands of jobs every year. No more.
Thanks to Mike Jacobs’ Law, the Development Authority of DeKalb County can no longer do that. Companies seeking to relocate simply consider other metro areas. Fulton, Cobb and Gwinnett couldn’t be happier, as they capitalize on DeKalb’s petty politicking.
But the lesson has not been learned. Now comes state Rep. Kevin Levitas, who with disgruntled School Board member Paul Womack wants to create a special set of ethics laws that apply only to the DeKalb County School Board and nowhere else.
Among other things, this would preclude a part-time School Board member from serving on another board. I used to be the chair of the Development Authority of DeKalb County, but I have since resigned. The Atlanta Development Authority proudly seats an Atlanta School Board member in its ranks. Why would it be unethical for this arrangement to exist in DeKalb County, but not Atlanta?
More so, why would any ethics law not be good enough to be applied statewide? Furthermore, if any new ethics law is appropriate for school boards in general, would it not be good enough for the entire Georgia General Assembly?
Given its recent history, I might recommend that Levitas clean his own house first.
Please understand: I support guidelines that ensure honesty and integrity throughout the public sector. But Levitas’ current proposal is really not about that at all. His proposal, like Jacobs’ Law before it, is just the latest salvo of political infighting.
The real tragedy is if it is passed, and it places the DeKalb Schools in a compromising situation relative to other school sys-tems, it’s the children who will suffer – not the politicians.
Dr. Eugene P. Walker represents District 9 on the DeKalb Board of Education.
If the School Board is not willing to create a common-sense code of ethics for itself, we may just find the state Legislature will do it for us. State Rep. Kevin Levitas has pre-filed the DeKalb School Board Transparency Act, which would give our board a clear set of principles to follow. Among them would be disclosure requirements, prohibitions on accept-ing gifts or money, and most importantly, conse-quences for violating the rules.
Levitas has good intentions, and a pretty good bill that’s worthy of public support. It would be a shame if the DeKalb School Board were unable to govern ourselves and adopt a strong set of ethics guidelines, but whether it comes from the state or from ourselves, we need a code of ethics.
Voters and taxpayers understand that we don’t live in a perfect world, and that neither men nor elected officials are “angels.” They did not elect us to be perfect. They elected us to do the best job we can in making sure that every child in DeKalb County has an education that will allow them to compete in the 21st century.
They expect us to be honest with them while we do that. We need to be transparent in our motiva-tions, honest in our dealings, and accountable for our actions. These are the elements necessary to rebuild public trust in our School Board, our school system – and government at every level.
Paul Womack represents District 4 on the DeKalb County Board of Education.
What’s on your mind?We welcome your comments on issues of im-
portance to the community. E-mail us at [email protected]. Please include a contact number where we can reach you if necessary. Your contact information will not be published.
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.cross-roadsnews.com.
Paraprofessional substitute teachers are held to the
same professional standards as a regular teacher who
makes $90 per day. Miriam K. Robinson
CrossRoadsNews January 30, 20108
9Scene The pastors will explore issues of loneliness and offer participants tools to deal with love, life and lust.
Churches to host Super Bowl parties
Historic figures’ writings to be read
School seeking men for Read-In
Love, relationships to be discussed
Feb. 6, 12 • 8 p.m.Porter Sanford III Performing
Arts & Community Center3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur, GA 30034
404-286-7262
Feb. 18, 19 • 8 p.m.Greenforest Baptist Church
Early Learning Center3250 Rainbow Drive Decatur, GA 30034
678-367-9099
A Play by Jeff Stetson
Come witness a true meeting of the minds when Tiny Mae Productions presents a fictional meeting between two of the most influential black men of the Civil Rights Era.
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Matters of love and relationships will be on the agenda at the Relationship Clinic at Pilgrim Cathedral of Atlanta in February.
The church’s pas-tors , Bishop Kent Branch and his wife, Diana, will lead the Wednesday evening seminars during the month dedicated to matters of the heart.
The 7 p.m. seminars kick off on Feb. 3 for adults who are single, married, di-vorced, widowed or dating. The others will be Feb. 10, 17 and 24.
The Branches have been married for
Toney Elementary School in Decatur is seeking a few African-American men to read to students at its Feb. 5 Black History Month event.
Gwen T. Brame, assistant to Principal Oliver Dean, said they need fathers, grand-fathers, brothers, uncles and community male leaders for the school’s fourth an-
nual African-American Male Read-In, which celebrates and promotes children’s literacy. Readers will share their favorite book by or about African-Americans.
The deadline to volunteer is Feb. 2.For more information, call Shundra
Byron or Marva Shearod at 678-874-2102.
22 years and have three children in first grade to college. Both have doc-torates in divinity.
The theme of the free seminars is “The Doctors Are In.” The pastors will explore is-sues of loneliness and
offer participants tools to deal with love, life and lust; help people in marriages recovering from infidelity; and give tips on handling Internet dating.
The church is at 2589 Tilson Road in Decatur. For more information, visit www.pilgrimcathedral.com or call Esti Crumbley at 678-449-4171.
Kent Branch Diana Branch
When the Indianapolis Colts meet the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami’s Sun Life Stadium on Feb. 7, church members can get in on the fun, minus the alcohol consumption.
New Birth’s annual celebration at its Samson’s Health and Fitness Center kicks off at 5 p.m. on Feb. 7 with music by Ed-ward Long and DJ Redd, free food, raffles, door prizes, and Madden Tournaments for fans 16 and up. Admission to the nonalco-holic celebration is $5.
The fitness center is on the campus of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church at 6400 Woodrow Road in Lithonia. Space is limited; e-mail names of each guest to [email protected].
Greenforest Baptist ChurchGreenforest Baptist Church begins its
Super Bowl Fellowship on Feb. 7 with a pregame gathering and activities at 1 p.m.,
followed by “Football 101: Rules of the Game” at 4 p.m.
Greenforest is at 3250 Rainbow Drive in Decatur. For more information, call 404-486-1120.
Rock of Ages LutheranRock of Ages Lutheran Church in Stone
Mountain will participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring on Feb. 7.
Members are asked to drop donations into soup pots used for collection after the 10 a.m. worship service.
Since 1993, more than $50 million has been raised through the grass-roots ecu-menical youth movement to fight hunger. Donations go directly to soup kitchens, food banks and other charities in the com-munities where the money is raised.
Rock of Ages Lutheran Church is at 5135 Memorial Drive. For more informa-tion, call 404-292-7888.
Twenty-five DeKalb high school stu-dents will take part in a Black History Month read-in on Feb. 4 at Arabia Moun-tain High School on Browns Mill Road in Lithonia.
The 6:30 p.m. event, part of an unveil-ing of the Splendid Torch Literary Exhibit, is presented by former NBA player Mike “Stinger” Glenn. It will honor the works of historic African-American literary figures.
During the Splendid Torch: An African American Read-In, students will present information on the life of an African-American author and recite a passage from one of their writings.
Other participants will include a Fred-
erick Douglass presenter; an enactment of Harriet Tubman reading the letter that Douglass penned to her for her biography, “Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman”; and a renowned character performer who will present U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves, one of the first black lawmen of the Oklahoma Territory.
Mark Hayes from Fox 5’s “Good Morn-ing Atlanta” will be master of ceremonies.
The Splendid Torch Exhibit of 50 historically significant African-American books from the Mike Glenn Collection will remain at the school through Feb. 11.
Tickets are $7 advance, $10 at the door.
Call Rosalind Young at 678-875-3619.
The Splendid Torch: An African-American Read-In will feature writings from black historical figures.
CrossRoadsNewsJanuary 30, 2010 9
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STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF BEAUFORT
SEA CREST SURF & RACQUET CLUB IOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION,
Plaintiff,vs.
CALVIN F. SMITH and BARBARA HILLSMITH
Defendant.
_________________________________________
)))))))))))))))
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS FORTHE FOURTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
Case No.: 09-CP-07-05409
NOTICE OF FILINGCOMPLAINT
(Foreclosure Action)(Non-Jury Matter)
TO THE DEFENDANT(S) ABOVE-NAMED:
PLEASE BE INFORMED that the Complaint in the above-captioned matter has been
properly filed with the Clerk of Court for Beaufort County, South Carolina, on November 12,
2009.
RUTH, MacNEILLE, & KNUDSEN, P.A.
_______________________________Douglas W. MacNeille, EsquireAttorney for the PlaintiffSea Crest Surf & Racquet Club I Owners’Association, Inc.P.O. Drawer 5706Hilton Head Island, SC 29938(843) 785-4251
Hilton Head Island, SC
LEGAL NOTICE
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF BEAUFORT
SEA CREST SURF & RACQUET CLUB I OWNERS' ASSOCIATION
Plaintiff,vs.
CALVIN F. SMITH and BARBARA HILL SMITH
Defendants._____________________________________
))))))))))))))))))
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS FOR
THE FOURTEENTH JUDICIAL CICRUIT
Case No.: 2009-CP-07-05409
SUMMONS(NON-JURY)
TO THE DEFENDANT(S) ABOVE NAMED:
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint herein, a
copy of which is hereby served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer to said Plaintiff
upon the subscriber, at his office at Post Office Drawer 5706, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
29938, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service, and if
you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, Plaintiff will apply to the Court for
the relief demanded in the Complaint, and judgment by default will be entered against you.
RUTH, MacNEILLE and KNUDSEN, P.A.
By:___________________________________DOUGLAS W. MacNEILLE, ESQ.Attorneys for Plaintiff, Sea Crest Surf & Racquet Club I Owners' Association40 Pope AvenueP.O. Box 5706Hilton Head Island, SC 29938(843) 785-4251
LEGAL NOTICE
CrossRoadsNewsJanuary 30, 2010 11
12 CrossRoadsNews January 30, 201012
