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FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 • VOL. 18, NO. 5 • FREE

• A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS • Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker and Stone Mountain.

F REE P RESS

See Tucker on page 15A

See Alexander on page 15A

Tucker High celebrates 100 years

Cedric Alexander:

Public safety director tackleslocal and national issues

by Ashley Oglesby [email protected]

It has been 100 yearssince Tucker High Schoolopened its doors. To com-

memorate the anniversary,Tucker High School founda-ion and the Tucker commu-

nity sponsored a parade and a

variety of events for students,alumni and school supporterson April 18 at the school.

“Tucker is about family.We have a great communityhere. We have great kids andgreat leadership. Athleticss always great at Tucker, we

have a good football pro-gram, and I’ve been fortunateenough with the basketballeam to have seven finalours, three finalist and onetate championship in my 15

years of coaching,” said JamesHartry , boys varsity basket-

ball coach.In addition to athletics, in

by Andrew [email protected]

The DeKalb County PoliceDepartment was sufferingrom a negative public image

when Dr. Cedric Alexanderook over the helm as DeKalb

County’s police chief in Febru-ary 2013.

Alexander said, “The de-partment was riveted withssues around corruption and

police abuse or police bru-alilty…[and] here we had just

had a couple of officers caughtup in a federal drug scheme.”

In addition to a negativemage, Alexander’s administra-ion has dealt with some high

profile incidents. He men-

tioned the June 2013 shootingoutside a Kroger on MemorialDrive where a man “took out

his gun and started shootinginside a vehicle where a babywas hit.

“That was a very sad dayin this county,” Alexandersaid. “We vowed on that daythat any persons or personwho were responsible for thatshooting, who knew aboutthat shooting and did nothingabout it, who were part of theplanning,…we were going tofind you and bring you to jus-tice.”

Another major event thatchallenged the county publicsafety department was the

snowstorm that hit metro At-

lanta in 2014.“The snows storm was a

unique challenge for our emer-

gency management team,” saidAlexander, who was promotedto the county’s deputy chief op-erating officer of public safetyin 2013. “The men and womenof emergency management andother parts of the county cametogether and everyone justdid a tremendous job in thiscounty.”

When Alexander learnedthat some students weretrapped in a Dunwoody schoolhe personally responded.

“Me and my driver took aslow drive up there, up I-285.It was horrible, but we got to

Dr. Cedric Alexander has garnered national attention in his roleas DeKalb’s deputy chief operating ofcer for public safety.Photo by Andrew Cauthen

Business ........................18A

Education .....................19A

Sports...................... 21-23A

Opinion ...........................5A

Classified .......................20A

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A crowd of Tucker High School supporters snap photo-graphs and cheer during the parade.

Former German teacher Bob McCormick poses in front of the Tucker centen-nial float.

Current Tucker High School footballplayers march in the parade to celebratethe schools 100th anniversary.

Tucker High’s swim team marches down Main St. Pho-tos by Travis Hudgons and by Ashley Oglesby

Students, faculty, administrators andTucker residents parade down MainStreet.

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Page 2A The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 1, 2015

LOCAL

Decades-old race honors Jewish community leaderby Andrew [email protected]

In the 22-year span of theHarris Jacobs Dream Run,Don Jaslow has only missedone race. And that was be-cause of surgery.

Jaslow, a Dunwoody resi-dent, runs the race to pay hisespects to the race’s name-ake, Harris Jacobs, a past

president of the Marcus Jew-sh Community Center of At-anta (MJCCA) and children’s

advocate.“Harris is one of the first

people I met in 1968 when Imoved to Atlanta,” Jaslow said.I met him through the soft-

ball league at the communitycenter.

“He took several of usunder his wings,” Jaslow said.I really attribute getting in-

volved in the center from theground up [to] Harris.

“He would just encourage

you, ‘You need to get involved.You ought to do this or that,’”aslow said. “He was a men-or.” Jaslow said.

Jacobs’ encouragementwas a stepping block to mynvolvement at the center,

which led up to and includedbeing president in 2003 and2004.”

“So I really run the raceout of respect and tribute tohe Jacobs family and just a

way of remembering Harris—his influence not only on theewish community, but also

on the community center,”

aid Jaslow, who was the firstecipient of the first Harrisacobs Leadership Award that

was given at the center.“It’s a way of paying my

respect to him—just tryingto keep him in my thoughts,”said Jaslow, who carried thetorch during the 1996 Olym-pics in Atlanta.

The MJCCA will presentthe 22nd annual Harris JacobsDream Run on Sunday, May3, at 8 a.m., at MJCCA’s ZabanPark campus located at 5342Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody.

The 5K road race, which

is a 2016 Peachtree Road Racequalifier, begins and ends atZaban Park, followed by a cer-tified, family-friendly coursethrough Dunwoody neighbor-hoods. A 1-mile special needscommunity walk around theMJCCA’s lake will begin at8:15 a.m.

Proceeds from the eventwill support the Blonder Fam-ily Department for SpecialNeeds.

Registration forms areavailable online at www.at-lantajcc.org/HJDR, or www.

active.com (keyword: HarrisJacobs), or in person at MJC-CA’s Zaban Park.

The cost for the 5K roadrace is $30 after April 20 and$35 on race day. A $5-per-runner discount is availablefor teams of five or more run-ners. The cost for the 1-mileSpecial Needs CommunityWalk is $15 per walker and$12 for teams of five or morewalkers.

After the race there willbe a party with food, music,raffles and local vendors.

“It keeps getting bigger

each year,” Jaslow said aboutthe event. “I think it’s an eventthat a lot of people look for.”

Don Jaslow carried the Olympic torch during the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. Jaslow has participatedin Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s annual Harris Jacobs Dream Run for two decades. Photoprovided

Kitty Jacobs, the widow of the namesake of the Harris Jacobs Dream Run, leads the 2014 race. Photoprovided

The 22nd annual Harris Jacobs Dream Run will be held Sunday, May 3. Photo provided

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 1, 2015 Page 3ALOCAL

Stonecrest librarian has a heart for homeschooled studentsby Andrew [email protected]

Although she has no children of her own andwas not homeschooled, Glenda Zachary, a chil-dren’s librarian at Stonecrest Library, has a heartfor the homeschool community.

“Everybody needs to know that Miss Glenda

s awesome,” said Shante Harvey, a home-chooling mother of two sons, ages 5 and 7.“We appreciate that she’s doing something forhe homeschool community. Most people aren’t.

Most libraries aren’t.“I don’t actually live in this county, but I

drive here because she’s doing something for thehomeschool group,” the Rockdale County resi-dent said.

Zachary runs a Homeschool Hangout programat Stonecrest Library on Wednesdays from 1 to2 p.m. As a part of the program, Zachary leadstudents in arts and crafts, nature walks, scaven-

ger and treasure hunts, “crazy game days” and“crazy math.” The program is for students in kin-dergarten to sixth grade.

She also has partnered with 4-H, which pro-vides lessons on topics such as public speakingand civics.

“It’s [for] the kids in the community [who]are homeschooled and I’m trying to serve mycommunity the best I can,” said Zachary, whotarted Homeschool Hangout in 2014. “They are

a part of the community. I serve the kids who goo brick-and-mortar [schools]; I’ve got to servehomeschoolers], too.”

“They keep you young,” Zachary said abouthe children in the once-a-week program spon-ored in part by the Friends of the Stonecrest

Library. “They keep you vibrant and excited

because they’re always excited. They keep meexcited.

“I do it because I enjoy it,” Zachary said. “Ienjoy working with the kids. The parents are al-ways wonderful. Anytime I need help, they areright there to help me.”

Zachary, who attended a Catholic school, said before she started the program she didn’t know

much about homeschooling.“I didn’t realize it was as many kids as it actu-ally is,” she said. The Homeschool Hangout at-tracts 40 children who attend regularly.

Zachary said she started the program to givehomeschooled children more interaction withother children.

The program also is “a forum for parents toexchange information—some parents are expertsand some are just novices. It’s a great opportuni-ty for the kids to get together and for the parentsto get together and exchange information and tohelp us work as a community,” Zachary said.

Erin and Rahsaan Jahi have fve children,four of whom are school-aged.

“We actually met [Zachary] while she was buying school supplies for local DeKalb Countyschool students during back-to school time. Ithought she was a teacher,” Erin Jahi said.

The program is “a good enrichment oppor-tunity for [students] in the middle of the week,[and] an opportunity for them to mingle withother homeschool kids in the community andalso Miss Glenda does a program where they geta variety of different exposure opportunities thatthey wouldn’t normally get,” Erin Jahi said.

“I highly appreciate all of the work that shedoes for us, especially in regards to makingsure we have a space available to us here in thecommunity,” Erin Jahi said. “It makes us as

homeschoolers feel we are part of the greatercommunity of students. We don’t just feel likeeverything is for the public or private sectors.She makes us feel a part of the greater commu-nity because a lot of things she does outside ofthe Homeschool Hangout integrates all of thestudents from all of the schooling options.

“Miss Glenda has been a shining light in this

community and I really feel blessed to have her be a part of our lives,” Erin Jahi said.Rahsaan Jahi said, “Miss Glenda puts out a

lot of effort, a lot of work into getting the roomstogether for us and facilitating the side projectsthat we want to do. She comes up with quite a bitof very interesting cool things for the kids—lastsummer she showed the kids how to make icecream.

“That makes us also want to do even more tosupport her because it’s something that she lovesto do,” Rahsaan Jahi said. “It’s like a give andtake. She puts in a lot of effort and as parentswe put in a lot of effort. We want to keep thingsgoing because we understand that if the peopledon’t come, you don’t get the support for the program. So we try to make sure we come, nomatter what is going on so we can keep the pro-gram going.”

“Lately Miss Glenda has added so much tothe week you never know what’s going to happen,” Harvey said.

“I think she’s wonderful,” Harvey said aboutZachary, who started working for the DeKalblibrary system in 2008 at the Clarkston Library.“I appreciate her taking the time. She does morethan the average librarian. It’s not just story time, but she’s thinking about all of the age groups.

“I think she’s awesome and such a blessing tohave in this community,” Harvey said.

I’m trying to serve my community the best I can,” said Glenda Zachary, a children’s librarian at Stonecrest Library. Zachary has run the Homeschool Hangout program for two years.hotos by Andrew Cauthen

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 1, 2015 Page 4AOPINION

Gale Horton Gay

[email protected]

Lifestyle Editor

We’ve become accus-omed to seeing the tearul

politician, usually the resulto some involvement in acandal or admission in

wrongdoing. So it was re-

reshing to see a tearul gov-ernor last week announcinggood news.

Gov. Nathan Deal onApril 16 signed into lawegislation making it legal to

possess cannabis oil to treateight medical conditions. Its now legal or individualso use the oil in seeking re-ie rom conditions such as

amyotrophic lateral sclero-is, also known as Lou Geh-ig’s disease; cancer; Crohn’s

disease; mitochondrialdisease; multiple sclerosis;

Parkinson’s disease; seizuredisorders; and sickle cellanemia.

“oday we are going tomake a difference and it’sgoing to be a good differ-

ence,” said Deal with tearsin his eyes at the signing othe bill at the state Capitol.Surrounded by other politi-cal leaders and amilies whosought approval o the leg-

islation, Deal said it was theamilies’ personal trials andchallenges that convincedhim that the new law wasthe right thing.

It’s been a long-oughtbattle, which has causedsome amilies to take ex-treme measures to get anduse the oil or their ailments.Some amilies have movedto other states with morelenient laws, and otherstravel rom Georgia to otherstates to get treatment. Teresult has been both a finan-

cial burden and enormousstress.

While the new law iscertainly good news, there’sstill work to be done tomake cannabis oil a readily

available and easy-to-accesstreatment options.

Te problem or theseamilies is it remains illegalto cultivate or sell cannibisoil in Georgia, meaning thatthose who want to use it stillmust jump through hoops toget it.

We applaud the governorand legislature or the firststep in helping Georgia am-ilies ease the suffering andimprove the lives o thosewith serious medical condi-tions. Now we ask that they

continue the good work andcraf a bill that will legalizethe cultivation and sale ocannabis oil statewide.

Families should be ableto get the oil in Georgia just

like any other treatment andnot have to go out o stateto get it and possibly breakederal laws by transportingto Georgia.

We’ve taken the first step,now let’s finish the race.Let’s show these amilies andthe country that Georgia iscompassionate and progres-sive in taking care o ourown.

Welcome tears of joy

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OPINIONThe Champion Free Press, Friday, May 1, 2015 Page 5A

Le Us Know Wha You think!

THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS encour-ages opinions from its readers. Pleasewrite to us and express your views. Lettersshould be brief, typewritten and containthe writer’s name, address and telephonenumber for verification. All letters will beconsidered for publication.

Send Letters To Editor, The Champion Free Press, P.

O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; Send emailto [email protected] • FAX To: (404)370-3903 Phone: (404) 373-7779 . Deadline for newsreleases and advertising: Thursday, one week priorto publication date.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions written by colum-nists and contributing editors do not necessarilyreect the opinions of the editor or publishers. ThePublisher reserves the right to reject or cancel anyadvertisement at any time. The Publisher is notresponsible for unsolicited manuscripts.

Publisher: John Hewi Chief Financial Ocer:Dr. Earl D. GlennManaging Editor:Andrew cauhenProduction Manager:Kemesha Hun Photographer:travis HudgonsSta Reporters:carla parker, Ashley Oglesby

The Champion Free Press is publishedeach Friday by ACE III Communications,Inc., • 114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur,

GA. 30030 • Phone (404) 373-7779.

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F REE P RESS

STATEMENT FROM THE

PUBLISHERWe sinerely areiae hedisussion surrounding his and anyissue of ineres o DeKalb couny.The Champion was founded in 1991exressly o rovide a forum fordisourse for all ommuniy residenson all sides of an issue. We have nodesire o make he news only oreor news and oinions o effe

a more eduaed iizenry ha willulimaely move our ommuniyforward. We are hay o resenideas for disussion; however,we make every effor o avoidrining informaion submied ous ha is known o be false and/orassumions enned as fa.

ONE MAN’S OPINION

“When I assumed theposition as interim CEO forDeKalb County in July 2013,my number one priority waso restore the people’s trustn their government. Myommitment to reform our

government and root outany corruption is firm andunwavering,” interim DeKalbCEO Lee May , April 24,2015.

Strong words and senti-ment.

I’m giving our interimCEO the beneit o thedoubt that he remains com-mitted to this worthy goal.As a DeKalb resident and

axpayer, as well as regularand daily consumer o newsmedia content and product,

eel continually pummeledat the end o a shoe actory’sassembly line o ‘other shoesdropping.’

I celebrated, here andelsewhere, when ICEO Maycalled in the cavalry, in theorm o ormer Attorney

General Michael J. Bow-ers and veteran investigatorRichard L. Hyde to inves-igate and lock up the bad

guys. And I’ll continue tohope that he has no latereason to regret blowing thatrumpet and sounding the

charge.While serving only as

commissioner or District5, May’s home, and appar-ently many others in southDeKalb, was looded by the

actions o the Water Depart-ment, replacing and repair-ing older water and sewerpipes. May’s Lithonia home

was looded by raw sewer-age, twice.In the irst instance, well-

known water removal andrepair company Serv-Prowas called in to repair thedamage. And then again,came the loods in 2010,turning May’s ground loorinto a quagmire...but thistime, despite calls to numer-ous departments, startingwith the DeKalb Watershed,May was initially treated likemost DeKalb residents, slowor no response and dierentanswers depending uponwhom he spoke to.

hen, almost overnight,May’s home was drained,dried, cleaned and re-paired...and he never got abill. As these loods werear rom rare in District 5,one may think May wouldnote that most o his neigh-

bors and constituents irstpaid or their repairs, andwere later reimbursed bythe county. he second jobcame with a larger bill, roma vendor, Water RemovalServices, which or monthswent unpaid. Until the billmade its way via email romthe vendor to DeKalb Pur-chasing Director KelvinWalton, the man with themagical recording pen. hatinvoice or nearly $6,500was paid the next day. Anda $4,000 check was writtento May.

May said he now knowsthat he received “specialtreatment,” though he claims

he asked or none, and thathe received no unds backrom the vendor. he or-mer owner o the companyclaims that he did not signthe check made out to May,which he indicated mighthave been a reund, abovethe company’s costs o therepair work. But a real re-und would have gone tothe county, not the commis-sioner, and the courier orthe check, an associate o thecompany owner and ormerDeKalb real estate developerclaims he was simply tryingto aid a riend in inancialduress (May), at the behesto another close riend andbusiness associate (MorrisWilliams).

Granted, we the taxpayersand residents living with thisdaily chain o embarrass-

ment and duress want thisnonsense to end, but clearlywe also cannot understandhow much sel-dealing,grat, corruption, malea-sance and ineptitude can goon or so long with appar-ently no one ever taking anysubstantive action.

And though our shoeactory continues to dropnew product on the looralmost daily, we have toask when our district at-torney and his team thinkthey may actually convictanyone o wrongdoing? A

judge attempted to overturnthe aorementioned schoolconstruction bid-rigging, yet

that judgment is being heldin abeyance while the judge,who also resigned, is herselbeing investigated.

As DeKalb’s District 5 hasbeen without a commission-er since May accepted theinterim appointment romGovernor Nathan Deal inJuly 2013, we have one morequestion.

ICEO May has repeatedlydeclined requests to resignthat seat and allow or aspecial election. Is DeKalbCounty also still payingICEO May the salary ora District Commissioner,separate and apart romthe salary he is receiving asCEO? Due to the still pend-ing retrial o suspendedCEO Burrell Ellis, DeKalbtaxpayers already enjoy thepleasure o paying or the

Bill Crane

[email protected]

Columnist

And another shoe dropssalary, beneits and retire-ment unds or two CEOs.

Are we also paying twosalaries to one o our Com-missioners? Anyone wantingto restore our trust and con-idence in DeKalb govern-ment only has one short andclear answer or that one.

Bill Crane also serves as a political analyst and commen-tator for Channel 2’s ActionNews, WSB-AM News/Talk750 and now 95.5 FM, as wellas a columnist for The Cham-pion, Champion Free Pressand Georgia Trend. Crane isa DeKalb native and businessowner, living in Scottdale. You

can reach him or commenton a column at bill.csicrane@ gmail.com.

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LOCAL

For 42 years, GeorgeAnn Hoffman has been amember of the Stone Moun-ain Woman’s Club chapter

of the Georgia Federation ofWomen’s Clubs (GFWC).

“When we moved toStone Mountain from Jack-onville, we started ouramily and I was appalled to

hear that there was no pub-ic kindergarten and it really

bothered me,” Hoffman said.So she went to the state

egislature and talked to atate representative abouthe need for kindergarten.

When she returned home,

she received a phone callfrom a member of the StoneMountain Woman’s Clubwho said, “We need you,”Hoffman said. “And I’ve

been a part of it ever since.”She has served as presi-

dent of the local club and ofthe district, and served ascorresponding secretary forsix years at the state level.

The Stone MountainWoman’s Club has nomi-nated Hoffman as a candi-date for the GFWC JennieAward, the organization’sonly national honor thatrecognizes an individualmember for personal excel-lence. The highest honorbestowed by the GFWC, ithonors one club memberfrom each GFWC region for

outstanding commitment toclub, community and family.

Hoffman’s many yearsof service have included re-sponsibilities in the depart-ments and in fundraising

for the club. She is marriedto Stone Mountain JudgeWarren Hoffman and is themother of three childrenand grandmother to threegrandchildren.

Hoffman has served onmany boards, including theboard of Goodwill Indus-tries and on the Carter Cen-ter board of counselors.

The 72-year-old has

won the governor’s volun-teer award and her familywas recognized as the Gen-eral Federation of Women’sClubs family of the year.She also chaired the Stone

Mountain task force for the1996 Olympics.“I think that people who

volunteer are healthier, hap-pier and have a better life,”she said. “Give the most im-portant thing that you haveto give, and that’s your time.And there’s so much to do inour county.”

If you would like to nominate someone to be considered as a future Champion of the Week, please contact Andrew Cauthen

at [email protected] or at (404) 373-7779, ext. 117.

GEORGE ANN HOFFMAN

How to honor mom? Answers vary by Kathy Mitchell

As Mother’s Day approaches,ons, daughters, husbands and oth-rs may find themselves puzzling

with the question of the best way tohonor some special woman.

While nations across the globeet aside days throughout the year

o honor and celebrate mothers,America’s Mother’s Day traditionbegan early in the 20th centurywhen Anna Jarvis of West Virginiatarted a letter writing campaign to

newspapers and politicians urginghe creation of a commemorative

day for mothers, according to histo-y.com. Success came in 1914, when

President Woodrow Wilson signed measure proclaiming the second

Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.Ironically, Jarvis became the

holiday’s most vigorous opponent ashe saw increasing commercializa-ion of what she envisioned as a per-

onal celebration between mothernd child that should entail a letter, visit or perhaps attending churchogether.

“While Jarvis had initiallyworked with the floral industry tohelp raise Mother’s Day’s profile, by

920 she had become disgusted withhow the holiday had been commer-ialized. She outwardly denouncedhe transformation and urged

people to stop buying Mother’s Daylowers, cards and candies,” history.om reports. “By the time of her

death in 1948 Jarvis had disownedhe holiday altogether, and evenctively lobbied the government to

ee it removed from the Americanalendar.”

Her efforts over the years havebeen soundly defeated not just bymerchants but by consumers who

apparently see nothing wrong withspending money on gifts, flowers,candy, restaurant meals, spa treat-ments and other indulgences as away of demonstrating affection fortheir mothers, wives and other spe-cial women in their lives. In recentyears, according to the National Re-tail Federation, the average personcelebrating Mother’s Day spends ap-

proximately $170, making it one ofthe nation’s major spending events.A survey reported by inquisitr.

com indicated that what more thanhalf of mothers “really want” is time

with the family. The survey also in-dicated that approximately a third ofmothers would like to be honoredwith something more unusual andcreative than the typical flowers andcandy. A pre-Mother’s Day event atNorthlake Mall will offer an oppor-tunity for both, according to BiancaGibson, the mall’s director of mar-keting and business development.

“For a number of years, the mallheld what was called Mom’s NightOut, but we didn’t feel the namequite conveyed the image of whatwe’re doing,” Gibson explained.

“We haven’t had the event here atNorthlake since 2012, but this yearit’s back as Indulge.”

For two and half hours on May7—the Thursday before Mother’sDay—the mall’s center court willbecome a market place for prod-ucts and services selected to pleasethe ladies. There will be music,

food, spa-like treatments and otherwoman-oriented treats, Gibson ex-plained. “For example, a perfumestore here in the mall will have anexpert who will talk about scent lay-ering,” she said.

Not all of the Indulge vendorswill be mall stores. Many will bebusinesses from outside and maynot have regular retail stores, Gibsonsaid. While vendors are still sign-ing up for event, she is expecting atleast 20 or 30 the night of the event.“Each vendor will do what he wants.Some will sell products or servicesand others will give away sampleproducts or treatments or give dem-onstrations. The idea is for familiesto have fun pampering mom asshe gets a mini-facial, a massage, amanicure or pedicure and samplesof beauty products.”

The evening out can be part ofa long weekend focused on momor can be an opportunity for her todiscover something she’d like as agift such as a spa treatment, a book,artwork, cosmetics or a fashion ac-cessory, Gibson said.

“We’re really stepping outsidethe range of gifts people mightnormally think of for Mother’s Dayand offering experiences that are

fun and different,” she said “It’s anopportunity to come out with yourmother—or some other special ladyin your life—and just have a greattime.”

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Avondale Estates

Community club to host fundraiser

The Avondale Community Club will host theannual Silent and Live Auction Fundraiser May16 to benefit the historic Lakehouse building andgrounds. The event will include a selection of auc-ion items, food and entertainment. Details will be

announced as they are finalized. The event will beheld at 59 Lakeshore Drive. Email Connie Bryans at [email protected] to volunteer or donate.

Brookhaven

City seeks volunteers for stream cleanup

Brookhaven is seeking volunteer assistance forts Inaugural Stream Cleanup May 2 from 10 a.m.o noon at the tributary of West Nancy Creek onhe south part of Murphey Candler Lake. Volun-eers should wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and long

pants, and sunscreen is recommended. Volunteerscan also bring any tools that would help collectrash. The city will provide everything else needed

for the cleanup, including bags, l ight gardeninggloves and bottled water as well as waiver forms.Volunteers should arrive between 9:45 and 10 a.m.at the gravel parking lot just east of the Murphey

Candler football Fields. For more information ando RSVP, e-mail [email protected].

City to offer summer programming

Summer programming at Brookhaven Parksand Recreation will begin soon and registrations open. Summer fitness, dance, art, cheer and se-

nior programming will begin in May and continuehroughout the summer. To register online, visit

www.brookhavenga.com, or call (404) 637-0512.

Decatur

Let your light shine at Decatur Lantern Parade

Everyone is invited to walk in the Decatur Lan-ern Parade on May 15. Participation is what makes

a lantern parade magical. Make lanterns at homeor come to a lantern-making workshop where sup-plies and guidance are provided.

Line-up begins at Color Wheel Studio, 508 E.Howard Avenue after 8 p.m. The parade starts at 9p.m. led by The Black Sheep Marching Ensembleand parade guru Chantelle Rytter and marches tohe Decatur Square.

Workshops to include, lantern hats and masterclasses in addition to bamboo forms and globe lan-ern workshops.

Visit www.decaturlanternparade.com for more

nformation.

Dunwoody City to host art festival

The Dunwoody Art Festival will hold its fam-ily-friendly event at Dunwoody Village Parkway,May 9, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and May 10, 11 a.m. – 5p.m.

The Dunwoody Village area transforms intoa whimsical artist market with fun for the entirefamily, and Dunwoody Village Parkway will be-come a “shoppers’ paradise.”

A Kidz Zone with rides, sand art, imaginativecrafts and games will be available. A stage withlive music will be located in the new food courtoffering fare from neighborhood restaurants. Thisis rain or shine event. For more information, visit

dunwoodyartfestival.splashfestivals.com.

Dunwoody Community Cycle scheduled

The public is invited to a community bike rideMay 3, 2:30 p.m. starting at Village Burger, 1426Dunwoody Village Parkway, Dunwoody. There willbe a brief pre-ride safety speech with departure by3 p.m. Helmets are required and the group recom-mends a bicycle with gears to handle the hills. Theroute is a 4.5 mile loop around Dunwoody–mostlyright turns. The event will not take place if inclem-ent weather or hazardous road conditions exist.Everyone is welcome. For more information, visitwww.bikewalkdunwoody.org/events/monthly-community-bike-ride/.

LithoniaProgram to address child sexual abuse

The Beverly Cunningham Outreach Pro-gram and Department of Juvenile Justice willhost Stewards of Children, a prevention train-ing program that teaches adults how to prevent,recognize, and react responsibly to child sexualabuse.

The program is designed for organizationsthat serve youth and for i ndividuals concernedabout the safety of children. It is a national,evidence-based program designed to increase

knowledge, improve attitudes, and change childprotective behaviors.The event, for ages 18 and up, will be May 8

from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Lithonia MiddleSchool, 2451 Randall Avenue, Lithonia.

For more information, contact Latera M.Davis, facilitator, at l [email protected],or (404) 508-6532.

Stone Mountain

Nonprofit to hold 15th annual Run Walk ‘n Roll Friends of Disabled Adults and Children

(FODAC) will hold its 15th Annual Run Walk ‘nRoll event on Saturday, May 2, beginning at StoneMountain Park’s Confederate Hall, 1000 Robert E.Lee Boulevard, Stone Mountain.

FODAC’s Run Walk ‘n Roll is a five-mile race

and two-mile walk through Stone Mountain Park.During the event participants can run, walk or

roll through the course. Wheelchairs, strollers andwalkers are all welcome.All proceeds benefit FODAC’s Home Medical

Equipment Program that distributes more than5,000 items each year to Georgia and other states.

In addition to raising funds, participants areencouraged to bring used durable medical equip-ment to the event. FODAC will clean and refurbishdonated equipment at its Stone Mountain facilityand distribute at little or no cost to qualified recipi-ents.

Registration for the race is at 7.30 a.m. Therace starts at 8 a.m. and the walk and roll starts at 9a.m. Registration and other details for Run Walk ‘nRoll can be found at www.fodac.org/walk.

Corporate sponsorships are still available.

City to host cemetery cleanup

The Stone Mountain Downtown Develop-ment Authority will hold the Historic CemeteryCleanup at the city’s historic cemetery May 2,from 9-11 a.m. Volunteers are asked to bringgloves, small tools and water. The city will pro-

vide garbage bags. For more information, visitthe Stone Mountain Downtown DevelopmentAuthority’s Facebook page.

CountywideBoard of Health offers breast and cervical

cancer screeningsDeKalb County women between the ages of 40

to 64 with no health insurance or making a limitedincome may be eligible to receive a breast and cer-

vical cancer screening at no cost or at reduced cost.The breast and cervical cancer program seeks

to serve 200 women by June 30.Services offered include breast cancer screen-

ing and follow-up at no or low cost for low income,uninsured women ages 40-64; and cervical cancerscreening and diagnostic evaluation at no or lowcost to low-income, uninsured women ages 21- 64.

The program is part of the National Breast andCervical Cancer Early Detection Program, fundedby both the state of Georgia and the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention.

Services will be provided at four countyhealth department locations: Clifton Springs, EastDeKalb, North DeKalb and T.O. Vinson.

A clinic staff member can determine if womenmeet eligibility guidelines and provide clinicalbreast examinations, Pap tests and pelvic exami-nations. Clinic staff will schedule appointmentsfor mammograms at local radiology facilities andmake appropriate referrals for diagnostic work-upswhen needed as well as provide additional casemanagement.

For more information, call the DeKalb CountyBoard of Health at (404) 294-3700.

AROUNDDEKALB

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The mobile career centerand resource jobs bus, spon-ored by DeKalb Workforce

Development was at theDoraville library on April 23o assist residents with jobearch assistance, resume

writing and provide inter-viewing tips.

“It’s a mobile outlet forDeKalb County residents.We have an on-site resourcecenter that is pretty popularn our community but not

everyone has access to ouresource center. This is our

way of reaching out to thecommunity,” workforce assis-ant Donnie Cantley said.

The jobs bus is a mobileab that includes 13 com-

puter stations with Inter-net access, a scanner, colorprinter and a fax machinehat are available for use free

of charge.Cantley said DeKalb

Workforce conducts workreadiness workshops on-sitebut routinely visits variouscommunities to connectwith individuals who do nothave access to computers, faxmachines–anything that jobseekers need to secure em-ployment.

“We help people withtheir resume, interviewingtechniques, teach them howto brand and market them-selves and have basic and in-termediate computer classes.”

DeKalb Workforce is inthe third year of its five-yearplan to increase local em-ployment and occupational

skills attainment, reducewelfare dependency and en-hance the productivity andcompetitiveness of residents.

“We’re just trying to service the people in DeKalb.The county is pretty large, wefind ourselves in quite a fewdifferent places trying to findthose individuals that facethese barriers,” he said.

Jobs bus visitsDoraville

DeKalb Workforce Development assistant Donnie Cantley and the mobile center coordinator stand in frontof the jobs bus. Photos by Ashley Oglesby

The mobile lab is equipped with fax machines, printers and computers for job seekers.

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LOCAL

City discusses EastDecatur Station Districtby Carla [email protected]

Residents in the East Decatur StationDistrict saw potential development plans forthe area and the Avondale Estates MARTAStation parking lot site during an input ses-

sion April 23.Decatur Downtown Development Au-

thority (DDA) partnered with MARTA toredevelop the Avondale MARTA Stationparking lot site. The DDA presented de-

velopment plans for the 7-acre AvondaleMARTA parking lot site and zoning plansfor the East Decatur Station area to makeresidents aware of what is going on in thisarea, and what could potentially happen inthe future.

Amanda Thompson, Decatur planningdirector, said there are development plansfor the parking lot sit, which includes build-ing retail over the next three to five years.

“It includes a mixture of market-rate

apartments, affordable apartments, seniorhousing, retail, and an educational facility,”Thompson said.

Decatur received a planning grantthrough the Livable Centers Initiative pro-gram at the Atlanta Regional Commissionto develop a redevelopment master plan forthe 60-acre industrial district adjacent to theMARTA parking lot site, according to thecity. The LCI Plan, known as the AvondaleDecatur LCI Master Plan, was adopted bythe Decatur City Commission in December2002.

The Decatur Housing Authority origi-nally pursued a two-phase, mixed-usedevelopment with MARTA and the DDAworked on their behalf to secure a $3 mil-

lion LCI grant to help fund the constructionof a parking deck to help meet MARTArequirements for parking, according to thecity. The project never occurred and thegrant was returned to ARC.

The city said interest in the MARTAsite stalled as a result of the economicdownturn, although a private-sector con-dominium project was built at Sams Streetand Talley Street, one block southwest of theMARTA site and adjacent warehouse.

The DDA approached MARTA in 2012

to request to take the lead on the redevelop-ment of the site. MARTA’s board agreed toenter into a new intergovernmental agree-ment with the DDA in the place of the De-catur Housing Authority.

The DDA did a request for qualifica-tions (RFQs) to select developers for theproject. Columbia Ventures LLC was se-lected to redo the Avondale Estate MARTAstation parking lot.

The parking lot site is also included inthe East Decatur Station Master Plan forthe East Decatur Station area. The area goessouth of College Avenue and the railroadtracks, and boarded by Avondale Estateand Commerce Drive/South Columbia.

Thompson said the area is zoned Z-3, whichis heavy commercial zoning, and in the pastthe area was industrial.

“What we’ve seen is an increase in resi-dential units [in the area],” Thompson said.“The East Decatur Station Corporation,which owns a lot of the property in the area,they are looking at a longer term zoningplans. They might be coming to ask in thenext couple of months for a rezoning to amixed-used zoning district in the future.They’re also showing a preliminary rezon-ing plan of what that would look like if werezone the area from C3 heavy commercialto mixed-use.”

Thompson said in May, the AvondaleMARTA site will go before the planning

commission and city commission to updateits regulating plan. The DDA will also havemore public meetings for the East DecaturStation and will present a rezoning proposalto the commission later this fall.

by Carla [email protected]

The DeKalb County

Board of Commissionersapproved expanding parcelsnto the East Metro DeKalb

Community ImprovementDistrict (CID) April 28.

The board voted 4-0o approve the expansion.

Commissioner KathieGannon was not presentfor the vote, and Commis-ioner Stan Watson was ab-ent from the commission

meeting.The vote allows five

property owners to beadded to the district. Thebusinesses that were added

along Candler Road, Cov-ngton Highway, Glenwood

Road, Panola Road andSnapfinger Parkway. Theadditional businesses willbring in a total propertyvalue of $6,448,697.

The East Metro CID,ocated in the southeastern

area of DeKalb, formed inMay 2014 after the DeKalbcommission passed a reso-ution to create the CID. It

covers the Gresham Parkarea on the west of thecounty, Candler Road, parts

of Memorial Drive, andpeaks north at CovingtonHighway, goes south to FlatShoals Parkway and east toTurner Hill.

According to its web-ite, the CID will serve as

an economic developmentool to implement majormprovements, includingnfrastructure, public safety

and beautification enhance-ments in an effort to in-crease property values, re-vive business and enhancehe overall quality of life ofhe area.

Funding of approxi-mately $176,000 came inOctober 2014 from proper-y taxes of business owners

in the CID to help upstartprojects to improve the dis-trict.

This year, the CID is

focused on public safetyand beautification. NicoleHall, CID administrator,said the CID began host-ing listening sessions inDecember 2014 to “hearwhat the stakeholders in thecommunity are interestedin having, and making surethose thoughts align withthe [CID] board.”

“Now that we have all ofthat feedback, we’re in theprocess of determining howwe are going to lay out theplate,” she said.

The CID has partnered

with a few organizations onongoing projects related topublic safety and beautifica-tion. They partnered withKeep DeKalb Beautiful on abeautification project at theTurner Hill interchange.

The CID has also beenworking with the countypolice department and theSoutheast Task Force tohelp deal with crime withinthe south and east precinctareas. Hall said the CID willbe working with the SouthDeKalb Improvement Asso-

ciation because “they havesome projects under waythat we can step in and helpthem with.”

“People were concernedabout public safety, land-scaping or beautification—making the area looks bet-ter,” she said.

The CID board hasbeen meeting to developits own projects to help im-prove the district, accordingto Hall.

“We’re still in the plan-ning stages a little bit, butthe goal is to have every-

thing laid out by early May,”she said.

East Metro CIDto expand

words hurt

stop the

bullying

Decatur Assistant City Manager Lyn Menne (right) explains the plans for the East Decatur Station District to aresident. Photos by Carla Parker

Decatur Downtown Development Authority partnered with MARTA to redevelop the 7-acre Avondale MARTAstation parking lot.

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One out of every three Americandults has high blood pressure, and2 percent of people with high blood

pressure have the condition under

ontrol, according to the Centersor Disease Control and Prevention.

Obesity is another health-relatedssue that affects 34.9 percent of

American adults Kaiser Permanentes working with communities to ad-

dress these issues and collaboratedwith Lithonia to host a health fairApril 25 at Lithonia City Hall.

The event was a part of the city’selebration of Georgia Cities Week.

Nurses from Kaiser checked theblood pressure of Lithonia residentsnd gave out information that in-luded how to live healthier lives.

Tanya Brinson, an account man-

ger for Kaiser, said they wanted toocus on blood pressure and obesityt the health fair.

“We’re handing out healthy liv-ng magazines to help with healths far as blood pressure and eatingight,” she said. “We have different

yoga classes and workout classes [atKaiser]. And we even have cookinglasses as well. We’re here trying to

get the community to walk more, todrink more water and just be health-er.”

Flat RockArchivereceivesstatewideaward

Flat Rock Archive receivedan award from the GeorgiaTrust, the premier preservationorganization in the state, for ex-cellence in preservation service.At the historic Seney-StovallChapel in Athens April 17, FlatRock Archive President JohnnyWaits and board members Pa-ricia Hughes-Bryant and Jean

Spencer accepted the award forheir efforts in preserving theural African American commu-

nity of Flat Rock. In addition tohe 1917 farmstead, the archive

also oversees the Flat Rock SlaveCemetery, archives related tohe community of Flat Rock ands an integral part of the Arabia

Mountain National HeritageArea.

Blood pressure the focus of Lithonia health fair

Reduce • Reuse • Recycle • Reduce • Reuse

From left, Linda Faye Strong, Kaiser Permanente account manager Tanya Brinson and Xavia Bohanan partnered with Lithonia to spreadawareness about high blood pressure.

Licensed practical nurse Xavia Bohanan (far right) checks Jaz Bron-ner’s blood pressure, while Nurse Strong checks 24-year-old JabariMoran’s blood pressure. Photos by Carla Parker

Registered nurse Linda Faye Strong checks the blood pressureof 3-year-old Rylee Sallins.

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LOCAL

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return to and attend college at virtually no cost.

GET THE ADVANTAGE

37th Annual CEOAppreciation Luncheon

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ABOUT THE CEO AWARDS LUNCHEON

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Cordially Invite You to the...

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Invest Atlanta

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Each year the Atlanta Business League (ABL) recognizes local chief e xecutive

officers (CEO) for outstanding participation in minority vendor development

and community activities. The honors we confer are based in part on the

willingness of extremely busy executives to take on work vital to carrying

forward the agenda of the ABL and the business community, which is

establishing and building economic equality for minority enterprises. In addition

to CEOs, the ABL recognizes a number of individuals and organizations that

have made significant contributions in the development of minority business

in the metro Atlanta area.

37th Annual CEO Awards Luncheon Honorees

Tuesday | May 12, 2015 | 11:30 AM

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For information or tickets, visit www.atlantabusinessleague.org or call (404) 584-8126 | RSVP by Friday, May 8th


Commissioners, state,county and other repre-entatives crowded the

Northlake DoubleTree Ho-el for Discover DeKalb’s

monthly meeting on April20 to hear featured guestpeaker Integral CEO Eg-

bert Perry , the face behindhe demolition and develop-

ment of the former Gen-eral Motors (GM) plant inDoraville — to be known ashe “Assembly.”

The 165-acre site has2,300 feet of frontage on-285, a daily car count of

270,000 vehicles, and is lo-cated inside the perimeterbetween three major high-

ways with direct MARTAaccess.“It truly is right smack in

he middle of a lot of things,”aid Perry.

Perry said Doraville of-ficials took a “visionary stepo pursue an opportunity

zone for the site, which pres-ents another opportunity forbusiness relocating here tobenefit from incentives.”

As a result of the op-portunity zone each newob will receive a $3,500 tax

credit during the first fiveyears.

The Integral Groupbought the site on Sept. 24of last year and soon afterbegan developing plans forhow to use the land.

“It was a gamble. Wetarted talking to GM abouthree and half years ago. Itook us 16 months to nego-iate a contract. Then it took

us 17 months of due dili-gence to figure out what wason the site–the level of pol-ution, what the challenges

were, etc. So 33 months intot we were then in a position

o close on the site,” Perryaid.The GM assembly site

has been vacant since 2008when the plant moved ve-hicle production to Canada.Developers’ efforts to buyhe property had faltered. At

one point, the site had beenpitched as one of severalpotential sites for a new At-anta Falcons stadium. Inte-

gral Group confirmed it hadhe property under contractast May.

“This is truly a public/private partnership opportu-nity. It does need the privateector but it needs the publicector as well,” Perry said.

He added, “This is big.t requires you to look past

your term in office, yourterm in your specific posi-tion that you happen to bein, and think about the gen-eration that follows becauseit is a generational project.”

Doraville city council

officials’ new vision forthe land is to expand ontheir connectivity projectsand create a walkable andtransit-connected residentialand business hub, almost 30acres larger than AtlanticStation, which could bringnew parks, restaurants andother amenities.

City officials have saidthe Integral team has em-braced the city’s master plan

Integral CEO details plans for “Assembly”

See Assembly page 18AEgbert Perry, chairman and chief executive ofcer of The Integral Group, discusses plans for the former Gen-eral Motors Plant. Photo by Ashley Oglesby

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WEEKPICTURESIn

Photos brought to you by DCTV

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Get your front row seat to all things DeKalb County

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2323

Kenneth Smith, president and CEO of Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), a dropout prevention and school-to-areer transition program for at-risk students, visited Cross Keys High School on April 23. Smith was escorted tohe media center by Cross Keys’ principal Jason Heard, greeted students and shared information about on howhey could benet from JAG.

Work continues on the Trinity Triangle development in Decatur.

A 250-square-foot micro house for artists constructed with dis-carded shipping pallets will be displayed at the May 2 danceDance-DANCE event in Decatur. The houses are designed with a fold downwall to provide more studio or performance space for the artist.Photos by John Hewitt

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LOCAL

Local teams go to worldrobotics championshipby Andrew [email protected]

Two robotics teams from DeKalb Coun-ty joined more than 700 teams from around

the world for an international competitionin St. Louis, Mo., April 22-25.

“It was really big,” said Andrew Morris,17, a junior at The Paideia School and chieftechnical officer for Fernbank Science Cen-ter’s LINKS Robotics team. “It was prettyawesome. It was really fun.

“It was really cool and awesome to seeall these great teams here...and the abilityof high schoolers in this competition andall the crazy ideas that have been achieved,”Morris said.

LINKS earned a spot in the FIRST (Forthe Inspiration and Recognition of Scienceand Technology) world robotics champion-ship after being a second-place finalist in

the Peachtree Regional robotics competitionin March in Atlanta.Team Reboot, made up mostly of

DeKalb County homeschoolers, receiveda wild-card invitation to participate in theworld competition.

For this year’s competition, robots weredesigned to pick up and stack recycling binsduring the allotted time.

Neither DeKalb team made it into thefinals. LINKS and Reboot placed 66th and76th, respectively, out of 76 teams in theirdivision. Technical glitches with Team Re-boot’s robot kept it from working duringmuch of the competition.

LINKS coach Debi Huffman, who wasa judge for the FIRST Lego League com-

petition in St. Louis, said she “could not bemore proud” of the team.

“This was a very strange year in that wehad no adult technical mentors,” Huffmansaid. “So what these kids did, they did it on

their own. The students did all of the designand all of the work.”

Huffman said that for eight weeks, be-cause of a family illness, she was “not totallyabsent, but… was not managing things.”

The students managed themselves, she said.“These kids are truly learning every-

thing that we want them to learn—not justthings involved with the competition butthe leadership and the independence andmanagement. I’m just very proud of them,”Huffman said.

Michael Foley , a judge in the competi-tion and a mentor to the LINKS team, said,“The team did wonderfully this year.

“I’m proud of them,” Foley said. “Theygot here by winning the engineering inspi-ration award, which was really a showcaseachievement for them. It really demon-strates their hard work on and off the fieldtrying to bring in new people in the STEM

program.”The LINKS team also won second placein the regional competition.

The world championship “demonstratesthat there are further improvements thatthey can make,” Foley said. “They can get alot of great ideas from what other successfulteams are doing.”

Nicholas Weddington, 16, a junior atDruid Hills High School, said the competi-tion was exciting.

“It’s really huge and because everythingis going on all over the center, it’s reallygreat,” Weddington said. “It’s really cool tointeract with a lot of international teams…because other than things like this, it’s hardto meet other people interested from other

countries.”The competition was “amazing,” Wed-

dington said, because “at our regional [com-petition], we didn’t see robots that were asadvanced…as the ones that were here.”

Team Reboot, top left, and LINKS Robotics, right, participated in a world robotics championship competitionApril 22-25 in St. Louis. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

Team Reboot prepares for a match.

INKS Robotics poses with its robot after the championship.

onnie Johnson, center, the inventor of the Super Soaker, is a sponsor ofeam Reboot.

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NEWS BRIEFS

Words HURT Stop the Bullying

DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING

FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2016

Monday, May 4, 2015

TIME LOCATION

5:45 p.m. J. David Williamson Board RoomAdministrative & Instructional Complex

1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd.

Stone Mountain, GA 30083

The DeKalb County Board of Education will hold a public budget

hearing to solicit feedback from the public regarding the 2015-

2016 school system’s budget.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL THE OFFICE OF THE

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT 678-676-0069.

Chester (ID#24231732) never wantsto leave your side.This cutie is a very

affectionate three-year-old boy who would lovenothing more than tocuddle up next to you.He would also be agreat walking partner.Chester would prefer tobe your one and onlycanine companion.His sweet face and

adorable smile will melt your heart. Please comemeet Chester at the DeKalb Shelter and under our"Spring into Adoption" promotion his adoption isFree including his neuter, vaccines and microchip!If you would like more information about Chester

email [email protected] orcall (404) 294-2165. All potential adopters will bescreened to ensure Chester goes to a good home.

Pet of the Week

Brookhavenpoliceseeking helpto identifyrape suspect


Brookhaven police areeeking the public’s help todentify a suspect involvedn a rape.

The alleged rape oc-curred April 24 between 9and 10 p.m. near BufordHighway and North CliffValley Way. The victim, aHispanic female, receivednjuries and was treated at aocal hospital, according to

police.Police said the victim

was walking along BufordHighway when the suspectapproached her. When thevictim allegedly ignoredhis advances, the suspectgrabbed her arm and pulledher into a wooded area nearNorth Cliff Valley Way. Theuspect hit the victim in theace several times and raped

her, according to police.Police said the victim

ought back and may havecaused scratches and bitemarks to the suspect’s armsor face. The suspect ran

away when two other malesapproached to help the vic-im.

The suspect is describedas a Hispanic male, 5-foot-8 or 5-foot-9, with blackhair, brown eyes and bushyeyebrows. The suspect’s hairwas close cut on the sidesand had an “overgrownmohawk.” Police also saidhe has a large forehead, adarker complexion” andarge lips. The suspect was

wearing a black shirt andblue jeans.

Police said they areworking with detectives tocompose a sketch of the sus-pect. Police said they want topeak with anyone with in-ormation about the suspect

or the rape, and to speakwith the men who aided thevictim.

Anyone with informa-ion can contact Crime Stop-

pers Atlanta at (404) 577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org.Callers can remain anony-mous and may be eligible fora reward.

Lakesideteacher killedin car crash


Decatur police haveidentified the person killedin an April 25 car accident as33-year-old Leah O’Brien.

O’Brien was a family andconsumer science teacher atLakeside High School. Her8-year-old daughter was apassenger in her vehicle andis in critical but stable condi-tion at an area hospital, ac-cording Lt. Jennifer S. Ross.The occupants of the secondcar involved in the crashwere a 19-year-old male and18-year-old female who wereon their way to the LakesideHigh School prom.

The two were treated fornon-life threatening injuries.Ross said officers re-

sponded to the vehicle ac-cident on Scott Boulevard atRidley Circle around 6 p.m.

“Preliminary investiga-tion revealed one driverwas attempting to turn offof Ridley Circle, eastboundonto Scott Boulevard,” Rosssaid. “One driver was trav-eling westbound on ScottBoulevard.”

Ross said the investiga-tion is ongoing.

Countyrecreationdepartment tohost summerfood program

The DeKalb CountyRecreation, Parks & CulturalAffairs Department will hostthe summer food serviceprogram, June 1 to July 31,as part of an ongoing effortto ensure school childrenhave nutritious meals duringthe summer.

Funding for the SummerFood Service Program isprovided by the U.S. Depart-

ment of Agriculture and tar-gets children up to age 18.Agencies with sum-

mer camps that are inter-ested in becoming a sitefor this program shouldcall Rose Myrick at (678)698-1114. To qualify as asite, 50 percent of the chil-dren served must meet theincome guidelines for freeand reduced price meals inthe National School LunchProgram. Children who aremembers of households thatreceive food stamps or Aidfor Dependent Childrenassistance automaticallyqualify.

The deadline to apply forthe summer food program isFriday, May 1. Applicationsfor the program are avail-able online at www.dekal-

bcountyga.gov/parks orcan be picked up Mondaythrough Friday, 9 a.m. to 5p.m. at the following loca-tions: Tucker RecreationCenter, Attn: Rose Myrick,4898 LaVista Road, Room12, Tucker; and Recreation,Parks & Cultural Affairs De-partment; Manuel J. MaloofCenter, 1300 CommerceDrive, 3rd Floor, Decatur.

ChambleeFun Mud Run

scheduledThe Chamblee Fun Mud

Run is a 5K (3.15 mile) runwith obstacles and mud,benefitting the ChambleeMiddle School EducationFoundation (CMSEF).

Presented by Ed VoylesAutomotive, the ChambleeFun Mud Run will be heldon Saturday, May 2, at 8 a.m.at Chamblee Middle School.The event is sponsoredby the CMSEF, the city ofChamblee and the DeKalbCounty Fire Rescue Depart-ment.

The Chamblee Fun MudRun is open to the com-munity, and is appropri-ate for children ages 8 andolder as well as adults of all

abilities. There is a 3K (1.9mile) Muddy Buddy raceimmediately following theChamblee Fun Mud run, ap-propriate for children ages5 and older, and anyone elsewho wants to complete themud obstacles, but prefers torun a shorter course.

Day of event registrationis offered on a limited basisat $35 for either race.

After-event activities willinclude a stage with a DJ andmusic, refreshments, hose-off stations, kids’ bouncy

house, awards ceremony,sponsor booths and more.All participants will receivea T-shirt.

Race bib and bag pickup will be at The Big PeachRunning Company’s storein Town Brookhaven, 705Town Boulevard, Suite 340,Atlanta, on Friday, May 1,from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Chamblee MiddleSchool is located at 3601Sexton Woods Drive, Cham-blee.

For more information,email [email protected].

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LOCAL

Kirkwood woman has neat ideas

DeKalb Chamber of Commerce • Two Decatur Town Center, 125 Clairemont Ave., Suite, Decatur, GA 30030 • 404.378.8000 • www.dekalbchamber.org

GLOBALLY AWARE

by Kathy Mitchell

Jodi Doughty has alwaysiked tidy surroundings, now

she’s turned that characterrait into a business. “When

I was a little girl I would linemy stuffed animals up neatly,hen I’d line up my friends’oys. They didn’t always ap-

preciate it,” she said with asmile.

Those who do appreciatean orderly environment butcan’t quite figure out how toachieve it can hire Doughty,whose business, Sift Solu-ions, is about helping people

organize. “It’s not alwaysabout getting rid of thingsand it’s not about becominga neat freak. It’s about orga-nizing your belongings soyou can find them when youneed them. It’s about creatingan environment that’s clutterfree, a reflection of how youwant to live—it’s all aboutsimplicity,” she said.

Until approximately twoyears ago Doughty operateda home cleaning business,but as she came to clients’homes to clean she saw thata good many had a need forsomeone to help them or-ganize and simplify. “Some-imes a few smart ideas are

all that’s needed to make a

room more functional,” shesaid.

Often people recognize

the need for neater sur-roundings but don’t havethe time or the organizationskills to do the work them-selves, she said. “Someonemight start cleaning a roomand get distracted lookingat old photos, for example. I

help them stay focused andstay on task. Only after see-ing the job completed can

someone appreciate howmuch nicer and more usablethe space has become.”

Doughty said projectscan be done with or withoutactive participation fromthe client or can be handledthrough consultation with

the client doing the actualwork. “We offer many op-tions based on the client’s

budget and preference.There’s no formula. We workwith each client’s individualneeds.”

Typically, she said, aproject is pursued in blocks

of four hours. It may takeseveral such sessions, tocomplete it. “Before we start,I have a consultation withthe client to discuss goalsand priorities. Every personhas his or her own concept oftidiness. I want to work withthat—not to create my visionbut to fulfill the client’s vi-sion.”

She invites potential cli-ents to imagine a stress-freemorning in which workingparents have their clothesand the children’s clothesready to put on, lunches aremade and keys and phonesare handy—and there’s timeto spare. It’s all achievable,Doughty said, for those whoknow how to organize theirlives.

Doughty said there aremany benefits to having or-derly surroundings. “Beingorganized saves time andmoney in addition to bring-ing your stress level down,”she noted, adding that ap-proximately 65 percent ofpeople say clutter affectstheir state of mind. “When

you can’t find something youneed, you spend a lot of timelooking for it or you may endup buying a duplicate. All of

that wastes time and money.”Sift Solutions focuses on

residential organization. “Ionly get involved with workenvironments when peoplehave home offices,” she ex-

plained. Common projectsinclude kitchens, bedrooms,laundry areas, craft andhobby areas and children’srooms—or a client may wantthe entire house organized.Often people who are down-sizing or upsizing becausethe number of people intheir household is chang-ing use Doughty’s services.In addition to working withthose whose homes have got-ten out of control, Doughtyhelps others just moving intoa home who want to figureout the best use of the spacethey have.

She said clients shouldn’tbe concerned she will be ap-palled by the clutter in theirhomes. “We’re not there to judge,” she said, “we’re thereto help.” She said the mostcommon reaction when she’sfinished is for clients to bedelighted at how much spacethey have.

Doughty explained thather business is not abouthelping hoarders. “That’s adifferent problem. Hoard-ing is a mental health issue. I

am happy to refer people tosomeone who can help themwith that, but that’s not whatI do.”

for the plant, including millionsof square feet of office space,along with research centers,hops, parks and housing.

Among the first projects willbe Third Rail Studio, a produc-ion and television studio that

will the remains of a portion ofhe original building as metroAtlanta’s newest movie and tele-vision production studio.

The Integral Group part-nered with Capstone SouthProperties to develop Third RailStudios on a six-acre section ofhe 165-acre development.

The completed mediacomplex is expected to openn December and will be a

270,000-square-foot facility.

AssemblyContinued From Page 12A

Jodi Doughty says sometimes a few smart ideas are all that’s neces-sary to make a room more functional.

Board of Directors chairman Brian Mockwelcomes guest. Photos by Ashley Oglesby

Discover DeKalb executive director JamesTsismanakis introduces special guest

Egbert Perry.

The Integral Group chairman Egbert Perry ac-knowledges Doraville’s mayor, city manager and

council members for their support of the Assem-bly project.

Guests applaud Egbert Perry’s development plans for the former 165-acre General Motors Plant.

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 1, 2015 PAGE 19AEDUCATION

by Rebecca Rakoczy

Shelley Nickel, vicechancellor for planning andmplementation for the Uni-

versity System of Georgia,will be the 2015 commence-ment speaker for GeorgiaPerimeter College’s May 8ceremony.

The ceremony will beat 10:30 a.m. at the Georgia

World Congress Center inAtlanta.

Since January, Nickelhas been a lead partner inhe consolidation of Georgia

Perimeter College and Geor-gia State University. She hasbeen engaged with GPC fac-ulty, staff and students andparticipated in town halland community meetings atGPC campuses.

“Georgia Perimeter Col-lege is delighted to haveShelley Nickel as our com-mencement speaker thisyear,” said Rob Watts, GPC’s

interim president. “Shel-ley has had a distinguishedcareer in state government,serving chancellors andgovernors in senior-level

positions. Most recently,she has led the six institu-tional consolidation proj-ects within the UniversitySystem of Georgia. I haveworked closely with Shelleyfor many years. She un-derstands the transformingpower of a college educa-tion, and she is committedto improving student suc-cess at all University System

institutions.”Nickel has held leader-

ship roles for the state fornearly two decades. Her pre-

vious experience includes

serving as associate vicechancellor of the UniversitySystem of Georgia, leadingGordon College as interimpresident, and directing theGovernor’s Office of Plan-ning and Budget. She alsoserved as president of theGeorgia Student FinanceCommission.

Nickel earned a master’sdegree in public administra-

tion and a bachelor of sci-ence in community develop-ment, both from Penn StateUniversity. She received anAlumni Fellow award from

her alma mater in 2007 andis a life member of the PennState Alumni Association.

She is also a member ofthe College of Liberal ArtsAlumni Society Board.

Georgia Perimeter ex-pects 2,023 students to beeligible to participate inGPC’s 2015 spring com-mencement ceremony, ac-cording to Doug Ruch, GPC

associate director of institu-tional research.


Each year, dropouts cost the

U.S. economy $329 billion inost economic opportunity andocial services according to The

Mattie C. Stewart FoundationMCSF).

In an effort to encouragetudents to stay in school and

avoid the likely consequencesof dropping out, from April28 through May 1, students ofDeKalb County will experienceirsthand how the choices they

make now can affect their fu-ures.

MCSF in partnership withState Farm will allow studentsrom Clarkston, Creekside and

Cedar Grove high schools, aswell as McNair and Paul D.West middle schools to experi-nce The Choice Bus.

“The average dropout,drops out of school in the 10thgrade and is making $16,000 ayear, the average high schoolgraduate, two years later ismaking $27,000 a year, the av-rage person who goes one step

beyond that in their educationand goes to college makes morehan $1 million more in theourse of a lifetime, that averag-s $36,000-$40,000 a year. One

tep, and that one step looksdifferent for different people ...but that one extra year of edu-ation can very easily changehe whole projection of yourife,” MCSF presenter Eryka

Perry said to students during apresentation.

The Choice Bus is a half-prison cell, half-classroom con-verted school bus intended toeach kids the importance of anducation.

The front half of the bus isused as a classroom, with spaceor a projector to play the four-

minute classroom interactiveDVD The Choice Is Yours. Therear of the bus is an exact rep-lica of a prison cell, an approxi-

mate 6 by 8 feet room with abunk bed, toilet and sink.Lead presenter Chet Pen-

nock said the mission of thefoundation is to decrease thedropout rate.

“The Choice Bus is an in-teractive tool that shows stu-dents what opportunities arethere if you get an education.They see a jail cell and that’s alittle more dramatic than some-one that just tells them ‘if youdon’t graduate and you’re outmaking bad choices that’s whatcan happen to you’, they’re go-ing to see what can happen on

this bus.”Pennock has traveled

throughout the eastern halfof the country for five yearsspreading the foundation’s mes-sage. He said the most reward-ing aspect of the job is “talk-ing to kids that’ve made badchoices already and have seenthat it doesn’t work and want toachieve better things.”

He added, “It’s difficult butwhen we get kids that have hadproblems and their eyes areopened, the ones that have edu-cational aspirations but aren’t

as affluent as other kids, I tellthem ‘if you don’t want to go toa four-year school, try technicalschool, learn a trade,’

He added, “When you’retalking to a student and they’relistening that’s obviously a bigreward.”

The bus also providesteachers with the Learn2Earn booklet and the InsideOut tool-kit to help students understandbudgeting, taxes, credit cards,loans and hear true life storiesfrom prison inmates.

USG vice chancellor to speak at commencement

Georgia students receivevisit from Choice Bus

State Farm and The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation have teamed up for the last four years to bring TheChoice Bus to Alabama, Georgia, Delaware, Indiana, Mississippi, New York, South Carolina, Texas andother State Farm territories.

A replica of a prison cell shows students a 6-by-9 foot room with a bunk bed, toilet and sink.

Eryka Perry takes questions from the students after watching the foundation’s featured lm. Photosby Ashley Oglesby

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 1, 2015 Page 21ASPORTS


It is not unusual for siblings toplay on the same team.

However, rarely does a team

have a set of brothers on the coach-ng staff and four sets of brothers onhe player roster. That is the case for

Marist boys’ lacrosse team.Kevin and Shaun Lux are as-

istant coaches on the team. Onhe team are brothers Michael and

Charlie Addicks, Kyle and KevinCoughlin, Jackson and WilliamMudd, and Chris and Matt Zowine.

“This is pretty unusual,” sopho-more Michael Addicks said aboutplaying with other sets of brothers.Most of the time it’s just us two ona] team with no other brothers.”

This is Michael’s and his brotherCharlie’s first time playing lacrosse

ogether. Charlie was the first to tryout for lacrosse.

“I started playing in seventhgrade when a bunch of my friendstarted playing,” Charlie said. “So I

stopped [playing] baseball to playlacrosse.”

“I saw how much fun he washaving and then my friend got meinto it too,” Michael said.

Both brothers said it is “fun” and

“weird” to play on the same team,but in practice it is a different story.“We go a little harder at each

other,” Charlie said. “We competemore against each other.”

“It’s kind of fun to be able to getsome shots in whenever you can,”Michael said.

The Zowine brothers also like togo at each other in practice.

“Sometimes we go a little extra[at each other],” said junior MattZowine. “I may throw a hard checkin there I don’t see why not.”

Lacrosse is in the Zowines’blood. Their father played in college,and when the brothers “got tired of

baseball,” they picked up lacrosse.Unlike the Addicks, the Zowines be-gan playing lacrosse at a young age.

“I was on and off for a whilestarting in third grade, but I started

playing for real my freshman year,”Matt said.

“[It] was the same [for me],” saidChris, who is a freshman.

Playing on the same team is alsoa first for the Zowines.

“It’s very fun,” Matt said. “It’s adifferent dynamic between me andhim and between the other guys aswell. I know it’s really fun for ourparents to see us on the field at thesame time, on the same defensiveline and stuff.”

“We sort of have a chemistry,”Chris added. “It’s kind of natural.”

For senior Kevin Coughlin, thisis not his first time playing on thesame team with a brother.

“I’ve been playing since thirdgrade,” Kevin said. “My oldestbrother, [Danny ], who is currentlyplaying at Georgia Tech, startedplaying when he was in fifth grade,

and he got me playing and that’show I picked it up.”

This is the first time Kevin andKyle, a sophomore, have played onthe same team.

“I started in eighth grade,” Kylesaid. “My brothers influenced meand I switched over from soccer.”

Both brothers play on defenseand enjoy playing together in gamesand in practice.

“This is a lot of fun,” Kevin said.“It’s not many times that you get toplay with one brother and then playwith two brothers.”

“It’s pretty cool,” Kyle said. “Iget to look up to them and it’s verycool.”

Marist’s lacrosse team is 9-4 as ofApril 27 and ranked No. 10 in ClassA-AAAAA. The team has winsover No. 4-ranked Cambridge, No.5-ranked St. Pius and No. 7-rankedMcIntosh. Marist has a chance towin the region, and the team hashopes to win state, which wouldmean a lot to the brothers.

“It would be cool that we did it

together and with a bunch of broth-ers,” Charlie Addicks said.

Brotherly love: Marist lacrosse team has five sets of

brothers, including coaching staff

Marist Lacrosse team features ve sets of brothers, including assistantcoaches Shaun and Kevin Lux (front row), (back row, from left) Michael andCharlie Addicks, Kyle and Kevin Coughlin, Jackson and William Mudd, andMatt and Chris Zowine. Photo by Mary Jo Corsetti

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Southwest DeKalb athletes sign scholarshipsby Carla [email protected]

Five Southwest DeKalb High Schoolathletes took center stage April 17 toign their letters of intent to their re-

pective schools in their respectiveport.Softball player StarKeira Daniel

igned with Benedict College, lacrosseplayer Casey Kelly signed with Lin-coln Memorial University, basketballplayer Diamond Porter signed with theUniversity of Mobile, Malik Golar andMiles Hollis signed lacrosse scholar-hips to Reinhardt, and their teammate

Tyler Stridiron signed with Oglethorpe.The student athletes celebrated their

ignings with family, friends, team-mates, classmates and coaches.

Porter, a member of the Lady Pan-hers 2013 state championship team,aid she chose Mobile because the

chool felt like home.“All of the [players] reached out to

me and even the coach reached out tome, and he said it was going to be a fullride [scholarship],” Porter said. “Mymother] wanted a full ride and I de-

cided to sign with Mobile.”Porter averaged 7.8 points and 1.8

assists per game in 19 games in herenior season. She said the coaches at

Mobile expect her to contribute herhooting skills.

“[The coach] wants me to be a com-bo guard,” she said. “I’m going to playone [point guard] and two [shootingguard], run the point, and then I’ll come

n for the shooting because I can shoot.”Golar has only played lacrosse forwo years, but put in the work to be-

come a good player, and received mul-iple scholarships before deciding on

Reinhardt.“Reinhardt wasn’t my first choice,”

Golar said. “I [visited] a couple of col-eges—Kennesaw State, Oglethorpe,

Young Harris—and I did a visit at Re-nhardt and the staff over there was just

cooperative. I felt like I was at home,almost as if I was in my own home.”

Golar was a member of the band be-fore deciding to try out for lacrosse twoyears ago. He said it felt good to knowhat all his hard work paid off.

“I started last year, came in twoweeks before the first game and coachNathan] Booker said I had somethingpecial,” Golar said. “I wanted to try to

do something because I really didn’twant to do the band. I was good inband, but it’s not what I wanted to do. Iworked hard all summer, did differenthowcases, different camps, played with

different club leagues and just workedhard.”

Golar, who plays attacker and mid-fielder, said he has a lot to offer offen-ively and defensively to Reinhardt.

“I think my strong set is as a defen-ive [midfielder], but I’m also able to

participate and perform officially on thefield—scoring goals, giving good assists,ust try to help out the team anyway I

can,” he said.

Miles Hollisholds up a Reinhardt University shirt after announcing his decision to sign a lacrosse scholarship to the school.

The parents of Southwest DeKalb lacrosse players Malik Golar (left) Miles Hollis and Tyler Stridiron sign the letters of intent to theirsons’ respective schools.

Diamond Porter (center) signs her letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Mobile.

The father of softball player Starkeira Daniel signs the letter of intent to Benedict College. Photos by Carla Parker

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Greenforest’s Justin Ravenel signs with FAMUby Carla [email protected]

Greenforest-McCalepChristian Academy seniorguard Justin Ravenel playeda big role in building theboys’ basketball players intoa winning team.

Ravenel hopes to dothe same for Florida A&MUniversity men’s basketballprogram. He signed his let-ter of intent to FAMU April17 in front of his family,friends, coaches and team-mates. Ravenel said it is “agreat feeling” to have theopportunity to play collegebasketball.

“It’s every high schoolathlete’s dream to go andplay at the next level. I’vealways dreamed of this mo-ment, and it’s a heart-warm-

ng moment and I’m just soblessed to be here.”Ravenel averaged 18

points, five rebounds andthree assists per game hissenior season, and helpedead his team to the Class

A Private state champion-ship game, where they lostto St. Francis 96-81. He hadoffers from Mercer, Tennes-see Tech, Navy, Citadel, andmore, but picked FAMU be-cause of the potential of theprogram.

“I saw a chance to reallydo something big that hasn’t

been done there in a while,”he said. “It’s a process,[FAMU has] been rebuild-ing. And [I’ve] just [been]forming relationships withother players from aroundthe country, and just tryingto come together and dosomething very special.”

FAMU went 2-27 thispast season and has not hada winning season in eightyears. Ravenel said he has alot to offer to FAMU’s pro-gram.

“I have the versatility ofscoring, leading and makingplays,” he said. “They’ve al-ways looked at me as scoringthe ball very well and justlooking to be a great leader.I feel like when I get thereI’ll be able to implement thatinto the program.”

Greenforest coach NickLagroone said Ravenel willhave an impact on the teamand the school.

“Justin is a first-classyoung man,” Lagroone said.

“FAMU is not just getting abasketball player, but they’regetting an individual whois going to do a lot for thatschool and that community.”

Ravenel is Lagroone’sfirst college signee as a headcoach. He described Rav-enel’s recruiting process andsigning an “unbelievableexperience.”

“I wouldn’t trade it forthe world,” he said.

Ravenel will also be re-uniting with his brotherEd-

ward, who attends FAMU.His parents said they are“very proud” of him.

“I thought back to whenJustin first held a basketballin his hands, I think myhusband put a basketballin his hands at the age of 2,and he just had a love forthe game since that time,”said his mother, BlancheRavenel. “He has alwaysbeen very passionate aboutit, and I’m just blessed thatGod has blessed him withthis scholarship becausethat’s what it all about. The[children] have so much op-portunities and all you haveto do is trust in God, workhard and he’ll open thesedoors for you. So, I just feelreally blessed.”

“Greenforest is a truefamily, and we spend most

of our time here and that’swhere we wanted him tocontinue to grow,” Ed Rav-enel said. “And this is thefruit of the labor right here.”

The school’s headmasterDr. M.O. Clarke also hadhigh praises for Ravenel.

“He’s done such amarvelous job of settingexamples for our youngerstudents,” Clarke said.“About six years ago is whenI first noticed Justin had anoutstanding talent, but heis also an outstanding indi-

vidual.”

Greenforest guard Justin Ravenel (center) is taking his talents to FAMU next Fall. Celebrating him at his signing day included Greenforest basketball coach Nick Lagroone (left), his par-ents Ed and Blanche Ravenel, and Greenforest headmaster Dr. M.O. Clarke. Photos by Carla Parker

Justin Ravenel signs his letter of intent to FAMU.

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LOCAL

District 5 residents may elect new commissionerby Andrew [email protected]

Now there are no candidates forhe DeKalb County District 5 com-

mission seat.The Board of Commissioners

voted April 28 to withdraw all five

andidates for the seat: Markus Butts,George Turner, Kenneth Saunders,Kathryn Rice and Gina Smith Mang-ham.

Commissioner Kathie Gannon,who made the motion to withdrawhe names said, “I think the commu-

nity has spoken to us loud and clearor the past two meetings that they

want an election.“I’ve always said that they deserve

an election,” Gannon said. “That’swhat it should be and I think we arevery close to that.”

The District 5 seat has been va-ant since July 20

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