CrossRoadsNews, May 16, 2009

www.crossroadsnews.comMay 16, 2009Copyright © 2009 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COVER PAGE

Permanent police chief awaits merit system change

Grady center gets reprieve while CEO seeks answers to questions

Volume 15, Number 3

CEO Burrell Ellis chats with members of the audience after delivering his 100-day speech at the Lou Walker Senior Center on May 11.

Martial arts for MalcolmSCENE

The Afrikan Martial Arts Institute is one of many groups that will entertain folks at the annual Malcolm X Festival in Atlanta. 9

Smiles and hugs were in abundant supply when 17 women gradu-ated from the DeKalb Micro Enterprise Institute on May 12. 5

Earned accoladesFINANCE

Artist Minnie Murry figured she would give back some of God’s gift by dedicating a painting to celebrate her church’s an-niversary. 10

Geometric celebrationMINISTRY

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

DeKalb County won’t get a per-manent police chief until the Board of Commissioners removes the job of chief from merit protection.

That is the word from CEO Burrell Ellis, who has been talking up his first 100 days in office across the county this week.

Responding to questions after his 100-day speech at Leadership DeKalb’s Eggs & Issues Breakfast Wednesday, Ellis said that merit protection for the police chief is an anomaly peculiar to DeKalb County.

“We can’t find another instance throughout the United States where a police chief has that kind of pro-tection,” he said.

Ellis, who took office on Jan. 5, fired former Police Chief Terrell Bolton on Feb. 24.

He said that because the posi-tion is merit protected, if he was to appoint a permanent chief now, that person would be in that merit protection.

“That creates a real managerial problem,” he said. “It really does.”

Ellis said that acting Police Chief William O’Brien is doing a fine job but that he thinks merit protection is not appropriate for the position of police chief.

Using the prior chief as an example, Ellis said one of the prob-lems he had coming into office was that Bolton took the attitude that he couldn’t be touched.

“One of the things he very clearly said to me is that, ‘I can’t be touched. I am merited protected,’” Ellis said. “It makes it difficult, to

say the very least.”He said he hopes to put some-

one in place who doesn’t have that protection.

“I have asked the board to act and when they act, I will do my part,” he said.

Ellis has asked the Board of Commissioners to change the law to remove the police chief ’s job from under the county’s Merit System.

The request, which was on the Board of Commission’s May 12 Business Agenda, has not yet made

it out of the Public Safety Com-mittee.

District 4 Commissioner Sha-ron Barnes Sutton, who heads that committee and was in attendance at the Eggs & Issues breakfast, said she expects the amendment to come before the full board on June 9.

Ellis also made his 100-day speech to senior citizens at Lou Walker Center on May 11, the Ma-loof Auditorium on May 12, and Senior Connections in Chamblee and the Historic Courthouse in downtown Decatur on May 14.

He claims success at creating a teamwork approach and fixing problems in the police depart-ment.

“Morale was at an all-time low,” he said. “We had to fix that. We had problems with the leadership. We had to fix that. We took action. We put the leadership in the police department.”

Under O’Brien, he says there has been an uplift in morale, a decrease in crime, and appropriate reorgani-zations of the department.

He said that he has met with

groups like labor unions and higher education – which have never been to the county before – and that he and his staff meet regularly with county commissioners.

“We are bringing more groups to the table as we put unity back into the community,” Ellis said.

“We are opening opportunities and giving everybody a fair shake. But government can’t do it alone. Make no mistake. We can’t do it alone. We need your help.”

McKenzie Jackson contributed to this report.


The Grady South DeKalb Health Center will not close on July 1 as previously announced.

Instead, Grady CEO Michael Young committed Tuesday to do nothing for 60 days while he finds answers to questions from DeKalb Commissioners Larry Johnson and Sharon Barnes Sutton on patient use of the center, the services they get, and where they come from.

Young said he will also figure out how Grady can work with Oakhurst Medical Center, a feder-ally qualified health center, to serve the residents of South DeKalb.

Young backtracked from his original plan to close the center and send South DeKalb patients to its Warren Street Health Center in

Atlanta after Johnson said he would divert some of the $23 million that the county is giving to Grady to other sources to ensure that resi-dents in his district get service.

The center, which has been lo-cated inside the Kroger Pharmacy on Rainbow Way in Decatur since

1996, is one of three that the ailing safety-net health system has tar-geted for closure to save money.

“If you hear me clearly,” John-son told Young, “there has to be a clinic in South DeKalb. Downtown is wonderful; I need to have some-thing locally so that residents in

South DeKalb, even if they don’t have transportation, they can walk to.”

The $23 million that the county voted in January to give Grady is disbursed in monthly payments of about $1.4 million. It was an increase over what the county had previously given to Grady.

Johnson, in whose District 3 the center is located, said the county increased the amount on the prem-ise that service would not be cut in DeKalb County.

He said the under-served popu-lation in South DeKalb needs to have access to health care.

“I have to make sure that the folks in this area continue to get the primary care service they de-serve and need in these hard times of distress. We have got to find the

way to keep these type of facilities open,” he said. “These patients are going to the center because they like the proximity to stay engaged in their health care.”

At the talk of diverting some of the county funds, Young said there is no need for a knee-jerk reaction. He said that people don’t recognize the cash-flow challenges that Grady is having. He said that Grady’s volume is up 11 percent and it is offering $50 million more of free care with no increase in revenue.

“I won’t drastically cut the clinic today, if you won’t drastically cut my funds,” he said. “I would be comfortable to say let’s do nothing for 60 days while we study the issue and talk some more.”

Johnson said the two will meet again in 20 to 25 days.

Grady CEO Michael Young pledged to keep the South DeKalb Health Center open on Rainbow Way for 60 days.

Jennifer ffrench Parker / crossroadsnews

Mckenzie Jackson / crossroadsnews

INSIDE-AD PGCommunity “My executive staff and I will then determine the appropriate department for response

to the information being sought by any Commissioner seeking informatiton.”

Tiff brewing over access to county staffBy Mary Swint

Friction between the county’s legislative and executive branches surfaced at the May 12 Board of Commissioners meeting and the county’s executive assistant seems to be caught in the middle.

In a May 1 a memo to all de-partment heads and the Board of Commissioners, DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis ordered all requests for information and invitations to attend meetings to be sent to him “so I can determine priorities and method for response.”

“My executive staff and I will then determine the appropriate department for response to the information being sought by any Commissioner seeking informa-tion,” Ellis wrote. The memo also pointed out that a section of the Organizational Act requires com-missioners to “deal solely through the Chief Executive or his Executive Assistant in all matters concerning the operation, supervision, and administration of the various de-partments, offices and agencies of the county government.”

The law also says no commis-sioner may order, instruct or try to control the actions of county

personnel under the CEO’s super-vision.

During the May 12 meeting, District Five Commissioner Lee May referred to the memo and pointed out that Executive Assis-tant Keith Barker reports to both the CEO and Board, which had to approve his appointment.

“We should have the executive assistant two days a week to report to the Board of Commissioners’ needs,” May said.

He suggested that an office be set up for Barker in the Maloof Building where the commission-ers’ offices are on the fifth floor, in addition to his office at the Clark Harrison building on Ponce de Leon Avenue where the CEO and his staff are located.

May said he would send a let-ter to Ellis responding to the May 1 memo.

On earlier occasions May has

said the commissioners should have the power to approve appointment of all department heads.

This year, the Board gained more power and independence with the passage last year of Senate Bill 52 and voter approval of the referendum last November.

That law allows the board, rather than the CEO, to run the Commission meetings. The com-missioners formed four committees to review proposed ordinances and budget items. Department heads and the executive assistant often attend the bi-weekly meetings to give presentations and answer questions from the commission-ers. When he took office in January, Ellis relocated the CEO staff ’s offices from the sixth floor of the Maloof building where they had been located through all previous CEO administrations.

He said the offices were in need of renovations and in a tight budget year, he could not find the funds to do it. The offices on Ponce de Leon were ready to move in, he said.

He is not the first CEO to pro-tect county staff. His predecessor, Vernon Jones often chided com-missioners when they sought to question county employees.

$23.4 million in stimulus funds approved for DeKalb

Eight more DeKalb County transportation projects now have $23.4 million in federal stimulus funding

Gov. Sonny Perdue certified the funds on May 6.

The latest projects to be funded are:n $8.3 million for road improve-ments on Memorial Drive, be-tween Candler Road and Moun-tain Drive. n $4.6 million to resurface Gold-smith Road to West Park Place. n $2.6 million for sidewalk on Memorial Drive to West Austin Drive.n $6.8 million for four traffic signal upgrade projects at 53 loca-tions throughout the county. n $1.1 million resurfacing and maintenance project will take place on Interstate 285 from State Route 236 to State Route 8.

The county and Georgia De-partment of Transportation will begin bidding the projects by mid-July.

This adds to the eight projects totaling $887,000 that were certi-fied on April 9.

DeKalb County has 13 shovel-

ready projects totaling $27 mil-lion awaiting funding under the American Recovery and Reinvest-ment Act.

Statewide, Georgia expects to get $932 million in stimulus funds for transportation projects from President Barack Obama’s federal stimulus plan.

Perdue’s certification of the eight highway projects follows up his April 9 approval of an $887,000 traffic signal project on Hairston Road.

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis said that the county is pleased to have received the stimulus dollars from the federal government.

“We are also thankful for the Governor’s support in certifying that these projects meet the fed-eral objectives for transportation improvements and job creation,” he said.

“This federal, state and local partnership has ensured that we will receive funding for vitally important transportation projects that will not only aid citizens of our county, but all others who travel DeKalb roadways each and every day.”

Help signing up for DTV $40 coupons coming to Stonecrest weekend Federal Communications

Commission representatives will be at the Mall at Stonecrest on May 16 and 17 to help people sign up for $40 DTV converter box coupons in

preparation for the conversion to digital television on June 12.

The FCC staff will also answer questions about the DTV transi-tion. Older television sets that use

antennas will not be compatible with the new digitial signals that televi-sions stations will begin transmit-ting on June 12. With the coupons, consumers will pay $9 to $19 for the

digital converter boxes that cost from $49 to $59.

The officials will be in the mall’s food court from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 16 and from noon

to 3 p.m. on May 17. The mall is at 2929 Turner

Hill Road in Lithonia. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-418-0530.

Burrell Ellis Lee May

CrossRoadsNews May 16, 20092

COMMUNITY PGCommunity “It’s something we don’t want and we

will fight it mighty hard.”

Cabbagetown man seeks 58th seat

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Postal Service raises first-class ratesThe Postal Service says in the second

quarter of 2008, mail volume totaled 43.8 billion pieces, down 7.5 billion pieces, or 14.7 percent, compared to a year ago. Last year, the postal service lost $2.8 billion and has already lost $2.3 billion this year.

It is anticipating a cash shortfall of more than $1.5 billion at the end of the fiscal year. The 44-cent rate covers the first ounce of first-class mail. The price for each additional ounce remains at 17 cents.

“Forever” stamps are not affected by the rate increase.

It now costs two cents more for a first-class stamp. The U.S. Postal Service raised the price of the stamp to 44 cents on May 11. It is the third consecutive year that postal rates have gone up in May.

The rate hike comes under a new system that allows annual increases as long as they don’t exceed the rate of inflation for the year before. The Postal Service says it is raising rates because of financial struggles as more Americans communicate and pay their bills through the Internet and many businesses have cut back on mail advertising.

Opposition mounting to proposed bike center in residential community near trailBy Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Opposition is mounting against the Arabia Mountain Bike Cen-ter’s application for a special land use permit to open a bike center in a house on Rockland Road in Lithonia.

Ernest and Yvonne Johnson’s application to DeKalb County for a Special Land Use Permit to oper-ate the bike center in a residential neighborhood, has neighbors up in arms.

The DeKalb Board of Commis-sioners will hear the application at the its May 19 meeting which begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive in downtown Decatur.

Residents say they will turn out in force to defeat the request that is seeking to change the residential nature of their community.

Rosemarie Pickett, presi-dent o f the Klondike Area Civic Associa-tion, said that a residential street is not the right place for such a project.

“It’s something we don’t want and we will fight it mighty hard,” she said Monday.

Pickett said that the house at 6657 Rockland Road is not in a business district and will not be conducive to tour buses.

“I told them to locate in one of the vacant storefronts in downtown Lithonia where there is ample park-ing,” she said.

Residents also point out that there are other plenty of commer-cial buildings and properties near the path that would be perfect for such a center.

The Johnsons say they want to open a nonprofit recreational bi-cycle center in the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area to introduce senior and disabled people to the paved trail that winds through the area.

“This may be their only source of getting out and seeing this area,” Yvonne Johnson said. “There are a lot of seniors that haven’t even seen what this trail has on it.”

They bought the house on three acres and spent the last six months renovating it. They plan to offer

multi-seat bicycles that can also run on electricity.

Randal Fleming, who has lived on Rockland Road for three years, said he is not opposed to bike cen-ter near the trail or seniors using the trail, just to the attempts to change the residential use of the community.

“Is it appropriate for where they want to put it,” he said. “Put-ting a bike shop on a residential street doesn’t work. It should be in a commercial area.”

Pickett said that the even though the Young’s call the center a non-profit, they will have to charge for use of their bikes.

“It’s just a business really,” she said. “We don’t want any business on the path. Most of the people I have talked to in our area don’t want this coming here.”

Michael McPherson, a cam-paign consultant and former state Senate chief of staff, wants to take the House District 58 seat vacated recently by Rep. Robinn Shipp.

McPherson, 34, said this week that he will be a candidate in the special election to finish Shipp’s term, which is expected to occur in November.

The Atlanta native is the first person to announce.

Shipp resigned April 21 because of a conflict with her new job as senior district attorney with the Fulton County district attorney’s office.

McPherson, who lives in Cabbagetown, is a vice president of research and admin-istration at Cornerstone Communications Group. He previously served as chief of staff for Sen. Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna) and Sen. Tim Golden (D-Valdosta).

He has also served as chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus and a campaign manager for Stoner.

He said his legislative experience would allow him to hit the ground running .

“Between sessions, I want to be a valuable resource to all the communities in the 58th,” he said. “I want to make sure the rubber of metro Atlanta’s vol-unteer resources meets the road in the district – through direct communication and diligent coordination.”

District 58 includes portions of DeKalb County and the city of Atlanta.

A spokesperson for the governor’s office said on Thursday that a date for the special election has not yet been set but that they are working with the Secretary of State’s office to have the special election during an already scheduled election.

McPherson serves on the board of the Cabbagetown Initiative Community Devel-opment Corporation and is a member of the Stacks/Fulton Cotton Mill Homeowners Association Advisory Board.

He is also a member of the Cabbagetown disaster recovery committee, which works with Cabbagetown’s victims of the March 2008 tornado.

Johnson taps new chief of staffAttorney Arthur D.

Sidney is Congressman Hank Johnson’s new chief of staff.

Sidney, who was most recently legislative director for Rep. Shelia Jackson (D-Texas), will start work on May 26.

He is replacing Dara-ka Satcher, who left the position on May 8 to become a deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Commerce Department.

Johnson, whose 4th District includes portions of DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties, said he is pleased and excited that Sidney is joining his staff.

“He brings a wealth of experi-ence, expertise and management skills that will be an asset not only to our Washington office, but the

district as well,” he said.Sidney, 35, is a native

of Pittsburgh, Pa., and a cum laude graduate of Vassar College in New York. He went to law school at Howard Uni-versity and the American University. He began his career in the nation’s

capital in 1999 as an international attorney for the Commerce De-partment. Sidney has also oper-ated his own law firm.

He said Johnson’s reputation as a serious substantive legislator attracted him.

“I look forward to my new role assisting the Congressman to pass legislation and keeping the interests of the residents of the Fourth Congressional District in the forefront,” he said.

Michael McPherson

Arthur Sidney

Ernest and Yvonne Johnson and their son, William, try out the bikes they want to offer for the use of seniors and disabled people in the Arabia Heritage Area in Lithonia.

Rosemarie Pickett

Mckenzie Jackson / crossroadsnews

CrossRoadsNewsMay 16, 2009 3

There is a need for a commission-appointed arts council whose primary

focus would be to act as a check and balance as well as oversee the

operations of the office of cultural affairs. Byron C. Saunders

to this new facility will engage an outpouring of support and loving care because the community will perceive them as their own.

The overall economic impact as a result of a strong office of art and culture and the success of the new performing arts center would mean a boon to South DeKalb and to the county overall. There will be a need for added amenities to the community such as restaurants, hotel/motel upgrades, convention and visitors needs, etc.

There needs to be a professional management team and support staff to stabilize the arts center and the office of cultural affairs.

What is needed for the per-forming arts center is to make sure that during the 52-week calendar year, there must be ongoing and secured usage of the space. Gener-ated revenue is a priority for its success. The center must compete for professional shows that tour nationally and internationally.

It is time to consider the cre-ation of an office of cultural affairs. There is a need for a commission-appointed arts council whose primary focus would be to act as a check and balance as well as over-see the operations of the office of cultural affairs. This arts council should also be charged with assist-ing in creating public/private part-nerships to match the arts funding appropriated by the commission.

What I am recommending is that the Board of Commissioners consider this opportunity as a bold and unique concept for the future of DeKalb County.

Until the focus and direction of Art and Culture is restored, the new arts center and the arts in DeKalb County will continue to flounder in a sea of confusion and missed opportunities.

Byron C. Saunders now lives in Fayetteville, Ga.

Forum

index to advertisers

Tiff brewing over access to county staff 2

Friction between the county’s legislative and executive branches surfaced at the May 12 Board of Commissioners meeting.

Opposition mounting to proposed bike center 3

Opposition is mounting against the Arabia Mountain Bike Center’s application for a special land use permit to open a bike center in a house on Rockland Road in Lithonia.

Cabbagetown man seeks 58th seat 3

Michael McPherson, a campaign consul-tant and former state Senate chief of staff, wants to take the House District 58 seat vacated recently by Rep. Robinn Shipp.

Johnson taps new chief of staff 3

Attorney Arthur D. Sidney is Congress-man Hank Johnson’s new chief of staff.

Graduation from enterprise program raises pride 5

When Sherrinita Tillman got her certifi-cate Tuesday at the DeKalb Micro Enterprise Institute, she couldn’t stop looking at it.

SBA offering workshop on retail business 5

A two-part workshop on the “ABC’s of Owning a Retail Business” will take place at the SBA office in downtown Atlanta.

Healthy cooking can reduce risk of heart attack, stroke 6

Eating less cholesterol, salt and saturated and trans fats will make you healthier and reduce certain health risks.

Drivers-to-be will need documents 8

Students planning to apply for an instruc-tional permit or driver’s license over the sum-mer break will need to get some paperwork from administrators before school closes.

Reading assignment gives students a new perspective 8

McNair Middle School seventh -grader Randy Tyson did something a lot of students his age would have a hard time admitting.

GPC to end Continuing Education program 8

Georgia Perimeter College’s Center for Continuing and Corporate Education will close on June 30 to save revenue.

Annual festival celebrates birthday of Malcolm X 9

Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective, Gritz and Jelly Butter, and Julie Dexter are among artists who will help cel-ebrate the birthday of civil rights icon.

Chaplain honored by women in ministry 10

Jail Chaplain Airrener Farquharson has earned kudos for her work from the National Coalition of Women in Ministry.

Americolor Opera “Carmen J” ........................ 9Atlanta Center for Gastroenterology ............... 6Chick-fil-A / Turner Hill Road ...........................5Congressman Hank Johnson ...........................3Craig B. Williams, DDS .................................... 6C.R.A.M. Academy ..........................................11

Daughters of the Light ...................................10DeKalb Convention & Visitor’s Bureau .............4Ella’s Caring Hands Adult Day Care ................11Fairington Condos ...........................................3Heard & Heard Dental Associates ....................7

Henry Mitchell, CPA, PC ...................................8Jay Hopson ......................................................5Jones PT Physical Therapy .............................. 6Narvie J Harris Theme School PTA ..................8Newburn Reynolds Photography ....................11

North Georgia Orthodontics ............................7Saint Philip AME Church ................................10Salt & Light Truth Center ...............................10The Law Office of B.A. Thomas ......................11The School Store .............................................8

QuiCk read

The overall economic impact of the new performing arts center would mean a boon to South DeKalb and to the county overall.

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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Staff WriterMcKenzie Jackson

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LOCAL

SERVICES!LOCAL

GOODS!

Proper leadership can help drive success of arts centerI have some serious concerns

about the readiness of the Depart-ment of Parks and Recreation and the current administrators of the new performing arts center to make the new facility an economic success.

During fiscal year 2007-08, I had the pleasure of serving as the executive director of the DeKalb Council for the Arts. My job was more like “cultural ambassador,” in which my mission was to unite the diverse communities and support countywide cultural and artistic endeavors that highlighted the diversity of its artists and institu-tions.

DeKalb County has become the home of many cultures from around the world. You should wel-come and embrace them for their future is your future.

With the building of the new performing arts center in South DeKalb, several interesting op-portunities provide for the need of an open discussion about the success of the new arts center; the current and future state-of-the-arts in DeKalb County; and the unique opportunity to do something positive to make DeKalb County the model of successful economic growth and development through-out metro Atlanta with regards to art and culture.

Art and culture in metro Atlan-ta is a multibillion-dollar industry and its impact will bring enormous economic growth and development to DeKalb County.

Adequate support neededFor the past five years, DeKalb

County had operated its arts initia-tive through the Office of Arts, Cul-ture and Entertainment. Now the arts are being orchestrated through the Parks and Recreation’s office.

Unfortunately, the current situ-ation with arts in DeKalb is that

it has no focus and no leadership. This situation has severely limited the capability of a countywide of-fice to fully administer to arts and culture that serves its constituents, artists, and arts institutions and provide the adequate leadership and arts vision for DeKalb County and its cultural community.

The recent cost over-runs of the new performing arts center came as a direct result of the ab-sence of leadership in the Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment. It also points to the need for a commission-appointed arts council responsible for the focus and direc-tion of the arts in DeKalb County.

The 2006 census acknowledges that DeKalb County has the most affluent African-Americans in met-ro Atlanta, yet when compared to other arts councils, is woefully way behind in the support it provides to its artists and arts organizations.

You are fortunate to have in DeKalb County the likes of Cal-lanwolde Fine Arts Center, Spruill Center for the Arts, and Art Station Inc.. However, the disproportion-ate support given to those main arts organizations and the support given to the smaller, less-supported institutions leaves a void.

The South DeKalb Performing Arts & Community Center will accommodate approximately 200 citizens. The primary performing arts focus is to be music, theater, and dance. The community is sup-posed to have access to the facility for not only arts performances and community-sponsored events, but

also an array of educational offer-ings geared to all age groups.

This facility, however, must become competitive with the other venues in metro Atlanta by attract-ing world-class entertainment as well as servicing local artists and arts organizations.

Home for local groupsWhen the DeKalb Council

for the Arts Inc. hired me as their executive director in March 2007, I was invited to join the “Core Community Design Team” for the new DeKalb Performing Arts & Community Center. I immediately recognized the need for this center to become the home of several highly regarded local arts groups if it was to succeed as a business operation.

That is why I began to recom-mend that in addition to local groups like The Young Singers of Callanwolde, that a strong consid-eration be given to several well-established Atlanta organizations that were in need of a home-based performance facility like Bal lethnic, Still Waters Youth Sinfo-Nia of Metropolitan Atlanta, and the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta.

Each of these groups has a strong reputation for professional quality performance capabilities. Their level of support from private and public sponsorship is unques-tioned. They also have a track record of local support. Many of their core support community and artists live in DeKalb County.

Bringing their performances


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Graduation from Micro Enterprise program raises pride levels

Stimulus funds arriving in 4th District

SBA offering workshop on retail business

Workshop on recovery funds

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A two-part workshop on the “ABC’s of Owning a Retail Busi-ness” will take place May 21 and 28 at SBA office in downtown Atlanta.

The first session will cover branding, internal business proce-dures, defining your customer, the correct merchandise mix, market-ing and retail vocabulary and find-

ing out if you are ready to go into business.

The second session will focus on retail match, selling and visual presentation and merchandising.

Admission is free. The free workshops will meet

6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Suite 1900 in Harris Tower at 233 Peachtree Street. Pre-registration is required

at www.sba.gov.For more information contact

Dorothy Fletcher at [email protected] or 404-331-0101.

The Small Business Admin-istration will update business owners on the small business provisions of the 2009 American Recovery Act at a May 22 work-shop in Atlanta.

The 10 a.m. to noon workshop will explore provisions of the Re-covery Act including the tempo-rary fee reductions or eliminations on SBA loans and increased SBA guarantee of up to 90 percent to lenders for certain loans.

The free workshop will also cover new deferred-payment loans of up to $35,000 that will soon be initiated under the Re-covery Act and the establishment of a new maximum of $5 million for contracts covered by an SBA guaranteed surety bond.

Presenters include Peter Lep-pert, SBA lender relations special-ist, and Carol Wilson, a financial education specialist with Con-sumer Credit Counseling Services of Greater Atlanta Inc. Wilson will provide information on budget and credit and debt management that can help a business face eco-nomic cycles with confidence.

Pre-registration is required. To register, visit www.sba.gov/ga and click on “Events Calendar.” The completed registration form can also be faxed to Catherine Williams at 404-331-0101.

The SBA Georgia District Of-fice is on the 19th floor in Harris Tower, 233 Peachtree St. N.E., adjacent to the MARTA Peachtree Center Station.

Residents in the 4th Congressional District have begun receiving more than $18 million in stimulus funds from the American Economic Recovery Act passed by Congress.

Congressman Hank Johnson, who represents the district that includes portions of DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties, said this week that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income

beneficiaries in Georgia are getting an extra $250 this month.

“When we passed the Recovery Act, we wanted to get more money back in the pockets of seniors, disabled veterans and SSI recipients,” he said. “Com-

bined with the middle class tax cut that is part of the stimulus, we’re trying to help millions of Ameri-cans at a time when they need it most.”

Johnson said Railroad Retire-ment Board beneficiaries will get $250 checks later this month. Vet-eran Compensation and Pension beneficiaries will get their checks in June. People who get benefits from more than one of these agencies will get only one payment.

Johnson said the checks will show up in the mail.

“You don’t have to do anything to apply,” he said.

For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.go ment.

Hank Johnson


When Sherrinita Tillman got her certificate Tuesday at the DeKalb Micro Enterprise Institute graduation, she couldn’t stop look-ing at it.

Standing over her seat, she opened it and looked at it. Then she sat down and studied intently for several minutes.

Later she told a visitor that she couldn’t stopped looking at her “Road to Entrepreneurship” certifi-cate because she was just so proud of herself.

“It’s an accomplishment,” said Tillman, a single mother with four children ages four to 17. “I am glad I made it. I am just ecstatic. It means I can do more than just be at a standstill. It shows me I can do it even with no money.”

Tillman, who lives in Lithonia, was one of 17 women who gradu-ated from the 12-week program. All of them are single mothers and clients of DeKalb County Depart-ment of Family & Children Services

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program with their own stories of hardships and perseverance.

Tillman, who has been unem-ployed for two years and has being getting food stamps and other gov-ernment help for her family, said this is the first time she has had the opportunity to learn something.

She said in the past, you got a check and that’s it.

“I learned something to assist me in making a life for myself and my kids,” she said.

Tillman said she has been mak-ing gift baskets for about two years and want to turn it into a money-making business.

“That’s something I like to do and I want to continue doing it,” she said.

Some of her classmates want to start daycare and property man-

have successfully completed the program. He said 18 women from the first three classes have launched their own businesses.

“We are helping these women bridge the gap from where they are. We expose them to different options through self-employment,” Wallace said.

Wallace said the women also get life skills coaching.

“A lot of them have barriers in their life,” he said. “We help them to manage their resources. We have even done classes on upgrading their parenting skills.”

Tillman said the program taught her that there are resources out there to help people like her.

“Now I know that there are people who can help me,” she said. “A lot of my friends don’t know there are people out there to help them.”

Tillman said she now has a road map for the future.

“I have to plan to make prog-ress,” she said. “You have to know where you are going.”

Sherrinita Tillman eyes her “Road to Entrepreneurship” certificate after completing the DeKalb Micro Enterprise Institute’s 12-week program.

Jennifer ffrench Parker / crossroadsnews

agement companies. The program helps aspiring, startup and small business owners with five and fewer employees position themselves for growth. The class taken by Tillman and her colleagues is funded by a $25,000 TANF grant o train welfare recipients interested in going into business for themselves.

Over the 12 weeks, participants explored what it takes to be an entrepreneur, understanding the business model, financial manage-ment, conquering credit challenges, managing cash flow for a profitable business, building a business plan and accessing capital for expan-sion.

She said the program taught her something that will assist her in turning her life around.

“I am going to fix my credit,” she said. “I have credit barriers but I can get beyond it. I am going to get a bank account and once I fix my credit, my business will take off.”

Rod Wallace, the Institute’s director, said the Tuesday gradu-ates bring to 120 the number who


For most African Americans, stroke is as familiar as a cousin.

Most all of us have someone in the family who has had a stroke or died from a stroke.

The reason is simple: Cardio-vascular disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death for Af-rican-American men and women. In Georgia and across the country, they are twice as likely as whites to die from stroke.

The American Heart Associa-tion says that each year, cardiovas-cular disease kills nearly 100,000 people. Stroke alone kills 17,500 blacks a year.

Throughout May, which is observed nationally as Stroke Awareness Month, health care officials are turning the spotlight on hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol, and lack of physical activity that all contribute to stroke, which is sometimes called a “brain attack,” because it occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts.

Without blood and the oxygen it carries, parts of the brain begin to die, forcing the portions of the body controlled by the damaged area to malfunction.

Every year, 780,000 new and re-current strokes are reported in the United States, making stroke the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in adults.

Caryl Reilly, president of the Stroke Club, a support group for stroke survivors that meets month-ly at DeKalb Medical on North Decatur Road, said stroke does not discriminate.

“It can happen to anyone and any age,” she said Wednesday. “Chil-dren have strokes, teenagers have strokes, old people have strokes, middle-aged people have strokes, Anybody can have a stroke.”

Reilly knows this all too well.She was a 39-year-old wife

with five kids, ages 5 to 19, when a stroke left her in coma for seven days and crippled the right side of her body.

Healthy cooking methods can reduce risks for diseases like heart attack, stroke

Wellness “If they know what the warning signs are, they can get help. 911 is the first thing you do.”

Recognizing stroke early can limit damage

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Do You Suffer From SevereReflux or Heartburn?

When stroke symptoms occur, quick action is vital but you must know the signs and act in time. Warning signs can begin from a few minutes to days before a stroke. If you think you or someone with you is having a stroke, call 911.

Stroke warning signs and symptoms n Weakness in an arm, hand, or legn Numbness on one side of the bodyn Sudden dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eyen Sudden difficulty speakingn Inability to understand what someone is sayingn Dizziness or loss of balancen Sudden, excruciating headache

Know the signs of stroke

“I had to learn to walk, talk, read and write again,” she said. “I had to learn everything over.”

Now 76 years old, Reilly and the 30 members of the Stroke Club get together every first Saturday to talk about their common problems and help spread the word about stroke and the need for early detection.

“If they know what the warn-ing signs are, they can get help,” she said. “911 is the first thing you do.”

A stroke can happen very quick-ly and victims and their loved one often don’t realize they are having one. A recent Gallup survey found that 97 percent of people over age 50 did not recognize the warning signs of a stroke which include numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg; blurred or double vi-sion in one or both eyes; slurred or garbled speech; unsteadiness or dizziness and confusion.

Recognizing the symptoms and getting treatment within 60 min-utes can prevent disability.

Why is treatment urgent?Every minute counts. The

longer blood flow is cut off to the brain, the greater the damage.

The most common kind of stroke, ischemic stroke, can be treated with a drug that dissolves clots blocking the blood flow. The window of opportunity to start treating stroke patients is three

hours. But to be evaluated and treated,

a person needs to be at the hospi-tal within 60 minutes of having a stroke.

African Americans’ higher in-cidences of hypertension, obesity and smoking contribute to their increased risks for stroke and other vascular diseases.

One in three African Americans suffers from high blood pressure.

Controlling risk factorsn If you have high blood pressure, work with your doctor to get it under control.

Many people do not realize they have high blood pressure, which usually produces no symptoms but is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

Managing your high blood pressure is the most important thing you can do to avoid stroke.n If you smoke, quit.n If you have diabetes, learn how to manage it. n As with high blood pressure, dia-betes usually causes no symptoms but increases the chance of stroke.n If you are overweight, start main-taining a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

For more information, visit www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke or call the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at 1-800-352-9424.

Eating less cholesterol, salt and saturated and trans fats will make you healthier and reduce your risks of heart disease and stroke.

Eating less saturated fat and trans fat helps to lower blood cho-lesterol levels.

Consuming fewer calories will help you lose weight, especially when you also enjoy regular physi-cal activity. Eating less salt and more potassium helps control blood pressure in most people.

Focusing your diet on foods such as fat-free and low-fat dairy fruits, vegetables and whole-grain, high-fiber foods is essential to good health.

Here are some tips to help make your meals healthful:n Frying: Steam, bake, broil or stir-fry foods in canola or olive oil instead of deep-frying in shorten-ing or bacon grease.n Salt: Use vinegar, lemon juice, hot red pepper flakes, garlic and onions or other low-salt spices instead of salt.Use little or no salt when you cook noodles, spaghetti, rice or hot cereal.n Salad dressing: Use low-fat, low-calorie or fat-free salad dressings.

n Butter: Use soft tub margarine instead of butter, or use other spreads that are lower in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, such as a stick of margarine.n Eggs: Limit egg yolks to three or four per week, or eat egg whites instead.n Meat: Buy fresh lean cuts of meat and trim the fat before cooking. Eat turkey, chicken and very lean beef or pork.

Remove the skin from poultry

before cooking except when roasting a whole chicken.

Broil, bake or roast meats instead of frying them.n Oils: Use canola, olive, corn or saf-flower oil in cooking. Use fat-free, calorie-free cooking spray to provide a non-stick surface for wokware, bakeware and grills.n Fat: Limit saturated calories to less than 7 percent of your total calories and trans-fat calories to less than 1 percent of your total calories.

Healthy alternatives to frying foods like chicken (above) might include (from left) stir fried vegetables, baked chicken and steamed chicken.

Georgia women suffering from postpartum depression can call 1-866-944-4776 for help.

The nonprof i t Georg ia Postpartum Support Network launched the support hotline on May 10 to offer new mothers a place to turn.

Postpartum depression, a mood disorder that occurs dur-ing pregnancy or soon after birth,

affects up to 20 percent of new moms. Symptoms may include sleep and appetite disturbances, uncontrollable emotions, or feel-ing overwhelmed or inadequate.

The hotline is staffed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.Callers are referred to psychiatrists, psycholo-gists and social workers. For more information, visit www.gpsnet-work.org.


WellnessHealthy cooking methods can reduce risks for diseases like heart attack, stroke

If you have heart disease or have had a stroke, members of your family may also be at risk.

How to use cooking oilsWhen cooking requires using fat, use liquid

vegetable oils:n To brown lean meats and to pan or oven fry fish and skinless poultryn To sauté onions and other vegetables for soupn In sauces and soups made with fat-free milkn In shipped or scalloped potatoesn For popping cornn In casseroles made with dried peas or beansn When cooking dehydrated potatoes and other prepared foods

Limit salt in your foodEating more salt than the body needs can lead

to high blood pressure in some people. People with high blood pressure are more likely to de-velop heart problems or have a stroke.n Use herbs and spices, instead of salt.n When using canned vegetables, drain the liquid and rinse them in water before cooking.n Read food labels carefully, watching for sodium on the nutrition facts panel.

For more informationTalk to your doctor or healthcare profes-

sional. If you have heart disease or have had a stroke, members of your family may also be at risk. It’s important for them to make changes now to lower their risk.

Visit powertoendstroke.org to learn more about stroke in the African-American community.

Call 800-AHA-USA1 (800-242-8721) or visit www.americanheart.org to learn more about heart disease.

Choosing foods low in saturated fatUsing low-saturated-fat, low-trans-fat, low-cholesterol recipes makes it easier to cook

healthful meals. Here are some food substitutions that can lower saturated fat:Instead of… Try… Whole milk (1 cup)........................Fat-free evaporated milk (1 cup)Heavy cream (1 cup) .....................Evaporated fat-free milk (1 cup)Sour cream ..................................Low-fat or fat-free sour cream Cream cheese ...............................Low fat or whipped cream cheeseButter (1 tbsp.) ..............................1 tbsp. polyunsaturated margarine or 3/4

tbsp. polyunsaturated or monounsaturated oilShortening (1 cup) ........................Tub margarine (1 cup)Eggs (1 egg) ..................................1 egg white plus 2 tsp. of unsaturated oilUnsweetened chocolate (1 oz) ......3 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder or carob

powder and 1 tbsp. polyunsaturated oil or margarine. Carob is sweeter than cocoa so reduce sugar in recipe by 1/4.


Georgia Perimeter College’s Center for Continuing and Corporate Education will close on June 30 to save revenue.

The college said May 7 that a limited number of programs will continue through completion for current center participants.

GPC president Dr. Anthony Tricoli said that, like other colleges and universities across the country, GPC must make deeper financial reductions to help it weather the

Youth “They were like, ‘Wow this is great,’ because they dealt with the entire inner-city life, then went to college.”

Lithonia singers shine during competition

GPC to end Continuing Education program

Drivers-to-be will need documents

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Students planning to apply for an instructional permit or driver’s license over the summer break will need to get some paperwork from administrators before school closes.

The Georgia Department of Driver Services says students testing for a permit or license must obtain a DDS Certificate of Attendance Form from their schools before the end of the school year, and that students planning for an on-the-road test will also need a Georgia Alcohol Drug Awareness Program certificate of completion.

The attendance form must be signed and notarized from the stu-dent’s school and presented when applying for a permit or Class D driver’s license. The form will be valid until Sept. 30.

All applicants under 18 years old who are not enrolled in school must provide a GED diploma, high school diploma, or an attendance form from the student’s local board of education if enrolled in an ap-proved home school program.

For more information, visit www.dds.ga.gov.

More than 30 students in the Golden Chorale of Lithonia High School sang their way to two musical victories on April 4.

The group won first place for Class “A” Mixed Cho-rus and received the Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser “Esprit De Corps” Award during the National Festivals of Music conference in New York City.

The chorus’s performance of melodic works such

current economic storm.“While it is necessary to discontinue

some elements of this program,” he said, “the college is committed to preserving our academic quality and our positive relation-ship with the community.”

The Center for Continuing and Corpo-rate Education offers a variety of enrichment, job-training and professional certificate programs each semester.

Lithonia High School’s Golden Chorale won two awards at the National Festivals of Music conference in New York.

as John W. Work and Albert Hay Malotte helped them capture the Mixed Chorus award, and their school spirit and class act during the competition earned them the “Esprit De Corps” award.

The competition in New York was group’s first on the national level. Choral director George-Patrick Johnson said it was an honor to represent Georgia and DeKalb County at the competition.

Reading assignment gives students a new perspective By McKenzie Jackson

McNair Middle School seventh -grader Randy Tyson did something a lot of students his age would have a hard time admitting.

He read a novel, thought it was good, learned from it and can’t wait to read the book’s sequel.

Twelve-year-old Randy was one of 26 seventh-graders in McNair Middle School Boys Academy’s book program to read “The Pact” this school year. The novel tells the real life story of three African American doctors’ rise from the streets of Newark, N.J. to successful adulthood.

Randy said the book was good.

“It was like the situations we are in,” he said. “They went through the same things. They failed tests.We have failed tests. They came from like a hood neighborhood. That is where we are all from.”

The book, which has themes of brotherhood and rising above bad surroundings, is the story of Drs. Sampson Davis, Rameck Hunt and George Jenkins.

Randy said the book gives

him something to look up to. “We saw them accomplish

something,” he said. “We can do the same thing.”

The students started reading the 272-page book in September and finished it last week. At a May 11th “A Celebration of Learning” breakfast in the school library, they celebrated a task completed.

Thomas Chisholm, their lan-guage arts teacher who led the weekly reading sessions, said the boys read and discussed each chap-ter of the book.

He said it was a different task for the youngsters.

“We always look at the NBA, the NFL and baseball but we want our kids to be able to do something dif-ferent beside sports,” he said. “We want them to have a connection to the outside world, but not just to athletes. We want them to know

that they can be whatever they want to be despite the struggle and the insurmountable odds they face.”

Chisholm said at first the boys were reluctant to read but that the story captured their imagination.

“They were like, ‘Wow this is great,’ because they dealt with the entire inner-city life, then went to college,” he said.

At the breakfast, some of the students spoke about chapters in the book. Thirteen-year-old Fred-die Burnett gave a short presenta-tion on the chapter titled “Peer Pressure,” but admits his favorite chapter was “Love Sick.”

“He really loved that girl, but she was cheating on him” Freddie said. “I liked the drama.”

Raynard Malcom, 14, said he liked reading about how the three doctors rose through adversity.

“It makes me want to do the

same,” he said, “go get a doctorate degree and be a better person.”

McNair principal Susan Free-man said reading “The Pact” fit the gender-based educational style of the McNair Boys Academy, which has a total enrollment of 250.

The school also has a Girls Academy.

Freeman said research shows that there are differences in how boys and girls learn, “so everything in each academy is geared towards what is best for the students.”

As a reward for reading the book, Chisholm said authors of “The Pact” sent the students auto-graphed copies of their books and posters.

The students are now reading President Barack Obama’s book, “Yes We Can.”

They will also read “The Bond,” the sequel to “The Pact.”

Photos by McKenzie JacKson / crossroadsnews

Christopher Williams (left) explains the chapter “Interpretation of The Pact” to members of the book club. Book club students received a certificate of completion for reading “The Pact.”


Scene Twenty Tupac Amaru Shakur Center students were pen pals with students from Ogaki Kita High School’s English Club in Gifu, Japan.

Annual daylong festival celebrates birthday of Malcolm X

Japanese art at Tupac Center

Author to discuss new book

Chinese dance demo at library

Music and Libretto by Sharon J. Willis With excerpts from Bizet’s Carmen

Americolor Opera presents... Americolor Opera“Carmen J” brings a history lesson as well as a twist to the origi-nal composition. Carmen J. is a hot-tempered young woman in search of freedom and love. Her journey takes her from a south-ern plantation at the end of the Civil War to the streets of Phila-delphia and New York City… From the art of deception, humor, romance, folly and conspiracy, this vibrant performance will bring you to your feet.

Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center 3181 Rainbow Drive • Decatur, GA 30034

◆ ◆ ◆

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Thursday, May 28 & Friday, May 29, 2009 - 8:00 p.m.Saturday, May 30 - 2:00 & 7:00 p.m.

Tickets: $25Children 10 and under $10

Group Rates Available

Thursday, May 28th - DeKalb County Night – All Tickets $10

Ticket Information: 404.917.4137 or [email protected] (starting May 22) www.americoloropera.org

Chinese dance and music will be on display at the Decatur Library in downtown Decatur on May 16.

From 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., the Chinese American Cultural Performing Group will stage a cultural show highlighting Chi-nese singing, music, dancing and entertainment.

The event celebrates Asian Heritage Month, which is ob-served in May.

Admission is free. The Decatur Library is at 215

Sycamore St. For more informa-tion, call 404-370-3070.

Author Mindy Friddle will discuss her new novel, “Secret Keepers,” at the Decatur Library on May 18.

The book, Friddle’s second, tells the story of 72-year-old Emma Hanley, who wants to leave Pal-metto, S.C., and travel the globe, but her divided family is drawn together by a mysterious and po-tent botanical influence. Friddle, a South Carolina resident, is also the author of “The Garden Angel.”

The discussion starts at 7:15 p.m. Admission is free.

The library is at 215 Sycamore St. in Decatur. For more informa-tion, call 404-370-3070.

“Atlanta-Japan: A Cultural Ex-change Experience” is on display at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center in Stone Mountain through June 15.

The 60-piece exhibit of callig-raphy, origami, embroidery, fine art, photographs of Japan and a Japanese garden opens May 16.

Vernal Cambridge, a center spokesman, said that some of the items are on loan from the Con-sulate General of Japan and the Konnichiwa Club in Atlanta. Some of the calligraphy was created by students in the center’s Intercul-tural Exchange Program.

Cambridge said the calligraphy and origami pieces are popular

with students because of their bright colors.

“You get to see and learn,” he said.

The exhibit, which is free, grew out of the center’s annual Intercul-tural Exchange program that ended recently. Twenty Tupac Amaru Shakur Center students were pen pals with students from Ogaki Kita High School’s English Club in Gifu, Japan. During the program students learned about Japanese culture and society.

The center is at 5636 Memo-rial Drive. For more information, visit www.TASF.org or call 404-298-4222.

Students at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts learned to make origami during the center’s annual Intercultural Exchange program.

Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective, Gritz and Jelly Butter, and Julie Dexter are among artist who will strut their stuff at the May 30 festival celebrating the birthday of civil rights icon Malcolm X .

The festival kicks off at noon in Atlanta’s West End Park. The Atlanta Chapter of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement has sponsored it for 20 years.

Malcolm X, who came to prominence as a minister in the Nation of Islam, was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Neb. A controversial advocate for the rights of African-Americans, he was assassinated on Feb. 21, 1965, at age 39. If he were alive today, Malcolm X would be turning 84 years old.

The festival, which ends at 8 p.m. will also include a martial arts display by the Afrikan Martial Arts Institute, African dance by Folade na Weusi and Giwayen Mata, and children’s activities sponsored by Roots to Fruits.

There will also be vendors and food. An after-party with Zayd, Heed and DJ Sol Messiah kicks off

at 9 p.m. at Foreign Exchange Café, 658 Whitehall St., Atlanta.The festival is free. The after party is $10 and $15 each. For sponsorships and vending opportunities, call 770-987-

9390 or visit www.malcolmxfestival.com.Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective will perform during the Malcolm X Festival at West End Park in Atlanta.


CLASSIFIEDSMiniStrY “I feel like church is where I needed to be because it started

with me wishing to God that I could paint.”

Artwork marks 100th year

Workshop on care of elders

AIDS is topic of teen summit

Service for Disabled in Action

Chaplain honored by women in ministry

Written by Bobby Simmons,“Daughters of The Light”

is an inspirational novel about a young girl Nua who loses

both parents as an infant. This book is a must read as Nua

serves as a guide through this thing we call life.

To order your copy, visit www.daughtersofthelight.com

or www.amazon.com.

Families caring for elderly rela-tives can get information at a May 23 Elder Care Workshop at New Bethel AME Church in Lithonia.

The 9 a.m. workshop, presented by the Commission on Christian Social Action, will address legal is-sues for family caregivers including powers of attorney, last will and testament, living wills and guard-ianship.

Other topics on the agenda include long-term care facilities like assisted living, personal care and nursing homes, and spiritual support and pre-planning for care-givers.

Admission is free and breakfast will be served.

The church is at 8350 Rock-bridge Road. For more informa-tion, call 770-484-3350.

“Who Authorized You to Give Up” is the theme of the Day of Inclusion service at the Interna-tional Christian Fellow-ship Ministry in Atlanta on May 24.

The 11 a.m. service, which will include people with disabilities, their families, friends and advocates, will help celebrate Disabled In Action’s sixth annual Day of Inclusion.

Rev. Calvin E. Peterson, Dis-abled In Action’s founder and director and author of “Nothing is Impossible” will be one of the featured speakers.

Peterson, who was born with a severe case of cerebral palsy, is a well-known advocate for empowering disabled people. He

regularly serves as a guest lecturer at the Fellowship Ministry.

Minister Shon Free-man of Christ Sanctu-ary Church and Patrick Muhammad of Mosque No. 15 in Atlanta will also speak during the service,

which will be followed by a dinner prepared by “Flaxseed Lady” Dr. Joy Scott, a certified nutritionist and weight-loss coach, and Ibra-him Abdullah, DIA’s minister of health.

Admission is free.International Christian Fel-

lowship Ministry is at 3076 Humphries Drive in Atlanta. For more information, visit [email protected] or call 678-358-1180.

By McKenzie Jackson

In April 2003, Minnie Murry was sitting at home watching the Home and Gardening network on television.

In the middle of a show about painting murals, Murry, who lives in Lithonia, said she wished she had the artistic skill to paint. Inspired, she picked up art supplies from a local store, and embarked on a new passion.

A day and a half later, she had painted an oriental rug on the ce-ment floor in her basement.

Six years and 1,500 paintings later, Murry is a celebrated artist whose art was a central part of Big Miller Grove Missionary Baptist Church’s recent 100-year anniver-sary celebration.

Murry, who has been a Big Miller Grove member for five years, painted an 18- by 24-inch piece she called “Centennial” for the church.

The yellow, red, maroon, or-ange, black and white painting fea-tures triangles and circles mashed together into a single figure. She says it symbolizes 100 years of ser-vice in the faith community.

“Centennial” and about 50 other pieces of Murry’s work were displayed in the church hallways during the 100-year celebration on April 26. It was also printed on church fans and given to church members and visitors.

“I don’t even have the words to describe what that Sunday meant to me,” she said. “I feel like church is where I needed to be because it started with me wishing to God that I could paint.”

Paula Saunders, a consultant to the church’s Centennial Celebra-tion, called Murry a “secret trea-sure,” and said the hand fans were a hot souvenir item.

Murry said that church mem-bers were surprised when they saw the “Centennial” piece and her other artwork.

Bishop Miles E. Fowler, the church’s pastor, said he had no clue that Murry was a painter.

“When they told me she was an artist, I said, ‘She is?’” he said with a chuckle. “I think it is excellent. It is really outstanding and a gift.”

Saunders said Murry is hum-ble.

“Her heart comes across in her work,” she said.

Minnie Murry, who began painting six years ago, painted a piece titled “Centennial” for Big Miller Grove’s anniversary.

Young people will have their say about HIV/AIDs at the Hip Hop Leadership Peer Mentoring Program on May 30 at First Afrikan Presbyterian Church.

The all-day workshop, which is sponsored by the church’s Heshima and Kijana Rites of Passage pro-grams, is designed to build aware-ness of HIV/AIDS in the African-American community.

Teens ages 13 to 18 will write songs, produce beats, create dances,

and develop cover art and flyers, and engage in discussion about the subject.

The 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. workshop, which is open to the community, is funded by the Center of Excellence on Health Dispaarities at More-house School of Medicine.

First Afrikan Church is at 5197 Salem Road in Lithonia.

For more information, call Bettye Beatty-Wilson at 770-981-9381.

DeKalb County Jail Chaplain Airrener Far-quharson has earned ku-dos for her work from the Atlanta Chapter of the National Coalition of Women in Ministry.

Farquharson, who has been at the jail for 11 years, received a plaque at the group’s May 8 awards ceremony celebrating and honoring women in ministry for their leadership, commitment, and tireless service in their communities and churches.

Farquharson, who is an associ-ate minister at Big Miller Grove Baptist Church in Lithonia, has

held the office of head chaplain for eight years at the jail. She coordinates 55 volunteer chaplains and ensures that Sunday church services and week-day Bible services are held. She also seeks dona-tions of Bibles and other

faith-based books for the jail and counsels inmates, employees and their families. She also facilitates visits from clergy of various de-nominations at inmates’ request.

“Many inmates who have been here for a while need clothing upon their release, or some may need a place to stay,” Farquharson

said. “We try to assist them with these needs, also.”

Her community service ex-tends beyond the jail house. She works with the Street Jail Prison and Hospital Ministry, the Ronald McDonald House (McMeal) Pro-gram, serves as a youth counselor and mentor in the school system, and conducts workshops on women’s issues.

Sheriff Thomas Brown said Farquharson deserves the award.

“We are extremely grateful for the personal sacrifices and the difference that she makes among inmates and employees at the Sheriff’s Office,” he said.

Calvin Peterson

A. Farquharson


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 MarketPlace, CrossRoadsNews, 2346 Candler Road, Decatur, GA 30032, or e-mail to [email protected]. Our deadlines are at noon on the Thursday one week prior to publication, un-less otherwise noted.

CLASSIFIEDS

MarketplaceBUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

The Complete Janitorial Business Package; includes cleaning contracts, insurance, bonding and much more. Schedule your ap-pointment today! 404-942-2405

Afraid of Downsizing? Start building a business today to supplement your income in case of a layoff. Call 404-289-1968.

ChILd CARE

Nanny Needed ASAP Ex-perienced nanny needed by single-mother for newborn and 2 year old children. Must be able to stay overnight. Days and salary negotiable. If interested please contact ASAP. Call Jenna @ 678-707-1474.

COMPUTERS

Laptops $199 & up. Computers $99 & up. Laptop & computer repair. Spyware/virus removal. Diagnostic fee $35 WWW.JONATECH.NET. 404-643-1768/404-543-8836. Jonatech

CONTRACTORS/CONSTRUCTION

Home Remodeling & Roofing Services Call Rob at 404-207-2875 or go online for a free estimate. GA Licensed & Insured www.atmconstructors.net

FINANCIAL & TAx SERvICES

EMCC Agent Licensing Life & Health Insurance Licensing classes weekly. Online courses in all states for Insurance and Securities at www.emccmar-keting.com/EXAMFX.html call 404-394-5023.

ning to mid-level clerical position. Handling day-to-day invoicing and billing.Email [email protected]

hOME SERvICES

Your Neighborhood Handyman! Plumbing and Electrical repairs, painting, carpentry, flooring, roof-ing, exterior work also. Call Chris (404) 992-3663.

hOMES FOR RENT

House For Rent 4 bed-room,2.5 bath over 2700sq ft. located in lithonia. family rm with fireplace,kitchen with appliances,dining rm,laundry rm,2 car garage,built in 2000. Contact Jim @ 4-372-4440. 1225 per month 700 deposit.

AUTOSDONATE YOUR CAR to SPE-CIAL KIDS FUND. Help Disabled Children With Camp and Educa-tion. Non-Runners OK. Quickest Free Towing. Free Cruise/Hotel Voucher. Tax Deductible. Call 1-866-448-3254.

*Police Impounds for Sale!* Honda Civic 2002 only $1000! Honda Accord 1998 only $750! Hondas, Toyotas, Nissans & More from $500! For Listings 800-366-0124 ext. L213

$500! HONDAS & TOYO-TAS FROM $500! Buy Police Impounds & Repos! Acuras, Nissans, Chevys & more from $500! For Listings 800-366-0124 ext. L215

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIESe3buy.com- Free Auction/Clas-sified network. Buy, sell, trade anything. Amazing money making opportunity. Start your own Auction website. www.partner.e3buy.com

Paid In Advance! Make $1000 weekly Stuffing Envelopes from home. 100% Legit! Income is Guaranteed! No experience required. Apply Today! www.startstuffingnow.com

WHAT RECESSION??? My Income is Exploding. Why? A Billion People ate Chocolate

Yesterday! Find out what is in it for you! 1-866-457-3382 recorded information

Earn $500.00-$2,500.00 WEEKLY processing our flyers, brochures. Great opportunity ! Postage supplies furnished. Processors needed NOW. No travel. For FREE information call Speedline Publications NOW. 1-800-395-5972

**Are You Making $1,500.00 + PER WEEK? ALL CASH VEND-ING! Incredible Income Opportu-nity! Snack-soda... Minimum $8K To $40K Investment Required. Excellent Quality Machines. 800-962-9189

100% RECESSION PROOF! Do you earn $800 in a day? Your own local candy route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy. All for $9,995. 800-893-1185 (Void in SD & MD)

BUSINESS SERvICESComputer trouble? My Computer Works your personal Help Desk. Fast, safe and secure help 24/7 Sign up now get 6 months free back up. 888-375-8686

EdUCATION & TRAININgAttend College Online from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Computers, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call

800-488-0386 www.CenturaOn-line.com

AIRLINES ARE HIRING - Train for high paying Aviation Main-tenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified -Housing Available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888) 349-5387.

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA! Fast Affordable & Accredited. FREE Brochure. Call NOW! 1-800-532-6546 Ext. 96 www.continentala-cademy.com

Force Protection Security Details. $73K - $220K Paid Training! Mili-tary/Police Exp. helpful but NOT REQUIRED. Kidnapping Preven-tion $250-$1,000/ day. Paid Expenses. Call 1-615-891-1163 Ext. 733 www.rlcenterprises.net

EMPLOyMENT OPPORTUNITIESNational Org. Now Hiring Gov’t contractor, Avg starting pay $20-$25/hr, $60K/yr incl. Federal Ben/OT, Paid Training & Vaca-tions, Retirement, No Exp Neces-sary 1-888-320-1704

$600 Weekly Potential$$$ Helping The Government PT. No Experience, No Selling. Call: 1-888-213-5225 Ad Code E. Void in Maryland and South Dakota.

Paid In Advance! Make $1000 weekly Stuffing Envelopes from home. 100% Legit! Income is

Guaranteed! No experience required. Apply Today! www.startstuffingnow.com

Mystery Shoppers Needed. Earn up to $150 per day. Undercover Shoppers needed to Judge Retail & Dining Establishments Experi-ence Not Required. Call Now 1-877-218-6211

Earn up to $500 weekly as-sembling our angel pins in the comfort of your own home. No experience required. Call 413-303-0474 or visit www.angelpin.net

FINANCIAL$$$ ACCESS LAWSUIT CASH NOW!!! AS seen on TV. Injury Lawsuit Dragging? Need $500-$500,000++ within 48/hrs? Low rates. APPLY NOW BY PHONE! 1-888-271-0463 www.cash-for-cases.com

$$ Need CASH Fast $$ $500, $1000, or $1500 direct to your acct No Credit History Required Get CASH now For complete De-tails go to WWW.CASHQUICK-CASH.COM

hEALTh & FITNESSONLINE PHARMACY Buy Soma, Ultram, Fioricet, Prozac, Buspar $71.99/90 $107/180 Quantities, PRICE INCLUDES PRESCRIP-TION! Over 200 meds $25Cou-pon Mention Offer:#31A31. 1-866-491-2712. tri-pharmacy.net

One-order, one-invoice, multi-newspaper placement service!Reach more than 15 million households served by over

1,020 suburban and community newspapers around North America and Canada. 25-word ad starts at $240 weekly.

D i s c o u n t C o n t a c t R a t e s A v a i l a b l e . F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l 4 0 4 - 2 8 4 - 1 8 8 8

REAdER NOTICEAs a service to you – our valued readers – we offer the following

information: This newspaper will never knowingly accept any advertise-ment that is illegal or considered fraudulent. If you have questions or

doubts about any ads on these pages, we advise that before responding or sending money ahead of time, you check with the Attorney General’s

Consumer Fraud Line and/or the Better Business Bureau. They may have records or documented complaints that will serve to caution you

about doing business with those advertisers. Also be advised that some phone numbers published in these ads may require an extra charge. In

all cases of questionable value, such as promises or guaranteed income from work-at-home programs, money to loan, etc., if it sounds too good

to be true – it may in fact be exactly that. This newspaper cannot be held responsible for any negative conse-

quences that occur as a result of you doing business with any advertis-ers. Thank you.

Web! Cartons of King Mountain Cigarettes - Only $21 Shipping/Handling: 3-6 Cartons $11.55, 7-9 Cartons $15.15 www.CougarDen-Cigarettes.com 1-888-566-9355

REAL ESTATEBUY HUD Homes from $199/mo! 4bd 2ba only $325/mo! 3bd 2ba only $199/mo! More Home from $199/mo! 5% dn, 15yrs @8% apr! for Listings 800-366-0142 ext. T252

3bd 2ba HUD Home only $200/mo! 4bd 2ba Home only $325/mo! Priced to Sell! More Homes Available! 5%dn, 20yrs @8%apr! For Listings 800-366-0142 ext. T253

Opportunity Knocks in NC! ON-LINE REAL ESTATE AUCTION www.LightHouseAuctionServices.com NCAF#8552

FORECLOSED HOME AUCTION NY STATEWIDE 600+ Homes Must Be Sold! REDC | Free Brochure www.Auction.com

TIMEShARESSELL/RENT YOUR TIMESHARE NOW!!! Maintenance fees too high? Need Cash? Sell your unused timeshare today. No com-missions or Broker Fees. Free Consultation. www.sellatime-share.com 1-866-708-3690

If This Was Your Ad, Thousands Could Be

Seeing It Now!Call 404-284-1888 today for rates & information.

hELP WANTEdHelp Wanted Earn Extra Income, assembling CD cases from home. Start immediately, No experience necessary. 1-800-405-7619 ext 1395 www.easywork-greatpay.com

MISC. FOR SALE* REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL!* Get a 4-Room All-Digital Satellite system installed for FREE and programming starting under $10. FREE DVR and HD Upgrades for new callers, SO CALL NOW. 1-800-699-7159

A NEW COMPUTER NOW!!!! Brand Name laptops & desktops Bad or NO Credit- No Problem Smallest weekly payments avail. Its yours NOW- Call 800-317-7891

MISCELLANEOUSCOUGAR DEN CIGARETTES Offers the Best Prices on the

LANdSCAPE/LAWN CARE

Lawn Care Early Bird Special $99.00 per month. Landscape: Maintenance, Design, Installation, Vegetable Garden. Senior Citi-zens Discount. Call 770-593-1382

LOANS & MORTgAgES

Loans for churches, restaurants, day care centers, multi-family properties, office buildings, and other commercial properties. Pur-chases or refinancing. All credit considered. Closings as quick as 7 days. www.thesamuelgroupinc.com. 404-870-9070.

MOvERS

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

REAL ESTATE

Convington Hwy/I-285. North Center: full service professional office building offering suites from 281 s.f. to 2680 s.f. Premier location minutes from I-285 and

I-20. Contact Carole Egan: (770) 598-1298.

SERvICES

Photography/video services We LOVE photography! We’ll help you feel comfortable and have a blast! WEDDINGS SPECIAL EVENTS BABIES PORTRAITS PETS VIDEO email - [email protected] www.savagephotos4u.com (under construction) Marcus 404-695-0730 De 404-542-0851

FOR RENT/LEASE

Stone Mountain. 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Brick House, New Renovation, New Carpet, Fire-place, Single Car Garage. $840 monthly. 404-457-9415.

hAIR CARE/SALON

Recession Special. Booth rent $75 per week. Antoine’s Styles of Perfection in Conyers seeking li-censed Stylists, Barbers and Nail Technicians. Call 678-509-1329. 10-7 p.m. No weapon formed against us shall prosper.

hELP WANTEd

Immediate virtual assistant position Seeking a motivated individual to fill an online begin-



Documents

CrossRoadsNews, May 16, 2009