CrossRoadsNews, December 9, 2017 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

YOUTH

MINISTRY

Pioneer Rhodes Scholar

Greatest casting call of all

Chelsea Jackson, Emory University’s first black Rhodes Scholar, is a 2014 graduate of Southwest DeKalb. 6

A holiday play at The Ray of Hope Church has the characters at Jesus’s birth auditioning for their roles, with God as the director. 7

Let’s Keep DeKalb Peachy Clean Please Don’t Litter Our Streets and Highways

EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER • STONECREST

December 9, 2017

Volume 23, Number 32

www.crossroadsnews.com

Oakhurst opens its sixth medical center in Northlake By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

a language other English. He said the Northlake location, which is close to refugee resettlement agencies International Rescue Committee, Catholic Charities and New American Pathways, was the perfect location for expansion. “For several years we have been eager to work closely with the refugee resettlement agencies,” Taylor said, “specifically understanding that we need to be where the people are. “Well, the people are here.”

Cutting the ribbon on the new center are (from left) Dr. Shelia Kennedy, Oakhurst Medical Northlake Family Medicine provider; DeKalb Chamber of Commerce president Katerina Taylor; Oakhurst Board vice chair Daphne Byrd; Oakhurst Medical founder Elizabeth Wilson; and Oakhurst Medical CEO Jeff Taylor.

Oakhurst Medical Centers opened its sixth location on Dec. 6 in Northlake to serve refugees and others without health insurance. The 7,000-square-foot location, at 2295 Northlake Parkway, cost $400,000 to open. It has a staff of six and is offering family medicine and OB/GYN services to patients. Jeff Taylor, Oakhurst Medical CEO, says that in recent years, DeKalb County has welcomed at least 2,000 refugees a year and that 40 percent of Oakhurst’s patients speak Please see Oakhurst, page 4

Faith Swift / Special

Partners aim to make Bnatural a household word Moisturizer has growing base of fiercely loyal users

Business partners (from left) Donald Moore, Daryl Martin, Abena Ajanaku and Sandra Martin have created a new label for their Bnatural product and revamped their online and social media presence, and plan to add travel sizes to the lineup.

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Even though Bnatural Total Body Moisturizer has been around for 23 years, most people have never heard of it. The product – conceived, created, and manufactured in Lithonia by Daryl and Sandra Martin – has a deep and loyal following, but only if you know the couple, are friends with them, go to church with them at First Afrikan Presbyterian, or have been lucky enough to meet them at a black business expo. Bnatural product users swear by it, won’t use anything else, and over the last two decades wouldn’t allow the Martins to cease production in the challenging moments when they contemplated it. “They wouldn’t let us stop,” said Daryl Martin, who mixes the special formula of beeswax, olive oil and other natural products to create the moisturizer. “We would be thinking about shutting down and we would get an order from California.” The couple always knew their product had great potential, but with raising five children and holding down 9-to-5 jobs, the business often took back stage to life. But no more. This year, they acquired new partners – family friends Donald Moore and Abena Ajanaku – restructured the company, and in April, relaunched Bnatural to grab a share of the skin care market. The Martins’ story is like that of many entrepreneurs in the African-American community whose good ideas and products struggle from the lack of financing. They developed their moisturizer in 1994 after relocating to Atlanta from Baton Rouge, La. They first lived in Atlanta’s West End in a community of people who cared about what they put into, and on their bodies.

Jennifer F. Parker / CrossRoadsNews

The mid-1990s was an exciting time in the West End and Southwest Atlanta. Wholistic living was taking root around them. The Soul Vegetarian restaurant, and community health stores like Sevananda Natural Foods Market and others were all the rage, and the Martins couldn’t get over how healthy and vibrant their new friends were. “Around us were people who looked healthy and younger than their age,” Sandra Martin recalled recently. “We began to learn that good health starts from the inside out, and that the things you put into your body shows on the outside too.” The young couple began studying herbs and healthy eating and for a while they embraced vegetarianism. Daryl Martin said their research revealed that olive oil has been used for centuries in beautifying the body internally and externally.

“We decided to create a product using olive oil, beeswax and other natural ingredients,” he said. Sandra Martin, who was a hairdresser, began using it on her scalp and skin, and when her customers commented on how great her skin looked, and asked what she was using, she began introducing it to them. Before long, the Martins were selling jars of Bnatural Total Body Moisturizer to their friends and relatives. They also traveled to black expos around the country to introduce the product to new people. But Sandra Martin said that it was their local black community that kept them going with steady reorders. While they had a steady and loyal clientele, the business never reached the potential they knew it had. “We were raising a family and couldn’t devote 100 percent of the time to it,” said

Sandra Martin. With Moore and Ajanaku – both longtime users of Bnatural – now on board, Sandra Martin said they are ready for the next level of business. “Now we are going to conquer the world,” she said with a laugh. Moore, who was a UPS driver for 34 years, retired in April. His fiance, Ajanaku, retired in January 2016 from Georgia’s Environmental Protection Department. Both say the product’s effect on their skins has been an attention-getter. Moore said he started using Bnatural five years ago when he began dating Ajanaku and saw what it did for her skin. “You apply it on your wet skin when you get out of the shower and it locks in the moisture in your skin making it look supple Please see BNATURAL, page 2

CrossRoadsNews

People

“I believe it works so well because of the natural ingredients in it and the love they put into the product.”

Cardenas lauded for outstanding service Mera Cardenas, Bill Hardman, Jr. Southeast Tourism Society President & CEO; and Brian Mock of the city of Chamblee.

Mera Cardenas, executive director of the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, is the 2017 Bill Hardman Jr. awardee. Cardenas received the award, which recognizes individuals for outstanding service and dedication to Discover DeKalb’s mission of promoting DeKalb as a tourism destination, at its 25th annual holiday gala on Dec. 2 at the Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort in Stone Mountain Park. Cardenas, who didn’t know she was a contender for the award, said she was incredibly surprised, touched and honored to be recognized. “The Arabia Alliance and our partners have worked for many years to promote the

December 9, 2017

area as a tourist destination,” she said. “The award is reaffirming of our work and commitment to creating a world-class destination.” Cardenas has led the Arabia Alliance, which manages the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, since September 2010. The alliance publishes brochures, does digital promotion, hosts special events and has installed signs on I-20 to lead nature lovers to the Heritage Area that stretches from Lithonia to Covington. “We want to be sure people are welcomed and can find their own special place in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area,” Cardenas said.

Events to celebrate Golden Krust founder By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

The life of Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill founder Lowell Hawthorne will be celebrated in multiple events in New York, and in Jamaica on Dec. 9. Hawthorne, 57, killed himself Dec. 2 in his Bronx, N.Y., bakery and warehouse which supplies more than 18,000 dollar stores and supermarkets with the company’s Jamaican patties. Hawthorne, who became know as a Jamaican beef patty mogul, came to the U.S. from Jamaica when he was 21. With financial help from his family, he parlayed one restaurant he opened in 1989 on East Gunhill Road in the Bronx into a chain of 120 restaurants in nine states, including Georgia. His success earned him a stint on CBS’s “Undercover Boss” in May 2016 where he called his company the “McDonald’s of the Caribbean.” A police source told the New York Daily News that Hawthorne, who shot himself in the head, was “worried” about liens, which included more than $165,000 in city and state taxes. Court records show that he was also being sued by former and current employees

Lowell Hawthorne opened his first site in 1989.

for thousands of dollars in overtime pay. In metro Atlanta, Golden Krust has stores in Stone Mountain, Stonecrest, Conyers, Lawrenceville, and on Old National Highway. Hawthorne’s sister Jacqueline operates the store outside the Mall at Stonecrest. She was in New York this week with her family and was unavailable for comment. Hawthorne’s life will be celebrated from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at a candlelight vigil at the company’s first location, a wake at Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, N.Y., and at a candlelight vigil on the University of the West Indies campus in Kingston, Jamaica.

Partners envision a future where their moisturizer is used by millions BNATURAL,

from page

and healthy,” he said. “Your skin will love you for it.” Ajanaku said Bnatural moisturizer is a godsend for people with dry skin. “It eliminates ashy skin,” she said, adding that she uses it on her entire body, from her scalp to her toes. Currently packaged in 8-ounce jars, Bnatural comes in eight fragrances including unscented, lemon grass, vanilla, and China musks, opium and lavender. Customers regale the partners with stories of how the moisturizer eliminates bags under their eyes, erases wrinkles and helps their skin look young and fuller. The partners are now planning a clinical study to test the claims and to get the scientific proof they need to add to their marketing efforts. As part of the restructuring started in April, they have created a new label for the Bnatural jars, designed by Stone Mountainbased Leavell Graphics and Designs; opened an online marketplace portal for customers to make purchases; and launched the product on social media platforms like Facebook,

Bnaturals co-owner Sandra Martin began selling the product to hairdressing customers who commented on how great her skin looked.

Jennifer F. Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Twitter and Instagram. In October, the company participated in the annual CrossRoadsNews Seniors and Baby Boomers Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest, where they gave away hundreds of samples. They say they’re now being bombarded by seniors with stories about how great their skin looks and clamoring to buy the products. Shirley Miller, who has been using Bnatural moisturizer for 12 years, says she loves it because it works. “I get a jar every month,” she said, ex-

plaining that she also uses it on her 32-yearold son, Brandon, who is bedridden. “It keeps his skin from breaking down,” she said. “I know this because once I stopped and within a few days his whole back was breaking into sores.” Miller, who lives in Lithonia, said she has used the moisturizer on her son ever since he suffered a brain injury in an accident 11 years ago. She says he likes the product because it feels good and protects his skin and smells good. “We use the vanilla musk and he thinks it’s cologne,” she said. “He loves smelling good.” Miller said that she has been encouraging the Martins for years to market the product so that others, including people who are bedridden, can know about it and benefit from it. “I believe it works so well because of the natural ingredients in it and the love they put into the product,” Miller said. Online, an 8-ounce jar of Bnatural sells for $17 plus tax and shipping. Just in time for holiday shopping lists, the partners are introducing 2- and 4-ounce travel sizes. They also are exploring additional fragrances to add to the offerings. Since April’s relaunch, Daryl Martin says sales are up 30 percent. “October was our biggest month ever,” he said.

Martin says he is having the time of his life developing new fragrances. “I am having lots of fun dreaming up new stuff,” he said. Moore says he is thankful to start a new career and being able to help his friends elevate the company from a mom-and-pop business. “We will move it from our kitchen to Main Street,” he said. Sandra Martin said she is thankful for having survived the hills and valleys of running a small business. “Twice we almost burned the house down,” she said. “We have survived people trying to take the business from us. We are glad we never gave it up.” They make the product in their Lithonia home, and after Sandra Martin comes home from her job as a nursing companion and her husband is home from his UPS job, the four of them gather at night around the Martins’ kitchen table to apply the labels on the jars. As they work, they talk about a future where their moisturizer is used by millions, and dream of a future when Bnatural is a household name “just like Johnson & Johnson.” “This is our baby now and we are an infant getting ready to grow,” Moore said. “The world wants natural right now and we are getting ready to deliver.” For more information, visit www.bnaturalproductsllc.com or call 404-375-3674.

CrossRoadsNews

December 9, 2017

Community

“The app challenge allows us to showcase some of the Fourth Congressional District’s brightest young mind.”

Lithonia teen Demolition of Brannon Hill Condos continues Demolition of two more buildings at wins 4th District Brannon Hill Condominiums got underway on Dec. 7. App Challenge DeKalb County began Phase II of the demolition, which will remove 40 of the 68 units listed in a Nov. 18, 2016, court order secured by the county. In July, the county demolished 28 dilapidated apartments in the complex and hauled away 1,199 tons of debris. To date, approximately 150 blighted units at the complex located at 1000 Old Hampton Drive in Clarkston have been demolished. The county sued the owners of Brannon Hill Condominiums in January 2016 to clear the way for authorization to remove mountains of debris, eradicate rodents, and cut overgrowth from the complex common areas. The cleanup of the dilapidated condominium community is being done at a cost of $400,00 funded by federal Community Development Block Grants.

Phase 2 of the demolition of the Brannon Hills Condominiums in Clarkston began Dec. 7. This time the county is demolishing two buildings with 40 units.

Brannon Hill Condominiums, built in 1973, has more than 100 separate property owners. The units that were in various stages of disrepair or were damaged by fire had been abandoned by their owners who could not be found. Code violations range from peeling siding, rotten wood, broken windows, decrepit

balconies, structural instability, exposed outlets and wires, holes in the roofs and walls, missing doors, bullet holes, unsecured units, unlicensed vehicles, and burned-down buildings. Open-air drug dealing, gang warfare, arson, squatting, and killings were commonplace at the complex. About 186 units are still inhabited.

Public’s help needed to locate suspect

Jonathan Daniel

Sixteen-year-old Jonathan Daniel, who attends the Georgia Cyber Academy, is the winner of the 2017 Congressional App Challenge for the 4th District. Jonathan’s “TEFAP Tracker” app – which stands for The Emergency Food Assistance Program app – is designed to help food banks better manage the products they distribute. It beat out entries from 75 other students from the 4th Congressional District to take the top prize. The 11th-grader, who lives in Lithonia, developed the app to help food banks transition from paper-and-pencil based systems to a more efficient database tracking system. Johnson said that science and technology are transforming our world and he is very proud of the students who participated in this year’s challenge. He will celebrate Jonathan and other app challenge participants at a Feb. 3 Congressional App Challenge Awards Reception at the Fernbank Science Center. “The app challenge allows us to showcase some of the Fourth Congressional District’s brightest young minds as they take on cutting-edge technology that is becoming an increasing part of all our lives,” Johnson said. The 75 students entered this year’s challenge as individuals or in teams of up to four students. The judging committee included Georgia Tech professor Jason Freeman; Microsoft Education Partner Dr. Elaine E. Bryan; and Cheryl Allie, president of the Village Tutorial Enrichment Program. Jonathan’s “TEFAP Tracker” app will also be on display in the U.S. Capitol along with winners from other congressional districts across the country. The Congressional App Challenge, which the U.S. House of Representatives launched in 2015, is open to all students in the 4th Congressional District. The competition, which is designed to promote innovation and engagement in coding and computer science, encourages students to create an application or game for mobile phones, tablets, or computer devices. It highlights the value of computer science and STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, art and math). Students are judged on the quality of their idea, including creativity and originality; implementation of the idea, including user experience and design; and the ability to demonstrate their coding and programming skills. For more information visit CongressionalAppChallenge.us or call Joshua Smith or Xeron Pledger at 770-987-2291.

A man who shot and killed Eric Fisher on Nov. 5 in the parking lot of the Motel 6 on Chamblee Tucker Road in Lawrenceville is being sought by law enforcement. The DeKalb County Sheriff ’s Office is asking the public’s help in locating the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Kaylon

Janard “Hooty” Jiles of Tucker. A Nov. 6 warrant issued for Jiles says he is charged with felony murder for shooting Fisher multiple times. Investigators say Jiles fled the scene in a black sedan. Individuals with information about Jiles’ whereabouts are cautioned that he may be

armed, may be in possession of drugs, and he may be affiliated with a gang. To report his location, call the DeKalb County Sheriff ’s Office at 404-2988402 or Crime Stoppers at Kaylon Jiles 404-577-TIPS (8477).

Think a walk with your grandchild should bring joy, instead of joint pain?

We’re With You.

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11/9/17 4:46 PM

Wellness

CrossRoadsNews

December 9, 2017

“The new area allows for emergency personnel to transition patients to the care of the hospital staff and doctors more efficiently.” Wear appropriate outdoor clothing, such as a windresistant coat or jacket and inner layers when going out in the cold.

2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Editorial Intern Rosie Manins Front Office Manager Catherine Guy Multimedia Editor Sharif Williams

CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsNews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Advertisements are published upon the representation that the advertiser is authorized to publish the submitted material. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless from and against any loss or expenses resulting from any disputes or legal claims based upon the contents or subject matter of such advertisements, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

Circulation Audited By

Be prepared for winter weather When they arrive, winter storms and cold temperatures can be hazardous. But you can stay safe and healthy by planning ahead. Your list should include preparing your home and cars, preparing for power outages and outdoor activity, and checking on older adults. Here are some tips from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

n Install a carbon monoxide detector. Check batteries when you change your clocks in the fall and spring.

Be prepared n Stock food that needs no cooking or refrigeration. n Store water in clean containers. n Charge your cell phone and external batteries. Winterize your home n Avoid traveling when the weather sern Install weather stripping, insulation, and vice has issued advisories. storm windows. n If you must travel, be aware of current n Insulate water lines that run along exterior and forecast weather conditions. walls. n Wear appropriate outdoor clothing, such as a wind-resistant coat or jacket; inner layn Clean out gutters and repair roof leaks. ers of light, warm clothing; mittens; hats; Check heating systems scarves; and waterproof boots. n Have a HVAC professional service your heating system to ensure that it is clean, Keep emergency kit up-to-date working properly, and ventilated to the n Battery-operated devices, such as a flashoutside. light, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric n Inspect and clean fireplaces and chim- Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, and lamps; neys. n Have a safe alternate heating source and n Extra batteries; alternate fuels available. n First-aid kit and extra medicine; n Install a smoke detector. Test batteries n Baby items; and cat litter or sand for icy monthly and replace them twice a year. walkways.

DeKalb Medical completes renovation of North Decatur ED Patients seeking emergency care at DeKalb Medical’s North Decatur campus will now go to a newly renovated facility. The medical center said this week that it has completed the $2.1 million renovation of its North Decatur campus Emergency Department to better serve the more than 65,000 patients it sees there annually. The renovations, which began in January, reconfigured internal space at the medical center to expedite patient traffic, reduce Emergency Department wait time, and create a more modern environment for care. The improvements, completed in three phases, include constructing 14 new patient rooms, a dedicated radiology room, and a secured clinical stabilization unit for behavioral health patients. The hospital has also added a family consultation room that offers family members and loved ones a private gathering space when needed. Beth Jansa, DeKalb Medical’s public relations manager, said that one of the transformational changes in the renovated facility is the creation of a new intake area for ambulances. “The new area allows for emergency personnel to transition patients to the care of the hospital staff and doctors more efficiently, which in turns allows them to get back into the field to respond to calls in the community more quickly,” she said. The renovations were made possible through donations from the community, corporate partners, physicians and staff to the DeKalb Medical Foundation’s Building the Future of Emergency Medicine campaign. The $2.1 million raised for the improvements included a $100,000 gift from the DeKalb Medical ED doctors. For a virtual tour of the renovated emergency department, visit www.dekalbmedical.org.

Oakhurst fulfilling mission to provide affordable healthcare Oakhurst

from page

Taylor said that access is very important for new residents to the community. “We felt if we were in the same office complex as the existing services that they access, we could provide health care services to them in a familiar, convenient area,” Taylor said. “Many of the refugees come to this specific area to find housing, jobs and to get linked to health care. Our main site is several miles away and when it comes to access, even one mile can be an access issue.” Construction, which began in July, was funded by a federal grant. It took eight weeks to complete. The new medical center has 14 exam rooms and space to offer additional medical services as demand grows. The nonprofit federally qualified health center saw its first patients at the Northlake center on Sept. 18. Staff and board chair and vice chair Frankie Barnes and Daphne Byrd were joined by DeKalb Chamber of Commerce president Katerina Taylor for Wednesday’s grand opening celebration. The Northlake location joins centers in Decatur, Stone Mountain, Conyers, and at AbsoluteCare and Emory Crawford Long at 2140 and 550 Peachtree Street N.E. in Atlanta. By spring 2018, Oakhurst Medical plans to open a center at DeKalb Medical at Hillandale in its quest to fulfill its mission to provide affordable and comprehensive health care services that are culturally sensitive and accessible to individuals and families in DeKalb, Rockdale and surrounding counties. As he goes through life, Taylor says he is reminded that if he has the ability to help someone he should. “If I see a homeless person, an injured person or someone who just needs health care services, if I have the ability to help them, I think that I should,” he told the grand opening audience. “I believe that these principles have governed why organizations like Oakhurst Medical Centers exist.” For more information, visit www.oakmed.org.

December 9, 2017

CrossRoadsNews

Youth

December 9, 2017

“She will be a wonderful ambassador for the United States and Emory as she continues her work at Oxford University.”

Emory’s first black Rhodes Scholar is Southwest DeKalb grad Chelsea Jackson, who graduated from Southwest DeKalb High School in 2014, will be a 2018 Rhodes Scholar to Oxford University. Jackson, an Emory University senior, is the first AfricanAmerican, fourth Chelsea Jackson woman, and 20th student from the university picked for the prestigious program. A political science and African-American studies double major at Emory, she is one of 32 American college students to be Rhodes Scholars for 2018. The all expense-paid scholarship provides for two or three years of study at the Univer-

sity of Oxford in England. Jackson, who is from Lithonia, said she is blessed to be selected a Rhodes Scholar. “Just the resources available and the opportunity to live outside the U.S. and interact and learn from scholars throughout the world is immense,” she said. During her college career, Jackson has focused her undergraduate research and her community leadership on efforts on creating a more equitable campus and Atlanta community. She has been heavily involved with the Emory chapter of the NAACP and is a cofounder of Atlanta Black Students United (ATLBSU), a group with black student representatives from every school in metro Atlanta. The ATLBSU remains a support system for students and resource for allies. Emory University President Claire E.

Legal Notices 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, 12/23

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM9874 Brianna A. Mitchell PLAINTIFF VS Aomori M. Mitchell, and Michael Chad Halman, DEFENDANTS NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Michael Chad Halman 2550 Shady Lane, Apt. #3B Waycross, GA 31503-9216 You are hereby notified that the abovestyled action seeking Divorce and Other Relief was filed against you in said court on September 19, 2017, and that by reason of an Order for Service of Summons by Publication entered by the court on Sept 08, 2017, you are hereby commanded and required to file with the clerk of said court and serve upon Mara Block, Plaintiff’s attorney, whose address is Atlanta Legal Aid Society, 246 Sycamore Street, Suite 120, Decatur, GA 30030, an answer in writing to the Petition within sixty (60) days of the Order for Servicce by Publication. Witness the Honorable Asha F. Jackson, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 19th day of Oct., 2017 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, 12/23

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM10929-3 Santrena L. Fultz PLAINTIFF VS Douglas R. Fultz DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Douglas R. Fultz 10429 Prince Dr. St. Louis, MO 63136 By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Nov. 7, 2017. You are hereby notified that Oct. 18, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Santrena Fultz, 1391 Post Oak Drive, Apt. G., Clarkston, GA 30021. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Nov. 07, 2017. Witness the Honorable Clarence F. Seeliger, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 8th day of Nov., 2017 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, 12/23

Notice of Petition

in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM10618-3 Brian Etheridge PLAINTIFF VS Theresa Hearn Etheridge DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Theresa Hearn Etheridge 2807 Misty Water Dr., Apt. 30 Decatur, GA 30032 By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Nov. 7, 2017. You are hereby notified that Oct. 08, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Brian Etheridge, 1851 Camellia Dr., Decatur, GA 30032. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Nov. 07, 2017. Witness the Honorable Clarence F. Seeliger, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 8th day of Nov., 2017 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, 12/23

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM7004-5 Jacqueline McLendon PLAINTIFF VS Joshua McLendon DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Joshua McLendon By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Nov. 06, 2017. You are hereby notified that Oct. 18, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Jacqueline McLendon, 2805 Misty Waters Dr., Apt. #2, Decatur, GA 30032. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Nov. 07, 2017. Witness the Honorable Gregory A. Adams, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 7th day of Nov., 2017 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, 12/23

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM11072 Victoria Hayes PLAINTIFF VS

Elray Booker DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Elray Booker By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Nov. 01, 2017. You are hereby notified that Oct. 16, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Victoria Hayes, 3855 Brookview Point, Decatur, GA 30034. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Nov. 01, 2017. Witness the Honorable Asha F. Jackson, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 6th day of Nov., 2017 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, 12/23

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM10768-1 Marleen Denise Pierce PLAINTIFF VS Antonio Terrell Pierce DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Antonio Terrell Pierce 2687 Hwy 701, North Conway, SC 29526 By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Oct. 26, 2017. You are hereby notified that Oct. 12, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Marleen Denise Pierce, 7060 Ravenwood Lane, GA 30038. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Nov. 02, 2017. Witness the Honorable Courtney L. Johnson, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 2nd day of Nov., 2017 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, 12/23

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM6647-10 Laventress Hammond PLAINTIFF VS Cecorie A. Hammond DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Cecorie A. Hammond By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Oct. 25, 2017. You are hereby notified that Jun. 16, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and

Sterk says Jackson is a passionate and committed student who uses her intellectual talents and commitment to social justice to better our world. “She will be a wonderful ambassador for the United States and Emory as she continues her work at Oxford University,” Sterk said. Michael A. Elliott, dean of Emory College of Arts and Sciences and Charles Howard Candler Professor of English, said that Chelsea truly embodies the ideals of a liberal arts and sciences education. “Her pursuit of knowledge and inquiry informs her activism and her dedication to making our society a more just one for all,” said Elliott. Jackson plans to earn a master’s degree in criminology at Oxford, home of a cuttingedge research center that focuses on the sociology of criminal justice.

address is: Laventress Hammond, 5591 Regency Forest Ct., Lithonia, GA 30038. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Oct. 30, 2017. Witness the Honorable Tangela M. Barrie, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 30th day of Oct., 2017 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, 12/23

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM10421-7 Hanh Kieu Pham PLAINTIFF VS Hung Tran DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Hung Tran 3921 Norman Rd. Stone Mountain, GA 30083 You are hereby notified that the abovestyled action seeking Divorce, Custody and Child Support was filed against you in said court on Oct. 03, 2017, and that by reason of an Order for Service of Summons by Publication entered by the court on Nov 08, 2017, you are hereby commanded and required to file with the clerk of said court and serve upon Mara Block, Plaintiff’s attorney, whose address is Atlanta Legal Aid Society, 246 Sycamore Street, Suite 120, Decatur, GA 30030, an answer in writing to the Petition within sixty (60) days of the Order for Servicce by Publication. Witness the Honorable Daniel M. Coursey, Jr., Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 8th day of Nov., 2017 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, 12/23

Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name(s) of MINOR CHILD(REN) in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM10022-3 NOTICE OF PUBLICATION La’Shante Esty filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Sept. 22, 2017 to change the name(s) of the following child(ren) from: Mercy Winter Esty to: Mercy Winter Forman. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within the time prescribed in OCGA 19-12-1(f)(2) and (3). Dated: Jul. 12, 2017 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, 12/23

Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name(s) of MINOR CHILD(REN) in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM10021-3 La’Shante Esty filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Sept. 22, 2017 to change the name(s) of the following child(ren) from: Taylor Emerson Esty to: Taylor Emerson Castell Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within the time prescribed in OCGA 19-12-1(f)(2) and (3). Dated: Jul. 12, 2017

While there, she hopes to examine how the law can be used to reform the criminal justice system by, for instance, reducing the use of solitary confinement and expanding the maternal rights of incarcerated women. “I want to learn how race and politics play out in other countries’ criminal justice systems to see how that shapes their world view, and to consider new ideas and ways to solve problems that I have not thought of yet,” she says. After Oxford, Jackson plans to return to the U.S. to attend law school to become a civil rights attorney. DeKalb District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson recognized Jackson as a Shining Star this summer at her 2017 Old School/ New School Community Concert. Jackson has been a Truman Scholar at Emory since 2011.

12/02, 12/09, 12/16, 12/23

Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM11984 NOTICE OF PUBLICATION Petitioner in the above-captioned case filed a Petition to Change Name of Adult in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Nov. 21, 2017, to change her name from: Valorie Jeanette Coleman to Valerie Jeanette Wiggs. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and to file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Respectfully submitted this 21st day of November, 2017 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, 12/23

Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM11973-7 NOTICE OF PUBLICATION Walter Andrew Hamric filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on November 21st, 2017 to change the name from: Walter Andrew Hamric to Lupa Marlene Brandt. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: November 15, 2017 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, 12/23

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM9862 Angie Blasingame PLAINTIFF VS Travis Morris DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Travis Morris 1232 Kipling St., SE Atlanta, GA 30315 By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Sept. 27, 2017. You are hereby notified that Sept. 18, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Angie Blasingame, 102 Hillside Village Dr., Apt. 102, Atlanta, GA 30317. Witness the Honorable Tangela M. Barrie, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 21st day of Nov., 2017 12/09, 12/16, 12/23, 12/30

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM12056-8 Christie C. Cosby PLAINTIFF VS Kenyatta D. Cosby

DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Kenyatta D. Cosby By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Nov. 29, 2017. You are hereby notified that Nov. 27, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Christie C. Cosby, 2740 Tilson Rd., Decatur, GA 30032. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Nov. 29, 2017. Witness the Honorable Linda W. Hunter, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 30th day of Nov., 2017 12/09, 12/16, 12/23, 12/30

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM7183-5 Laree Danner PLAINTIFF VS Taneisha Allen DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Taneisha Allen 5400 Memorial Dr., Unite 3-C Stone Mountain, GA 30083 By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Oct. 31, 2017; You are hereby notified that on Jun. 30, 2017, The above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Modification of Custody and Visitation. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Laree Danner, 722 Gatehouse Dr., Apt. D, Decatur, GA 30032. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Nov. 29, 2017. Witness the Honorable Gregory A. Adams, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Cour. This the 29th day of Nov., 2017 12/09, 12/16, 12/23, 12/30

Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM11925-7 Kourtney Stephens PLAINTIFF VS Quentin Barkley DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Quentin Barkley By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Nov. 30, 2017. You are hereby notified that Nov. 20, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Kourtney Antionette Stephens, 4960 River Overlook Way, Lithonia, GA 30038. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Nov. 29, 2017. Witness the Honorable Daniel M. Coursey, Jr., Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 30th day of Nov., 2017

CrossRoadsNews

December 9, 2017

Holiday

Scrooge eventually is transformed into a kinder, gentler man, embodying the Christmas spirit.

‘Casting Call’ at The Ray

Famed ‘Carol’ back for holidays The Alliance Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol” will be performed at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre because the theater company’s space at Woodruff Arts Center is being renovated.

The Ray of Hope’s Parable Players shown above in their Palm Sunday production of “The Lord’s Table: Behind the Scenes,” will audition for parts in a live nativity on Dec. 17.

A cast of 14 will put a new spin on the story of Jesus’ birth in "Casting Call – A Christmas Story" at the Ray of Hope Church on Dec. 17. The church’s Parable Players drama ministry is presenting the dramedy, written by Skitguys.com Eddie James, during the 10 a.m. Sunday worship service. Through seven vignettes, the play takes audiences and actors through a series of casting calls for characters – Mary, Joseph, Wise Men and others – associated with the nativity scene, with God as the director. Throughout, the performance asks the question: “What if you had to audition for your role in the Nativity scene with God as the director. Would you get a callback?”

It culminates with a live Nativity scene. Playwright James, who wrote Casting Call first for his church, Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif., calls it humorous, insightful and scripturebased. Rylan Harris, the church’s Minister of Worship and the Arts, said the actors, all members of The Ray, range in age from 16 to 60. The play is directed by Katrina Morris, who has led the Parable Players for just over a year, and co-directed by Andrea Parks. It is free to attend. The church is at 2778 Snapfinger Road in Decatur, For more information, visit www. rayofhope.org or call 770-696-5100.

Volunteers needed to feed officers Volunteers are needed to help provide dinner to 60 DeKalb Police officers, detectives and supervisors working on Christmas Day at the East Precinct in Lithonia. Stonecrest Councilwomen Diane Adoma and Jazzmin Cobble are cohosting the 1st Annual Christmas Dinner on Dec. 25 at noon at the precinct at 2484 Bruce Street.

They say volunteers are needed to assist with set-up, food preparation, distribution and cleanup. Fourth District Congressman Hank Johnson is expected to attend. To volunteer or for more information, email adomastoneccrestdistrict5@gmail.com or call 470-223-6039.

The festive season’s most heartwarming Christmas tale is returning to Atlanta for a 28th year to entertain audiences in December. “A Christmas Carol,” by the Alliance Theatre, will be performed Dec. 8-24 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, promising holiday carols, stunning stage magic, familiar faces and a timeless message of redemption. The beloved Dickens classic, first published as a novella in 1843, will be brought to life with live music and an all-star Atlanta cast. It is directed by Rosemary Newcott, the Alliance Theatre’s Sally G. Tomlinson artistic director of Theatre for Youth and Families. The show is taking place at the Cobb Energy Center because the Alliance Theatre’s space at the Woodruff Arts Center is under renovation. Popular Atlanta actors David de Vries, Thomas Neal Antwon Ghant, Joe Knezevich, Bart Hansard and 10-year-old Marco Schittone are back for this year's production. De Vries, whose credits include the

Broadway production of “Beauty and the Beast” and the national tour of “Wicked,” returns as Ebenezer Scrooge, the old miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. They teach him it is never too late to change, and Scrooge eventually is transformed into a kinder, gentler man, embodying the Christmas spirit. Marco, who started with the Alliance Theatre in its youth acting classes, will play Tiny Tim for the second consecutive year. He was previously cast in the theatre’s world premiere production of “Tuck Everlasting” and continued when the show opened on Broadway in 2016. Ghant plays Bob Cratchit, Hansard will transform into Mr. Fezziwig and Christmas Present, and Knezevich will portray the character Fred. Opening night is Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center is at 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway in Atlanta. For tickets and show times visit www. ticketmaster.com or call 404-733-4690.

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CrossRoadsNews

December 9, 2017