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a sunny Saturday morning residents and volunteers crowded into the Wylde Centers garden. It was Earth Day weekend and people busied themselves weeding plants, and building garden beds and picnic tables. The Wylde Center, formerly known as the Oakhurst Community Garden Project, was getting ready for its big Earth Day celebration the next day. In addition to helping the center prepare for its celebration, 40 volunteers from ICF International and the Decatur Farm to School Initiative were working on projects for local elementary schools. Were building garden beds for the 4/5 Academy, which doesnt have a garden yet. Well be having a followup day to install them in the garden at the school, and work with some kids to put in the dirt and plant some things, said Katherine Falen, one of the founders of the Decatur Farm to School Initiative and an employee of ICF International. The Decatur Farm to School Initiative is an organization led by parents, teachers, school administrators and community members. The initiative works to connect schools with local farms, serve healthful meals in school cafeterias and improve student nutrition. Decatur Farm to School works handin-hand with City Schools of Decatur (CSD). Falen said volunteers were also building picnic tables for the 4/5 Academy, a school serving all fourth and fifth graders in the CSD system. Every year around Earth Day, Falen said, ICF has a corporate volunteer day, and since she was one of the founders of Decatur Farm to School Initiative, associates decided to volunteer with her at the Wylde Center.
See Farm on Page 13A
Because she gets her news updates online from the The Champion. Because she gets her news updates online from the The Champion. Because she gets her news updates online from the The Champion. Forty volunteers lled the grounds of the Wylde Center (formerly Oakhurst Community Garden Project)
April 21 to celebrate Earth Day. The volunteers, from the Decatur Farm to School Initiative and ICF International, built picnic tables and raised garden beds to donate to City Schools of Decaturs 4/5 Academy. Additionally, volunteers helped out around the Wylde Center weeding invasive plants and turning compost. Photos by Daniel Beauregard
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Lithonia, McNair, Stone Mountain and Towers. These areas, based on county school district clusters, were identified because of their eligibility to use resources available through the countys HUD-funded programs, Morris said. These communities will be narrowed down to two areas that will participate in the pilot program. The finalists will be selected based on their ability to leverage their community assets and collaborate with businesses, agencies and organizations that
High School Math (6-12) Science (6-12) Family & Con. Science (6-12) Tech. Ed. (6-12)
Individuals who are completing a teacher preparation program by August 1, 2012 and have passed all GACE assessment tests Individuals who hold dual/multiple teaching content certifications (i.e. Middle Grades L/A and Social Studies) District-wide pre-screening interviews will only be offered to certified teachers who meet the above requirements. Please bring copies of your resume, official transcripts, GACE scores, and/or a copy of your professional certificate. YOU MUST HAVE A COPY OF YOUR DOCUMENTS TO INTERVIEW. If you attended a previous job fair in Spring, 2012 and received a pre-screening interview, you do not need to attend this Certified Teacher Career Fair.
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DeKalb leaders open a $9 million renewable fuels facility in south DeKalb that will convert landfill gas to renewable natural gas, which will be used to power county sanitation vehicle. Were a little bit greener, said DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis. Photos by Andrew Cauthen
Cuff a kindergartner?
how many are affected relying mainly on the headline grabbing, titillating gossip of who might like to know. We have taken prayer and discipline out of our schools. Teachers cant teach for the DTs - disciplinary issues and tests. Our children look like cartoon caricatures, thugs or models from the pages of soft porn magazines. In short, our institutions are failing our children. What prompts the preceding rant is the incident that happened in Milledgeville last week. According to reports, a 6-year-old kindergarten girl threw a tantrum, tearing things off the walls and tossing furniture. Apparently she knocked over a shelf causing injury to the principal. No word on what caused the tirade. But when police arrived the girl was in the principals office crying. When the officer tried to calm her, she reportedly resisted and was cuffed. Police say they tried to contact the girls mother but werent able to reach her so they took the child to the police station where she was charged with simple assault and damage to property. Because of her age, she will not have to go to court and will not be sentenced. She is suspended from school. The huge unanswered question is what caused the girls tirade. Follow the girl home to her first classroom. What is taught in the home is reflected in how our children behave in public. They model what they see and hear. Could this child be neglected, albeit unintentionally? Could the mother be the breadwinner working a couple jobs to make ends meet and having to be away for long periods of time? Any sign of a father extending emotional or financial support? Another scenario is that the little girl might have been born addicted to drugs or alcohol and is suffering from a chemical imbalance. Yet another scenario is that the little girl may be physically or sexually abused. Does she feel socially ostracized? What is certain is that a little 6-year-old girl is angry, hurt, confused and acting out. No psychiatrist here. But if youve witnessed these children in the classroom, on the streets, and even in the church, as outrageous as it might seem, you will surmise the officer probably had no choice. Child protection laws would not allow school personnel to physically restrain the child for fear of being sued for abuse. Zero tolerance laws require police intervention. What to do? Out of control children are common place in our schools, whatever the reason. A case in point: Several years ago while retrieving my purse from the office after a visit to a DeKalb elementary school honors program, I came upon a school official trying to control an unruly first grader. The boy hit, kicked, spat on and cussed the teacher in language so vile it made this grownup blush. The teacher could only restrain the boy by locking him in her arms as if she were holding an infant. She offered that the 7-year-old had been suspended numerous times and if she called his mother, the mother would come and cuss out the boy for causing her to leave her job and then bash him upside the head, which would require the teacher to report the mother to authorities for child abuse. Oye! Dont tell anyone, but as a concerned grandmother I thought I might be able to reason with the youngster. After being hit with several expletives including the F bomb, I calmly took his expensive sneakers off his feet and left the building headed to my car. Of course I only pretended to leave. Im told that in wide-eyed amazement, the boy settled down rather quickly and peered out the window thinking that crazy lady had left with his shoes. The tactic worked, but teachers cant do that and this visitor was certainly on thin ice. The unintended consequence of laws designed to protect our children cause more harm than good especially in a litigious society where so many of us lack common sense. What happened in Milledgeville is a reality our teachers suffer through daily. We live in a world where the complex forces of family disintegration, greed, racism (oops theres that word) and selfishness rule. Sadly, its why a police officer cuffs a kindergartner. Steen Miles, The Newslady, is a retired journalist and former Georgia state senator. Contact Steen Milies at Steen@dekalbchamp.com.
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Our moral compass is as bereft of direction in this country as a weathervane in a tornado. We are spinning out of control and a sad symptom of our chaotic state of affairs is a police officer having to cuff a kindergartner. We live in a world where marriage and family values are dragged out as convenient campaign slogans by hypocrites on their fourth and fifth marriages or the affair du jour. We get full of ourselves and throw out husbands and wives like yesterdays trash. Assuming responsibility for our children takes a back seat to power, prestige and position. We have taken parental authority from parents who are afraid to spank their children lest they be brought up on charges or considered barbaric at the very least. Too many of our self-absorbed politicians care more about the next election and campaign contributions than the public trust. There are too many headlines about some of our priests and preachers pimping at the sign of the cross out of ego, lust and material gain. Tabloid media has inverted the pyramid forgetting about the basic tenets of journalism need to know,
Editors note: The figures presented in the referenced article are from an April 11 report of the DeKalb County Board of Commissions Finance, Audit & Budget Committee and are based on a study conducted by the University of Georgias Carl Vinson Institute. The article states: Using the mid-range $21.8 million estimate of reductions, the commissioners report stated the county would have to cut 233 police positions. Nowhere does the article reference cutting the police force by 30 percent. The countys current budget proposal authorizes 1,226 full-time police positions. Thirty percent of that number would be 368 positions, not 233. Again, these figures are from a Board of Commissioners committee report; they did not originate with The Champion.
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THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS encourages opinions from its readers. Please write to us and express your views. Letters should be brief, typewritten and contain the writers name, address and telephone number for verication. All letters will be considered for publication.
Send Letters To Editor, The Champion Free Press, P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; Send E-Mail to Kathy@dekalbchamp.com FAX To: (404) 370-3903 Phone: (404) 373-7779 Deadline for news releases and advertising: Thursday, one week prior to publication date. EDITORS NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributing editors do not necessarily reect the opinions of the editor or publishers. The Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. The Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.
Publisher: Dr. Earl D. Glenn Managing Editor: Kathy Mitchell News Editor: Robert Naddra Production Manager: Kemesha Hunt Graphic Designer: Travis Hudgons The Champion Free Press is published each Friday by ACE III Communications, Inc., 114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030 Phone (404) 373-7779.
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Opinion
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Serious commentators are telling us not to assume that the Supreme Court is going to find Obamacare unconstitutional just because the conservative justices gave the government lawyer a hard time when the case came before the court last month. Somehow that doesn't make me sleep better at night. This is the same court that gave us the Citizens United decision, which opened the sluice gates of special-interest money that flooded a political system that was already awash in it. The ruling was the court's worst decision since Dred Scott in 1857, which ruled that no Americans of African descent, whether enslaved or free, were U.S. citizens. You think that the court is going to find mandatory health insurance constitutional? Nah. In the first place, you had four votes against the plan right out of the gate. Justices John Roberts, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito are old-fasioned conservatives. The only change they believe in is change that takes us back to the 18th century. In the second place, the high court's lone swing judge, Justice Anthony Kennedy, was one of the more hostile questioners. You are changing the relationship of the individual to the government, he told the government's lawyer. So forget about it, you health care fans, the vote is going to be 5-4 against the Affordable Care Act. The only real question is whether the justices will strike down the entire plan or just the compulsory mandate. That's the part that requires people to buy insurance or pay a fine. I say it doesn't make much difference. The only way you can pay for the other provisions of the bill providing coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions, extending coverage to the poor is by making everyone pay for it. Without the mandate, the bill for uninsured people who show up at the emergency room after an auto accident or a heart attack, or with severe diabetes or cancer, will be paid as it is now by the rest of us. Those
TOGETHER WERE
Hunger is closer than you think. Reach out to your local food bank for ways to do your part. Visit FeedingAmerica.org today.
Local News
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Eddie Lemon
Watch program in his community off Gresham Road in Decatur. Residents of the area often see Lemon walking the streets in his neighborhood picking up trash and keeping the sewer drains clear of debris. Im nothing but a servant of God, Lemon said. If youre obedient, God will put you in a position where you can keep doing what youre doing to help others. Lemon, who is pursuing his masters degree, works full-time at Harland Clarke and volunteers with the United Way through his company. He has volunteered at least once a year for the past three years with Hosea Feed the Hungry and has done several other projects with United Way. Approximately two years ago he led a group of 10 workers on a United Way cleanup of an area day care center. Armed with his chain saw, tiller and several pieces of landscape timber, Lemon helped paint the center and build a flower garden. Upon completion of the project, Lemon said he was thanked by parents of children at the center and he was recognized by his fellow employees at Harland Clarke. I got three rounds of applause that day, Lemon said. I felt like crying, and it made me feel like I was doing something worthwhile. Were not here for ourselves, he said. I just feel like youve got to help others whenever you can.
Eddie Lemon recently spent his off day planting a vegetable garden for an ailing elderly couple from his church. Two days later he fixed the brakes on their van. That willingness to help others is something Lemon, who turns 60 on April 29, has had instilled in him for as long as he can remember. That spirit to help gets stronger and stronger every day, said Lemon, who is a deacon at Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church on Flat Shoals Parkway in Decatur. God gives me the strength to do what I need to do. The more I do for people, the more God blesses me. Lemon had already planted several vegetables in the garden and added okra, sweet potatoes and watermelon, he said. In addition to the garden and car repair, Lemon has painted the couples house and installed rails on the bathtub so they are able to get in and out of the tub safely. Lemon also is a member of the Neighborhood
If you would like to nominate someone to be considered as a future Champion of the Week, please contact Kathy Mitchell at kathy@DeKalbchamp.com or at 404-373-7779, ext. 104.
Local News
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From left, Kemesha Hunt, Louise Dyrenforth Acker, John Hewitt and Travis Hudgons.
The Mayor and City Council of the City of Chamblee, Georgia will hold a public hearing on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at the Chamblee Civic Center, 3540 Broad Street, Chamblee, GA 30341 at 6:00 p.m. to receive public comments regarding the following zoning matters: 1. Appendix A, Zoning, Section1307.C, Signage. This text amendment will allow changeable copy signs at places of worship, public buildings or at public or private schools on properties zoned NR-1, NR-2, CR, VR, NC-1, NC-2 provided that such signs may be located on arterial and collector roads (2012Z-001). 2. Chapter 93, Development Regulations, Section 93-1(b). The subject property is located at 10 Gentrys Walk. The applicant is requesting a variance to the requirement that buildings three or more stories be constructed with concrete and steel framing (2012V-002). 3. Appendix A, Zoning, Section 504, Building additions, Section 803.D, Walls and Fences; Section 902.B1 and 902.C1, Sidewalks; Section 907.A1 and 907.4, Storefront streets requirements and fenestration; Section 908.D1, Site Design; Section 1205, Parking and landscaping requirements; Section 1206, Minimum off-street loading requirements; and Section 1207.C, handicapped parking requirements. The subject property is located at 5130 Peachtree Blvd. The applicant is requesting variances to provide site improvements and a 13,200 square foot addition and 7,500 square foot renovation to the existing building (2012V-003).
NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARING
4. Appendix A, Zoning, Section 1004, Space Dimensions, Section 506 Lot reduction
prohibited. The subject property is located at 1889 Ham Drive. The applicant is requesting a variance to the 12,000 square foot minimum lot size required for NR-1 zoned districts to allow the platting of a 16,000 square foot lot into two 8,000 square foot lots (2012V-004).
5. Chapter 94, Appendix A, Zoning, Section 902, Sidewalks. The applicant is requesting a variance to the requirement of sidewalks with a landscape zone at 5558 Peachtree Blvd (2012V-001)
Local News
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A small bird with a worm in its mouth perches upon a pvc hoop at the Wylde Center in Decatur. Photos by Daniel Beauregard
Butteries abound and owers are in full bloom at the Wylde Center, one of the stops of this years Decatur Garden Tour.
Local News
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DeKalb County Wants to Hear From You Regarding the Proposed Franchise Agreement Renewal with Comcast Cable Communications
Send your comments and/or concerns regarding Comcasts current performance under the current franchise agreement and/or the future cable-related needs and interests of your community to www.dekalbcountyga.gov.
FRIDAY
Partly Cloudy High: 84 Low: 60
SATURDAY
Mostly Sunny High: 82 Low: 62
SUNDAY
Isolated T-storms High: 84 Low: 61
April 27, 1988 - Mount Washington, N.H. reported seven feet of snow in 10 days, pushing their snowfall total for the month past the previous record of 89.3 inches, which was set in 1975.
MONDAY
Partly Cloudy High: 80 Low: 59
TUESDAY
Partly Cloudy High: 75 Low: 54 First 4/29
Tonight's Planets
Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Rise Set 5:54 a.m. 6:09 p.m. 8:58 a.m. 11:47 p.m. 3:10 p.m. 4:23 a.m. 7:36 a.m. 9:13 p.m. 7:10 p.m. 6:39 a.m. 5:35 a.m. 5:48 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Mostly Sunny High: 79 Low: 55 Full 5/5
New 5/20
Local UV Index
Weather Trivia
How hot is lightning?
0 - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+
UV Index 0-2: Low, 3-5: Moderate, 6-7: High, 8-10: Very High 11+: Extreme Exposure
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Health
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Local News
er, said the area will be better served by narrowing the seven-lane road to five lanes. Yes, it needs to be narrowed unless someone can show us the need for cars to travel fast is more important than safety issues, Rader said. Its cheaper to put in sidewalks in the [existing lanes] and it would make the sidewalks more usable because youre not cutting them into hillsides. The speed limit on Buford Highway is 45 mph, which is much too fast for the area, advocates say. The protest was held along the road at the intersection of Briarwood Road, which Flocks said is one of the more dangerous intersections along the road. There are a lot more people who do walk in this area, Flocks said. The people here are from a culture where they are not car addicted. Most of the people who live in this area dont have the luxury of making the choice [to drive.]. The GDOTs plan, which will begin this summer, is to improve a 2.5-mile section of road in a project that should take approximately twoand-a-half years, Flocks said. Phase II will include another 2.5-mile section reaching Lenox Road with the same time frame. Thats five years; a lot of people
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never had kale, its not one of those common things you think aboutbut weve got all kinds of kids running around now demanding kale, Falen said. As the volunteers from ICF completed the last garden bed and put the finishing touches on a picnic table, Cotton said people need to start getting more involved in where their food comes from. Weve got to get the community to broadly promote the idea that industrial agriculture is ultimately going to kill us and we have to eat healthier, think healthier, and protect the earth and make it more sustainable, Cotton said.
Education
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DCSD to propose calendar change for 2013-14 school year, not next year
EDUCATION BRIEFS
Chamblee students Kevin Fan, from left, Corey Roberts and Mary Lou Ferguson practice in the stairwell before performing at DCSDs music scholarship ceremony. Photo by Daniel Beauregard
The DeKalb County School District Calendar Committee has recommended to Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson that the district adopt a new balanced calendar for the 2013-14 school year. However, the district will not change the calendar for next year, as was proposed earlier this month. The committee recommended the district not make changes to the 201213 school year calendar, which the DeKalb County Board of Education approved in 2010. An online survey seeking community and employee input on the district calendar recorded more than 36,000 responses, which were incorporated into the committees recommendations.
Dunwoody Elementary holds arts event Parents, teachers and students celebrated the artistic achievements of Dunwoody Elementary School students at its Evening of the Arts event April 19. The event featured visual, musical and literary arts created by the kindergarten through fifth grade students at Dunwoody Elementary. American academy elects Emorys English professor Ronald Schuchard, the Goodrich C. White Professor of English at Emory University, has been named a 2012 Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nations oldest and most prestigious honorary societies and a center for independent policy research. A 42-year veteran professor at Emory, Schuchard is a faculty adviser to Emorys Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, and has devoted much time to developing its archive of 20th century Irish and English manuscript collections. Agnes Scott ranks in top five for composting in recycling competition Agnes Scott College ranked fifth nationally for compostingaveraging almost 21 pounds per person composted on campusin Recyclemania, a national college and university recycling competition. Approximately 605 colleges and universities signed up for the eight-week competition, which compared institutions throughout the country to determine which school recycles the largest portion of its waste. For the Per Capita Classic, determined by total pounds of recyclables collected per person, Agnes Scott ranked second in Georgia and 73rd in the country. Recycling and composting are part of the colleges goal to move closer to achieving zero waste. In 2010, the college completed a long-term climate action plan, part of a commitment made with about 650 other colleges and universities across the country that signed onto the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment to reduce their impact on the environment.
Business
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AROUND DEKALB
CHAMBLEE
Annual Run & Rotary Roll upcoming Chamblee Parks & Recreation recently announced the 14th annual Chamblee Run & Rotary Roll, 5K run and 1K walk and roll, on Saturday, May 5, at 8 a.m. The race starts and nishes at the DeKalb Peachtree Airport (PDK) in Chamblee. All participants will receive a race T-shirt, goody bag, snacks and drinks. Participants have a choice of a 5K route through Chamblees downtown and mid-city district or a 1K walk/roll route around one of PDKs runways. Following the race, participants will get an up close view of the airport runways and an airport hangar in the Family Finish Area sponsored by Epps Aviation. The post-race event features music, door prizes, expo booths and family activities. Special awards will be given to wheelchair racers, including fastest manual chair, fastest power chair, and chair spirit award. Award categories for runners are overall male and female winners, and the top three nishers in the following age groups: 10 and younger, 11-19, 20-29, 3039, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 and older. Early registration fee is $20. Race day registration and entries postmarked after April 30 are $25. Participants can register online at www. chambleega.com or at Active.com (Active.com registrations will have an additional fee.) Checks can be made payable to the City of Chamblee Parks & Recreation, and mailed to 3540 Broad St., Chamblee, GA 30341. For more information, call the Chamblee Parks & Recreation Department at (770) 986-5016. Financial mini series announced As part of the national effort to educate the public about nancial matters, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women has launched the My Sisters Keeper nancial series. The national ofces of NCBW have research that shows that the average net worth of African-American Women in 2010 was $5. This must be changed, said Norma Johnson, chapter president. On Saturday, April 28, 1 - 4 p.m., at the Wesley Chapel Public Library, 2861 Wesley Chapel, Decatur, the Decatur/DeKalb Chapter will launch a series of events to educate the public (especially African American women) about how to overcome the challenges to building wealth. The rst event on April 28, will examine: Family Law: Getting child support, establishing paternity, divorce and separation issues Personal Injury (on and off the job) Disaster Preparation: What you need to know to preserve your assets Will and Trusts: Which one is best for you and your loved ones? Health Insurance Options for people who are about to turn or who have just turned age 65 Topics will be addressed by licensed professionals and attorneys. Other events in the series will address housing, real estate, retirement planning and insurance, Social Security, grandparents raising grandchildren, special hardships and entrepreneurship. Conrmed speakers include housing, real estate professionals, retirement professionals, insurance agents and legal professionals. The event is free and open to the public, however seating is limited. Those planning to attend can reserve a space by calling (770) 981-8775 and leaving a voice mail or by sending an e-mail to cbsmith2010@msn.com. For more information call, (770) 981-8775 Paulette Smith or cbsmith2010@msn.com. newest capacity as president of the MJCCA, said Governance Board Chairman David Levy. Having been active with the Atlanta JCC since he was a young boy, he brings to his role as president his business savvy of improving operations and reducing debt, as well as a history with the MJCCA and all of the wonderful programs and services that it offers the community.
LITHONIA
Lithonia to get help from ARCs Community Choices Program Lithonia is one of five cities in the region selected by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) to receive planning and technical assistance. Through the Community Choices program, ARC provides cities and counties with tools, resources and strategies to implement plans for their communities. The Community Choices program will provide Lithonia with an in-depth review of its Main Street overlay district to check for implementation of the adopted Livable Centers Initiative study and recent Blueprints process. This is a great list of projects from across the region, and this assistance represents ARCs commitment to help local governments implement their plans in efficient ways, said Doug Hooker, ARC executive director. And it doesnt stop here. The lessons we learn through the Community Choices program will also be passed on to other communities in the future. Lithonia Mayor Deborah A. Jackson, said she is thrilled the citys application was selected this year. This will be a great complement to the work we have done with the Georgia Conservancys Blueprint Project. Pine Lake, another DeKalb city chosen for the program, will receive a quality growth audit, comparing the citys comprehensive plan and other planning documents to its adopted ordinances and policies. Program to help fight foreclosures Congressman Hank Johnson, in conjunction with the with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs HomeSafe Georgia program, the D&E Group and DeKalb County, is holding a HomeSafe event on Saturday, April 28, at Salem Bible Church in Lithonia. The program, which runs 9 a.m.-3 p.m., is designed to help homeowners avoid foreclosures. The free event offers homeowners a chance to meet with counselors to determine whether they qualify for HomeSafe Georgia and/or a loan modification. To prequalify and to register, visit D&Es website at http://www.depower.org,
or call (770) 961-6900 or toll-free at 1(877) 790-1831. Participants are eligible for the program if they are currently employed; substantially underemployed; able to make payments but became delinquent while unemployed or underemployed; able to work or seeking employment; delinquent for six months or less; and have mortgage payments greater than or equal to 31 percent of household gross income. For more information or to register, visit hankjohnson.house.gov. Salem Bible Church is at 5460 Hillandale Drive in Lithonia.
STONE MOUNTAIN
ART Station lunch series to feature Southern Voices During the May 21 Lunchtime at ART Station session master storyteller David Hirt will perform excerpts from his one-man show Southern Voices. This show will be produced on the ART Station stage June 7 17. In this performance, Hirt delves into the many facets of the South with his unique humor, insights and characters. The event is noon -1 p.m. Tickets are $10 for the presentation and boxed lunch and $5 for the presentation only. Water, iced tea and lemonade will be provided at no additional charge. Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more two days in advance. ART Station is located at 5384 Manor Drive in historic Stone Mountain Village. For additional information, call (770) 469-1105 or visit www.artstation.org. Be Someone to hold open house Be Someone Inc. Creative Director Orrin Checkmate Hudson announced that the 10th annual Be Someone Day, Saturday, May 5, will be dedicated to teenager Trayvon Martin who was killed earlier this year by a self-proclaimed community watch volunteer in Florida. Hudson said he wants to focus attention to issues affecting young African-American males. Be Someone is opening its doors to the community in a free event, 1 - 4 p.m. There will be entertainment and opportunities for visitors to learn firsthand how Hudson, a former Alabama state trooper, has used the game of chess to change young lives. Be Someone is located at 949 Stephenson Road, Stone Mountain. For more information, visit www.besomeone.org.
DECATUR
Author to speak on history of Ponce de Leon Avenue The DeKalb History Center has announced a book signing and lecture with Sharon Foster Jones, author of Atlantas Ponce de Leon Avenue. The author is scheduled to give a brief presentation on the history of Ponce de Leon Avenue and highlights of the DeKalb County section. She will be on hand to sign books and answer questions about Ponce. The book, along with the authors other publications, Inman Park and The Atlanta Exposition, will be available for purchase from Eagle Eye Book Shop. The event is free and open to the public. It will be Tuesday, May 1, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, second oor, 101 E. Court Square, Decatur.
DUNWOODY
Cadranel installed as new MJCCA president Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlantas new president Steven Cadranel was recently installed at the organizations 66th annual meeting. He succeeds Garrett Van de Grift. Cadranel will serve a two-year term. Cadranel We are thrilled to welcome Steven Cadranel in his
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Sports
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Southwest DeKalbs Charlotte Williams won the 400 meters in the Region 6-AAAA championship.
Tamaric Johnson of Stone Mountain placed first in the 100 and 200 meters at the Region 5-AAA meet.
Ezekiel Lee of Miller Grove won the 100 and 200 meters in the Region 6-AAAA meet. Photos by Mark Brock
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three hits while Chris Jones, Jacobi Meyers, Brendan Thompkins and Khalil McGuire each had two hits. Jones and McGuire also had three stolen bases. Lakeside: Andrew Doetsch struck out nine and allowed four runs in six innings in the Vikings 14-7 win over Southwest DeKalb on April 20.
Dunwoody: The Wildcats dropped out of first place in Region 6-AAAA with a 7-5 loss to Chamblee. Dunwoody fell behind 5-0 after the first inning. The Wildcats defeated Carver-Atlanta on April 23 and ended the regular season against Mays on April 25. Against Chamblee, Jerric Johnson and James Cunningham each had two hits, with Johnson driving in two runs. Cunningham took the loss and allowed four earned runs and four hits while striking out four. Marist: The War Eagles kept their playoff hopes alive with a 12-2 win over Mays on April 17 and a
Columbia: Trenton Nash and Travis Taylor each had three hits in a 16-1 win over Meadowcreek on April 20. Harold Peterson was the winning pitcher and drove in Arabia Mountain: The Rams faced North Springs on three runs. April 25 in a doubleheader in GIRLS SOCCER a best-of-three series to determine the No. 4 seed from St. Pius: The Golden Lions Region 5-AAA. The third game, if necessary, would be defeated Woodward Academy 3-2 on penalty kicks played April 26. The winner April 20 to win the Region of the series advances to the Class AAA state tournament. 5-AAA championship. St. The Rams closed out the reg- Pius (16-1-1), which has won three consecutive Class ular season with wins over AAA state titles, begins the Towers (14-3) and Stockstate playoffs May 4. bridge (6-4). Against Towers, Jonathan Slaton had
NEXT LEVEL
Brandon Liebrandt, Florida State (baseball): The freshman from Marist is 3-1 with a 2.68 earned run average and a teamhigh 36 strikeouts in 47 innings this season. Most recently he pitched 5 2/3 innings in a 6-5 win over Boston College but did not get a decision. Imani Cabell, West Georgia (softball): The sophomore from Southwest DeKalb is batting .310 with five home runs and 20 RBIs this season. She has started 46 games for the Wolves. Most recently, she had a hit and an RBI in a 3-2 loss to West Alabama on April 15. Bradley Dennis, Augusta State (baseball): The freshman outfielder from Lakeside went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and two walks during a weekend series against Georgia College April 14 - 15. Dennis is batting .265 with one RBI and four runs scored in eight starts through April 18.
Each week The Champion spotlights former high school players from the county who are succeeding in athletics on the college level.
The Champion chooses a male and female high school Athlete of the Week each week throughout the school year. The choices are based on performance and nominations by coaches. Please e-mail nominations to robert@ dekalbchamp.com by Monday at noon.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Kareem Nicholas, Cedar Grove (track): The senior won the long jump and the triple jump to help the Saints place second in the Region 5-AAA meet. Nicholas won the long jump with an effort of 21-11 and leaped 45-01.25 to win the triple jump. FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Ashleigh Rasheed, Decatur (track): Rasheed won three events to help the Bulldogs win the Region 6-AA championship. She won the long jump and triple jump with leaps of 16-8 and 37-10.75, respectively, and placed first in the 300 hurdles with a time of 46.36 seconds.
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Lakesides Meg Stephens, shown competing in the floor exercise, won four gold medals including the all-around competition to help Lakeside win the county gymnastics championship. Photo by Mark Brock
Sophomore Meg Stephens won four gold medals, including the allaround title, to lead Lakeside to a 4.275 point victory over three-time defending champion Dunwoody in the 2012 DeKalb County gymnastics championships at Dunwoody on April 16. Stephens and Lakeside teammate Linsey Bergstrom were in the top three in the all-around to help the Vikings earn 98.225 points and end two years of runner-up finishes to Dunwoody. Tucker was third with 84.750 points followed by Southwest DeKalb with 74.175 and Arabia Mountain with 72.6. The title was Lakesides 17th overall since the girls championships began in 1966 and the first since 2008. Tucker has nine county titles while Dunwoody and Redan are tied with seven each. Stephens had a combined total of 34.175 points to take the gold in the all-around, just .875 points ahead of
second place Oksana Casey of Dunwoody who finished with 33.3 points. Bergstrom was third with a total of 31.85 followed by 2011 county champion sophomore Camille Cassar of Arabia Mountain at 31.45 in fourth, Dunwoody sophomore Lizzie Marra in fifth (31.1) and senior Asha Bashir of Tucker was sixth (29.9). Stephens won the balance beam (8.65) and the floor exercise (9.025), and tied Casey for first place in the uneven parallel bars with a score of 8.7. The 9.025 in the floor exercise was the highest score of the meet. Lakeside freshman Jennifer Honein took bronze in the bars with a score of 8.2. Cassar scored a 9.0 to take the silver in the floor exercise while Casey took bronze with 8.6. Bergstrom was second in the beam at 8.2 with Casey taking her second bronze with an 8.0. Tuckers Bashir grabbed the gold medal in the vault with an 8.3, followed by freshman Kelsey Williamson and Bergstrom of Lakeside in a tie for the silver with a score of 8.25.