CrossRoadsNews, November 21, 2009

www.crossroadsnews.comNovember 21, 2009Copyright © 2009 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COVER PAGELearning to help othersHOLIDAY

Students at Columbia High School will feed more than 400 homeless men, women and children at their third annual Turkey Dinner on Nov. 21. 10

Commis-sioner Larry Johnson is hop-ing to see a sea of gifts when his annual Tree of Love kicks off at the Gallery at South DeKalb mall. 11

Making wishes come trueHOLIDAY

Want to be a hit when the family and friends gather for a holiday potluck? Try one of these recipes sure to please a hungry palate. 12

Treats for the feastHOLIDAY

Signs that people are shopping again inspire retailers

90-year-old’s passion is helping his church feed community’s needy

Volume 15, Number 29

By Donna Williams Lewis

While people aren’t expected to loosen the grips on their wallets anytime soon, local malls are still optimistic that this holiday season will be merrier for them than the last.

The International Council of Shopping Centers predicts a mod-erate gain for 2009 in holiday sales. Local malls say they expect that to be the case.

The Mall at Stonecrest has seen an uptick in sales since September, said marketing manager Donald Bieler.

“People are starting to shop again,” Bieler said. “We’ve started the slow climb but it won’t be quick. It is going to be a long climb.”

North DeKalb Mall has seen an increase in traffic since Halloween, said the mall’s marketing manager, Mary Joyce Burdge.

“To be sure, I believe people are going to be sticking to a stricter budget than they may have had in the past, but I think there may be a small increase in spending over last year,” Burdge said.

Though there are about 10 shuttered spaces at the Gallery at South DeKalb, general manager Tene Harris said the mall is “90 percent occupied” and that mall traffic has been stable throughout the year.

Stores are under construction behind six of the tarps, Harris said. Meanwhile, the mall’s Piccadilly Cafeteria is “No. 1” in its chain for

sales volume in Atlanta, accord-ing to Harris. And its Macy’s store is widely known for doing brisk business.

“Our customers have been extremely loyal,” Harris said. “We have not seen the significant de-creases in mall traffic some other centers have.”

The rosy pictures are painted against a grim backdrop – one in which some surveys show that

consumers plan to spend about the same or less than they did last year, won’t be splurging or buying on credit.

“Retailers are about to embark on the holiday season of the serious bargain hunter,” the National Retail Federation said in an Oct. 20 press release.

An NRF survey found that U.S. consumers plan to spend an aver-age of $682.74 on holiday-related

shopping this year, a 3.2 percent drop from last year’s $705.01.

In its November issue, Con-sumer Reports unveiled results of its consumers’ spending practice survey that found that 86 percent of adults 18 years and older say they will buy only what they need and put less on credit cards.

Respondents to the NRF sur-vey said they would be shopping for sales more often, using more

coupons and putting up last year’s decorations. Many say they plan to buy more practical gifts, to buy joint gifts for kids or parents, and to give more handmade gifts.

To help lure customers early on Black Friday – the day after Thanks-giving – the Mall at Stonecrest is offering patrons a buy one get one free gift card special. Customers who buy a $100 Mall at Stonecrest gift card will get a $50 gift card for free, while supplies last. The sale begins at 7 a.m.

Santa arrives at the Mall at Stonecrest at I-20 and Turner Hill Road in Lithonia and at the Gal-lery at South DeKalb at 1-20 and Candler Road in Decatur on Nov. 21. He makes it to North DeKalb Mall on Lawrenceville Highway in Decatur on Nov. 27.

The traditional beginning of the holiday shopping season, Black Fri-day is expected to be a much bigger deal for consumers this year than in recent years.

Sixteen percent of respondents to a survey conducted by the In-ternational Council of Shopping Centers said they expect to begin their holiday shopping that day. That’s up from a previous high of 13 percent in 2006 and a low of 10 percent in 2007, the ICSC said.

Some of the new retailers to the Gallery at South DeKalb are target-ing Black Friday for getting their doors open.

Already a new eatery, Mikie’s

Jennifer ffrench Parker / crossroadsnews

Retailers are hoping shoppers like these 2008 Black Friday bargain hunters will make this holiday shopping season a merry one. The 2009 shopping season kicks off the Friday after Thanksgiving despite dire projections.

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Even the years can’t slow Sam Brown down.

Two days after his 90th birthday on Nov. 7, Brown was at his post at Holy Cross Epis-copal Church managing the food pantry he helped set up 25 years ago.

“It’s better than sitting down,” he said this week. “My health is good and all that work keeps me young.”

Brown, who lives in Decatur, says his volunteer work at the church he has attended for 31 years keeps him going. He also rarely misses the monthly first Saturday DeKalb Community Cabinet Meeting hosted by former state Rep. Stan Watson at New Piney Grove Church.

A retired engineer, Brown came to Atlanta in 1976 to help build the MARTA subway system. He also helped build the Washington, D.C., and San Francisco sub-way systems that were designed by Parsons Brinckerhoff Engineers, where he worked. He retired in 1982.

When he joined the Decatur church in

volunteer hours to pick up from the Atlanta Community Food Bank and pack the food boxes they give away monthly.

Last month, the pantry helped 170 fami-lies. On Saturday, it will be serving as many again with food boxes that will include all the fixings for a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Brown said what they do is necessary.“This is one of the most important min-

istries of this diocese,” he said.His pastor, the Rev. Brian Jemmott, said

Brown shows no signs of slowing down at the church, which counts members from 21 countries including various Caribbean islands and Africa.

“He is the nucleus of what goes on there,” Jemmott said Thursday. “Sam has the energy and he continues to lead the efforts.”

Brown says he gets a “Christian feeling” from helping people in need. Even as a child growing up in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, he was helping others.

“We had a day that we did things for the church,” he said.

1978, he said the pantry was needed.“We used to have 50 to 60 households

receiving food,” he said. “They came from Atlanta, Stone Mountain, Lithonia, just all over.”

Then as now, the country was in the midst of recession and families were hurting.

Three decades later, the country is in another recession and families are struggling with job layoffs, unemployment, foreclosures and a host of other economic issues.

Hunger also is rising across the country.This week, a Household Food Security

Report from the U.S. Department of Agricul-ture says that there were more than 506,000 U.S. families in which a child experienced hunger multiple times over the course of the year.

Local food pantries, like Holy Cross’, have helped stave off some of that hunger. Brown said that the number of families served by the pantry has doubled this year.

The pantry is supported by the 267 families making up the membership of the church on South Columbia Place and by its Diocese of Atlanta. Members also put in

Please see SHOPPING, page 4

Please see BROWN, page 4


Sam Brown loads a freezer with some of the turkeys that Holy Cross Episcopal Church will give away for Thanksgiving dinners.

The dual enforcement strategy is designed to reduce high-fatality crash-counts during the deadly Thanksgiving travel period.

Last year, Georgians had 3,815 crashes during the November holiday. Statistics indicate that many people died in those crashes because they didn’t buckle up.

Last Thanksgiving, 19 Geor-gians died during 102 hours on the road. Another 1,457 were injured.

Nationwide, 40 percent of all traffic crash victims killed during the Thanksgiv-ing holiday travel period were not wearing their safety belts.

Bob Dallas, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety director, says it is just so clear that safety belts save lives.

“And yet day or night, unbuckled driv-ers and their passengers continue to pay the price with their lives,” he said.

“That’s why we always need to buckle up. Otherwise, it’s just a never-ending formula for fatalities.”

Bob Dallas

INSIDE-AD PGCommunity “That’s when I realized that we’ve gotta give ourselves a break

or permission to say dumb things and keep moving.”

AAA: More motorists for holiday

Drivers face seat belt crackdownThe state is cracking down on

people who drive without seat belts during the heavily traveled Thanksgiving holiday.

The holiday, which will be cel-ebrated Nov. 26 this year, is known as one of the most dangerous and deadliest times of the year to drive because of low safety belt use.

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, which launched Click It or Ticket on Nov. 16, says law enforcement will be looking out for Georgia motorists who violate the law and threaten their safety during the Thanksgiving travel pe-riod, Nov. 25 through Nov. 29.

This year AAA projects that 982,000 Georgians will drive 50 miles or more this Thanksgiving to visit relatives. Those num-bers are up 3 percent from last year, when high gas prices kept many people home.

Concentrated patrols will be checking for seat belt violators on interstate highways by day and seat belt road checks will take place on state and county roads at night.

With a cautious eye on economic recov-ery, more Americans will be traveling this Thanksgiving to visit family, and a growing number of them will be driving to their destination.

AAA projects 38.4 million Americans will travel a distance of 50 miles or more away from home throughout Thanksgiv-ing weekend, a 1.4 percent increase over last year when 37.8 million traveled for the holiday. In Georgia, 1.2 million will be go-ing somewhere; 982,000 of them will drive while 77,000 will fly to their destination, 3 percent higher than in 2008.

Kevin Bakewell, senior vice president of AAA Auto Club South, said they take the projected increase as a sign that economic recovery may finally be taking root.

“We believe many Americans cer-tainly share the same hope,” Bakewell said. Overall, the numbers show an even greater number of people who plan on driving – 86 percent of all travelers – which AAA says reflects a growing public dissatisfaction with air travel. This holiday, higher costs for airfare, frequent delays and increased fees

have a record number of Americans opting for other means of travel.

Only 6 percent of travelers said they will travel by air, a 10-year trend in which air travel accounts for a declining percentage of total Thanksgiving travel. Since 2000, the number of air travelers during Thanksgiv-ing weekend has dropped by 62 percent.

With so many motorists expected on the roadways, Bakewell recommends that every-one avoid distractions such as cellphones and texting as well as “driver fatigue.”

He suggested that motorists do not at-tempt a long drive home at night, especially if there’s any drowsiness after enjoying a hearty Thanksgiving dinner.

“It’s much better to stay put rather than place yourself and others at risk,” Bakewell added. “A fresh start in the morning after you’ve rested makes a world of difference.”

AAA’s holiday travel projections are based on a national survey of 1,350 U.S. adults conducted by IHS Global Insight and D.K. Shifflet Associates. The complete Thanksgiving holiday forecast is available at www.AAA.com/news.

Groups provide Thanksgiving mealsFamilies from DeKalb, Rockdale and

Newton counties will find hot meals at the J.A.M. Community Development Center on Nov. 22 and A.R. “Gus” Barksdale Boys and Girls Club on Nov. 26.

The Nov. 22 event is the fourth an-nual Thanksgiving giveaway held by J.A.M. Worldwide Ministries Christian Church. This year, it is joined in the venture by former NBA player Dion Glover. Recipients will get baskets loaded with whole turkeys and non-perishable items for their holiday dinner.

Lorenzo G. Johnson Jr., senior pastor, said the giveaway allows them to serve fami-lies who have limited resources and are in need. “Our goal is to ensure that families are fed both spiritually and physically,” he said.

The giveaway, which starts at 5 p.m.,

includes a Gospel Expo with local artists performing rhythm and gospel, holy hip-hop, and soul music.

The J.A.M. Community Development Center is at 1419 Old McDonough Highway, Conyers. For more information, visit www .jamchurch.org or call 1-888-495-4056.

Thanksgiving Day dinnerOn Thanksgiving Day, New Life Family

Christian Center is hosting a free Thanksgiv-ing dinner for the community.

The meal will be served at 1 p.m. at the A.R. “Gus” Barksdale Boys and Girls Club, 1015 O’Kelly St. in Conyers. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

To register or for more information, call 678-342-9117.

‘View’ co-host to discuss new bookSherri Shepherd, the

ebullient co-host of ABC’s “The View,” will be at the Decatur Recreation Center on Nov. 21 to talk about her life and her intriguing new book, “Permission Slips: Every Woman’s Guide to Giving Herself a Break.”

Shepherd, an actress, comedian and sitcom star, is always opinionated on “The View,” where she co-hosts with Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

Fans of the show know her as a dynamic, energetic personality, and her book exudes those same qualities.

Shepherd’s new Lifetime series “Sherri” was the most-watched original comedy premiere on the network in more than a decade. The new show, which centers around a newly single mom, paralegal and part-time comedian/actress who tries to get back into the dating scene and move on with her life after divorcing her cheating husband, nearly doubled the average viewership of the previous four-week time period. The comedy airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Shepherd says she wrote the book to

encourage women to give themselves a break. She came to that realization after causing a media hys-teria during her first week on “The View.” During a discussion on evolution, she told Goldberg she didn’t know if the world was flat or round and never thought about it and set off a frenzy of hate e-mails that crashed her Web site.

“That’s when I re-alized that we’ve gotta give ourselves a break or permission to say dumb things and keep moving,”

she told Time magazine. “I know what a lot of other women are going through. You try to be perfect for everybody. We’ve gotta give ourselves a break.”

Shepherd will sign copies of the book after her talk.

Because of the anticipated large crowd, additional parking will be available at the DeKalb County Parking Deck at the corner of Trinity and Commerce streets.

The event is sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book at the DeKalb Public Library. For more information, call 404-370-8450.

Sherri Shepherd will sign copies of her book on Nov. 21.

CrossRoadsNews November 21, 20092

Early voting for the Dec. 1 run-off elections for Clarkston mayor and Geeorgia House District 58 is now under way at the DeKalb Elec-tions Office on Memorial Drive in Decatur.

T he ear ly po l l s , w hich opened Nov. 18, continue Nov. 23-25 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Suite 300 at 4380 Memorial Drive in Decatur.

C l a r k s t o n City Council m e m b e r Pa t Dav is-Morr is and store man-ager Howard Ty-grett are seeking to succeed Lee Swaney, who did not seek re-election. The runoff is going ahead despite a Nov. 13 resolution by the city council that declared Ty-grett the winner and affirmed the city’s long tradition of selecting its elected officials with a plurality of votes.

In the House 58 race, attorney Asha Jackson and community or-ganizer Simone Bell are seeking to finish the term of Robbin Shipp, who resigned in April.

On election day, the polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the city and throughout House District 58.

COMMUNITY PG

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H1N1 vaccines SaturdayBy Mary Swint

South DeKalb will get another Grady health center next year but this one will be a “super center “ providing a wide variety of services to both insured and uninsured patients.

DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson welcomed news of the cen-ter which comes four months after Grady had tried to close its Rain-bow Drive health center in District Three, which he represents.

“It will become the Wal-Mart of health care, a one-stop shop,” Johnson said.

Denise Williams, Grady’s execu-tive vice president, made a presen-tation about the health system’s plans to add four super health cen-ters in Fulton and DeKalb counties at the Nov. 2 meeting of the Grady Memorial Hospital Corp. Board of Directors.

No vote was needed, according to Matt Gove, the system’s vice president of communications and marketing. He said the goal is to open them sometime in 2010.

Grady has just started trying to identify sites for the new center in southeast DeKalb, Gove said.

“It needs to be more than 15,000 square feet,” he said. “Mostly it has to do with ease of access and parking.” The site may be rented or purchased, whichever is most cost effective.

In addition to the southeast DeKalb center, plans call for ex-pansion of the DeKalb Grady Neighborhood Health Center in the

Kirkwood area of Atlanta. Gove said parking is terrible at the center.

“It is difficult for some patients to get up hill from the parking area,” he said. “We are committed to that area of DeKalb and need a new larger location to provide services. There are a couple options very close by that we are looking at to move that center.”

The two other super health centers will be located in north and south Fulton County.

“The goal for each center is to break even on their own,” Gove said. “Part of what we are trying to do is to move from strictly free care to create a medical office that attracts all patients, insured and uninsured.”

Gove said the plan for all Grady centers is to provide the level of service that insureds are used to and uninsured deserve to have. He said cardiovascular, orthopedic and obstetrical specialists will rotate through the super centers. There will be no outpatient surgery, at least initially.

Johnson said it is always good to increase primary care access points and it is hope that the new center will be a “holistic place” that focuses not just on care of the sick,

but also on wellness. He also wants to see it offer

preventive care such as screenings for diabetes and health education classes and prenatal services, as well as mental health, dental and geriatric services.

A decision has not been made whether the doctors at the super centers will come from Morehouse or Emory medical schools or be employed directly by Grady.

While details of the center’s schedule and staffing have not been determined, Johnson hopes it will be accessible by MARTA and will open seven days a week and in the evening to accommodate residents who work different shifts.

Gove said a $1 million gift from an unidentified donor will help fund the expansions, estimated to cost about $5 million. The rest of the funding will come from capital gifts and operational dollars in Grady’s budget.

While it is not part of the plan, Grady says it is not closing the door on seeking direct support from the counties for centers.

DeKalb already gives Grady $23 million a year for indigent care.

The South DeKalb Health Cen-ter inside the Kroger on Rainbow Way in Decatur will remain open. Gove said the customers who use it feel strongly about that location.

“It will continue operating as it has for years,” he said. “As we see success of the new centers, we may revisit moving that center to another location in the same neighborhood.”

“It will become the Wal-Mart of

health care, a one-stop shop.”

Larry Johnson, DeKalb County Commissioner

DeKalb residents in prior-ity risk groups can get the novel H1N1 vaccine on Nov. 21 in Decatur.

The DeKalb Board of Health will dispense 2,5000 injectable vaccines while supplies last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the old DeVry University campus, 250 N. Arca-dia Road.

The free doses will go preg-nant women, caretakers of infants younger than 6 months, anyone from 6 months to 24 years of age, and adults 25 to 64 years who has a medical condition.

Parents should bring their children’s immunization records.For more information, call 404-508-7880.

CrossRoadsNewsNovember 21, 2009 3

Community

index to advertisers

Drivers face seat belt crackdown 2

The state is cracking down on people who drive without seat belts during the heavily traveled Thanksgiving holiday.

Grady to add super center in South DeKalb 3

South DeKalb will get another Grady health center next year but this one will be a “super center” providing services to both insured and uninsured patients.

Workshop tackles debt, money topics 6

Financial analyst Jeff Shirley will teach small-business owners how to manage their money and debts at a workshop sponsored by the Small Business Administration.

Food company expansion to add 60 jobs in Conyers 6

Golden State Foods has created 60 jobs in its liquid products division, which includes syrups, sauces, condiments, dressings and other products.

Children’s lands $30 million for research, autism 8

A $30 million grant to Children’s Health-care of Atlanta will help fund a new pediatric research building and support autism re-search, clinical care and advocacy.

Lack of knowledge hampers diabetes care 9

Even though diabetes is a major health problem in the country, Americans earned a failing grade on diabetes awareness.

Columbia students to feed homeless 10

Columbia High School students will feed more than 400 homeless men, women and children at their third annual Turkey Dinner.

Annual Tree of Love kicks off Nov. 21 11

Area residents can play secret Santas for 500 foster children who will be given toys and gifts as part of DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson’s annual Tree of Love.

Pantry volunteers preparing for busy holiday 13

This Saturday, 170 families will get Thanksgiving boxes laden with all the fixings for a hearty Thanksgiving dinner from the pantry at Holy Cross Episcopal Church.

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QuiCk Read

“We have temporaries in our vacant spaces like every other mall across the country.”

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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Circulation Audited By

Sam Brown (right) and Dennis Belgrave discuss items that will go into the food boxes that the Holy Cross Episcopal Church pantry will give to the needy this week.


Officials at the Mall at Stonecrest say they expect a healthy shopping season despite the current economic downturn.

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.

Big Burger, opened this month in the mall. Among new vendors in the pipeline are a men’s clothing store, Mr. ATL, and an optical outfit called Fashion Optique.

Though the Gallery at South DeKalb generally requires at least a one-year lease for its store spaces, many malls nationwide are leas-ing to temporary stores, known as “pop ups.”

During the third quarter of this year, mall vacancies across the nation were at a 10-year high, New York real estate research firm Reis Inc. said.

North DeKalb Mall, which features anchors Macy’s and Bur-lington Coat Factory, has about six empty storefronts. Some of the mall’s vendors are pop ups that will be open just for the holidays or for a month or two, Burdge said.

With the help of pop ups, the Mall at Stonecrest is at 99 percent capacity, with the former Gap being the only vacant storefront, accord-ing to Bieler. A tenant is coming to the space formerly occupied by Called to Conquer bookstore, he said.

“We have temporaries in our vacant spaces like every other mall across the country,” Bieler said. “They come in for two, three or four months. Most are here for the holidays and if sales are favorable, they may stay longer.”

Seasonal tenants move into vacant spaces for holiday season SHOPPING, frOm PaGe 1

Happy to help those in need

Brown left his island home in 1941 for England to study engineering. While there he flew airplanes for the Royal Air Force for three-and-a-half years during World War II. He immigrated to the United States in 1967.

Before he moved to south DeKalb County, he lived in south-west Atlanta and was a member of St. Paul Episcopal Church.

Not one to sit still, Brown jumped in where he saw a need.

“It’s a God-given gift that I have to render assistance to people who are destitute from time to time,” he said. “I feel happy to know that the church is able to offer assistance. We don’t know what next year will bring, but the church is always there ready and willing to help.”

Pantry preparing for holiday giveaway, page 13

BrOWN, frOm PaGe 1

Swiss Leather, which carries coats, jackets and pocketbooks, on the mall’s upper level is one of the holiday tenants.

Pop ups can be a great oppor-tunity for retailers in a seasonal business, says Leonardo McClarty, president of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce.

“I think it also could be good for young businesses,” McClarty said. “It may give them a chance to see almost on the fly if [the mall] is the best location for them, or whether it’s a storefront in a strip shopping center or a free-standing store.”

Black Friday is traditionally the

day when retailers go into the black for the year, making more than 30 percent of their annual sales for the 25 shopping days between Thanks-giving and Christmas.

McClarty said customer service is what will give retailers an edge this shopping season.

“Of all the seasons, this is the one where customer service has got to be at the forefront,” Mc-Clarty said. “With the competition for sales … people will perhaps be ready to pay a little bit more or go out of their way a little bit if the treatment far exceeds their expec-tations.”

Bieler said the Mall at Stonecrest will lure holiday shoppers with en-tertainment, pictures with Santa and a “pleasant shopping experi-ence.”

On Dec. 5, the Gallery at South DeKalb will host the ladies of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and the Mall at Stonecrest hosts Peter Facinelli who plays Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the hit book and movie “Twilight.”

“We are looking forward to a happy and healthy shopping sea-son,” Bieler said.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker contrib-uted to this report.



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FinanCe Check the price you pay your marketer with others to see whether it is in your best interest to change to another marketer.

Food company expansion to add 60 jobs in Conyers

Natural gas users can take steps now to cut heating bills

David Burgess

FEMA disaster center to close on Nov. 23

Workshop tackles debt, money topics

Golden State Foods is expand-ing its Conyers facility.

The company has created 60 jobs in its liquid products division, which includes syrups, sauces, con-diments, dressings and other prod-ucts for clients like McDonald’s.

Georgia’s economic develop-ment program Quick Start and DeKalb Technical College are pro-viding customized training for the new positions.

The FEMA federal disaster as-sistance center at the Browns Mill Recreation Center is closing at 6 p.m. on Nov. 23.

Monday is the final day to apply for assistance online or by phone.

It is also the last day to return applications for low-interest loans from the Small Business Adminis-tration.

DeKalb Center is one of the final six to close for flood victims in the 17 North Georgia counties affected by the Sept. 20-21 floods that damaged homes, businesses, and roads and bridges.

Total disaster assistance pro-vided to families, individuals and businesses for home repairs, tem-porary housing, personal property and other serious disaster-related needs reached nearly $90 million last week.

For more information, visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362, TTY 1-800-462-7585.

By David Burgess

Even though we have been hav-ing unseasonably warm weather for November, consumers should begin preparing now for the upcoming win-ter heating season.

Take steps to ensure your heating system is ready, check into current natural gas plans, and make sure you know your rights and responsibilities when it comes to paying those winter heating bills.

DeKalb consumers can take a number of steps to reduce the impact of winter heating costs. They include:

Budget billingIf you are on a budget, retired or on a fixed

income, you may find budget billing to be an attractive payment option.

It allows consumers to make levelized monthly payments on their bills and is available whether you have fixed or variable rate plans. Budget billing can help you avoid spikes in your winter heating bills.

Energy conservationConservation is vital to any plan of action

to lower one’s monthly utility bill. Purchasing energy-efficient equipment such as a furnace, hot water heater and/or stove; caulking around doors and windows; and insulating walls, floors and the attic are some things consumers can do

Kim Donahue, Golden State Foods human resources manager, said the up-to-date training mate-rials have given them a competitive edge for future growth.

Golden State Foods, one of the largest diversified suppliers to the fast-food industry, provides 20,000 restaurants with raw material and equipment sourcing and procure-ment, food processing/manufac-turing, custom distribution and

convenient on-site services. Its liquid products division annually produces more than 17 million cases, about 400 million pounds.

Jackie Rohosky, assistant com-missioner for economic develop-ment programs at the Technical College System of Georgia and head of Quick Start, said they are eager to see more Georgians in good jobs as a result of Golden State Foods’ growth.

Since 1967, Quick Start has trained more than 600,000 em-ployees through 5,100 projects with a broad range of industries.

Dr. Robin Hoffman, DeKalb Tech’s president, said the partner-ship is a shining example of how the college joins with local busi-nesses to improve the economy, the job market and the quality of life in our community. “It is a team effort. Today our team scored.”

Financial analyst Jeff Shirley will teach small-business own-ers how to successfully manage their money and debts at a Dec. 3 workshop sponsored by the Small Business Administration.

The two-hour workshop will cover “A Workable Budget”; “How Money Works”; “Money and Debt Management Skills”; and “Improving Your Credit Score.” It starts at 10 a.m. at the SBA Georgia District Office, 233 Peachtree St. N.E. in Atlanta. The office is on the 19th floor in the Harris Tower.

The workshop is free but pre-registration is mandatory. Register online at www.sba.gov/ga and select Public Training and Seminars – Register Now! in the Web site’s Spotlight sec-tion. Your name and telephone number and/or e-mail address are needed on the online form.

The completed registration form also can be faxed to Doro-thy Fletcher at 404-331-0101.

to lower their winter heating bills. Of course, if you don’t need to

have any of your equipment replaced, be sure to have these inspected by a professional to ensure operation at maximum efficiency.

Georgia Power Co. provides free in-home energy audits. Call 1-800-524-2421.

WeatherizationWeatherization assistance for low-income

families is available in DeKalb County. This assistance is offered through a program ad-ministered by Clarkston-based Partnership for Community Action Inc. They can be reached at 404-929-2451 or 404-929-2452.

The Georgia Environmental Facilities Au-thority also provides weatherization assistance. For more information, visit www.gefa.ga.gov or call 404-584-1000.

Low-income assistanceLow-income consumers may qualify for

assistance with their heating bills through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. In DeKalb, the program is administered by the Partnership for Community Action.

Eligible consumers may receive a one-time credit of up to $350 on their home heating bill. The program opened on Nov. 2 for senior citi-zens and disabled and homebound residents.

On Dec. 1, the program will be open to the

general public. Consumers also may be eligible for assistance through the Salvation Army.

For more information, call Project Share at 1-800-257-4273; United Way at 211; and H.E.A.T. Inc. at 678-406-0212.

Review of natural gas plansNow is also a good time to see if you’re get-

ting the best value for your dollar. The Public Service Commission publishes a monthly price-comparison chart of all natural gas marketers’ plans – fixed and variable. Check the price you pay your marketer with others to see whether it is in your best interest to change to another marketer.

Also, the Regulated Provider is available to serve low-income citizens and those who are not able to obtain service from any of the certificated marketers in Atlanta Gas Light Co.’s service area.

For more assistanceVisit the PSC Web site at www.psc.state.ga.us

to get information to help you obtain senior citizens discounts, manage your utility bills, to assist in selecting a natural gas marketer, and to get additional conservation tips.

Consumers may contact the commission for more information: Visit www.psc.state.ga .us, e-mail [email protected] or call 404-656-4501.

David Burgess is a former Georgia Public Service commissioner.

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Health & Wellness Study finds growing hunger in households with kids

As Americans head into the an-nual Thanksgiving eating season, sobering news came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture this week: Hunger is on the rise across the country.

The annual Household Food Security Report, released Nov. 16, said there were more than 506,000 families in which a child experi-enced hunger multiple times over the course of the year.

The report found an increasing number of U.S. households – 14.6 percent, up from 11.1 percent the previous year – had difficulty put-ting food on the table in 2008. It is the highest recorded prevalence rate of food insecurity since 1995, when the first national survey was conducted.

President Barack Obama said it is “particularly troubling” that children in so many families are experiencing hunger.

“Our children’s ability to grow, learn and meet their full potential – and therefore our future com-petitiveness as a nation – depends on regular access to healthy meals,” he said in a statement about the report.

The president noted that food stamp applications are surging and that food pantries face shortages in many communities.

“The first task is to restore job growth, which will help relieve the economic pressures that make it difficult for parents to put a square

meal on the table each day,” he said, adding that he is looking forward to working with Congress to pass a strong child nutrition bill.

In 2008, the median U.S. house-hold spent $43.75 per person for food each week – about 14 percent more than the cost of USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan, a low-cost food

“market basket” that meets dietary standards.

The 2008 food security report surveyed about 44,000 households comprising a representative sample of the U.S. civilian population of 118 million households.

The USDA defines food inse-curity as a household’s difficulty

providing enough food for all its members because of the lack of resources. Food security is defined as access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.

Typically, households classified with very low food security expe-rienced the condition in seven or

eight months of the year for a few days in each of those months. On an average day in late November or early December 2008, for example, an estimated 1.1 million to 1.4 mil-lion households, or 0.9 percent to 1.2 percent of all U.S. households, had members who experienced very low food security.

Children experienced these conditions in 86,000 to 111,000 households.

The report found that hunger has risen significantly in the past year. It said that about 85 percent of U.S. households had access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all members last year.

The remaining households – 6.7 million – were food insecure at least some time during the year. That was 5.7 percent of all U.S. households.

The households with children experiencing very low food security jumped to 506,000 in 2008, from 323,000 in 2007.

The 2008 report found that 55 percent of all households facing difficulty providing enough food participated in one or more of the three largest federal food and nutri-tion assistance programs, including food stamps or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, dur-ing the month before the survey.

To view the full report, visit www.ers.usda.gov/features/house holdfoodsecurity.

In the last year, a USDA survey found children in more than 506,000 U.S. families experienced hunger multiple times because of their families’ inability to provide them the food like these on the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan.

Wellness “This grant boosts our efforts at the Marcus Autism Center as we continue to build on the foundation Bernie and Billi Marcus put in place.”

Focus on weight goals now to avoid holiday gains

Spread cheer, not disease, during holiday gatherings

Children’s lands $30 million for research, autism

The Board of Health will provide the vaccine at no

charge to patients. However, an administrative fee may

be charged through Medicare, Medicaid, and all third

party insurance including State Health Benefit plans for

United Care and Cigna. Persons are asked to bring their

insurance cards at the time of service. Service is based

on a first come, first serve basis until the current vaccine

supply is depleted.

For more information, call (404) 508-7880 or visit our

website at www.dekalbhealth.net.

Arm Yourself Against the Flu:

Has your child received their

Novel H1N1 vaccine yet?

At all DeKalb County Board of Health Centers

8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Walk-ins are welcome!

(404) 508-7880

Promoting Protecting

Improving

Health

A $30 million grant to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta will help fund a new pediatric research building and sup-port autism research, clinical care and advocacy.

The hospital, which announced the grant from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation Nov. 13, said $25 million will go to its research building located on the Emory campus and $5 million to support the Marcus Autism Center.

Doug Hertz, who chairs Children’s board of trustees, said the pediatric re-search facility will enhance the hospital’s ability to attract top scientists and to drive discovery of new knowledge.

“Additionally, this grant boosts our efforts at the Marcus Autism Center as we continue to build on the foundation Bernie and Billi Marcus put in place to help children with autism and related disorders,” he said.

Some of the pediatric research expected to be conducted in the new building will include cardiac, cancer, vaccines and new drug discoveries.

Donna W. Hyland, president and CEO of Children’s Healthcare, called the grant the largest single gift to Children’s.

“We are profoundly grateful for this grant, which will further the collaboration between Children’s and Emory University and our efforts to find cures for some of the most common and devastating child-hood diseases,” she said.

The Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation supports organizations and programs that benefit children in metro Atlanta.

There has been much debate over how much weight the American population gains during the holidays.

Many people report weight gain of 5 to 7 pounds during the six-week period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Recent studies by the National Institutes of Health conclude that people gain an average of 1 pound. However, for overweight people, the weight gain reached 5 pounds.

More disturbing is that these studies indicate that the weight gained during the holidays often hangs around and is a contributing factor to the national obesity epidemic.

Incorporating healthy behaviors over the holiday season will help you to stay on track with long-term health and fitness goals as well as allow you to enjoy the holidays comfortable that you will not pay later with unwanted bulges.

To help prevent holiday weight gain, your focus should not be on weight loss, but weight maintenance. Now is not the time to relax exercising and eating routines. In fact, because of all the parties and social events and the extra eating, individuals who aren’t physically active should start now and not wait until the new year to begin.

For those who are already physically ac-tive, now is not the time to take a break.

The American Heart Association and other health organizations recommend en-gaging in physical activity for 30 minutes at least three days a week. To make it easier to exercise during the busy holiday schedule, break up the 30 minutes into two bouts of moderate intensity activity for 15 minutes.

For example, take the stairs instead of the elevator at work, or park farther away from the mall’s entrance and add some walking to your holiday shopping routine.

In addition to walking the stairs, you can march in place or walk briskly for 15 minutes in the morning followed by the same thing in the afternoon or evening.

Also, make a commitment with a buddy to stay active over the holidays. That way you can exercise together or at least check up on and encourage each other to stay with the program.

Maintaining a balanced eating schedule is also important during this time. Most im-portantly, do not skip meals, and eat healthy stuff at the holiday buffets. Use a smaller plate and start with the veggies and salads. With more good stuff on your plate, you’ll have less space for fattening foods.

If there is no time to prepare a meal, try to incorporate healthy meal replacement drinks or smoothies.

Never go to a holiday party hungry. Eat-ing something beforehand will help prevent overindulging on high-calorie, high-fat foods.

To reduce mindless munching, focus more on spending time catching up with friends and family members instead of hang-ing out in the kitchen or buffet area.

The holidays can be stressful and stress raises hormone levels, including cortisol, which can lead to weight gain. Try to reduce stress levels by getting adequate rest and take time to relax and have quiet time.

Ayana Roberts is fitness and aerobics director at Samson’s Health and Fitness Center.

During the giving season, the one thing you should avoid giving to visiting friends and family is the flu. Gatherings have been shown to increase the risks of spreading germs and illness; however, there are some tips holiday entertainers can follow to spread cheer – and not germs – at their parties.

Stock up on sanitizerIn addition to having alcohol-based hand

sanitizer in the bathroom, place a bottle on the buffet table and on other commonly used surfaces. This gives guests an opportunity to kill germs before filling a plate and provides a friendly reminder to engage in this healthy practice.

Offer disposable towelsMultiple-use cloth towels are a haven for

germs. Rather than asking guests to share one cloth towel, set out disposable guest towels.

“Individual disposable guest towels, like those made by Chinet, combine the elegance and absorption of cloth while minimizing the spread of germs,” said Julie Stoetzer, marketing manager for Huhtamaki, the mak-ers of Chinet. “And since you can find these guest towels at your local grocery store, it will mean one less trip during the hectic holiday shopping season.”

Use single-serving bowls and cups Candy and nuts are snacking staples in

many households. To prevent germs from being transmitted through common dishes, present your snacks in single-serving con-tainers. Disposable cut crystal tumblers are an affordable and attractive option to community dishes and will eliminate the temptation guests might have to place their

hands into a bowl.

Provide drink identifiersIn the excitement of a party, it’s easy

to mistakenly grab the wrong glass. Using wine charms or decorative swizzle sticks can ensure that partygoers only drink from their own cup. Another option is to decorate and personalize disposable tumblers with permanent markers.

By taking these precautions this holiday season, you can help your friends and family have a happy and healthy holiday.

Get more holiday entertaining tips at www.mychinet.com.

–FamilyFeatures

Hosts can help limit the spread of germs by offering snacks in single-serving containers.

To help prevent holiday weight gain, your focus should not be on weight loss, but weight maintenance. Now’s

not the time to relax exercise and eating routines.

HealthMattersAyana Roberts


Even though diabetes is a ma-jor health problem in the country, Americans earned a failing grade on diabetes awareness in a survey released Nov. 2.

When asked a series of ques-tions about a disease so common that every 20 seconds someone is diagnosed with it, Americans earned a 51 percent and the survey revealed that many diabetes myths and misconceptions still exist even as the disease’s prevalence contin-ues to rise.

Nationally, nearly 24 million people have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Another 57 million have pre-diabetes and are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. One out of every three children will face a future with diabetes if current trends continue.

To help fight the pervasive igno-rance, the American Diabetes Asso-

ciation launched a Stop Diabetes campaign on Oct. 29, just be-fore November, which is ob-served nation-ally as Ameri-can Diabetes Month.

Sue McLaughlin, the asso-ciation’s Health Care & Education president, said the very limited un-derstanding of the basic facts about diabetes and the disease’s serious health consequences hampers ef-forts to battle the chronic illness.

“Denial of diabetes and the promotion of inaccurate informa-

Join the effort to stop diabetes

Wellness “The Stop Diabetes campaign aims to put a halt to this lack of awareness and misinformation so we can change the direction of diabetes prevalence in this country.”

Lack of knowledge hampers diabetes care

tion, full of stereotypes and stigma, do not serve anyone well,” she said. “The association’s Stop Diabetes campaign aims to put a halt to this lack of awareness and misin-formation so we can change the direction of diabetes prevalence in this country.”

The association says diabetes has reached epidemic proportions across the country. Since 1987, the death rate due to diabetes has increased by 45 percent while the death rates due to cancer, heart disease and stroke have declined.

About 60 percent to 70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage that could result in pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion, sexual dysfunction, and other nerve prob-lems. The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for people without dia-

betes. Two out of three diabetics die from heart disease or stroke.

Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults. It is the leading cause of kidney failure.

The association says the total national cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is $174 billion. Direct medical costs reach $116 billion, and the average medical expenditure among people with diabetes is 2.3 times higher than those without the disease. The cost of caring for someone with diabetes accounts for $1 out of every $5 in total health care costs.

Indirect costs for disability, work loss or premature death is estimated at $58 billion.

Put on the brakes The Stop Diabetes Movement

aims to halt this deadly disease

The Harris Interactive Diabetes survey, released Nov. 2, polled 2,081 Americans about their diabetes knowledge. Among the many myths it found:Myth: Diabetes is not that serious of a disease.Askedtorankwhichdisease–diabetes,breastcancer,AIDS–was

responsibleforthegreatestnumberofU.S.deathseachyear,lessthanhalf–42percent–ofrespondentschosediabetes.Fact: Diabetes causes more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke.Myth: Eating too much sugar can lead to diabetes.Onlyathirdofthesurvey’srespondents,32percent,knewthis

mythwasfalse.Fact: Type 1 diabetes is caused by genetics and unknown factors that trigger the onset of the disease. Type 2 diabetes is caused by genetics and lifestyle factors. Being overweight increases your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, and a diet high in calories, whether from sugar or from fat, can contribute to weight gain. If you have a history of diabetes in your family, following a healthy meal plan and regular exercise are recommended to manage your weight.Myth: If you are overweight or obese, you will eventually

develop Type 2 diabetes.Nearlythreeinfive,or59percent,didnotknowthatthisisafalse

statement.Inaddition,morethanhalf,53percent,ofthemdidnotknowthatriskfordevelopingType2diabetesincreaseswithage.Fact: Being overweight is a risk factor for developing this disease, but other risk factors such as family history, ethnicity and age also play a role. Unfortunately, too many people disregard the other risk factors for diabetes and think that weight is the only risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Many overweight people never develop Type 2 diabetes, and many people with Type 2 diabetes are at a normal weight or only moderately overweight.

The Stop Diabetes Movement wants everyone to get involved. Here is what you can do: Share: Inspire others to join the movement by sharing their personal

story. Act: The American Diabetes Association provides many ways to get

involved with the fight to stop diabetes, including volunteer opportunities, walks and bikes around the country.

Learn: The American Diabetes Association has many resources throughout the country to help stop diabetes for people who already have diabetes or are at risk for Type 2, including lifestyle and motivational information for patients and loved ones.

Give: The drive to stop diabetes cannot succeed without individuals dedicating time, effort and funds to support the American Diabetes Association’s mission-critical activities in cities and towns across the country.

Myths about diabetes abound

from stealing moments, hours and days from millions of children and adults; to stop the anxiety, fear and heartache it causes every day; to stop the blindness and am-putations; to stop discrimination against people with diabetes; and to stop it from haunting our children’s future and stealing our loved ones all too soon.

It encourages all people affected with diabetes to join together to share their stories, raise awareness of diabetes and its consequences, and support fund-raising efforts in support of diabetes education and research.

For more information, visit StopDiabetes.com or call 1-800-DI-ABETES (1-800-342-2383).

Sue McLaughlin


Columbia High School stu-dents will be feeding more than 400 homeless men, women and children at their third annual Turkey Dinner on Nov. 21.

Students at the Decatur school plan, donate, cook and volunteer for the event.

Shomari Zachary, their teach-er, says the event brings the students together to serve their community.

“This event gathers more student par-ticipation than any other event at Columbia High School,” he said. “The kids prep all the food.”

During the event, which starts at 11 a.m., the homeless people, who come from various shelters around Atlanta, also will get clothes, haircuts, toiletry items and health screenings.

Zachary says they have part-nered with Greenforest Baptist and Green Pastures Christian churches and they will pick up and transport the people to the school

at 2106 Columbia Drive. The students are still accepting blankets,

coats and toiletry items. For more information, call 678-874-

0802.

The “Hometown” exhibit features black-and-white images of the people and countryside of China.

Military members and their spouses can get discounts to see the Rockettes by showing military ID and providing a special promo code.

Chinese photography at GPC campus

Military families can get free or reduced-price tickets to see the world-famous Radio City Rockettes at the Fox The-atre through Dec. 6.

Operation Homefront Georgia has made it pos-sible for military mem-bers and their families to save $10 on select tickets to all weekday performances, exclud-ing Fridays at 8 p.m.

Families of deployed military troops will be hosted at a special perfor-mance at 8 p.m. on Dec. 4.

Now in its 77th year, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is touring 31 cities. More than 67 million people have seen the show, which includes larger-than-life sets

and a wintry landscape. The “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” comes alive as the signa-

ture Rockette number for precision performance.

Leenie Ruben, Operation Homefront’s development

director, said the effort can be called both a morale-raiser and a fund-raiser.

Military personnel and their spouses can get discounts by showing

military ID and providing the promo code USAROX.

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster and

the Fox box office. For more information, visit www.

Radio CityChristmas.com.

Two photography exhibits – “Hometown: Post Documentary Photography” and “Water” – offering nontraditional views of China are on display at Georgia Perimeter College’s Clarkston campus through Dec. 8.

In “Hometown,” four young Chi-nese photographers capture stark, unvarnished images of the people and countryside of China in black and white.

The “Water” exhibit features abstract color photographs by Zhou Ning.

The exhibits are open Monday to Thurs-day from 7:45 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m.

The exhibits are on the fourth floor of the Jim Cherry Student Learning Resource

Center, at 555 N. Indian Creek Drive.“Hometown” and “Water” are part of

dozens of shows on display throughout metro Atlanta as part of “Atlanta Celebrates Photography.”

For more information, call 678-891-3556.

Discounts for military to see Rockettes

Stars to shine at Macy’s Tree Lighting

Music, parade in Stone Mountain

Columbia students to feed homeless

Holiday

Grammy-nominated singer Josh Turner, “American Idol’s” Season 5 contestant Mandisa, R&B vocalist Stephen Norwood, SoReal Cru and the Macy’s All Star Holiday Choir will headline the lighting of the Macy’s Great Tree on Nov. 26 at Lenox Square.

Country music star Turner, who hails from rural South Carolina, made his debut at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry in 2001 and since then has been wowing music lovers with his storytelling. His latest CD is “Everything Is Fine.”

Mandisa Lynn Hundley, a Grammy- and Dove Award-nominated Christian music artist, finished ninth in the 2006 season of “American Idol.” Her debut album, “True Beauty” in 2007, created history as the only female debut to hit No. 1 in the 27-year his-tory of Billboard’s Christian Retail Chart. The album was nominated for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and the single “Only the World” became a Top 5 hit on Christian radio.

Eighteen-year-old Norwood is a rising R&B artist and popular entertainer on the Atlanta music scene. The talented newcomer only launched his singing career in February.

Since then he has opened for the legendary B.B. King, performed at a pregame concert in front of 30,000 at Turner Field before an Atlanta Braves game, and was picked as the 2009 Macy’s Rising Star.

SoReal Cru, one of the country’s top dance teams, was a finalist of MTV’s “Ameri-can’s Best Dance Crew.” The Houston-based group takes a versatile approach to the dance scene, incorporating everything and any-thing to express the art of raw emotion that moves spectators.

The annual Thanksgiving night event, which is marking its 62nd year, will be broad-cast live at 7 p.m. on WSB-TV Channel 2 with hosts Monica Pearson and David Chandley.

Seating opens at 5:30 p.m. and a pre-show begins at 6:15 p.m.

SoReal Cru will perform at the Macy’s Great Tree Lighting on Nov. 26 at Lenox Square.

The Ruby Red’s Band, marshmallow roasting, and fresh-made snow are just a few of the activities that make the Stone Mountain Vil lage Christmas Celebra-tion special on Nov. 27.

The annual cel-ebration in the picturesque Village of Stone Mountain will be 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Main Street downtown.

The Ruby Red’s Band will kick off the evening with live Christmas music. There

also will be an arts and crafts show, a letter writing station, and holiday shopping with downtown mer-chants.

Santa wil l ar-rive on his sleigh at 6:30 p.m. and visit with children until he lights the Stone

Mountain Christmas tree at 8 p.m. The cel-ebration culminates with a fireworks finale at 8:15 p.m.


Stone Mountain’s scenic downtown will provide the backdrop for the annual parade, which culminates with Santa (below) lighting the Christmas tree and fireworks.

Daiquan Zachery (left) and Joshua Holt prep some of the turkeys that students will feed to homeless people during Columbia High School’s annual Turkey Dinner.

Shomari Zachary

Josh Turner Mandisa Hundley Stephen Norwood


Annual Tree of Love kicks off Nov. 21Area residents can play secret Santas for

500 foster children who will be given toys and gifts as part of DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson’s annual Tree of Love.

The project, which is marking its 10th year, kicks off Nov. 21 at noon at the Gallery at South DeKalb. During the kickoff, indi-viduals and community and civic groups can select from the children’s wish lists. The wrapped gifts must be returned to the mall during the Dec. 19 Tree of Love Christmas Program.

Johnson, who represents District 3, said the Tree of Love needs community support this year more than ever.

“Not only does this year mark a signifi-cant milestone for the Tree of Love, it’s a year where there are more and more fami-lies in our community that need us all to come together to help make the holidays a little brighter for some of our most precious citizens, our children,” he said.

The Tree of Love relies on individuals and social and community groups to fulfill the wish lists of more than 500 children, provided by the DeKalb Department of

Family and Children Services.Walker E. Solomon II, DFACS county

director, said the Tree of Love allows them to indirectly meet the needs of the children who are in their care because of domestic circumstances beyond their control.

“We are thankful for the partnership with Commissioner Johnson, and we ap-preciate the community’s contributions to help fulfill a Christmas wish for a child,” he said.

Johnson, who launched the Tree of Love program in 1999, said he had no idea at the time that it would endure and provide such satisfaction.

“I didn’t realize it would become one of the most rewarding community service projects of my life,” he said.

Over the years the Tree of Love has served more than 5,000 children. During the kickoff, the community will have the opportunity to select a name or names from the Tree of Love and buy gifts from the child’s wish list.


District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson says the annual Tree of Love campaign at the Gallery of South DeKalb is “one of the most rewarding community service projects of my life.”

HolidaySantas scheduled to arrive at malls

SANTA'S ARRIVAL

Santa Photo Hours Monday-Saturday

11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Sundays 1 p.m.-6 p.m.

KIDS! HAVE BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

Enjoy the play

“Christmas with the Canes”

Saturday, Nov. 28 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Register for Breakfast at Avon Kiosk Near Chick-fil-A$3.00 Per Person for a Chick-fil-A Breakfast

Receive $1.00 Off Santa Photo PackageOne Per Family

NORTH DEKALB MALL • 2050 LAWRENCEVILLE HWY. • FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 404-235-6444

NOVEMBER 27 @ 11 a.m.

The Big Guy in red will be arriv-ing at area malls this weekend and next to help kick off the holiday shopping season.

Santa will be showing up in parades and with the help of Nickelodeon stars at the Mall at Stonecrest, the Gallery of South DeKalb and North DeKalb Mall between Nov. 21 and 27.

At the Mall at Stonecrest, it’s a Bikini Bottom Christmas Spectacular on Nov. 21, when “SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Live” will perform at four live productions to welcome Santa to his workshop in front of Sears on the mall’s lower level.

Once again, not one but three Santas will be in residence at the Lithonia mall through-out the season. Santa Jack, Santa Sam and Santa Robert will play musical big chair.

For Stonecrest customers who want an African-American Santa, Santa Sam will be in residence Monday to Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 16. After that, it will be Santa Jack, who has been the mall’s Santa since it opened in 2001, and Santa Robert, daily through Christmas Eve.

Santas are taking photos through Dec. 24 at the Mall at Stonecrest, weekdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays noon to 6 p.m. For more infor-mation, call 678-526-8955.

Gallery at South DeKalbAt the Gallery at South

DeKalb, the annual Santa parade takes place at 6 p.m. Nov. 21.

Santa Dee, who be-came the mall’s Santa last year, will be heralded into the mall by the Southwest DeKalb Marching Pan-

thers. The parade kicks off in front of Conway and will proceed to the stage in front of Macy’s. After festivities with V103’s Ryan Cameron as emcee, Santa will begin taking photos at 7 p.m. in his village at Center Court.

Visit with Santa Dee through Dec. 24, Mondays to Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.


North DeKalb MallNorth DeKalb Mall’s Santa arrives at 11

a.m. on Nov. 27.The mall has had the

same Santa for 26 years.Mary Joyce Burdge,

the mall’s marketing man-ager, says that the parents who sat on his legs as children are now bring-ing their children to take photos with him.

Santa’s arrival will follow a fun interactive play directed by Jeff Baker. “Christmas With the Canes” will teach kids to remember to say thank you for the gifts they get, even if they are not what their heart desires.

Santa will take photos Mondays through Saturdays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 1-6 p.m. On Christmas Eve, he will be in residence from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Santa Robert

Santa Dee

N. DeKalb Santa

Santa Sam Santa Jack

“I didn’t realize it would become one of the most rewarding community service projects of my life.”


Want to be a hit at the next potluck buffet? Bring along this perfect bake-and-take dish, Loaded Potato Potluck Favorite.

Family Features

The holidays are upon us, which means not only are you preparing those huge meals, but you also have an endless stream of other fun and festive get-togethers with hungry guests. To help you whip up those extra special dishes during the holidays, the folks

at Carnation have created some rich and creamy holiday recipes. For the early birds in your family, try Eggnog-Spiced French

Toast. The addition of eggnog spices puts just the right holiday touch on traditional French toast.

To use those leftovers, try Turkey & Cranberry Encore Salad — the com bination of the uniquely creamy cranberry dressing along with fresh greens and succulent turkey makes the perfect post-holiday entrée. You’ll be happy for the leftovers.

Fun Mexi-Meatball Kabobs are party perfect and easy to prepare. Use skewers to make them easy to eat.

Want to be a hit at the next potluck buffet? Bring along this perfect bake-and-take dish, Loaded Potato Potluck Favorite. It gets its creamy texture from Carnation Evaporated milk, which is fondly referred to as “The Cooking Milk.” Did you know you can substitute it for drinking milk in any of your favorite recipes?

These rich and creamy recipes are perfect for any entertaining you’ll be doing this holiday season. Find even more recipes at TheCookingMilk.com.

Eggnog-Spiced French Toast

Loaded Potato Potluck Favorite

Mexi-Meatball KabobsTurkey & Cranberry Encore Salad

Eggnog-Spiced French ToastMakes 4 servings 2 large eggs 1 can(12fluidounces)NestléCarnation Evaporated Milk 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 teaspoons rum extract 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 8 slices(1/2-inch-thick)firm,day-oldbread,divided Nonstickcookingspray Powdered sugar Maplesyrup(optional)BEAT eggs, evaporated milk, sugar, rum extract, cinna mon and nutmeg in shallow dish until well blended. Place 4 slices bread into egg mixture turning over to evenly moisten both sides.

MEANWHILE, spray large skillet with nonstick cook ing spray; heat over medium heat. Transfer prepared bread to skillet in single layer. Cook for 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove slices to serving platter. Repeat with remaining bread slices, spraying skillet with cooking spray if necessary. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve immediately with syrup.

Loaded Potato Potluck FavoriteMakes 16 servings 8 medium potatoes (about 2 1/2 to 3 poundstotal),peeledandcutinto1-inchchunks 1cupNestléCarnationEvaporatedMilk 1/2 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 2cups(8-ouncepackage)shreddedcheddarcheese,divided 6 slicesbacon,cookedandcrumbled,divided Slicedgreenonions(optional)PLACE potatoes in large saucepan. Cover with water; bring to a boil. Cook over medium-high heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender; drain.PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Grease 2 1/2- to 3-quart casserole dish.RETURN potatoes to saucepan; add evaporated milk, sour cream, salt and pepper. Beat with hand-held mixer until smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese and half of bacon. Spoon mixture into prepared casserole dish.BAKE for 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, remaining bacon and green onions. Bake for an additional 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Turkey & Cranberry Encore SaladMakes about 8 servingsDRESSING 2/3cup(5-fluid-ouncecan)Nestlé Carnation Evaporated Milk 1/2 cup jellied or whole-berry cranberry sauce 1/4 cup Italian salad dressingSALAD 1bag(10ounces)mixedsaladgreens ofyourchoice(about10cups) 2cups(about10ounces)cooked turkey,cutinto1/2-inchpieces 1/2cup(2ounces)crumbledbluecheese 1/3 cup dried sweetened cranberries 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts (optional)FOR DRESSING:PLACE evaporated milk, cranberry sauce and Italian dressing in small jar or container; cover tightly with lid. Shake for 1 to 2 minutes. Makes about 1 1/2 cups. (Dressing can be made in advance and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Shake well before using.)FOR SALAD: TOSS greens, turkey, blue cheese and 3/4 cup dressing in large bowl. Sprinkle with cran berries and walnuts. Serve immediately and with additional dressing, if desired. Refrigerate any remaining dressing.

Mexi-Meatball KabobsMakes 30 servings, 2 skewers each Nonstickcookingspray 3 pounds lean ground beef 2 cups quick oats 1can(12fluidounces)Nestlé Carnation Evaporated Milk 2 large eggs 1/2 cup ketchup 2 packets (1.25 ounces each)taco seasoning mix 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 3 largebellpeppers(anycolor), cutinto60,1-inchpieces 60 4-inch wooden skewers Salsaandsourcream(optional)PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Foil-line 3 baking sheets and spray with nonstick cooking spray.COMBINE ground beef, oats, evaporated milk, eggs, ketchup, taco seasoning and black pepper in large bowl until just mixed. Form mixture into 120, 1-inch meatballs. Place on prepared baking sheets. BAKE for 15 to 20 minutes or until no longer pink in center. Drain on paper towels, if needed.THREAD two meatballs and one piece of pepper on each skewer. Place on large serving platter. Serve with salsa and sour cream.


and a combined choir of all three churches will perform. For more information, call 404-292-8212 or 404-292-5969, Ext. 12 or 15.

Joint service in LithoniaIn Lithonia, First Afrikan Pres-

byterian, Big Miller Grove Mis-sionary Baptist and Ousley United Methodist churches will hold their annual community Thanksgiving service on Nov. 24.

The churches, which are located

Brown, who celebrated his 90th birthday on Nov. 7, says the pantry is one of the most important min-istries of the diocese.

Despite his age, Brown is in the middle of all the activities. On Tuesday, he was opening boxes of frozen turkeys and loading them in the pantry’s deep freezer and di-recting his buddies where to unload the boxes.

“Beans go over there,” he said to Cyrus Tookes, who volunteered with the pantry for four years before he joined the church a year ago. Tookes says his wife, Joan, is a 30-year member of the church but is now disabled and can’t vol-unteer. Plus, he has known Brown for decades.

“He needs help down here,” Tookes said. “I finally transferred my church membership here.”

Dennis Belgrave, a four-year church member, became a pantry volunteer the year after he joined the church. Asthley Clarke has been a member of the church for 21 years

within a mile of each other, have co-hosted the annual worship service for more than 16 years.

Ousley UMC is hosting the service at 3261 Panola Road, and Bishop Miles Fowler of Big Miller Grove Church will preach. First Afrikan’s choir will perform.

The service starts at 7 p.m. Ousley United Methodist

Church is at 3261 Panola Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 770-981-0180.

Ministry The loading, unloading and unpacking is a ritual the church members go through every month for the pantry.

Food pantry volunteers preparing for busy holiday distribution

Churches hold joint Thanksgiving services

Youth to serve the homeless

Conference for small churches

Homeless men, women and children will be getting hot meals, showers, shaves, fresh clothes and other resources from New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Nov. 22.

The Lithonia church’s Opera-tion Blessing program, operated by the church’s young people, will offer the meals starting at 8 a.m. to several hundred people who will be bused in from metro Atlanta’s homeless community.

The recipients also will be in-vited to join the church’s Sunday worship service.

Bishop Eddie Long said their student ministry department is

stepping up and being an example of “good stewardship during these tough economic times.”

“For our youth to show their compassion and lead this effort demonstrates that they understand that as young Christians, they have a responsibility to help others,” he said.

The New Birth Evangelism min-istry also will service needy families in the communities of The Hills at Fairington in Lithonia, Highland Chase in Stone Mountain, and Highland Brooke in College Park.

For more information, visit www.NewBirth.org or call 678-824-1098.

The strengths and challenges of small churches are the focus of the Nov. 21 Iron Sharpens Iron Ministry Networking Conference in Decatur.

The theme of the confer-ence, which is in its fourth year, is “Providing You With Tools to Make You More Effective.” Ses-sions include Bible study methods, spirituality and wellness, tools for spiritual parenting, and faith and finances.

The conference takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Conference Center, 130 Clairemont Ave. in downtown Decatur.

The cost – $35 in advance and $40 at the door – includes lunch and training materials. Vendors also will be available.

For more information, call Deborah Avery at 404-848-5941 or visit www.ironsharpensiron conference.org.

Congregations from six area churches will worship together in their annual Thanksgiving commu-

nity services. The Stone

M o u n t a i n and Lithonia churches rotate the location and preacher each year for com-m u n i t y w i d e services that are

open to anyone seeking to give thanks.

On Nov. 22, pastors, musicians and choirs from St. Timothy United Methodist, Memorial Drive Presby-terian and Rock of Ages Lutheran churches in Stone Mountain will hold a joint community Thanks-giving service at St. Timothy UMC, 5365 Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain. The service, which has been held annually for more than 21 years, starts at 7 p.m.

This year, the Rev. Randy Palm, pastor of Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, will preach the sermon,

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

This Saturday, 170 families will get Thanksgiving boxes laden with turkey and all the fixings for a hearty Thanksgiving dinner from the pantry at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Decatur.

Like those at many churches across the area, the Holy Cross pantry is run by church volunteers. This week, they have been busy making preparations to ensure that the families they serve will have food on the table as the country celebrates another Thanksgiving.

At the church at 2005 South Columbia Place, Sam Brown and his band of loyal volunteers were preparing for them this week.

On Tuesday, the seven retirees – six men and one woman rang-ing in age from the 60s to the 90s – were unloading frozen turkeys and cartons of canned and other food items into the church’s base-ment pantry.

On Friday, more church mem-

bers were to join them to pack the food boxes and have them ready for the families who will be sent to them by the United Way and other agencies.

The loading, unloading and unpacking is a ritual the church members go through every month for the pantry, launched 25 years

ago by Brown, a 31-year member of the church.

Each month, the group picks up food from the Atlanta Food Bank and other donors identified by church volunteers who solicit busi-nesses for help. They return to the church to pack the pantry’s shelves, refrigerator and freezer.

and began volunteering with the pantry shortly after he joined. Da-vid Chin became a member of the church four years ago and began volunteering with the pantry three years ago.

Clarke says volunteering is just something he has done all his life.

“I like to work,” he says, adding that he never sees the recipients of his labor.

“I am down here,” he says. “I never see the people who come for help.”

The pantry also attracts new-comers. Claudia Merrick has only been a Holy Cross member for two years, but she has been a pantry volunteer for a year and a half, vol-unteering several times a month.

Twice a month, she helps pick up the food from the food bank. She returns on Friday to help fill the food boxes and on Saturday, she does the clerical work for the pantry.

“I am retired,” she said. “I like helping people.”


Food pantry volunteers from left Cyrus Tookes,Claudia Merrick, Ernest Grindley, David Chin, Sam Brown, Dennis Belgrave and Asthley Clarke.

First Afrikan Presbyterian’s choir will perform at this year’s joint service with Ousley UMC and Big Miller Grove.

Sponsored by CrossRoadsNews.com

Randy Palm


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CrossRoadsNews, November 21, 2009