Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to decaturish@appenmedia.com.
LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Send your letters, events and community news to decaturish@appenmedia.com.
ADVERTISING
For information about advertising in Decaturish Ink or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@ appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
CIRCULATION
To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
What therapy is and isn’t
WHISENHUNT Editor dan@appenmedia.com
Dear readers, I recently fought off a panic attack. I’ll spare you the details, but it was about a routine business matter, the kind that kept me up at night when I owned Decaturish. Of course, I knew I no longer owned the company and it was no longer my problem.
But physical responses to stress are learned behaviors. Your body reacts the way your mind has conditioned it to respond. This is one of many things I have learned in therapy over the last three years.
As we celebrate another beautiful Mental Health Awareness Month (also called May), I am thinking about those of you who have contacted me asking about my experiences in therapy. I have been openly talking about my Bipolar II diagnosis for a few years now, and seeing a counselor is an important part of how I treat it. I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned.
I am not a mental health professional and my opinions are informed by my personal experiences. Everyone's experience is different. If you’re having a mental health crisis, please contact the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at (800) 715-4225.
If you’re not having a crisis and thinking about entering therapy, I hope you’ll find my insights helpful.
Therapy is not just for people who are mentally ill
Therapy is different from psychiatry. Psychiatrists diagnose mental illness and prescribe drugs to treat it. Once you’re on medication, appointments with psychiatrists are usually just check-ins with possible laboratory work involved. Therapy involves regular counseling sessions with a licensed practitioner. It doesn’t require a diagnosis.
A therapist is not someone who just listens to you complain I’ve heard this one before. “Oh, I don’t want to pay someone to listen to me complain for hours.”
Therapists are great listeners, but that’s not all they do. They take the information you give them and, in return, give you tools to put in your mental toolbox. I’ve learned so much about how to manage my panic attacks. They still happen, but they’re not as frequent as they used to be, and when they do happen, they’re not as bad. How often you meet with your therapist is determined by a few factors. If you’re having a mental health crisis, you might meet with someone frequently. Once you’re stable, sessions could become less frequent or even be paused and restarted as needed.
Most insurance covers mental health care in Georgia, but not all
My counselor takes insurance, but not all providers do. While most insurance plans in Georgia cover mental health, some do not. Thankfully, my new insurance plan covers it, and my sessions are affordable. If you’ve got coverage, there’s no reason not to seek therapy if something is bugging you. When seeking a new provider, be sure to ask if they take insurance and find out their rates ahead of time. Some counselors will work with you if they don’t take insurance, or your insurance doesn’t cover mental health care.
Finding the right therapist is key I got lucky with mine. We clicked. But some people give up because the people they’re contacting aren’t taking new patients. Or, if they are having luck getting appointments, they can’t find someone they connect with. Please don’t give up. If you’ve taken the steps to start looking for a therapist, go the extra mile and find someone who is available and works for you.
Different therapists specialize in different things
When you’re looking for someone to help you, research and find a therapist who
meets your needs. Most therapists have websites listing their areas of expertise. Learn about them and their practice to ensure they are right for you before booking an appointment. Often, therapists who aren’t a good fit will point you in the right direction.
Keep an open mind
People walk into therapy sessions with all kinds of preconceived notions. Some people are there because people who love them ask them to go. That’s why I started seeing a therapist and I was skeptical at first. It can be hard to connect with someone when you have your guard up. But please know that most people in this field do it because they legitimately love helping people and want to help you. Give them a chance, and give yourself a chance, too.
You are worthy
My biggest struggle was having my identity wrapped up in the company I created. Whenever there was a slow news cycle, I’d get antsy because my self-worth was tied to my work. If I wasn’t producing, I was nothing. I won’t say that feeling has completely gone away. But therapy helped me see that my worth was not connected to my labor. My value as a human being stands on its own, and has nothing to do with whether I’m writing two stories a day or 20. Oddly enough, this powerful insight has made me more productive because I’ve found longerterm projects to fiddle with while waiting for the next big story to break.
If you get nothing else from this column, please know your worth is inherent. No one can give it to you or deny it. Therapy taught me this and that realization probably saved my life. Therapy could save yours, too. Prioritizing mental health is investing in yourself, and you are worth it.
I hope you will enjoy this month’s edition of Decaturish Ink. It’s our best yet. Until the next issue, I remain your humble and grateful community news editor.
-- Dano
Dan Whisenhunt, editor and founder
“They
Mary M., Buyer
DAN
COMMUNITY
KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR
Ukrainian immigrant and VA chaplain Olga Westfall keeps the faith
BY DAN WHISENHUNT dan@appenmedia.com
Editor’s Note: This story deals with suicide. If you or someone you know is in a crisis or are seeking help, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988. Or call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) at 1-800-7154225. If you need additional resources, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities have additional information.
GREATER DECATUR, Ga. – In 1989, Olga Westfall lived in Eastern Ukraine. The Soviet Union was on the verge of collapse, and so was her life.
She was 21, spent much of her childhood caring for a disabled mother, and she was searching for answers in what she called an “ungodly” country. Westfall did not want to live like her mother, alone and suffering. She searched for answers in the library, where the Bible was prohibited. Her search led her to a fortune teller who stole her money.
When she walked into a Pentecostal church service in Ukraine in 1989, she was ready to die. The Soviets always told her that Christians invited people to church services so they could be sacrificed to God.
“And I was thinking to myself, well, even if they kill me, you know, I was ready to die anyway,” Westfall said. “I just will ask them to make it quick.”
Olga Westfall did not die in 1989. She found God,
taught herself English and came to the U.S. in the late 1990s. She attended seminary school in the U.S and served as a chaplain in the Army before joining the Air Force.
“I think it kind of showed that God has a sense of humor,” Westfall said, smiling. “A woman from the former Soviet Union became a chaplain in the United States Army, leading American soldiers under God.”
She’s currently in the Air Force Reserves, and her full-time job is as a chaplain at the Atlanta VA Hospital, not far from where she resides in Greater Decatur. An on-call schedule for chaplains is taped to the wall in her small office. A Protestant, she occasionally fills in for other
religions when there are no chaplains of that faith available. Here, Westfall can help people, particularly veterans on the psychiatric floor, who think life is no longer worth living.
“It gives me satisfaction to be in this job,” she said.
Westfall hasn’t forgotten Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia since 2014, a conflict that escalated in 2022. She’s been raising awareness and funds for Ukraine’s war effort. Westfall makes and sells art and organizes fundraisers, like the Taste of Ukraine event held at her home May 4. While she doesn’t have an exact figure for how much she’s raised, she said, “It’s a good sum of money.”
Emory Morsberger, who founded the nonprofit helpingukraine.us, said Westfall and other Ukrainians living in Atlanta have raised about $100,000 for his organization and have helped other organizations, too. The funds raised at the May 4 fundraiser went toward medical equipment and “to support the defenders.”
“They never stop,” Morsberger said. “They lead the charge and people follow.”
Westfall met her husband, Clay, when she was in the seminary at Regent University in Virginia and he was in the Navy. They went out for coffee and never stopped seeing each other after that. They have three sons, two adopted from Ukraine. He called his wife’s story “unbelievable.” She didn’t talk about her childhood much when their relationship began. When her father died and Westfall traveled to Ukraine to claim his possessions, Clay saw pictures of her as a little girl.
See NEIGHBOR, Page 9
DEAN HESSE/DECATURISH
Olga Westfall
PROVIDED Childhood photos of Olga Westfall.
Continued from Page 8
“She looked just so sad,” Clay said. “The ladies in the town used to call her the girl with the sad face.”
Westfall’s smiles come more easily now. She moves with purpose, helping veterans in two countries. Her family has hosted Ukrainian soldiers and chaplains in her home.
“She’s always there with open arms, ready to help,” Clay said.
Olga Gorman and Karyna Busch, two Ukranian immigrants who helped Westfall with the May 4 fundraiser, said her experience as a veteran gives her a unique perspective on the conflict.
“She has very strong faith,” Busch said. “That faith gives her strength and that strength she spreads to us through her work, through her organizing all these events.”
Carol Johnstone, Westfall’s neighbor, described her as a resilient woman with a gentle spirit.
“She’s a hero,” Johnstone said. “She’s someone who represents women in any war who see injustice and can’t get out there and get a gun, but they’re going to do whatever they can to support the effort. There have been women like that throughout history, but I never met anyone who did that.”
Westfall reflects on the moment she decided to save her own life and turn it over to God. Saving others from making the mistake she almost made 36 years ago as a young woman in Ukraine has become part of her life’s work.
“I wanted to be a message of hope that life is worth living,” she said. “With God’s help, we can make it and we can encourage others and help where we can. That gives me satisfaction, meaning of life. I’m not just existing.”
Editor's note: "Know Your Neighbor" tells the untold stories of interesting people who live in our community. To nominate someone for this feature, email decaturish@appenmedia.com
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Family-owned studios are the heart of Avondale Estates’ art district
By JIM BASS jim@appenmedia.com
AVONDALE ESTATES, Ga. — Nestled a few blocks from the main strip of downtown Avondale Estates in the Rail Arts district, a 2-acre block containing Little Tree Art Studios and Globe Arts Center is full of artists buzzing through the day and night. Both are controlled by the Means family, which has been promoting arts in Avondale Estates for nearly 30 years.
The family-owned studios have over 75 spaces for artists in various mediums, including painting, sculpture, plant design, industrial design, poster design, acting, Pilates, and music rehearsal.
Owners Bob and Marghe Means attended Atlanta College of Art in the 1980s. After moving to Avondale Estates, Bob did woodworking in the building before having the chance to purchase it. The building became Little Tree Art Studios in 1998.
After starting in just a segment of the building, the Means family, including the couple’s two sons, Taylor and Cayce, expanded to own the entire block, which consisted of both artist studios.
Little Tree Art Studio was established in a primarily industrial district. Over time, a new wave of businesses and restaurants has brought more foot traffic to the area.
“With the advent of Little Cottage, Wild Heaven
and Lost Druid, some weekends, especially like this time of year, the whole neighborhood is activated with people walking around,” Marghe Means said.
Little Tree and Globe both operate for artists and are not open to the public, but over time, Marghe hopes to help slowly grow the studios into a more publicly accessible and well-known space. She points to the River Arts District in Asheville, NC, as a source of inspiration.
“I think historically, anywhere, the arts act as a catalyst for other development. And I think that [we] have done that,” Taylor Means said. “I've had people tell us directly that us being here is one of the reasons why they wanted to be in the neighborhood.”
Taylor Means purchased the other half of the block in 2019. It was previously a warehouse for Globe Chemical Co. After growing fond of the design, Taylor purchased the company’s logo for $10 along with the building.
According to Marghe Means, the studio spaces are all filled, and the waitlist to get into a studio space at Little Tree or Globe contains around 40 applicants. Marghe describes the placement process as “a little bit of a puzzle” to match each tenant with a space they need, some requiring a bigger studio or a quieter workspace.
See ART, Page 11
NOTICE OF INTENT TO CONSTRUCT Decatur - Scottdale 115 kV Transmission Line (OHGW)
As part of an ongoing effort to provide reliable electric service to customers, Georgia Power Company (“Georgia Power”) intends to build an electric transmission line with a design operating voltage of 115 kilovolts (kV), known as the Decatur – Scottdale Transmission Line. The construction of this transmission line is needed to ensure safe and reliable electric service to commercial and residential customers in the surrounding area.
Georgia Power will hold a public meeting regarding this project, in accordance with O.C.G.A. 22-3-160.1, at the following time and place:
Date/Time: June 11, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Location: Decatur Recreation Center 231 Sycamore Street Decatur, GA 30030
The purpose of the aforementioned meeting is to provide public notice of Georgia Power’s intent to construct an electric transmission line for which the right of eminent domain may be exercised.
The transmission line route starts at the Scottdale Substation and runs in a southeasterly direction approximately 0.3 mile to Annie Street, then runs in a southerly direction along Annie Street approximately 0.2 mile to East Ponce de Leon Avenue, then follows East Ponce de Leon Avenue in a southwesterly direction for approximately 1.0 miles to Arcadia Avenue/Sams Crossing. The line turns in a southerly direction and continues approximately 0.1 mile across railroad right of way, Sams Crossing and East College Avenue, where the line continues in a westerly direction along East College Avenue approximately 0.75 mile to the Decatur Substation. The complete project is approximately 2.4 miles long, entirely in DeKalb County, Georgia.
JIM BASS/DECATURISH Taylor and Marghe Means pose for a photo in front of Little Tree Art Studios on April 29, 2025.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Art:
Continued from Page 10
“We didn't want the whole building to be a bunch of cubicleized spaces that you know were disconnected,” Taylor Means said. “We also tried to have different parts of the building feel different. We think that different people are attracted to different things and we didn't want everything to just feel homogenous.”
The Means family is working with the city of Avondale Estates to get permits to complete exterior renovations. The process, moving in “baby steps,” would further connect the Little Tree and Globe communities and make the building more accessible to visitors.
“We want to create connectivity between the two buildings, so even though they're kind of separate entities, we want them to talk to each other, for sure,” Marghe Means said. “I think once we're done with our exterior renovations, it will be very clear the whole block is a unified thing.”
A ‘collaborative’ community
The tenants that make up both Little Tree and Globe often work different schedules and use different mediums and methods. But many of these artists work together as a community, sharing community spaces and assisting each other on their various projects.
Artists Dana Harrison and Nathan Tavel both work as sign painters in a Little Tree studio space.
Harrison, a sign painter, muralist, and owner of Dear Alphabet, has known the Means family for many years and acquired a space in 2021, which Harrison said was a personal “game-changer.”
“[Little Tree] is such a tight-knit group of talented folks who source work from within their own community…” Harrison said. “We all coexist and uplift one another. It’s a really rare and lovely thing.”
Harrison often offers assistance to any tenants in need and recently assisted a new tenant at Globe Arts Center -- Neighborhood Studios -- by painting their new sign.
Many of Little Tree’s artists travel across the country to display their studio art. Painter Alic Brock works with an airbrush style, and several of his pieces will be seen in galleries in New York and Los Angeles later this year.
One local business, Meg’s Mashables, operates from inside a studio in Little Tree. Its owner, Meg, designs animal combinations that become stuffed animals. Meg, who didn't want to provide her last name, became acquainted with Little Tree well before moving there after Bob Means invited her to use the studios as a delivery spot.
"They trusted in what I had without blinking an eye, and that unwavering support has been a huge factor that has allowed my business to flourish," Meg said.
Little Tree also has a few non-arts tenants. The studios' lower floor is currently
rented out to Switchyards, a neighborhood work club with many locations across Atlanta. The club is open to members at all times. Many Little Tree and Globe artists have a membership with Switchyards and go there for business meetings or to take breaks and relax.
As the Means family improves the space, Taylor and Marghe plan to have more programmed events in the future. They host an occasional comedy night and will host the 4th annual Wig Wag Music Festival on May 31.
As the surrounding area expands and develops, Taylor Means believes it is vital to continue having artists be a part of the community and keep them in the neighborhood by preventing rent increases that could drive tenants away.
“We're doing what we can and are committed to supporting the arts, staying here in Avondale and providing studio space at affordable prices,” Taylor Means said. “That's really the core value of ours, and we're working toward that.”
PHOTOS BY: JIM BASS/DECATURISH Alic Brock poses for a photo in front of his artwork in his studio in Little Tree on April 29, 2025.
Dana Harrison paints a sign at a studio inside Little Tree Art Studios.
Let’s bring Serenbe to South DeKalb
South DeKalb needs an upgrade in both housing stock and design. One idea that could jump-start this new era of housing design could be taken from an existing successful model:
Serenbe
Serenbe (ser-en-be), located in Chattahoochee Hills, is a bespoke, high-end master-planned community located at the edge of Fulton County, in Chattahoochee Hills, bordering Coweta County. Its model is vital to attracting new residents, implementing new residential concepts and commercial designs, increasing population density, and, most importantly, attracting new dollars.
Since its first unit was sold in 2005, Serenbe has been the reference point for the slew of masterplanned mixed-use residential and commercial districts popping up across metro Atlanta.
Since Serenbe's arrival, suburbs and exurbs across the metro have borrowed from varying portions of its design and development patterns to create their projects, ranging from Trilith in Fayetteville to Avalon in North Fulton and The Gathering in Forsyth County. They are all exurban, master planned communities, and varying aspects of Serenbe’s design prowess are integrated within their projects.
These projects are anchoring a new era in exurban economic and residential growth. South DeKalb sorely needs this to meet the standards of 2020s and 2030s development.
Serenbe’s success as a luxury development is partly due to its utilization of many tenets of “new urbanism,” an architecture and design philosophy focusing on walkable, well-designed mixed-use communities.
A Serenbe in South DeKalb would likely face hurdles: a current glut of cash from large financial firms driving up prices, a looming recession, and the controversy inherent in proposing a radical new real estate development project in an undesirable portion of Atlanta. It would include design concepts outside the traditional suburban model, at a price point much higher than the current
residential homes in the area. However, this significant, innovative, and advanced housing model is needed in South DeKalb, which hasn’t seen new ideas or growth in decades.
South DeKalb is experiencing a prolonged, steady decline in all areas. County CEO Lorraine CochranJohnson has already stated that one of her priorities is building more housing for the overall county and revitalizing South DeKalb. A new project like Serenbe would be a winwin for all parties, including longterm residents who’ve missed out on the last few new development cycles and younger, wealthier residents who want more modernized developments but can’t find any. It would bring in local tax money that the county and school system desperately need. It would also finally turn the tide on the exodus of retail and commercial development in DeKalb.
But if there were a Serenbe-type project, where would it go? There aren’t many places with 100 or more acres. Serenbe sprawls across more than 1,500 acres in South Fulton, with design standards that aim to use only 30% of its site for commercial and residential uses, leaving the rest of the space as an integrated “green” community. It’s a community made of forests, pathways, and smaller, walkable streets, the type of thing not seen anywhere in the county.
Due to very few available places to build a massive planned community, there are only two ways to do so now: purchase an existing undeveloped area or purchase a declining but existing commercial area to build a new urbanist-inspired community like Serenbe.
The best bet would be to purchase undeveloped land currently on the county's eastern end in places like Stone Mountain, Lithonia, and Arabia Mountain.
Someone has already proposed a development like this, but the idea hasn’t gained traction.
In 2022, Maxie Price of Maxie Price Chevrolet and zoning attorney Michele Battle of Battle Law, P.C., released initial plans for a Serenbe-inspired development on 650+ acres in Arabia Mountain in east DeKalb called South River. The South River project directly refers to the river that runs through the
Arepa Mia brings fresh Venezuelan flavors
Arepa Mia in Avondale Estates offers a taste of Venezuela, with a menu centered on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Led by chef Lis Hernandez, the restaurant is deeply rooted in heritage. Hernandez shared how she grew up in Venezuela, where her mother sold arepas on the streets for more than 25 years.
Hernandez launched Arepa Mia as an Atlanta market stand in 2011, later opening a stall in the Sweet Auburn Market in 2012 and a Decatur location in 2014. The current Avondale Estates restaurant at 10 N. Clarendon Avenue opened after the Decatur location closed in 2017.
Arepas — grilled cornmeal patties sliced open and stuffed with a variety of fillings — are the heart of the menu.
Dishes include the Asado Negro, featuring grass-fed beef slow-roasted for 12 hours with red wine, cumin, and sugarcane, and the Sirfina Arepa, a shredded chicken arepa layered with lettuce, tomato, avocado, guayanés cheese, sweet plantains, and a Thai chili-cilantro sauce.
The menu also features empanadas; cachapas, sweet corn pancakes
folded and filled with meats and vegetables; and patacón, a sandwich made with fried green plantains and filled with options like shredded chicken, pork, or beef.
Decaturish visited on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, opting to eat outside. We ordered the grilled wild salmon entrée, served with white jasmine rice, green fried plantains, and a fresh salad of greens, sliced red onions, carrots, and avocado. We also sampled Arepa Mia’s crisp, thinly sliced plantain chips, served with creamy nata, and guasacaca, a Venezuelan avocado-based sauce.
Staff was attentive and accommodating, even offering to return my salmon to the grill when it arrived a bit undercooked to my liking. While the fish was thinner and softer than I expected and didn’t quite hit the mark for me, my dining companion thoroughly enjoyed her meal.
Menu prices range from $13.50 to $19.50 for arepas, with entrées priced between $14.50 and $37. Sides, including plantain chips, plain arepas, rice, or salad, range from $5 to $8.
Arepa Mia’s commitment to quality has earned it back-to-back honors on the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand list in 2023 and 2024. The list celebrates high-quality food at a good value.
For more information, visit arepamiaatlanta.com.
ADRIANNE MURCHISON/DECATURISH
The salmon is served with white jasmine rice, green fried plantains, and a fresh salad of greens, sliced red onions, carrots, and avocado.
ADRIANNE MURCHISON Contributor
KING WILLIAMS Guest Columnist
Your life is not a rehearsal and your joy is not a luxury
EVELYN CALDWELL Columnist
Darlings, gather ’round.
This week, the universe poured a cocktail of questions that hit me right in the heart—and the heels. It’s all about becoming: becoming bold enough to wear who you are, brave enough to let go of what no longer fits, and brilliant enough to dream at full volume, no matter the year stamped on your license. Life doesn’t hand us a map—it hands us a mirror and a sequin-covered suitcase, and tells us to improvise. Luckily, improvisation is my love language.
So whether you’re shedding an ex, summoning courage, or figuring out if your soul wears leopard print or linen (spoiler: it’s both), come in, sit down, and let’s get gloriously, gorgeously real.
Q: “How do I find my signature look when I feel like a clearance rack of personalities?”
– Lost in the Dressing Room
Baby, you are not a clearance rack— you’re a limited edition collection in progress. A signature look isn’t about picking one version of yourself and calling it a day.
It’s about honoring every glittering, clashing, ever-evolving piece of you. Try on personas like you try on wigs—boldly, with a laugh, and never afraid to say “this isn’t me”…yet. Keep playing until you catch your reflection and say, “There she is.” And when you do? Own her like she’s walking the final runway of the season.
Q: “Is it wrong to want a partner who claps when I enter the room?”
– Applause-Seeking in Wonderland
Wrong? Darling, it’s essential. You are a moment, not a background character. If someone can’t muster a little jazz hands when you walk in, they are not your person. You deserve a love that marvels, that says “look at her go!” and means it. Until then, be your own audience—clap for your glow-up, your grace, your survival. The right one will join in, front row, no hesitation.
Q: “My ex keeps popping up like a bad remix—how do I finally change the station?”
– Haunted by the Hookup
Oh, sweetheart, that remix is tired. The bass is weak, the lyrics are messy, and honestly, you’ve heard it all before. It’s time to switch to something fresh, something that lifts you. Let that ex fade into static. You’re the DJ now. Block. Mute. Ghost if you must. You’re not being rude, you’re
being reborn. New station, new soundtrack, new you.
Q: “I have big dreams but tiny courage—how do I strut down life’s runway without tripping on fear?”
– Wobbly in My Wedges Listen close: every queen starts with a wobble. Even the fiercest diva once clung to a wall in six-inch stilettos. Courage isn’t loud—it’s quiet, persistent, and a little sweaty. Let fear come along for the ride, but keep her in the passenger seat while you drive toward that big, wild dream. Strut, stumble, sparkle anyway. You don’t need to be fearless—you just need to move. One step at a time, baby. And don’t forget to pose.
Q: “Can I reinvent myself at 40, or should I just buy a caftan and start giving wise advice to strangers?”
– Midlife on the Runway
Why not both, darling? Buy the caftan— you know what, buy three! Let one be for lounging, one for leaping into new adventures, and one for seducing destiny herself. Forty isn’t a deadline—it’s a debut. Reinvention isn’t just allowed, it’s glorious. You’ve gathered wisdom, wounds, and wardrobe changes, and now it’s your time to remix it all into something deliciously bold. Be the mystery, the mentor, and the main char -
acter. Life doesn’t end at 40—it just stops apologizing. Live unapologetically and be your own personal definition of “Forty and Fabulous”.
Now listen, my loves—if you take nothing else from today’s glittery gospel, take this: your life is not a rehearsal, and your joy is not a luxury. Reinvent, reclaim, and re-walk that runway every single day. Love yourself like you’re the standing ovation you’ve been waiting for. And if anyone tells you that you’re “too much,” bless them— and remind them you’re not a snack. You’re the whole dramatic, high-glamorous buffet. Until next time, keep your lashes long, your standards high, and your heart open to becoming whoever you dare to be.
With Love and Lashes, — Evie
Evelyn Caldwell is a professional drag entertainer in Atlanta. You can find her Wednesday-Sunday performing at Lips Atlanta in Brookhaven.
For more advice, feel free to reach out to her on social media!
Email: evelyncaldwell.info@gmail.com and decaturish@appenmedia.com
Price of progress
City officials work to minimize economic pain of disruptive projects
BY DAN WHISENHUNT dan@appenmedia.com
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The cities of Decatur and Avondale Estates are transforming their business districts.
Both are undertaking huge public works projects that are lengthy, expensive and disrupt the local economy. Officials in each city are helping businesses navigate the short-term uncertainty while predicting a long-term economic payoff.
Avondale Estates is narrowing U.S. 278 from five lanes to three, hoping this will encourage people to slow down and shop local. Decatur is “shaking things up” in the city’s town center to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett compared it to a home renovation, albeit on a much grander scale.
“If you want to do something to your home to update it,” Garrett said. “You know it’s going to be inconvenient and disruptive, but hopefully at the end of the day, you get something you’re proud of, and you enjoy even more.”
Leaders and business owners in both cities believe the projects will ultimately benefit everyone. But business owners say there definitely will be pain in the short term. At least one owner in Avondale Estates says that the city’s project sank him.
Surviving disruption
Taylor’d Bar-B-Q announced on Nov. 27, 2024, that it was closing after four years of operating in Avondale Estates, citing the ongoing construction as a factor. Owner Joshua McDowell said in a recent interview that while he takes issue with the length of the project, he supports the overall goal.
access to them.
“Sometimes we’re more successful at that than others, but our first objective is to keep access open at all times,” she said.
Powell said the city provides regular updates about the project’s progress. The city is offering some financial relief through a micro-grant program. In the first round, the city received 14 applications and awarded 12 grants of up to $2,000 each.
Then there’s the fun stuff, like the contest to name construction barrels. Cone-n O’Brien, Barrel Streep, Sir Stops A-Lot and Dolly Partition were the Final Four Winners, for those keeping score at home.
“We’re trying to do everything we can to lessen the impact we might have on them from a capital project we think is transformative,” Powell said. “But there’s a lot of short-term pain. We’re not unaware of it. We’re trying to do everything we know to do to get us through it.”
His business was already struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and he said any business not on solid financial footing around Decatur Square could be in trouble.
“If any of those bars and restaurants aren’t doing good numbers now, they won’t survive the same thing,” he said.
Officials in Decatur and Avondale Estates say they are doing everything to ensure the business community here now will still be there when the projects are finished.
Avondale Estates officials broke ground on its $8.5 million complete streets project on U.S. 278 in June 2024. The project will reduce the lanes on the 1.15-mile corridor between Sam’s Crossing and Ashton Place from five to three. It will transform the city’s main drag, encouraging people to slow down
and hopefully patronize local businesses.
Shannon Powell, executive director of the Avondale Estates Downtown Development Authority, said the city is helping businesses affected by the U.S. 278 project. But some things are outside the city’s control.
“It has been a challenge because we’re encountering utilities or dealing with things DeKalb County has discovered during this project that need to be addressed,” she said. “We’re skipping around to keep on budget and on schedule.”
Barrel Streep
Powell said the city is doing “everything it can” to let the public know businesses are still open and has tried to tackle one area at a time to maintain
James Maggard, owner of The Stratford Pub restaurant in Avondale Estates, said he appreciates the city’s efforts. His sales are down by 20 to 30 percent, depending on the month. Maggard owns other restaurants in town, including The Local 7 in Tucker and Ford’s BBQ locations in Tucker and Decatur. Those restaurants are helping him absorb The Stratford Pub’s losses. He also has a good relationship with his landlords, the Pichulik family.
“They’re phenomenal,” Maggard said, noting that he is talking with the Pichuliks about a lease extension. “They said, 'James, we want you to survive.'”
' I believe in Decatur’
The Pichuliks own the Stratford’s building and the Second Life building behind it. Many more of their tenants will have a front row seat for the Decatur Square shakeup. The family owns the properties that house the Deer and the Dove/B Side, Odd Bird Gifts, Sushi Avenue, Raging Burrito and the Iberian Pig, among others.
See PROJECTS, Page 31
AGES 5-10
ZOE SEILER/DECATURISH
Dave Deiters, chair of the Avondale Estates Downtown Development Authority chair, encouraged people to shop local during the groundbreaking of the U.S. 278 complete street project.
LOCALLY SOURCED NEWS IN YOUR HANDS & A CLICK AWAY
ARE YOU A NEWS JUNKIE?
Our print newspaper is perfect for staying up to date with what’s happening in the community.
DO YOU WANT TO READ THE LATEST STORIES?
Visit decaturish.com at any time. We regularly add new content, and you can access prior issues and special sections whenever you wish.
DO YOU NEED TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS?
Advertise in our newspaper and website. Both the print and online version attract a wide readership.
THE PHOTOS: Photographer Dean Hesse grew up in Decatur and lives in Stone Mountain. He began his career as a stringer covering events for the DeKalb News/Sun in the 1990s and attended the Southeastern Center for the Arts Professional Photography Program. He worked in a photo lab as a custom black & white printer for wedding and portrait photographers. His work has appeared in local and national consumer and trade publications. Dean can be reached at dean@appenmedia.com
BEHIND
DEAN HESSE/DECATURISH
Confetti flies as classic cars roll down Main Street during the Tucker Day Parade on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Eastside Ravens wave U.S. flags before walking in the Tucker Day Parade on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
COMMUNITY
DeKalb County Commission approves trails master plan
By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County is working to improve access to trails and build new trails throughout the entire county.
The county commission adopted the trails and greenways master plan at its April 22 meeting.
DeKalb County has about 65 miles of greenways, trails and paved paths, but they are largely disconnected from each other. The master plan gives a path for the county to connect the trail network.
“As trail projects are completed over time, the trail network will become increasingly interconnected and will help move people to the places they need to go, promote health and well-being, improve sustainability and resilience, and increase equitable access to communities and local destinations,” the executive summary of the plan says.
The master plan focuses on paved or hard-surface trails and does not include soft-surface or natural-surface trails. Overall, it proposes a countywide greenway vision network and offers design recommendations.
“The Countywide Greenway Vision Network is the proposed trail network that best meets the goals and principles that have been shaped and defined by public input, key stakeholders, existing conditions analysis, and county staff,” the plan says.
The master plan establishes three goals:
• Link together a safe, connected system
• Improve access for residents, visitors and park patrons
• Ensure sustainable expansion and maintenance of the system.
It also establishes greenway network principles, which are:
• Increase connections between existing network segments
• Increase access to trails and greenways for all regional residents
• Provide access to primary local destinations
• Support inter-county and regional connectivity
• Limit network to sustainable mileage along primary trails
• Distribute trail facilities equally and equitably across the county
• Provide a safe and comfortable experience for trail users
DEKALB COUNTY/PROVIDED
The DeKalb County trails and greenways master plan aims to connect the county's existing trails, pictured left, through a greenway vision network, pictured right.
“The County is defined by three broad zones of current trails: a cluster of northern DeKalb cities with existing local trail networks and the Peachtree Creek Greenway; a prominent east-west corridor of the Stone Mountain Trail, connecting the Cities of Decatur and Stone Mountain; and two major trails in the southeastern and southwestern corners of the county along the South River and Arabia-Panola Mountain areas,” the plan says.
A key goal of the plan is to identify trail corridors that provide routes through the unincorporated areas and connect the existing trail system.
One of the recommended projects is the Covington Highway multimodal connector in southeastern DeKalb. This 5.1-mile trail was ranked as high priority since it would connect five schools, 53 transit stops, the Southeast Athletic Complex and other activity centers.
“The trail would connect the northern end of the Arabia Mountain Trail in Lithonia and Stonecrest to the future Snapfinger Trail, which would be a key north-south connection between
DEAN HESSE/DECATURISH
People give the new sections of the Chamblee Rail Trail a spin after a ribbon cutting to mark the opening on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
the Stone Mountain Trail and South River Trail,” the plan says.
The proposed design is a 12-footwide trail with a 6-foot buffer between the path and the road. The estimated cost is about $19.5 million.
Another high-priority project is the Farmers Market Trail that would connect the South Peachtree Creek Trail to the Stone Mountain Trail in western DeKalb.
“The Farmers Market Trail is the second-highest ranked trail from the prioritization process for its ability to link these two existing trails as well as its connection to nine transit stops, Medlock and Mason Mill parks, a grocery store, charter school, and its namesake, the DeKalb Farmers Market,” the plan says.
The plan proposes a 12- to 14-footwide trail with a 5-foot-wide shoulder on each side. The estimated cost is about $9.7 million.
The third high-priority project is the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road trail in eastern DeKalb. It would connect the Arabia Mountain trail to the Stone Mountain trail, linking 48 transit stops, three libraries, two grocery stores and downtown Lithonia.
The 9-mile trail could be 12 to 14 feet wide, with a 5-foot buffer along the street, and two feet of “shy space” between the trail and a fence along CSX right of way. The estimated cost is about $28.7 million.
Art exhibit ‘Resilient Earth’ concludes after seven-month run
TUCKER, Ga. — Emory University’s Science Gallery Atlanta concluded its interactive art exhibit ‘Resilient Earth’ on April 30 after a scheduled seven-month run that sought to showcase sustainability and display individuals’ impact on the health of the planet.
The self-reflective experience, in partnership with Accenture, was held at Northlake Mall and featured 13 eco-driven visual installations from various artists and scientists, many of whom were led by Emory professors.
In 2020, Science Gallery Atlanta became the eighth member of the Science Gallery Network, marking the first time the network had a presence in the United States, according to its website.
“The idea is to bring science and art together to try to not only just help the public understand science in a different way, but also to give artists and scientists an opportunity to connect and see what happens when one side of your brain works with someone who focuses on the other side of the brain,” Science Gallery Atlanta’s Executive Director Alexis Faust said.
The exhibit featured 22 student mediators from Emory over the course of its seven-month schedule, who received training in science communication, interacting with visitors and troubleshooting technical aspects of the exhibit.
Emory senior and exhibit mediator Isabella Perago is majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology as well as Visual Arts. Perago hopes to continue working in a field that blends art and science after graduating, and said that she will be sad to see it go.
“My favorite thing about the gallery is that you kind of continuously get to learn and to teach," Perago said. "Every conversation is a little bit different. While I have a framework of what these pieces mean to me and what the artists intended them to discuss, every person gets a different piece of information from them.”
The art installations spanned topics centered around sustainability and climate change, intended to raise visitors' awareness of climate-related issues people face globally and the solutions that can help.
One piece shows a large wall of used plastic bottles, all of which were collected from the Chattahoochee River. Another displays a replica stove that some Guatemalan citizens use to burn their plastic waste on to warm homes and cook food. Emory nurses have been working to educate these citizens about the health impacts of this practice.
“It's been shocking to everybody that comes through this particular exhibit,” Faust said. “That's a very powerful thing you just don't think about, but when you have mounds and mounds of plastic in a community and you don't know what to do with it, they have huge bonfires.”
Several other exhibits offered sustainable solutions to climate change across the globe, including floating homes along the coast, a carbon capture sculpture and a greenhouse.
Some parts of the exhibit also focused on the city of Atlanta. According to Emory, by 2100, Atlanta is expected to see over 320,000 people relocate to the area from regions affected by climate change.
CSD Teacher of The
Emory associate professor Sarah Febres-Cordero contributed to an installation of the exhibit that featured the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) map with touchpads, showcasing several ways Atlanta can mitigate its impact on climate change, as many cities across the globe are doing.
“All of this research is being done by researchers all over the world, and it's really interesting how cities are adopting science-based, evidence-based research and building healthier cities,” Febres-Cordero said. “That was kind of what we wanted to come through with our exhibit.”
Proposed changes included extending public transit to Truist Park and adding more green spaces to help cool the city’s air. She also expressed her appreciation for Science Gallery Atlanta's combination of art and public health, which she feels is an underutilized pairing that can impact communities “years after the show is over.”
“It's there to make you really think about the resilience of this planet that we live on, the resilience of Atlanta for our project in particular, and hopefully everyone who has seen it over the next few years will think about it when they're going to vote or when they're working in their communities,” Febres-Cordero said.
While the exhibit ends on April 30, many of the art installations at Resilient Earth will be relocated to new homes in different cities, remaining on display and continuing to educate people.
CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR/PROVIDED
Decatur Schools’ Teacher of The Year recognized after thirty years of educating
DECATUR, Ga — City Schools of Decatur recognized Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School teacher and Gifted Specialist Edwin Ellis with the district’s Teacher of The Year award during their board meeting on April 15.
Ellis, an Atlanta native, was inspired by her own third-grade teacher and has worked as an elementary school teacher since 1995 in Clayton County and DeKalb County. She has been with CSD since 2014. Ellis said she wanted to work in a smaller school system.
While previously working in different teaching roles for several years, including as an early intervention teacher and teaching mentor, she decided to pursue the Gifted Specialist opportunity to broaden her teaching range. With support from her late mother and seven siblings, Ellis has taught many local students throughout her career.
“The most rewarding thing about teaching is the impact I have on students’ lives," Ellis said. "Since I live near the same community where I’ve spent most of my teaching career, I often run into previous students and parents. Each of these encounters further validates my decision to become a teacher."
Fifth Avenue Principal Lynn Hanson originally learned of Ellis through a parent at her former school, who gave her high praise. Hanson said, “That endorsement stands to this day.”
“She consistently brings a high level of dedication and creativity to her role, making it easy to work alongside her,” Hanson said. “Ms. Ellis is not only organized and dependable, but she also fosters a supportive environment that encourages open communication and teamwork.”
Ellis undertook several initiatives in her position at the school, including a mentoring program and an after-school teaching program. According to CSD’s communications team, students in Ellis' classes describe her as "understanding," "patient," and "a really good teacher."
"She teaches us to never give up. She doesn't just give us the answer, she walks us through it. If you need to catch up, she lets you take your time and she doesn't rush you,” one student said.
Ellis received news of winning the award from Superintendent Gyimah Whitaker and other district leaders while teaching one of her classes. Since it is testing season, Ellis has not had the opportunity to celebrate with her students, but she hopes to as the school year concludes.
“This distinction means so much to me because I've known since I was in third grade that teaching was the path for me," Ellis said. "This recognition is a dream realized. I have inspired and motivated many students during my thirty years of teaching and plan to continue making a difference for others where I can."
Year Edwin Ellis poses for a picture with the district's board members and Superintendent Gyimah Whitaker on April 15, 2025.
JIM BASS/DECATURISH
A sculpture of the exhibit's logo, made of entirely recycled materials, sits on display as the first art piece of the exhibit on April 23, 2025.
DeKalb Schools free elementary athletics program holds inaugural flag football season
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga — Many DeKalb County elementary students have been spending their Saturdays outside the classroom, playing in DeKalb County School District's inaugural flag football season.
In 2024, DeKalb County School District implemented a free program to offer athletics to fourth and fifth-grade students. Flag football was chosen as the fifth and final sport offered for the school year.
Superintendent Devon Horton launched the elementary sports program, which has seen students participate in track and field, soccer, competitive dance, and, most recently, basketball. The district had more than 150 teams and 4,000 students participating.
The flag football competition consists of more than 100 teams, with 69 of the 77 elementary schools in the district participating. The remaining eight didn't have enough applicants or had no coaches available.
DCSD Director of Athletics Brandan Lane said the program has been popular among both students and parents. While giving students athletic experience, Lane hopes students will grow and connect with their school more.
“I think it will help keep our students in DeKalb County, not going off into other counties and things like that,” Lane said. “They want to participate in their elementary school, pipeline into middle school, and then eventually high school, and hopefully they go on to college and do some great things, whether that's academically or athletically.”
The league featured four regularseason games over two weekends, with Southwest DeKalb High School’s attendance reaching 900. The district divided the teams into sections, with area playoffs taking the top six boys' and girls' teams from each.
“It’s great that our student athletes are getting a chance to participate in sports and not having to pay anything,” Lane said. “I think it's great to see exactly where the tax-paying dollars are going, and that's to the students. They have nice uniforms, nice equipment and we have medical personnel, security personnel out there for the students, just for their safety.”
Before the program’s implementation, school principals and district staff sent out many surveys to gauge the public’s interest, availability and any concerns about the program. The
program received board approval after gathering information with a specific focus on student safety.
“I think it is a great opportunity for our students to showcase their talents, and then the goal is for them to translate that in a classroom,” Lane said.
Cedar Grove Elementary School principal Norman Thomas said that the school has participated in all five sports offered during this program's inaugural year.
Thomas believes that the program has benefited students' health and, most importantly, has boosted student morale. As a result of the program, Thomas has also seen a positive uptick in academic performance and
fewer disciplinary issues.
“It has cut down on the amount of discipline referrals that we've had because they know that there's another level of accountability with their coaches knowing that they possibly hinder the opportunity to participate on the weekend,” Thomas said.
Thomas and Lane have both been approached by many interested students in lower grades seeking an opportunity to participate. Lane said meeting the demand could become a challenge.
“We're going to have some problems next year, but there'll be good problems…” Lane said. “When something this large takes place, we're going to start asking, ‘Hey, what about second
and third grade? What about first grade?’ We have been getting those questions rolling in right now.”
Lane said that they are actively seeking opportunities to grow the program and are planning to offer summer sports camps from first through fifth grade. Lane also believes that next year, each school’s team could be divided into one for fourth and one for fifth.
Currently, the district utilizes middle school and high school athletic facilities to help run the games, with the playoffs taking place in larger stadiums in the district.
The DCSD elementary flag football county championships for both boys and girls will take place on May 17.
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT/PROVIDED
Henderson Mill Elementary School flag football players pose with their coach for a photo.
Decatur safety action plan looking to eliminate fatal crashes in the city
By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com
DECATUR, Ga. — Decatur is developing a Safe Streets Safety Action to reduce and eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes in the city.
According to the city's website, the plan will help the city achieve its vision of “safer and more affordable ways for getting around – for more people, more of the time."
The U.S. Department of Transportation funds the Safety Action Plan through its Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. According to the city’s website, SS4A Planning and Demonstration grants help communities develop a comprehensive approach to reducing and eliminating fatal and serious injury crashes on roadways.
Decatur is working with Toole Design Group on the project and city commissioners discussed it during an April 21 work session.
Traffic and pedestrian safety have been top of mind in Decatur for some time. According to the Decatur Police Department, 116 pedestrian crashes in Decatur occurred across all streets between 2014 and 2024. There have been five pedestrian crashes so far in 2025, 18 in 2024, 14 in 2023 and 15 in 2022. In general, 7,392 vehicle crashes were reported in Decatur from 2014 to 2024, and as of April 22, 2025, there have been 249.
According to Toole’s research, four fatal crashes occurred between 2019 and 2023 on state routes within the city.
Based on community input, the most dangerous streets in Decatur are Commerce Drive, Scott Boulevard, South Candler Street, East College Avenue, West and East Ponce de Leon avenues, West Howard Avenue, Clairemont Avenue, East Lake Drive and Sycamore Drive.
Some of those streets are part of the high injury network in Decatur, which looks at “the smallest percentage of roads that contribute to the [highest] number of fatal or serious injury crashes,” Byron Rushing with Toole Design Group said.
“We really want to focus the city's attention on the most dangerous roads and places where, at least, over the past five years, and likely the next five years, big investments here can make a big difference in achieving safer streets and better crash outcomes,” he added.
The plan will focus on four key
areas: city policies and resolutions, managing travel speeds, improving intersections and turning movements, and ensuring that infrastructure supports vulnerable road users.
The consultants recommend that the city commission adopt a complete streets resolution to affirm its commitment to multimodal street designs and networks. Rushing said the city has had complete street policies in other plans.
“We want to make sure we’re bringing that forward, and saying clearly that when it comes to street safety or routine city projects, multimodal facilities are at the forefront of the way the city thinks and acts,” Rushing said.
The plan also suggests that the city adopt a Vision Zero resolution.
“[The] ‘Vision Zero’ commitment affirms that no traffic death is acceptable in Decatur,” the work session presentation says. “Zero is the only acceptable target for traffic safety and resources will be prioritized to provide safe, multimodal facilities, especially along the High Risk Network.”
The three current Vision Zero cities are Atlanta, Macon and Savannah, Rushing said.
“I think the city of Decatur is the closest in the state of Georgia and the Southeast to achieving vision zero and going several subsequent years without a fatality or a serious injury,” Rushing said.
Toole Design is also considering travel speeds and recommends a 25-mile-per-hour speed limit throughout the city, as well as prohibiting vehicles from turning at red lights on city streets.
The city is collaborating with the Georgia Department of Transportation to lower speed limits and implement a “no turn on red” policy on state routes, following several crashes involving pedestrians.
On local streets, “no turn on red” could apply to 25 traffic signals.
“On 12 of those that occur around the Square, in the special pedestrian area around the Square, we are recommending a commission vote to prohibit right turns on red in those locations,” Rushing said.
Additional signals would need more evaluation.
The consultants and city staff will present the plan to the city commission again on June 2.
DEAN HESSE/DECATURISH West Howard Avenue planters in the city of Decatur on April 3, 2025.
Decatur School Board reinstates equity policies after injunctions
DECATUR, Ga — The City Schools of Decatur Board of Education unanimously voted to reinstate their equity policies during a special-called board meeting on April 29, reversing their April 15 decision to rescind and amend five equity policies.
The board announced a special in-person board meeting on April 28 to discuss the policy reinstatements.
The board’s decision to reinstate the equity polices followed recent preliminary injunctions issued by three separate courts in three separate states against the executive orders from President Donald Trump. The orders required school districts, including CSD, to remove equity policies or risk losing their federal funding.
The injunctions would prevent the federal orders from being enforced until they are reviewed in court. A potential fourth injunction involving 19 states may also be added. Georgia is not included in these 19 states. A lawsuit filed in Massachusetts over the weekend added more confidence in reinstating policies, according to CSD attorney Bob Wilson.
Three of the five policies were reinstated after being removed or amended on April 15, including the rescinded School Board Governance and Equity policies and the amended Gender Equity
in Sports policy. The board did not feel the two other amended policies were significant as they only focused on position titles.
The board unanimously wanted to reinstate the policies, but members were initially divided on whether the reinstated policies should be implemented with or without the condition that they automatically take effect if all three injunctions were lifted.
“In having the opportunity to look at [the injunctions], I'm not going to say
we would be in a fail-safe position, but I think we were in a pretty good position if you don't have conditions,” Wilson said.
During the April 15 school board meeting, Superintendent Gyimah Whitaker said that the board received a federal order on April 3 to certify compliance by April 10 to continue receiving federal money. This prompted a two-minute emergency board meeting held on April 4, prior to CSD’s spring break, during which the board authorized Whitaker to respond to these actions.
CSD sought community feedback through a survey, which received variety of opinions on reinstatement. Board Chair Carmen Sulton said the majority of feedback received was in support of reinstating the policies.
“I think it bears just stating for the record that there are a lot of mixed opinions out there,” Sulton said. “I think it's worth it to realize this is the first step to making sure that these policies are not only viable, that they have longevity and ultimately can do the best thing for students.”
Board member Jana Johnson-Davis made the motion to reinstate the three policies with no condition attached and the board unanimously approved. If all injunctions were to fail, the board would reevaluate the compliance situation if necessary.
“We believe that all students should feel seen and safe and heard. I think policy is the heart of what the board does,” Sulton said. “We are here to craft policies, but ultimately those policies have to be put into implementation. They have to go into regulation. So hopefully by bringing those back, we are letting the community know that we believe in what they believe in, and that the community still feels heard.”
Superintendent addresses fight at MLK High, says students shouldn't be ‘criminalized’
By JIM BASS jim@appenmedia.com
LITHONIA, Ga — DeKalb County School District Superintendent Devon Horton held a press conference on April 29 to address an April 22 hallway fight between a teacher and multiple students at Martin Luther King Jr. High School.
The fight, brought to light by a viral video, has made headlines throughout Atlanta.
Horton, speaking to reporters gathered in the school's auditorium, said the fight stemmed from a conflict between the teacher and a student, who had been at the school for less than a month. They exchanged words. After initially being separated, the situation “escalated into something different” a few minutes later.
Video of the altercation was published on social media and spread. Horton was joined on stage by DCSD staff members and Michael Alexander, Principal of MLK High School, to discuss the incident and the programs the district has implemented to prevent similar altercations.
“To be honest, this was not as cut and dry as the video showed," Horton said. "There were some things that, as a system, that we could have done better."
The video that was shared on social media shows the violent encounter beginning as a student throws a punch at what appears to be an older teacher in a suit. The teacher and several students began throwing punches at each other. Three students were
JIM BASS/DECATURISH\ DeKalb County School District Superintendent Devon
Horton addresses a fight during a press conference on April 29, 2025. The fight between a student and teacher on April 22 went viral after being recorded and posted on social media.
charged with battery and disrupting public school as a result.
Horton spoke empathetically about the students, saying that each of the three young students has a
story and that there is “more to it than meets the eye.”
"I am going to be honest. From what I’ve known as a Superintendent regarding the situation, I do not support them being criminalized," he said. "I do not. Every student deserves an opportunity and there are some factors that we are aware of that could have prevented this and we are looking into that right now.”
Horton said that challenges and stressors that both students and teachers face in school and out in the community combine to create “the perfect storm for an incident like that.”
Horton and DCSD staff members brought up multiple recently implemented restorative practice programs in the district that have caused increases in attendance rates and graduation rates, with decreases in disciplinary incidents and suspensions at MLK High School.
“We take full ownership and accountability for the action that occurred within this school building, but we have done a lot of great work in this school building, and I don’t want to minimize the work that’s happening with the faculty and staff based on one incident,” Principal Alexander said.
Further details regarding the incident were not given as the investigation is still ongoing. Due to district policy, the teacher involved is currently on paid administrative leave. The district is using the viral video as a part of their investigation.
JIM BASS/DECATURISH
City Schools of Decatur legal advisor Bob Wilson speaks on recent injunctions that could prevent federal orders being implemented on April 29, 2025.
Develop the skills you need to thrive
Brought to you by – Columbia Theological Seminary
What do you really need? Lifelong Learning Offers Answers. Beyond just interests, real needs drive us to learn. The Center for Lifelong Learning provides the space to discover your calling, connect with others, and develop the skills you need to thrive. Explore what's possible.
The Center for Lifelong Learning is a part of Columbia Theological Seminary, which “exists to educate and nurture faithful, imaginative, and effective leaders for the sake of the Church and the world.”
Columbia Theological Seminary 701 S Columbia Dr, Decatur, GA 30030 www.ctsnet.edu/
in the puzzle below has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 5, 5 and 4 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
SURNAMES
1. Hot rock. Katmandu land. Hammerin’ Hank of baseball fame.
2. “Midnight Run” actor Charles. Vittles. A __ and a prayer.
3. Little wriggler. “North by Northwest” actor James. Amulet.
4. “The World in His Arms” actor Gregory. Prepare to propose. Maui neighbor.
5. Monster. Johnny of “Sweeney Todd”. Stand-offish.
6. Mountain lion. Humpback, e.g. Running mate of ‘68.
1 Hot rock. Katmandu land. Hammerin’ Hank of baseball fame
2. “Midnight Run” actor Charles. Vittles. A ___ and a prayer.
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Little wriggler. “North by Northwest” actor James. Amulet.
4. “The World in His Arms” actor Gregory. Prepare to propose. Maui neighbor
5. Monster. Johnny of “Sweeney Todd.” Stand-offish.
6. Mountain lion. Humpback, e.g. Running mate of ‘68
7. Boredom. “Finnegans Wake” author James. Surefooted wild goat of Eurasia and Northern Africa.
Water:
Continued from Page 1
DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said the county has not shut off water on a widespread basis, and residents who are disputing their bills will not have their water disconnected throughout the review.
“However, under future plans, all individuals who do not demonstrate income sensitivity or establish a documented payment plan will not be allowed to continue accruing a balance during the dispute process,” Cochran-Johnson said. “Customers in dispute must remain current on their undisputed monthly bills.”
But the shutoffs are happening, and customers say they are struggling to meet new payment requirements from the county.
Brandy Knox, a single mother in Stone Mountain, was without water from April 14 to 28. Her current water bill is more than $18,000.
Knox’s water bills were about $72 per month until about June 2023, when they skyrocketed to $19,000 allegedly due to leaks in 2018 and 2022.
Knox had a broken pipe repaired on Jan. 1, 2023. She has paid about $3,400 toward the total bill, but she says the bill does not reflect those payments.
Knox also had issues contacting the county regarding her water bill, finding watershed and finance employees hard to reach and unwilling to help.
“What happened was they sent my case to the [county] Department of Revenue, and they’re supposed to give me a call,” Knox told Decaturish on April 22. “I’ve been calling them every day, and they haven’t returned any of my phone calls.”
Knox received an email from the county Finance Department on April 18, 2025, stating that she had to pay $18,339.90 in full to have her water service restored.
Instituting payment plans
DeKalb County has insisted that residents, like Knox and others, must either pay 10 percent of their bill or the full bill to avoid a shutoff or reconnect service.
“I got cut all the way off because I couldn’t afford the money they were requesting,” Knox said.
Customers who spoke to Decaturish were told they must also pay monthly installments on their accrued charges and regular water bills. To resolve her dispute, the county wants Knox to pay $1,800 followed by $500 monthly installments until her water bill is paid. She says she can’t afford it.
“I was trying to pay my bill, but they kept saying I had to pay 10 percent of it. They wouldn’t just let me pay $100, $200 until we figure this out, but they were insisting I had to pay 10 percent,” Knox said. “I don’t even have it, so what do you want me to do?”
DeKalb County resident Brandy Knox received a water bill for over $18,000.
Water was reconnected on April 28 after Knox reached out to a county commissioner.
Meanwhile, in Brookhaven, resident Mark Cribb has an $8,500 water bill from 2017. He has been in the dispute process since then.
DeKalb County alleges Cribb and his wife used enough water to fill three swimming pools for months. Initially, Cribb was told his home had a leak, but two plumbers inspected his property and couldn’t find one.
He has checked on the dispute periodically since 2017. He hadn’t heard anything until recently, when he received a letter saying he had to pay 10% down or the full bill by April 26, 2025, or his water would be turned off. Cribb’s water was shut off on May 6.
“I’ve touched base with them several times over the years. A lot of times I just got put on hold, couldn’t get anybody on the phone,” Cribb said, adding that the bill “included the original disputed amount. They didn’t resolve anything.”
The county told Cribb he would need to pay $850 and $300 monthly, plus the regular water bill. Like Knox, Cribb can’t afford it.
“I’m dealing with a lot of medical bills with my wife. She’s had some heart issues and that would be a death sentence here to get my water shut off,” Cribb said. “I can’t afford this. I don’t have $8,500 lying around.”
Cribb also noted that these payments would be in addition to upcoming water and sewer rate increases, which will rise 20 percent by January.
The county's customer relief efforts
When the County Commission approved the water rate increase, they also asked the CEO to take steps to help people who couldn't afford higher water bills.
Customer Advocates, with a staff of [nine] customer service representatives to assist customers with water disputes,” she said.
As of May 2, about 76 accounts were in dispute, according to Cochran-Johnson.
DeKalb will unveil a plan to address delinquent accounts without a payment plan within 30 days of receiving notice. The county has sent notices to about 3,000 residents this year.
Those requests include:
• Establishing the Office of Water and Sewer Customer Advocacy by Jan. 1, 2026. The office would work with the Watershed Customer Service and Billing Advisory Board to address customer billing issues and handle disputes.
• Funding the DeKalb Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Services Discount Program, which includes an income-based water affordability plan for very low-income and extremely low-income residents, within 30 days of adopting the resolution. The resolution was adopted on Feb. 25.
• Establishing water shutoff protections for vulnerable populations, including households with minors under 18 years old, seniors 62 or older, disabled residents and those experiencing temporary hardships.
The shutoff protections include a commitment that the county will not shut off service for customers in the dispute process or those waiting for the Office of Water and Sewer Customer Advocacy to be created.
Commissioners said they intended for the CEO to immediately implement shutoff protections and discount programs.
County Commissioner Ted Terry said the general idea is not to shut off water, and the county shouldn’t be focused on shutoffs.
“Instead of posting shutoff notices, it’s, ‘Here’s the county’s new programs to protect people with discounts, shutoff protections and other assistance, see if you qualify.’ As opposed to, ‘You need to pay 10 percent of this $18,000 bill,’ otherwise your water is going to be shut off or to get it turned back on,’” Terry said.
CEO Cochran-Johnson said she’s considering the commission’s request.
“As that request is under review, we have assigned two dedicated Water
“As we move toward that model, beginning in 2025, we have sent notices to approximately 3,000 accounts per month that are currently in a delinquent status requesting either payment in full or a 10 percent payment toward their balances and the establishment of a monthly payment plan to actively work toward bringing their balances down,” Cochran-Johnson said.
The county's chief financial officer decided on the 10 percent down payment requirement, which Cochran-Johnson approved.
“It should be noted, depending upon income and circumstances, DeKalb reserves the right to establish custom payment plans,” Cochran-Johnson said.
Plan falls short for some
So far, the bills, down payments and payment plans have been unaffordable for some residents.
Lithonia resident Greg Jones has a $42,500 bill due to previous issues with his water meter in 2015, and a leak in 2023. Each time his meter was replaced, or a repair was made, Jones says he was told that his bill would work itself out and he shouldn’t pay anything.
But the high bills keep coming.
Jones’ highest bill was $62,000. That was reduced to about $42,500 in 2024. Jones has officially started the dispute process to contest the bill. Jones lives in Lithonia with his wife, daughter and son, Joshua, who has cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder. He is on a ventilator and has pressure sores to treat.
“There is no way my water bill would be this high if on average we [pay] $75 to $98 in water a month, now that they are billing monthly…,” he said.
Jones also said a lien was placed on his house in 2024 due to the high water bill.
“I want just want to get through this,” he said. “I’m worried and scared about providing for my son and family, worried about losing my home or whatever. I don’t know what to do.”
PHOTOS BY: DEAN HESSE/DECATURISH
Burger:
Continued from Page 14
“We’re presenting this as part of our business as a place where people can gather, and they can spend a little bit more time here too,” Camperlengo said.
He added that bringing Smiley’s to the area, along with Kelly’s Market, Opo Coffee and Kimball House, helps make the Old Depot District in Decatur a destination.
“Being inclusive means it feels good to be there,” Crotty said. “That’s the big compliment, when people come in and say, ‘I like the way this feels.’”
Smiley’s Burger Club received small business grants from the Decatur Downtown Development Authority to help with the building's construction, the patio's construction, and the development of a new website. In total, Smiley’s received about $22,500 from the DDA.
Projects:
Decatur officials broke ground on the Square renovation on April 17. Phase one of the Decatur Square renovation will feature a new stage, a play area, plaza improvements, stormwater management and an expansion of the Square into North McDonough Street. The bandstand on the Square will be demolished as part of the construction. The construction timeline is 10 months and the city borrowed $8.25 million for the project.
Angela Threadgill, Decatur’s assis-
Williams:
Continued from Page 12
county's southern end. The project would take a page from the Serenbe playbook, focusing on 1,000 residential homes within the existing forest alongside walking trails, meadows, walkable streets, over 500,000 square
SOLUTIONS
Assistant City Manager Angela Threadgill said it’s nice to see businesses in the city grow and expand into new concepts.
“As far as the project itself, he’s taken an old 1950s taxi stand and turned it into an amazing restaurant with a beautiful patio,”
Threadgill said. “This is the purpose of our grant program, to help businesses to do their interior build out, do their facade enhancements and also build their social media.”
She added that the renovation transformed the area and completed the block.
“It’s a fun thing to see it come to life. We’ve taken a lot of pride at Kelly’s as being one of the original parts of the Old Depot District resurgence,” Crotty said during the ribbon cutting. “This adds in so nicely and creates such a good vibe on this side of town.”
Camperlengo told Decaturish that the restaurant and its staff are part of the community.
“The second you walk up here, you’re part of the club,” Camperlengo said
tant city manager in charge of community and economic development, said the city worked with business owners to develop a plan “to minimize disruption.”
“The city recognizes that capital improvements and infrastructure projects, especially in the urban downtown, can be messy and disruptive to all stakeholders, including residents, visitors, businesses and their employees,” Threadgill said.
The goals of the city’s plan include maintaining customer access to businesses by closing off portions of the Square at a time, decreasing the noise impact by having the contractor follow established construction hours, keep-
feet of new commercial buildings, and accompanying businesses. The plan would build upon the infrastructure of the nearby Arabian Mountain State Park, the bike lanes of PATH, and the county waterworks system.
The plan, during its initial 2022 unveiling, brought the usual NIMBY complaints about the need for wider streets and the proposed heights for potential apartments.
rett, alongside other business partners and city
ing nearly all public and private parking spaces open and providing regular updates to business owners.
“The construction over the next 12 months will be disruptive in the short term, yet the long-term results will be a welcome change that is in response to the community vision set forth in the downtown master plan,” Threadgill said.
Elissa Pichulik said her family is willing to work with tenants affected by the construction. While she is concerned about the potential impact of the Square renovations on her family’s tenants there, she thinks the city of Decatur and the business community share the same goal.
Listening to those concerns would increase the plan’s costs and make it unsuccessful due to low density. It's this type of NIMByism that CEO Johnson and the county commissioners would likely need to push through to get the project done.
Serenbe is not for everyone; it is an enclave for wealthier residents and customers. Still, the design elements can be used in multiple locations and on
“The government says they are thinking about the businesses, which is in their best overall interest as well,” she said. “As long as there are plans for utilities like garbage, pedestrians, and traffic, which I've been told they have, I'm going to trust the city of Decatur at their word.”
She supports the overall goal of the project.
“Construction is inconvenient,” Pichulik said. “I'm hopeful and looking forward to a new result. I believe in Decatur.”
Assistant Editor Zoe Seiler contributed reporting to this story.
various incomes.
Currently, nothing like that is happening in South DeKalb. It's time to go bold.
Even without exploring the full extent of Serenbe’s design choices, many places within South DeKalb could benefit from the same principles of mixed housing types, small yards, smaller streets, and walkable paths throughout.
ZOE SEILER/DECATURISH
Smiley's Burger Club Owner Ean Camperlengo, center in pink suit, cut the ribbon to open the restaurant's new patio with Decatur Mayor Patti Gar-
