COMMUNITY
HOLIDAY
NOBLE relief effort
Hit the trails on special days
Three trucks loaded with supplies for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands left McDonough on Nov. 6 . 2
Hiking trails and bike paths at state parks will be open for exercise and fresh air on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. 4
EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER • STONECREST
Copyright © 2017 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
November 18, 2017
Volume 23, Number 29
www.crossroadsnews.com
Not just a holiday, ‘Thanksgiving’ a way of life in South DeKalb By Lyle V. Harris
As the country prepares to celebrate its 228th Thanksgiving on Nov. 23, people who live, work and do business in South DeKalb harbor a deep sense of gratitude that giving thanks isn’t limited to one day of the year. There’s no doubt that 2017 has been a time of troubling upheavals around the world, across the country and right here in the county we call home. Since the future we face is so uncertain, we asked a broad swath of people in South DeKalb a simple question: “What are you most thankful for in your life?” In their own words, here’s what they had to say:
Schools and other men and women who are committed to making this county the best it can be and I can see the evidence of that. “Lastly, I’m thankful for a renewed excite“Frankly, I’m thankful for God’s grace in my life ment among the clergy in DeKalb County as for bringing me through well as among the citizens.” this year with peace and joy. I’m grateful for my joy Jason Lary, 55 that comes from having a Mayor, City of Stonecrest “For me, it’s about balwonderful congregation of men and women who love God and love ance. I’m looking forward our church and love service to our com- to the future and all the business opportunities for munity. “I’m grateful south DeKalb County is the city but all that’s nothcoming back stronger than ever because ing without family. I feel we have chosen some excellent leadership sorry for people who don’t with new CEO and new Superintendent of have a relationship with their wives and kids
Rev. Cynthia L. Hale, 65
Pastor, Ray of Hope Christian Church
and mother fathers. That’s A-1 for me. “I’m having fun in my life and I couldn’t be any better because I know Stonecrest will be the new model city of the world, no question in my mind.”
Kenneth Saunders, 41
Chairman-elect, S. DeKalb Improvement Association
“I’m grateful to be alive and that everything is moving in the right direction. With my faith in God, things are only looking up, particularly
Please see GRATEFUL, page 3
Rail expansion could foster Transit Oriented Developments New stations on I-20 could anchor growth
More transitoriented developments like this artist rendering, now under construction at the Avondale MARTA station, could be created in South DeKalb as the East Line is extended to the Mall at Stonecrest.
By Lyle V. Harris
Long-delayed plans to extend MARTA rail eastward along I-20 are getting a fresh look that could lead to transformative real estate developments rising along the trafficchoked corridor through South DeKalb. The transit agency last week hosted the first in a series of open houses scheduled for DeKalb residents to provide feedback on transit-oriented developments (TODs) proposed for the east-west highway. Often built adjacent to existing rail stations, these increasingly popular developments promote transit ridership and offer a convenient mix of housing, shopping and recreation. About 200 people showed up at the Lou Walker Senior Center on Panola Road and the Community Achievement Center on Flat Shoals Parkway to review MARTA’s TOD presentation and speak with agency planners. Participants got a sneak peek at five possible TOD locations that could be built alongside the 12-mile transit corridor linking MARTA’s Indian Creek rail station near Memorial Drive to Stonecrest Mall. There are no concrete designs for the TODs yet and MARTA’s strategic planning work is expected to take at least 12 months to complete. In the meantime, MARTA officials have identified possible sites for new rail stations and TODs at Covington Highway, Wesley Chapel Road, Panola Road, Lithonia Industrial Boulevard and Stonecrest. Ben Limmer, MARTA’s assistant general manager for planning, said the I-20 expansion project recently received a $1.6 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The federal money, the largest such award in the country, is being used by MARTA and DeKalb County to develop a comprehensive plan for the corridor. Such
“There’s a great opportunity for innovative projects that would help revitalize some of those areas. There’s no question in my mind that TODs would bring more activity and density to the [I-20] corridor that I think would be welcomed by the community.” Robbie Ashe, chairman of the MARTA Board of Directors
plans are required before MARTA can compete for a larger pot of federal funds that will be needed to build the I-20 expansion, now estimated to cost about $2.5 billion. One of the major uncertainties surrounding the project, however, is the potential impact of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s intentions to build “managed lanes” along portions of I-20. An example of managed lanes includes sections of I-85 in Gwinnett County where motorists pay variable tolls based on prevailing highway con-
discussions about TODs in South DeKalb are taking place as metro Atlanta’s real estate market is booming. Expanding transit access is a trending topic around the region and MARTA’s once-stagnant TOD program is flourishing. Built in partnership with private developers, TODs are touted as a way to reduce traffic, spur economic activity and attract more transit riders who don’t own a car or prefer not to drive. MARTA has five TODs in various stages of development and three others under construction, including projects at the Avondale and Chamblee stations in DeKalb. Robbie Ashe, chairman of the MARTA Board of Directors, said he’s confident TODs could be an integral component of the I-20 transit expansion. “When you look at the demographics
gestion. If built on I-20, managed lanes could consume large portions of the right-of-way that might otherwise be used for transit. “We’re trying to find the optimal solutions in I-20 for heavy rail and managed lanes,” Limmer said. “Some of the important questions we need to consider is whether managed lanes will impact potential transit ridership for heavy rail, how much might it add to the cost and can both of these transportation modes co-exist.” While still in the preliminary stages, Please see MARTA, page 3
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Community
CrossRoadsNews
November 18, 2017
“It is very difficult for anyone in Puerto Rico to see the future at this stage.”
Hurricane relief for Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
By Rosie Manins
A convoy of vehicles carrying disaster relief supplies from metro Atlanta has been deployed to Orlando, Fla., to help hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The multi-agency convoy, transporting 147 pallets of items desperately needed by hurricane victims, left McDonough on Nov. 6. Relief supplies, asked for by authorities in recipient communities, were collected during donation drives in metro Atlanta following hurricanes Irma and Maria in August and September. The relief effort, organized by the Georgia chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), involved more than 25 agencies, institutions, businesses, nonprofits and municipal authorities from across metro Atlanta, including the DeKalb County Marshal’s Office, Police Department and Sheriff ’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, MARTA Police and New Life Church. Officials estimate they will need $21 billion over the next two years to cover operating costs and infrastructure rebuilds in Puerto Rico alone. More than 70 percent of residents on the island remain without electricity and several areas still don’t have running water. In a Nov. 7 statement to the House
A convoy of trucks carrying disaster relief supplies for hurricaneravaged Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is escorted by police vehicles as it leaves McDonough on Nov. 6.
Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Committee on Natural Resources, Natalie Jaresko, the chair of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico, said Puerto Rico needs emergency and restoration funds and assistance on an unprecedented scale. “Before the hurricanes, the board was determined that Puerto Rico and its instrumentalities could achieve balanced budgets, work its way through its debt problems, and develop a sustainable economy without federal aid. That is simply no longer possible,” Jaresko said. “It is very difficult for anyone in Puerto Rico to see the future at this stage,” she said. “So much depends on you, the Congress, the administration and how much funding that will be appropriated for Puerto Rico.”
Irma, a Category 5 hurricane, hit the Caribbean and southeast United States, including Georgia, just two weeks later, causing catastrophic damage and at least 134 deaths. Hurricane Maria, also a Category 5 storm, made landfall in Dominica on Sept. 18, killing at least 98 people. More than 50 of those deaths were in Puerto Rico, but hundreds of people are still missing and San Juan Mayor Yulin Cruz has claimed that Puerto Rico’s death toll from Maria may actually be as high as 500. In Maria’s wake, most of the island’s population suffered from flooding and lack of resources, and total losses from the hurricane, mostly in Puerto Rico, are estimated at between $15.9 and $95 billion.
Think a walk with your grandchild should bring joy, instead of joint pain?
We’re With You.
Meeting to discuss improvements at Rainbow Park
A public meeting will be held on Nov. 20 to discuss improvements to Rainbow Park in Decatur. The DeKalb Board of Commissioners approved $500,000 in June this year towards the preliminary design-build phase of an amphitheater at the park. On Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m., the county’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host the public meeting in the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center, at 3181 Rainbow Drive in Decatur. The proposed amphitheater will accommodate up to 1,000 people and will be located next to the Porter Sanford center, to round out the entertainment complex on site. District 3 Commissioner Larr y Johnson says the project will go a long way toward attracting events to the district and bring added value to properties in the area. The funding allocated by commissioners on June Larry Johnson 13 comes from the county’s District 3 Parks Bond funds. ASTRA Group Inc. has been responsible for the design phase of the project, which continues the comprehensive development plan for the 20 acres around Rainbow Park, formerly Wonderland Gardens. Johnson says that with its convenient access to Interstates 20 and 285, the amphitheater will be an ideal venue for events and concerts and will complement the existing auditorium at the performing arts center on site. Marvin Billups, interim director of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs, said the idea is to develop a community-friendly facility that can improve the quality of life for residents. In June, Billups said the public would be involved in the development of the project from start to finish. “The overall goal is to create a path that will connect all these facilities around the Rainbow Park area to increase and encourage usability by citizens,” he said. A notice to proceed from the county’s Purchasing and Contracting Department will follow the design phase. Dates for the groundbreaking and completion have not yet been set. For more information about the project and the public meeting on Nov. 20, contact Dawn Cribb, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs public relations specialist at dmcribb@ dekalbcountyga.gov or at 404-371-6295.
ACA enrollment at Stonecrest Library branch People wanting help in signing up for health insurance in 2018 under the Affordable Care Act can visit the Stonecrest Library on Nov. 15 and Dec. 13. The DeKalb NAACP will have navigators to assist from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Open enrollment through the Healthcare Market Place ends on Dec. 15. The insurance, also known as Obamacare, will be effective in January. The NAACP events are free and open to all. The Stonecrest Library is at 3123 Klondike Road in Lithonia. For more information, contact Cherry Willis at cherrywillis@comcast.net or at 404626-8505.
Whether your joint and muscle pain is the result of “wear and tear,” an injury, or something more serious ůŝŬĞ ƌŚĞƵŵĂƚŽŝĚ ĂƌƚŚƌŝƟƐ͕ ůĞƚ ƚŚĞ ƚĞĂŵ Ăƚ Ğ<Ăůď DĞĚŝĐĂů KƌƚŚŽƉĞĚŝĐ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ƐŚŽǁ LJŽƵ ŚŽǁ ƚŽ ƌĞĚƵĐĞ LJŽƵƌ ƉĂŝŶ͕ ƌĞƐƚŽƌĞ ĨƵŶĐƟŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ŐĞƚ ďĂĐŬ ƚŽ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ĂŐĂŝŶ͘ KƵƌ ĚŽĐƚŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ ŶƵƌƐĞƐ will work “With You” on the latest treatments to turn your joint pain back into joy!
Call 404.501.9355 ƚŽ ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞ ĂŶ ĂƉƉŽŝŶƚŵĞŶƚ͘
sŝƐŝƚ ĚĞŬĂůďŵĞĚŝĐĂů͘ŽƌŐ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ Ă ƉŚLJƐŝĐŝĂŶ ĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶƚůLJ ůŽĐĂƚĞĚ ŶĞĂƌ LJŽƵ͘
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CrossRoadsNews
November 18, 2017
Community
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The earliest a transit-only sales tax referendum could be on the DeKalb ballot is November 2019.
Many reasons to give thanks GRATEFUL,
from page
1
with DeKalb, things are moving up and in the right direction. Being elected to run SDIA is a big thing for me because I only see progress in South DeKalb and I’m going to be an integral part of that. “Personally I’m surrounded by likeminded people that are focused on success and helping me to grow personally and professionally to become a better person.”
Ayana Moore, 26,
aka Rap Artist “Yani Mo”
and support of my husband.”
Alvin Pitts, 53, Founder, Mobile Expressions
“I’m a grown man who works with balloons for a living and when I first started, people laughed at me. But 26 years later, I’m still in the business and thankful I have the freedom of being an entrepreneur and being my own boss. It allows me to keep an open calendar to fulfill my other dreams and pursue opportunities. When you’re cooped up in someone else’s cubicle, you miss out on your own life.”
“I love the fact that I have the opportunity to start again, to start over in general in my life. I have the opportunity to be reVikki Conwell, 51, newed and I’m thankful Public Relations Manager to be constantly evolving “Quality of life and spiritually, musically and emotionally. I’m peace of mind. Those are thankful I’m able to reach people through always the most impormusic and to heal people through music.” tant things when you strip away possessions, which Santresa Lamar, 43, don’t really matter much. Owner/Operator, Stone If you have intangibles, Manor Events Facility like your health, you have “I’m thankful for just everything. life in general. I lost a dear “This year I’ve had to make some shortfriend recently and it was term adjustments for my long term goals a wake-up call. You just and I’ve done that knowingly and wisely and have to cherish the friends I did it or myself, nobody forced me to do and family and each day that. Some stuff jumped off out of my control and life because you don’t know what day but I’m thankful I just rebounded and kept is your last. it moving.” “Every day and every moment is special. You have to live each day like it’s your last. My Sheldon Fleming, 60, daughter graduated from college, and when Agriculturalist, former I look back on my life, she is the one accomDirector of Wonderland Gardens plishment that I’m most proud of because I’m “My years on this seeing the woman she has become. earth have made me very “That’s my proudest accomplishment and fortunate. I have lived what I’m thankful about.“ in DeKalb County since 1976 and I’ve had a wonMera Cardenas, 47, Executive director, Arabia Mountain Heritage derful opportunity to see Area Alliance my county mature and to serve the commu“As far as representing nity for 25 years. I excited and thankful about the Alliance, I’m thankful the future in front of me at 60 years old even for the community that’s though we have gone from where we were working to make this a and moving to being our best. I have planted place for future generaseeds and now seen those tions to enjoy. trees mature.” “The living landscape wouldn’t be possible withLeila Williams out partners, our board and our visitors to Retired restaurateur celebrating her 105th the area as well as the people who live here. birthday last week I’m just thankful we can continue to share “I’m thankful for my stories and treasures that make this area exice cream. ” ceptional. I couldn’t do this without the love
� ��� SHOPS
DECATUR.
Visitors Center | 113 Clairemont Ave. visitdecaturga.com |
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This strip mall parking lot at Covington Highway and I-20 could anchor mixed-use development with MARTA’s planned expansion.
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‘Managed lanes’ on I-20 could pose problems for rail extension MARTA,
from page
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along I-20 and the untapped market for this type of development, there’s a great opportunity for innovative projects that would help revitalize some of those areas,” Ashe said. “There’s no question in my mind that TODs would bring more activity and density to the corridor that I think would be welcomed by the community.” But such improvements come with a sizable cost. In order to win federal funding for transit a substantial and sustainable source of local dollars must first be in place. For decades since MARTA’s inception, DeKalb has been paying a penny sales tax for bus and rail service. But to build out DeKalb’s I-20 expansion, voters may need to borrow a page from neighboring Atlanta’s playbook. Last year, city residents approved an additional half-penny sales tax exclusively for transit. Atlanta’s “More MARTA” sales levy is expected to generate $2.5 billion. But it’s unclear if DeKalb voters would
be willing to pay for more MARTA, especially after approving a new Special Local Options Sales Tax (SPLOST) on Nov. 7 to finance $646 million in much-needed road and infrastructure improvements. The earliest a transit-only sales tax referendum could be on the DeKalb ballot is November 2019. For now, MARTA is reviewing comments from residents who showed up for the recent TOD open houses; the next round of meetings will likely be in the spring or summer of next year. Limmer, the agency’s planning director, said community feedback is critical to the “visioning” process for I-20 rail stations and TODs that will shape long-term land use in and around the heavily travelled corridor. “What we heard from a lot people at the open houses is that they are very supportive of heavy rail and they’ve been waiting on it for a long time.” Limmer said. “People are understandably anxious about it. We want them to know that MARTA is committed to a regional expansion to the rail network and we’re committed to bringing heavy rail to south DeKalb.”
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Holiday 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.
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November 18, 2017
A traditional Thanksgiving dinner of turkey and all the fixin’s will be served to about 2,000 homeless people.
Hosea Helps needs volunteers, donations By Rosie Manins
Thousands of volunteers and donations of food and personal care items are needed for Hosea Helps’ 2017 Festival of Services that will feed and support thousands of hungry, homeless and disadvantaged metro Atlantans over Thanksgiving and Christmas. The nonprofit organization’s 48th annual Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners on Nov. 23 and Dec. 25 at the Georgia World Congress Center will provide hot meals, clothing, health and beauty services, legal support, counseling, holiday cheer and much more. A traditional Thanksgiving dinner of turkey and all the fixin’s will be served to about 2,000 homeless people. Local musicians and artists will perform live. Once patrons are finished eating, they will have access to hot showers, hair styling, clothing, toiletries, medical examinations, legal
advice, job placement, chiropractor services, housing consultation, counseling, screening for eligibility of public benefits, and individual case management – all for free. Hosea Helps will also deliver hot meals to 5,000 senior citizens, disabled individuals and families who lack transportation to get to the World Congress Center. Hundreds of people have already registered to volunteer at the Thanksgiving event, but hundreds more are needed on Nov. 21 to help set up tables, chairs and clothing, prepare food, deliver meals, monitor traffic, clean up and pack down. On Nov. 23, it needs 77 volunteers to clean up and break down the event between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. The group also needs drivers on Nov. 23 between noon and 4:30 p.m. to deliver meals to those who are home-bound. Food items needed for the Thanksgiving dinner include turkeys, hams and chickens; cans of corn, green beans, potatoes and yams;
cranberry sauce; stuffing mix; seasoning (garlic powder, garlic salt, black pepper, salt, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon); chicken broth, vegetable oil; butter; and desserts. Also needed are toiletries (toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, deodorant, feminine products, lotion, combs); baby items (food, diapers, wipes); flashlight batteries; rolls of tablecloths, cutlery packages, duct tape, Sterno canned fuel, large industrial size aluminum foil, 72-gallon heavy-duty garbage bags, and sponsorship for shower trailers and bus rentals. To donate, register to volunteer, or to learn more, visit www.4hosea.org or call 404-7553353. Volunteering opportunities for the Christmas Day dinner will open three to four weeks before. The Georgia World Congress Center is at 285 Andrew Young International Boulevard N.W., Atlanta.
Tree lighting at Sanford Center The Choclettes and other performers will entertain guests at the Nov. 21 tree lighting.
The Community Christmas Tree at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center will be lit Nov. 21 with holiday performances. The event in its 10th year is hosted by DeKalb District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson. It begins at 7 p.m.
Performers include Peyton Jackson, the current Apollo winner, Boykin Girls, the Choclettes, Kids Got Talent and the Lou Walker Singers. The Porter Sanford Center is at 3181 Rainbow Drive in Decatur. For more information, call 404371-2425.
Truth Tabernacle Thanksgiving The Rev. Deawn Richards will be the guest speaker at Truth Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church’s Thanksgiving Celebration on Nov. 19. Richards is the assistant pastor of The Church of Columbus in Columbus, Ga. Through her ministry, hundreds have been filled with the Holy Ghost and baptized in Jesus’ name. Truth Tabernacle Pastor Patrick Mitchell said the service, which starts at 11 a.m., is open to the comDeawn Richards munity and that a free Thanksgiving Dinner will be served immediately after the service. The church is at 5268 Snapfinger Woods Drive in Decatur. For more information, call 770-322-9950.
Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
While most park offices will be closed on holidays to allow staff to enjoy time with family and friends, the parks will be open for heart-healthy hikes.
After turkey dinner, take a hike in a Georgia park
This holiday season, families can walk off the turkey dinners on Thanksgiving Day, and the ham, mashed potatoes and cakes on Christmas and New Year’s Day at Georgia’s state parks. The parks will stay open for fresh air, beautiful scenery and exercise, and they are a great place to take out-of-town visitors for nature trails, bike paths, archery, kayak rentals, and many more activities. While most park offices will be closed on holidays to allow staff to enjoy time with family and friends, the parks will be open for guests to stroll, take photographs, and go on heart-healthy hikes. DeKalb’s closest state park is Panola Mountain in Stockbridge, across the Henry County line on Highway 155. The 100-acre granite monadnock, which peaks at 946 feet above sea level, is a designated National Natural Landmark for its delicate ecological features. Stone Mountain Park in DeKalb is owned by the state, but is managed by the self-sufficient state agency the Stone Mountain Memorial Association. Stone Mountain is open Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day but is closed on Christmas Day. On Black Friday, Nov. 24, instead of hitting the shops, people of all ages and abilities can participate in the national #OptOutside movement, founded and sponsored by outdoor retailer REI. Nearly all of Georgia’s state parks will host guided First Day Hikes on New Year’s Day, sponsored by the American Hiking Society to encourage adults and children to be active and enjoy the outdoors after Thanksgiving and avoid the chaos of shopping malls. Parking is free for Friends of Georgia State Park members and $5 for others. For a list of Georgia’s state historic sites, visit GaStateParks.org/AllHistoricSites. For a list of #OptOutside events and First Day Hikes, visit Explore. GaStateParks.org/events.
November 18, 2017
Holiday
CrossRoadsNews
5
“The Great Tree Lighting is a time for friends and family to come together and celebrate the season of giving.”
CeeLo, RaeLynn and Hale to headline Macy’s Great Tree Lighting
Atlanta native and five-time Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter CeeLo Green will be one of four artists headlining Macy’s 70th annual Great Tree Lighting on Nov. 19 at Lenox Square in Atlanta. Green will be joined by rising country singer RaeLynn, Atlanta native and “America’s Got Talent” runner-up Angelica Hale, and contemporary Christian band Casting Crowns. The annual event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with pre-show entertainment featuring performances and behind-the-scenes interviews. CeeLo Green RaeLynn It culminates with a fantastic fireworks finale set to holiday music. Once lit by Santa, the eco-friendly, reusable Great Tree and its 45,000 multi-colored LED lights will sparkle through Jan. 1, 2018. Dennis Witte, Macy’s executive vice president and regional director of stores, says the tree lighting is a moving and memorable way to kick off the holiday season. “The Great Tree Lighting is a time for friends and family to come together and celebrate the season of giving,” White said. “We are grateful to be a part of this Atlanta Christian contemporary rock band Casting Crowns is Billboard’s topcommunity.” selling Christian music act since 2007. WSB-TV anchors Jovita Moore and Zach Klein will host The Great Tree Lighting, Meyers and ELLEN. Other Tree Lighting performers include which starts at 7 p.m. Angelica, who is 10 years old, was a the Macy’s All-Star Holiday Choir, Great Tree Green, a former coach on NBC’s hit show “The Voice,” is also a producer, television per- runner-up on “America’s Got Talent” Season Children’s Choir and Macy’s Magical Stars. The multigenerational All-Star choir, sonality, actor, entrepreneur, and pop culture 12. Also an Atlanta native, her parents first noticed her talent when she began singing directed by Frank Timmerman, will sing and fashion icon. In 2011, he received five Grammy nomi- along to popular songs in the car at the age favorite holiday songs. The Great Tree Children’s Choir, made nations for his worldwide hit “Forget You,” of 2. At age 4, Angelica became a kidney winning the category for Best Urban/Alter- transplant recipient after a bacterial lung up of 55 fourth- and fifth-graders from native Performance. In 2012, he released a infection developed into double pneumonia Sarah Smith Elementary School, is directed Christmas album “CeeLo’s Magic Moment” and she ended up on life-support at Chil- by music teachers Joshua Fleming and Ellen with the single “All I Need Is Love” featuring dren’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She received Starkey. Macy’s Magical Stars comes from the The Muppets. That album was nominated for a kidney from her mother amd after her recovery, her parents encouraged her to Cobb County Center for the Excellence in a 2014 Grammy. RaeLynn’s current single, “Lonely Call,” pursue her dream of becoming a singer. Angelica helps many children through is the follow-up to her powerful first track “Love Triangle” which tells her personal story her participation in fund-raisers for chilof growing up in a divorced family. The single dren’s hospitals across the country. Award-winning Christian contemporary was a Top 10 sales per spin song and its music video has racked up more than 10.5 million rock band Casting Crowns is Billboard’s top-selling Christian music act since 2007. views since its release. RaeLynn, a CMT Next Women of Coun- It has sold more than 10 million records. Mark Hall and his bandmates Juan and try inductee, is an alum of “The Voice” who was recently selected as a 2017 “Country Melodee DeVevo, Megan Garrett, Brian Artist to Watch” by Pandora, Napster and Scoggin, Josh Mix and Chris Huffman’s latBillboard. Her numerous award nomina- est offering is “The Very Next Thing,” a coltions include the Academy of Country lection of intimate, upbeat and fresh soundMusic Awards’ New Female Vocalist of the ing tracks inspiring believers to strengthen Year, Radio Disney Music Awards’ Favorite their relationship with God. Casting Crowns’ other compelling songs Country Song and The Freshest! - Best New Artist Country, and most recently CMT Mu- include “Voice of Truth,” “East to West,” sic Awards’ Breakthrough Video of the Year. “Lifesong,” “Until the Whole World Hears,” She has performed on Late Night with Seth “Courageous” and “Thrive.”
The Great Tree atop Macy’s at Lenox Square will light up on Nov. 19 and its 45,000 multi-colored LED lights will sparkle through Jan. 1, 2018.
Performing Arts. The group’s performance is choreographed by Cindy M. Reiser. As part of the Great Tree festivities, Aflac, for the 17th year, will sell Aflac Holiday Ducks through Dec. 30 with 100 percent of net proceeds going to the Aflac Foundation to support treatment of children with cancer and pediatric cancer research. For more information, visit macys.com/Aflac. Thousands are expected to attend the 2017 Great Tree Lighting and because parking is limited, spectators are encouraged to use MARTA.
CrossRoadsNews
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Youth
November 18, 2017
“Our next goal is to analyze the results of our campus survey to quantify the depth of the problem.”
Student hunger strike ends, with free meals for hungry scholars
By Rosie Manins
A hunger strike by Spelman and Morehouse College students to combat food insecurity on campus has ended with a successful outcome. The hunger strike, organized by Spelman junior Mary-Pat Hector and other students from the women’s only and men’s only liberal arts colleges in downtown Atlanta, began Nov. 2 and ended Nov. 8. About 25 students Mary-Pat Hector participated in the hunger strike, aiming to get the colleges and their campus food provider Aramark to set up a way for students with paid college meal plans to donate unused meals to needy students who can’t afford the plans. In a Nov. 9 open letter to the Spelman community, college president Mary Schmidt announced a new initiative for students without meal plans to receive complimentary meal tickets. “Spelman and Aramark are providing 2,000 meals and up to 7,000 meals during the second semester to current Spelman students who live off campus and who have a need for a meal,” Schmidt said, adding that annually the initiative will supply up to 14,000 meals to eligible students.
Beginning Nov. 13, any current Spelman student living off campus and struggling to afford to eat can obtain a complimentary meal ticket from the Office of the Dean of Students to use in the dining hall, and in the interim, those students will be accommodated in the dining hall. All Spelman students living in campus dorms have mandatory paid meal plans and are exempt from the complimentary meal tickets. “This annual initiative supplying up to 14,000 meals a year to students in need will supplement other efforts currently in development by members of the Spelman community to stem the tide of food insecurity on our campus,” Schmidt said. Spelman already made use of support from Publix and Mimi’s Pantry. Schmidt said the college administration appreciated the hunger strikers for highlighting the issue of food insecurity on campus, and is pleased they ended their efforts in good health. She thanked all involved in reaching a solution, including Aramark Senior District Manager Jeff Hall and Spelman’s Dining Services General Manager Carolyn Mangum, Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Darnita Killian, Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs and Treasurer Danny Flanigan, Assistant Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs Dawn Alston, and Spelman Dean of Students Dr. Fran’Cee
Brown-McClure. “Our next goal is to analyze the results of our campus survey to quantify the depth of the problem, and also, to identify what other solutions might be implemented,” Schmidt said. In a series of tweets on Nov. 8, Hector, 19, announced the end of the strike and the result, saying she was proud of the effort that culminated in a meeting of the Spelman and Morehouse College administrations, the National Action Network chapters on campus, the Morehouse Student Government Association and the Spelman NAACP. “It’s days like this that give me hope for a better tomorrow,” she said. Hector, who lives in Stonecrest, is urging eligible students to take advantage of the offer, saying “all you have to do is request a meal card from the Dean or Rep and you can have up to three meals a day.” Lillian Thomas, a Spelman junior who participated in the hunger strike, is living on campus and therefore must pay for a meal plan as part of room and board fees, Lillian Thomas which total about $20,000 a year. But Thomas, 20, is vegan and does not eat any animal products including meat,
dairy and eggs, which means she cannot eat much of the food provided, and doesn’t want it to go to waste when other students are hungry. “Out of the 21 meals I get per week I might use about 5, so it would be easy for me to donate my unused swipes to Spelman students who are actually in need of the food,” she said Nov. 2. At Morehouse, meal plans are also mandatory for campus dorm residents, who can choose one of three plans costing between $1,760 and $2,964 a year. Morehouse has yet to respond to a request for comment regarding the hunger strike. Spelman and Morehouse have a combined student population of just over 4,400, of which about 1,400 students are not on college meal plans. Hector, who is the national youth director for the National Action Network, says some of those students, including academic scholarship recipients, can’t afford to eat as well or as frequently as those with meal plans. “If these young people can’t afford a meal plan, a donated meal from a student with a meal plan might be the only thing they eat that day,” she said on Nov. 2. According to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), in 2015 there were more than 58,000 homeless students enrolled in colleges and universities in the United States.
Students’ entries sought for 2018 DeKalb Watershed calendar contest Kindergarten through fifth-grade students in DeKalb can submit artwork for the county’s 2018 Department of Watershed Management calendar promoting water conservation and awareness. Entries close Dec. 15 and the winners will receive awards at a DeKalb Board of Commissioners meeting in early 2018.
There will be 12 winning works selected, to be featured on the months of the calendar. An overall winner will also get the cover. The 2018 calendar theme is “Protecting our Water Resources” and artwork ideas include don’t litter in creeks and rivers; don’t pour cooking grease down the drain, put it in a jar and throw it away instead; plant
trees to slow water erosion; and clean up after your pets. Submitted artwork must be drawn horizontally (landscape) on a letter-size sheet of white paper. Submissions must include the artwork title, student’s name, school name, address, grade level, age, teacher’s name, teacher’s
contact number, and teacher’s email address on the back of each entry. For complete rules, visit www.dekalbwatershed.com and for more information contact Michael O’Shield, Department of Watershed Management public outreach specialist, at msoshield@dekalbcountyga.gov or on 770-724-1456.
Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name(s) of MINOR CHILD(REN) in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Legal Notices 10/28, 11/04, 11/11, 11/18
Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: 17FM10390-5 Bridgette Landrum PLAINTIFF VS Euell Landrum DEFENDANT TO: Efficiency Lodger 3675 Flat Shoals Rd. Decatur, GA 30034 By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Oct. 10, 2017. You are hereby notified that Oct. 03, 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: Bridgette Landrum, 3863 Memorial Dr., Apt. 1306, Decatur, GA 30032. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Oct. 10, 2017. Witness the Honorable Gregory A. Adams, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 12th day of Oct., 2017 10/28, 11/04, 11/11, 11/18
Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: 17FM10758-8 Notice is hereby given that the
Petitioner, Brandon Ford GoltzLovelace filed this petition to the Superior Court of DeKalb County, Georgia on October 9, 2017 to change the name from: Brandon Ford Goltz-Lovelace to Brandon Ford Lovelace. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. This the 9th day of October 2017 10/28, 11/04, 11/11, 11/18
Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: 17FM10879-10 Notice is hereby given that the Petitioner, Paula Melissa Esien Whitehead filed this petition to the Superior Court of DeKalb County, Georgia on the 12th day of October 2017, praying that her name be changed as follows: Paula Melissa Esien Whitehead to be changed to Paula Melissa Esien. Notice is hereby given pursuant to law to any interested or affected party to appear in said Court and to file objections to such name. Objections must be filed with said Court within 30 days of the filing of said petition. This the 12th day of October 2017 10/28, 11/04, 11/11, 11/18
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: 17FM10833-3 Nicole Cabbagestalk filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Oct. 13, 2017 to change the name(s) of the following child(ren) from: Emory Kai Cabbagestalk to Emory Kai McNeal. 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: Oct. 13, 2017 10/28, 11/04, 11/11, 11/18
Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: 17FM9918-7 Maleeya Adams PLAINTIFF VS Jabborah Harris DEFENDANT TO: 819 S. 14th St. Springfield, IL 62703 By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Oct. 13, 2017. You are hereby notified that Sept. 26, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for minor name change. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court,
and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Bridgette Landrum, 238 Arbor Circle, Tucker, GA 30084. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Oct. 13, 2017. Witness the Honorable Daniel M. Coursey, Jr., Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 13th day of Oct., 2017 11/04, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25
Notice of Petition in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: 17FM10776 Tamasia Lamatina Cowins PLAINTIFF VS Derrick Wynel Cowins DEFENDANT TO: By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Oct. 27, 2017. You are hereby notified that Oct. 13, 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: Tamasia Lamatina Cowins, 624 Wesley Club Dr., Decatur, GA 30034. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Oct. 30, 2017. Witness the Honorable J.P. Boulee, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 30th day of Oct., 2017 11/04, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25
Civil Action Case Number: 17FM11196-8 Christina Carter-Harper filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Oct. 10, 2017 to change the name(s) of the following child(ren) from: Aubrey Drew Carter-Harper to: Aubrey Drew Carter. 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: Oct. 20, 2017 11/04, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25
Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: 17FM11014-4 Notice is hereby given that the Petitioner, Howard Michael Kingcade filed this petition to the Superior Court of DeKalb County, Georgia on October 20, 2017 to change the name from: Howard Michael Kingcade to Michelle B. King. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. This the 20th day of October 2017 11/04, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25
Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: 17FM11122-10 Notice is hereby given that the Petitioner, Abdisalan Saacid Warsame filed this petition to the Superior Court of DeKalb County,
Georgia on October 25, 2017 to change the name from: Abdisalan Saacid Warsame to Abdikadir Mohamed Ahmed. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: Oct. 23, 2017 11/04, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25
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: 17FM11124-10 Abdisalan Saacid Warsame filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Oct. 23, 2017 to change the name(s) of the following minor children from: Sabirin Abdisalan Saacid to Sabirin Abdikadir Mohamed; Ilyas Abdisalan Saacid to Ilyas Abdikadir Mohamed; Hirsi Abdisalan Saacid to Hirsi Abdikadir Mohamed; Sundus Abdisalan Saacid to Sundus Abdikadir Mohamed; Faahiye Abdisalan Saacid to Faahiye Abdikadir Mohamed. 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: Oct. 23, 2017 11/04, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25
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: 17FM9918-7 Maleeya Adams filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Sept. 20, 2017 to change the name(s) of the following child(ren) from: Kingsley Jabborah Harris to: Kingsley David Adams. 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: Aug. 20, 2017
CrossRoadsNews
November 18, 2017
Community
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The teenager was also wanted for arrest on a warrant issued on Oct. 29, for felony theft of a motor vehicle.
Teen arrested on murder, armed robbery, vehicle theft charges
By Rosie Manins
A Stone Mountain teenager has been arrested for allegedly murdering a Decatur man during an armed robbery on Oct. 23. Shamar Davis, 17, was arrested in Decatur on Shamar Davis Nov. 6 for the murder and armed robbery of 26-year-old Justuss Rogers. Police say Rogers, who had been selling cell phones out of his Chevrolet Camaro, was shot on Oct. 23 while giving a female
customer a ride to Pinnacle Drive, off South Hairston Road, in Stone Mountain. A p ers on name d “Snake” had reportedly asked for her to request the drop-off. When Rogers pulled Lakoaia Johnson up in his car, at about 8:30 p.m., Davis allegedly tried to pull at the driver’s side door before shooting Rogers in the driver’s seat, multiple times. Police said Rogers tried to reverse the car away but struck two other vehicles in the
process and crashed into a curb. He was later pronounced dead at Grady Memorial Hospital. Davis, who is in the DeKalb County jail with no bond, allegedly stole several boxes of phones from Rogers after shooting him. The teenager was also wanted for arrest on a warrant issued on Oct. 29, for felony theft of a motor vehicle. Police say he stole a 2014 Honda Accord in September, while the owner was in a convenience store on Redan Road in Stone Mountain. A “gofundme” campaign for Rogers’ family, to help offset his funeral expenses, has generated more than $3,000 to date.
Police say Justuss Rogers was shot while giving a female customer a ride to Pinnacle Drive in Stone Mountain.
Mom pleads not guilty in baby’s death Teens sentenced for robbery, murder By Rosie Manins
Dijanelle Fowler, whose baby died in her hot car in June, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, child cruelty and concealing a death. Fowler, 25, entered her pleas before Judge Linda Hunter on Nov. 2. She was indicted on Oct. 3. Fowler is accused of killing 13-month-old Skylar Fowler by leaving her in her white Hyundai Sonata from 10 a.m. to Dijanelle Fowler 4 p.m. on June 15, a day when outside temperatures reached 90 degrees. Police say the baby was unattended while Fowler was getting her hair braided at the Mahogany Hair Salon on Lavista Road in Tucker. Fowler claimed that she left the air con-
ditioning running in her car, and that the car battery died causing the car to overheat. The prosecution says there is no actual evidence the air conditioning in the car was ever on. Testing showed the temperature in the car rose to 129 degrees. Investigators say Fowler never called 911 for help for her baby. Instead they say she searched seizure symptoms on the internet from her smartphone, and called for medical help for herself. After her daughter’s death, detectives spent three weeks looking for Fowler in South Carolina, Florida and New Jersey. The baby’s father, Louis Williams II, is an Air Force reservist who lives in South Carolina. He opposed Fowler’s bond request and is expected to testify at the trial on behalf of the state. Skylar was buried on June 23 at Howe Hall Cemetery in Goose Creek, S.C., where Williams lives.
Mohamed Kamara Abijah Richards
Monolito Walker
By Rosie Manins
Three DeKalb teenagers have been sent to prison for the unprovoked armed robbery and murder of a Conyers man in May 2015. Budding Guyanese filmmaker Leevon Daniels, 26, died instantly from gunshots to the chest on May 3, 2015. Abijah Richards, 18, of Stone Mountain, was sentenced on Nov. 3 to life plus 15 years in prison by DeKalb Superior Court
Judge Daniel Coursey. In October, a few weeks before the trial, Mohamed Kamara, 19, and Monolito Walker, 18, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and armed robbery in relation to Daniels’ death. Kamara was sentenced on Nov. 3 to 30 years in prison, to serve 20 without parole, and Walker, 18, was sentenced to 30 years to serve 20, which includes the first 10 years without parole. Police originally arrested five DeKalb teenagers in January 2016. Richards, Kamara and Walker were indicted.
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Leevon Daniels was talking on the phone to his girlfriend outside a sports bar in Lithonia when he was shot to death.
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