CrossRoadsNews, January 20, 2018 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COMMUNITY

Educator, statesman, activist

SPECIAL SECTION ity PG ommun C Wellness takes center stage

Gil Turman, a former DeKalb County educa tor who later fought to protect quality of life in South DeKalb neighborhoods, has died. A4

CrossRoads News’ 13th annual Health and Well ness Expo brings health care provid ers and other resources to the Mall at Stonecrest. Inside

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Please Don’t Litter Our Streets and Highways

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January 20, 2018

Let’s Keep DeKalb Peachy Clean

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• PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER • STONECREST

Volume 23, Number 38

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Reductions in homelessness makes Georgia a national leader By Rosie Manins

Homelessness is on the decline in metro Atlanta more than in any other major U.S. city, and at least $110 million is being channeled toward more efforts to help the region’s most vulnerable residents transition off the streets and shelters into permanent homes and jobs over the next five years. The biennial point-in-time counts of Georgia’s and Atlanta’s homeless population show significant decreases in homelessness overall and among many sub-groups of homeless people like families and children. On Jan. 26, volunteers, including 80 in DeKalb County, found 3,572 homeless

people in metro Atlanta, a 12 percent decrease from January 2016. In 2011, Atlanta’s homeless population was 5,987. DeKalb County counted 460 homeless people, continuing a trend of decreasing homelessness. In 2016, DeKalb counted 473 homeless people, down from 684 in 2015, and 841 in 2014. However, DeKalb found that more people were sleeping in unsheltered locations than in transitional housing, a reversal of 2016, when it had more people in transitional housing than on the streets. Allen Mitchell, DeKalb County’s director of Community Development, said the number has been trending downwards because of collaboration and communication among

the groups that work with the county’s homeless population. “We have a lot of people working on coordinated intake and providing permanent supportive housing with wraparound services,” Mitchell Allen Mitchell said. “We have boots on the ground working with the people on the streets and we have a system to back it up.” So on Jan. 17, one of coldest days that shut down schools and most DeKalb County offices, only four families showed up at three warming stations operated at DeKalb fire

stations. Nationally, on that cold January night in 2017, half of all people experiencing homelessness in the United States, did so in one of five states: n California (25 percent or 134,278 people) n New York (16 percent or 89,503 people) n Florida (6 percent or 32,190 people) n Texas (4 percent or 23,548 people), and n Washington (4 percent or 21,112 people). Across Georgia, volunteers found 10,174 homeless people, down 2,735 or 21.2 percent from a year earlier. Please see HOMELESS, page A6

Angry residents demand answers on Sam’s Club Workers, vendors and members question officials

A capacity crowd squeezed into the 185-seat Stonecrest Library auditorium to question Walmart Stores Inc. officials about the abrupt closure of the Stonecrest Sam’s Club on Jan. 11.

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Sam’s Club and Walmart officials got an earful from angry workers, club members, customers, vendors, and South DeKalb residents who packed a Jan. 16 town hall meeting to express displeasure with the retail giant’s abrupt closure of its Stonecrest store on Jan. 11. Several hundred people descended upon the Stonecrest Library auditorium for the meeting. Inside the 185-seat auditorium, it was standing room only. Outside, there were more than twice as many people who couldn’t get inside the meeting or into the library’s parking lot. Both sides of Klondike Road were lined with cars for nearly a mile in both directions. Speaker after speaker said that Arkansasbased Walmart Stores Inc. disrespected the community when it closed the store at 2994 Turner Hill Road without any warning. “Why no consideration for the people,” asked a woman who identified herself as Mrs. Banks. “This a slap in the face of a community that has supported you.” The Sam’s Club is first of two Walmartowned stores closing in the new city of Stonecrest. The company is also closing the Walmart Neighborhood Market at Panola Road and Covington Highway on Jan. 30. It posted “closing” signs on Jan. 5 at that store, unlike what it did at the Sam’s Club store. Several employees told Sam’s Club Market Manager Chaneta Montoban and Walmart’s community affairs manager Glen Wilkins, who attended the meeting, that they left work the night of Jan. 10 and returned the next day to find the store closed. Sabrina Meadows, who worked at the closed club, said she received a letter by FedEx at 7 a.m. on Jan. 11.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

“I got woke up to be told we have no job,” she said. Helen, a longtime greeter at the club, said she was a month from completing 20 years with Sam’s Club and could not believe the company treated her like that. “I didn’t get my letter till 1 p.m.,” she said. “You should have had enough respect to tell us. You all were wrong to treat us this way.” Another employee said he left the club at midnight on Jan. 10. “Nobody knew about it,” he said. “Why didn’t you tell us?” Wilkins said he didn’t have an answer for him. “There is no really good way to close a store,” he said. “There is no easy way to do it.”

Asked if the Stonecrest store was treated in this manner because it is in a minority community, Wilkins said that all 63 stores were closed without warning. “No club or managers knew,” Wilkins said. Glen Wilkins “Everyone was treated the same way. Communication with the clubs happened on that day.” The Stonecrest store, which opened in 2003, is the only one in Georgia that closed. Wilkins said the store was closed “purely off the numbers and financial performance” and that individual store performance is

proprietary and would not be released. Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary said as busy as the store was, he was baffled how it could close. “I don’t understand it as many people who shopped there,” he said. “I don’t know how this happens.” James DeFriece, owner of DeFriece Distribution which supplies Sam’s Club with bread, said he dropped off supplies at the store at 7 a.m. on Jan. 11 and was called later in the day to return and pick them up. “I will lose $50,000,” said DeFriece whose Stonecrest-based company has been a vendor at the Turner Hill store for four months. “I am already on my last leg. You are going to Please see WALMART, page A2

Community

CrossRoadsNews

January 20, 2018

“If Walmart wanted you to have the answers, they would have given him the answers.”

Atlanta makes Amazon short list; Stonecrest proposal in the package Atlanta is among 20 finalists for Amazon’s second headquarters. The city’s package includes two DeKalb County sites – the city of Stonecrest and the former General Motors plant in Doraville. Including tax breaks, land and other perks, Georgia’s incentives package to lure Amazon tops $1 billion. Amazon, headquartered in Seattle, received 238 applications from across the United States, Canada and Mexico for its HQ2. Holly Sullivan, Amazon public policy manager, said getting from 238 applicants

to 20 finalists was very tough. “All the proposals showed tremendous enthusiasm and creativity,” Sullivan said Jan. 18. “Through this process we learned about many new communities across North America that we will consider as locations for future infrastructure investment and job creation.” Amazon has said that it will bring $5 billion in investments and more than 50,000 new high-paying jobs will be generated in the city that lands the headquarters. The 20 finalists released Jan. 18 by Ama-

zon are Atlanta, Austin, Texas; Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Ohio; Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Miami, Montgomery County, Md.; Nashville, Newark, N.J.; New York City, Northern Virginia, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, N.C.; Toronto, Ontario; and Washington D.C. To lure the retail giant, the Stonecrest City Council voted in November to de-annex 345 acres to create a city of Amazon. Mayor Jason Lary has said that Amazon can run the city itself or hire Stonecrest to manage it for them.

Adrion Bell, a Stonecrest spokesman, said Thursday that Stonecrest’s offer is part of Atlanta’s package. “Yes, the Georgia Office of Economic Development has informed us that our package was included in the Atlanta bid for Amazon,” he said. “We were informed a long time ago and today after that announcement.” DeKalb County spokesman Andrew Cauthen said he was unsure if the GM Doraville site was included in Atlanta’s bid. – Tekia Parks contributed to this report.

Official: Stonecrest ‘not likely’ as Sam’s Club e-commerce facility WALMART,

from page

bankrupt my company.” Asked if Sam’s Club could be made to change its mind and reopen the store, Wilkins said no. “This decision is not reversible,” he said. “We are sticking to it. Our real estate department is actively marketing this location.” Asked if the Turner Hill location could become one of the 10 e-commerce centers that the company said it will open, Wilkins said it is unlikely. “A walmart.com warehouse already exists in south Fulton County,” he said. Given the number of people in the room and outside, a speaker said, “you don’t think you should be considering our request.” Wilkins said they would take the request back to Sam’s Club. “If Sam’s Club don’t want our money,

there are others who may want it,” another speaker said. “Will you sell to a competitor?” Wilkins said Walmart owns the building and that there may be restrictions it, but that he said every offer, including any from Costco, whose name was raised by several speakers, will be looked at. Montoban, the Sam’s Club Market Manager, said that the company is hosting a Jan. 22 job fair at the Hilton Garden Inn at Stonecrest for the displaced associates. It starts at 10 a.m. She said six Sam’s Chaneta Montoban Clubs, four Walmarts, and competitors like Home Depot, that are looking for workers, and DeKalb Workforce

have been invited. “We want to ensure that our associates have opportunities in our stores and clubs and know about other opportunities in the area,” she said. “Of course we hope our employees stay with us.” A woman, who identified herself as a former Walmart manager, said that Sam’s Club on Mountain Industrial was not prepared for the influx of customers who used to shop at the Stonecrest Club, had really long check out lines and ran out of supplies. Montoban, said that store was also notified of the Stonecrest closure on Jan. 11. State Rep. Vernon Jones, who hosted the town hall meeting, said they are sending a loud and strong statement to Walmart Stores Inc., the parent company of Sam’s Club and Walmart. “We really want to Vernon Jones know what the numbers are,” Jones said. “If it wasn’t because of low performance, let us know. We are not giving up tonight. There is going to be on-going dialogue.” Wilkins said individual store financial information is proprietary. “That’s not something we will do,” he said. Wilkins told the audience that if they have a potential buyer or tenant for the building, to get in touch with Jones. Participants wanted to know if Walmart Stores would consider a worker’s coop to reopen the location, and would it consider

Town Hall meeting on store closings DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson is hosting a “Store Closings” town hall meeting on Jan. 22 at the Lou Walker Senior Center. She will be joined by Commissioners Gregory Adams and Steve Bradshaw and a number of county officials. The meeting, which starts at 6 p.m., will discuss the Jan. 11 closure of the Turner Hill Road Sam’s Club, and the Jan. 30 closing of the Walmart Neighborhood Market at Covington Highway and Panola Road. The senior center is at 2548 Panola Road in Stonecrest. For more information, call 404-371-2159.

allowing the Walmart Super Center next door to operate the gas station. Wilkins promised to bring the ideas to the company. DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, who represents Stonecrest, said that she asked many of the same questions of Wilkins last week when she spoke with him. “If Walmart wanted you to have the answers, they would have given him the answers,” she said. “It’s common decency is to inform you that the club was about to close.”

January 20, 2018

CrossRoadsNews

Keep marching March because “darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.” March because “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” March because “hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Comcast celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with an exhibit inspired by his words. Take a virtual tour of the artwork created by Philadelphia area students by visiting VoicesOf TheCivilRightsMovement.com.

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Community

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

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

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

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January 20, 2018

“It’s a reminder of the great things that Dr. King did for all of us.”

Gil Turman remembered as statesman, leader By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Gil Turman, who was always on the side of his kids and his community, has died. Turman, a retired DeKalb County principal and executive, and co-founder of the South DeKalb Neighborhoods Coalition, died Jan. 18. He was 77. His daughter Carla Burnette said Thursday that the family was devastated. “He is gone,” Burnette said. “We just lost our Dad, but we are going to be all right.” Turman had been ailing for months and was in hospice care at his Decatur home. He was an educator for 39 years, beginning his teaching and football coaching career in 1962 at R.L. Cousins High School, in the Newton County School System in Covington. Four years later he pioneered the first football program for black students in Newton County. He came to DeKalb School district in 1973, and stepped away for a year in 1979 to be an insurance salesman. He returned to the district in 1980 and stayed until his retirement in 2009.

Over his long DeKalb education career, Turman was principal at C olumbia, Gordon and S out hwe s t DeKalb high schools. He was also a Gil Turman superintendent for six years overseeing 18 high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools. Turman retired in 2009 after five years as a consultant and administrative coach for DCSD’s leadership development. Former DeKalb School Board member Frances Edwards, who knew Turman for more than 25 years, said he was just an outstanding and courageous gentleman. “He was dedicated to his students and his community,” she said. “I was lucky to have had him for a friend.” Before she was elected to the school board where she served for 16 years, Edwards was PTA president at Southwest DeKalb High School when Turman was principal and her son Jamal was a student.

She said she and Turman worked together on getting passed the school district’s 1989 bond referendum that built Stephenson High School. “I worked on so many projects with Gil,” she said. Edwards said he was totally committed to children and his community. “He spoke truth to power,” Edwards said. “Gil was not afraid to tell anyone the truth. If you asked him he would give it you. He was respected by all people.” In retirement, Turman cofounded the South DeKalb Neighborhoods Coalition with Brenda Jackson in 2000. He led the nonprofit as it waged a four-year battle to close Live Oak and Hickory Ridge landfills. Jackson, whose children attended Southwest DeKalb High School during Turman’s tenure, said she met Turman and his wife, Anne, when their children played football in the Glenwood Hills Athletics Association with Buck and Joyce Godfrey. Turman also served on the special task force that reviewed DeKalb’s Code Enforcement Ordinance and made recommendations for change in 2004. He was

also the cofounder and chairman of the DeKalb Code Enforcement Advisory Council. In 2001, he co-founded the nonprofit Claude C. George Foundation to support educational and athletic achievements of Atlanta Public Schools students. In 2008, the alumni of his alma mater Booker T. Washington High School, raised $7,000 to award $1,000 book scholarships to seven students. Jackson said many people considered Turman “the clean up man” because of how good he was at fixing things. “He made every effort to be fair and right,” she said. “Whether it was the school system or the community, he was a statesman.” Jackson said Turman was like a life coach to her, encouraging her to be her best self. “He provided directions to help you reach your highest potential,” she said. “He always said ‘don’t take seconds.’ He believed that if you didn’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” Turman is also survived by his wife Anne, daughter Terrelyn Turman, son Gilbert III, and two grandchildren. Funeral arrangements were not available at press time Thursday.

Thousands celebrate Dr. King with parades, service By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Thousands of adults and children paraded in DeKalb, Rockdale and Henry counties on Jan. 15, while others rolled up their sleeves and worked in their communities to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the national ML King Holiday and his 89th birthday. The parades of community, civic, church, school, business and fraternal groups celebrated the life and legacy of King, in the year of the 50th anniversary of his assassination on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn. King, who was in Memphis in 1968 to support garbage workers who were on strike for more pay and benefits, was shot to death by James Earl Ray on April 4. 1968 while he was standing on the hotel’s balcony. His late wife Coretta Scott King, who led the fight for the national holiday in his honor, always conceived the holiday as “a day on, not a day off.” To put service into the 34th annual King Holiday, hundreds of volunteers cleaned up, made repairs, painted, planted trees, and prepared community gardens for spring plantings at schools, churches, homes of the elderly, and in historic cemeteries. By 11:30 a.m. on Monday, more than 194 volunteers had signed in at Stoneview Elementary School to paint, install pavers in the garden, and clean up garden beds in the school’s community garden. In DeKalb County, the NAACP’s 16th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade kicked off from Green Pastures Christian Church on Flat Shoals Parkway in Decatur, heading for MLK Jr. High School on Highway 155 in Lithonia after balloon releases.

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Volunteers and staff with the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court march in the NAACP’s annual King Day parade.

From the steps of Green Pastures Christian Church on Flat Shoals Parkway where the parade kicked off, Teresa Hardy, the DeKalb NAACP’s president, told the crowd that the balloons represented nonviolence and inclusion. “Dr. King was a man of nonviolence, peace and love,” she said. “Dr. King was also also a man of inclusion and tolerance and an advocate for justice and equality for all oppressed people.” Hardy urged everyone within the sound of her voice to pledge to honor Dr. King’s memory by registering to vote and to vote in every election. She reminded the marchers that it was Dr. King’s dream that “one day all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, would be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro Spiritual, ‘Free at Last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.’” A short distance from the intersection of Flat Shoals Parkway and Highway 155, Donna Jackson, who was among the people lining the

sidewalk to view the parade, said she tries never to miss the DeKalb NAACP’s King parade. “It’s a reminder of the great things that Dr. King did for all of us,” she said. “I also come to support the kids in the parade.” Her friend Erica Jerry, who was standing next to her on the portion of Snapfinger Road, which was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway in 2012, said this year more than most, she had to come out for the parade. “With all the things that are going on in the world, I had to be here,” she said. Jerry, who lives in Dunwoody, said she travelled to South DeKalb to see the King parade because Dunwoody does not have one. Half a mile away at the intersection of Browns Mill Road and Highway 155, Catherine Thomas of Decatur was waving at paraders from the island in the middle of the closed highway with her sister Marvin Simpson of Stone Mountain, her niece Lisa King of McDonough, and nine other family members. “Every year I am right here,”

Thomas said. “We have the best seat in the house.” Thomas said they come out to celebrate Dr. King’s birthday “because he did so much for us.” “We have made progress, but not the way we should,” Thomas said, adding that King was all about nonviolence. “But every time you turn the television on you can’t get away from the violence,” she said. “People need to get united and stop the violence.” Elaine Clements, owner of Clements Insurance Inc. on Covington Highway, said she has been coming to the King parade for five years. “It’s about a day on, not a day off,” she said. Clements said we have not yet realized Dr. King’s dream of a beloved community. “Even though we had a black president for eight years, we are still not there yet because of the president we now have in the White House” she said. “For sure I am doing better than my parents and grand parents but I want my daughter to do better than me.” Clements says she still sees “some form of segregation” in DeKalb County. “There are difference between the south side and the north side,” she said. “There is more privileges on north side than the south side. They put more money into the north side schools. We are just getting computers in our schools.” Yvette Head of Lithonia said that we are still be held back. “But we got to keep fighting,” she said. Head said she was at the parade to celebrate Dr. King for all that he did for us.”He made it possible for us to be able to vote and get jobs,” she said. “we just have to show our kids where we came from.”

January 20, 2018

Youth

CrossRoadsNews

“She held the party together. When people had scattered to all the four corners, she … started bringing elected officials back into the game.”

African American men needed to read to Toney Valley boys By Tekia L. Parks

African American men can spend some time reading to adolescent boys at Toney Elementary School on Feb. 9. The elementary school off Candler Road in Decatur needs men to volunteer for its African-American Male Read-In, held annually during Black History Month. Fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, friends and neighbors are needed for the 8 a.m. to noon event, which is in its 11th year. The deadline to register is Feb. 7. Stanley Bradley, a Toney Elementary paraprofessional, says the read-In is an opportunity for black men in metro Atlanta to read to the school’s students and help celebrate Black History Month. Bradley said it’s important to promote literacy and for children to see men who look

them in the classroom reading to them. “Students who do well in reading, do well in life.” Bradley said. Oliver Dean II, Toney Elementary principal, said motivating children to read is an important factor in student achievement. “Research has shown that children who spend more time reading do better in school,” Dean said. “The Toney Elementary School staff recognizes the importance of the connection among home, school and community. When the school and community come together to highlight the importance of reading, we enlighten our students’ development and broaden their horizons. “ Toney Elementary School is at 2701 Oakland Terrace, Decatur, GA 30032. Visit www.toneyes.dekalb.k12.ga.us to register to read to students. For more information, call Stanley Bradley at 678-874-2102.

The AfricanAmerican Male Read-In at Toney Elementary School in Decatur is in its 11th year.

Benham Scholars Cold temperatures cause schools to close three days and teens across DeKalb got three days off from school Program to build Jan.Kids 17-19 in the wake of snow and frigid temperatures that turned streets into skating rinks. diversity in law DeKalb County School District (DCSD) joined other metro The University of Georgia School of Law has created a Benham Scholars Program to maintain and increase diversity in the legal profession. The program, named in honor of Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham, will admit its first scholars for the 2018-2019 school year. Fifty years ago, Benham was a first-year law student, and he became UGA’s law school’s second African-American graduate in 1970. In 1989, he was the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of Georgia, following his appointment by Gov. Joe Frank Harris. In a Jan. 17 press release from UGA, Benham said that throughout Georgia and the nation, there are young people who work hard and dream about success but have difficulty overcoming certain obstacles, financial or otherwise. “If this program can help even a fraction of them attend law school and have the chance for a successful legal career, we will have made an impact,” Benham said. “I am of course honored by this incredible recognition and look forward to watching this new program change young lives.” The Benham Scholars Program is funded as part of the New Approaches in Diversity and Inclusion initiative announced by UGA President Jere Morehead last semester. Private donations received from the Office of the President will be matched by private law school funding to support the program, which will focus on four key areas – recruitment, preparation for law school, academic support and career planning. Law school Dean Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge said one of the college’s goals is to ensure that their student body, and ultimately the new lawyers who enter the profession, is reflective of today’s society. “We know that for some academically qualified students, barriers still exist to entering law school,” Rutledge said. “Some of these are financial, and others are tied to access to information and support. Through the Benham Scholars Program, we hope to give these young men and women the opportunity to thrive both in law school and in their careers.” Along with the creation of the Benham Scholars Program, the law school announced the appointment of a new associate dean for strategic initiatives. Mehrsa Baradaran will serve as the faculty liaison on diversity and inclusion issues. The school offers studies for juris doctor, the master of laws and the master in the study of law. For more information, visit www.law. uga.edu.

Savannah and Reagan Parks took advantage of Wednesday’s snow day by playing in the snow and making snow angels.

Atlanta school districts in canceling school Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to avoid putting students and staff at risk. The snow days came a day after the annual Martin Luther King Holiday on Jan. 15 and a week after inclement weather forced schools to close on Jan. 8 because of the threat of a wintry mix that did not materialize. Victoria Parks, whose three children attend Wynbrooke Elementary in Stone Mountain, was initially unsure about another snow day so soon. “It’s a little unexpected considering nothing happened on the last inclement weather warning,” she said, but added that it is “OK because they can’t control the weather.” “I remember being a kid and snow days are always exciting,” she said. made snow angels. The mercury dipped into the single digits with wind chill. “The snow is really fun,” Savannah said. “I’m expecting for school Parks said she was glad the kids got to stay home instead of wait- to be out tomorrow.” ing for school buses in the frigid temperatures. Reagan, who is the citizen of the month for her second grade Despite Wednesday’s cold temperatures, fourth-grader Savan- class, was looking forward to being honored at school Wednesday. nah Parks and her younger sister, Reagan, played in the snow and “I’m happy but I’m not happy about the citizen’s day,” she said.

$50,000 grant to help fund pre-school library program Preschoolers will be soon be able to access preschool programs at four DeKalb Library branches because of a $50,000 matching grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The three-year Humanities Access Grant, which is good from 2018 to 2020, will be used to train staff to help prepare low-income preschool children for success in reading and school in the library’s

PRIME TIME Preschool Program. The DeKalb Library Foundation, which annually raises $150,000 from individuals, corporations and grant funders to support literacy initiatives, will raise the matching $50,000 over the next two years. Over a six-week period, children 3 to 5 years old and their families will be introduced to award-winning books and literacy–based activities that encourage a love of reading

and the library through the library’s PRIME TIME Preschool program. Gina Jenkins, the DeKalb Library’s youth service coordinator, said the research-based PRIME TIME program has a proven track record of success. It was unclear at press time Thursday when the grant-funded program will get underway. For more information, visit 111. dekalblibrary.org.

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Community

January 20, 2018

“The first job of course is convincing someone to take the risk and trust us and go to a place that they don’t know anything about.”

Atlanta programs seek alternative solutions for lives in jeopardy HOMELESS,

from page

Since 2010, Georgia’s homeless population has decreased 48.2 percent or 9,465 people. Nationwide in 2017, there were 553,742 homeless people.

Partnerships make the difference In 2017, the Atlanta City Council and the Regional Commission on Homelessness, operated through United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, announced a partnership in which $50 million in private and city funds will be directed at curbing homelessness even further. The money, evenly donated by the city and private investors, is expected to attract about $60 million in state and federal funds. It will be used to implement a five-year strategic plan to make homelessness in Atlanta “rare, brief and nonrecurring.” Jack Hardin, co-chair of the Regional Commission on Homelessness, is encouraged by the progress. “We are achieving success where other communities are not,” said Hardin, a founding partner of Atlanta-based law firm Jack Hardin Rogers & Hardin. Since leading the team that opened the downtown Gateway Center in 2005, Hardin has already overseen $100 million in private philanthropy investments aimed at curbing homelessness in Atlanta. He said homelessness is not, and will not, plague Atlanta like it continues to do in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, where homeless populations are on the rise. “Their homeless rates are increasing, some going up by double digits,” he said. In Georgia, the opposite is true. The 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development this month, shows that Georgia is leading the way out of homelessness in several areas. The state boasts the largest annual decrease of any state in homeless individuals and veterans and in chronically homeless individuals. Georgia also had the second largest decrease of any state between 2016 and 2017 in the number of homeless families with children.

By the numbers

10,174 number of homeless people in Georgia

48.2

percent decrease in Georgia homelessness since 2007

Hardin, who co-chairs the Regional Commission on Homelessness with former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, believes two key factors are at play: affordable housing and entry-level jobs. “If you think about Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York and Washington, there’s a serious problem of a gap between what a person can make with a full-time entry-level job and what it costs to rent an apartment,” he said. “There are over 65,000 people in the New York homeless shelter system, many with full-time jobs, and they can’t afford apartments. There’s some 40,000 people counted as homeless in Los Angeles, 24,000 of them living on the streets.” Hardin says Atlanta still has an economy with employment opportunities for people with entry-level skills and some affordable housing, even though it’s being “destroyed” at a rate perhaps faster than in any other community nationwide. But, Hardin says, a lack of direct public transportation links between affordable homes in the south of the city and basic jobs in the north of the city, poses a problem. Therefore, a multi-faceted solution is needed, he said. Several programs implemented through the Gateway Center – a full service, firstpoint-of-call facility for homeless people wanting to get off the street and into employment – have had success over the years, and will be expanded under Atlanta’s new strategic plan to reduce homelessness. Advocates believe that with enough support, even people with serious mental health problems, addictions, chronic illnesses and a distrust of authority, can eventually sleep in their own beds. Hardin says it’s not always easy to convince homeless people to try something different, but perseverance is key. “The first job of course is convincing someone to take the risk and trust us and go to a place that they don’t know anything

3,572 nmber of homeless people in Atlanta

386

number of homeless veterans in Atlanta

about,” he said. “We think of their lives as harsh and they are, but it’s their life and they’ve figured out how to cope in that environment. When we ask them ‘are you ready to start a journey with us, we’ll put you in an apartment with beds, with clean sheets, with showers,’ we think it’s obvious, the answer is ‘yes,’ but for them, we’re asking them to trust us, we’re asking them to go somewhere where we know but they don’t know what it’s like, so a lot of times they say no, but over time they begin to think about it and then they will say yes.” Participants in the Gateway Center’s “street to hope” program are placed in an apartment and connected with constant continuous case work, to identify whether they are eligible for veterans and other government benefits, or can get work. “If they have issues such as substance abuse, which many of them do, or mental disabilities, which many of them do, we connect them with services that will help them address those barriers,” Hardin said. [subhed] Many factors to overcome To transition someone from homelessness, Hardin says it takes a twofold approach – one is to address the barriers they face because of their life history, and the other is to help them exchange the bad habits developed on the street for survival with the good ones needed to succeed in society. The $110 million earmarked to help end homelessness will be used to create 1,000 new units of “permanent supportive housing,” where occupants become tenants with legal rights and are supported with services and encouragement, normally provided by a family, to help them succeed. “One thing homeless people have in common is that they’re often profoundly alienated from their natural support networks,” Hardin said. “Supportive housing provides that back up.” Some of the funding will be used for “rapid rehousing programs,” recuperative care and to address racial disparity among Atlanta’s homeless population. Some homeless people function at a high level but only at the margins, meaning their income is only enough to cover their expenses on a regular basis. Hardin said that if they encounter a major hitch such as a job loss or sickness, they lack the financial resilience to survive, and spiral back into homelessness.

percent of Atlanta homeless who are African Americans

With rapid rehousing, he said those people can get some rental support for a short period in order to get back on track. He said that 80 percent of those helped in that fashion continue to be self-supporting afterwards. Recuperative care provide temporary services for people discharged from a hospital while they heal. “We get them their chicken noodle soup and help with their prescriptions and let them have a place to stay as they finish their recuperation and we use that opportunity to identify any other barriers they might have and give them assistance in overcoming those,” Hardin said. The strategy is also focused on providing more street medicine and outreach work, to help the most vulnerable unsheltered population, who need the most assistance. It also addresses a severe racial disparity in Atlanta’s homeless population: more than 90 percent are African Americans. Accordingly, Atlanta will be one of 10 cities to partner with the Center for Social Innovation and its new initiative SPARC (Supporting Partnerships for Anti-Racist Communities), to provide training, technical assistance, and reporting to create anti-racist intervention strategies. Hardin says the closing of downtown Atlanta’s Peachtree and Pine homeless shelter in August 2017 has also prompted the establishment of a new facility for women and families, and plans for a low-barrier men’s facility, so those affected by the iconic shelter’s closure aren’t forced back on the street. He says all women and children from Peachtree and Pine have been “placed” and all other residents offered solutions. “I can’t say that there’s no one that decided to leave and not accept the offers that we’ve made to them, but the feeling among some of the public that they’re all going back on the street is not true,” he said. Hardin knows the total eradication of homelessness may elude the city, but he says there is no reason why the problem cannot be effectively managed. “We won’t eliminate hardship or adversity. People will encounter problems that throw them for a loop, but we can identify those people quickly, we can propose to them durable solutions, and we can make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring,” he said.

CrossRoadsNews

January 20, 2018

Scene

The sorority, which has served the Stone Mountain and Lithonia communities since 1993, is celebrating 25 years with a special exhibit.

Intro to acting ‘American Assassin’ to be screened at Hairston Library class focuses Assassin,” starring Michael Keaton, Sanaa Lathan, on the audition Chris“American Webster, Dylan O’Brien and a stellar cast, will be screened Aspiring actors and actresses of all ages can get tips on controlling a stage in Acting 101: How to Master the Audition with Ann Burns on Jan. 27 at the Gresham Library. In this Skillshare program, participants will learn to master the cold read and choose a monologue that is memorable and right for you. They will also learn to break down a scene, identify character types and effectively communicate to audiences. Class is limited to 15. It takes place 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Gresham Library is at 2418 Gresham Road in Atlanta. To register, call the branch at 404-244-4374.

Jan. 27 as part of the New Movie Series at the Hairston Crossing Library. The movie, released on Sept. 6, 2017, tells the story of Mitch Rapp, played by O’Brien, who is drawn into the world of counterterrorism and mentored by tough-as-nails former U.S. Navy S.E.A.L. Stan Hurley after the death of his girlfriend at the hands of terrorists. The screening takes place 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The library is at 4911 “American Assassin” tells the story of Mitch Rapp, played by O’Brien, Redan Road in Stone Mountain. who is drawn into the world of counterterrorism,

Exhibit celebrates 25 years of Tau Pi Omega chapter Members and supporters of the Tau Pi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority can walk down memory lane with the chapter through Feb. 3. The sorority, which has served the Stone Mountain and Lithonia communities since 1993, is celebrating 25 years with a special exhibit showcasing some of their many accomplishments and contributions. Among them, decades of cleaning trash from Stone MountainLithonia Road, distributing free car safety seats for children to parents who needed them and awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving students. The exhibit, which opened Jan. 6, is on display during library hours at the Hairston Crossing Library, 4911 Redan Road in Stone Mountain. For more information, call 404-508-7170.

Adults can color away their stress Adults can color away their stresses at the Covington Library in Decatur on Jan. 27. Color Your Stress Out is open to first 15 participants who register. Coloring books, colored pencils and markers will be available for use. The 3 p.m to 4 p.m. program is funded by DeKalb Library Foundation. The library is at 3500 Covington Highway in Decatur. For more information call 404-508-7180

One-mile hike to commence from the Stonecrest library Stonecrest library patrons can take a Hike at the Library on Jan. 26. Those who are game will walk one mile from the library’s entrance on Klondike Road to the entrance of the paved Arabia Mountain/PATH Trail and return to the library for

a light snack. Participants are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes and bring a bottle of water. Walkers will meet in library’s lobby for the hour-and-a-half hike that kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Children must be accompanied

Legal Notices 01/13, 01/20, 01/27, 02/03 01/06, 01/13, 01/20, 01/27

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

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM10913-6 Brandy Christina Chavis PLAINTIFF

VS Lawrence Charles Chavis, Jr. DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Lawrence Charles Chavis, Jr. 7750 Pipers Ln., #103 San Antonio, TX 78251 By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Dec. 27, 2017. You are hereby notified that Dec. 18, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed

suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Brandy Chavis, 3234 Bunny Lane, Decatur, GA 30034. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Dec. 4, 2017. Witness the Honorable Daniel M. Coursey, Jr., Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 27th day of Dec., 2017

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

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM12559 Chudhari Malcome PLAINTIFF VS Charles Allen

by an adult. The hike is supported by the Friends of the Stonecrest Library. The library is at 3123 Klondike Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 770482-3828.

DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Charles Allen By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Jan. 02, 2018. You are hereby notified that Dec. 14, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Chaudhari Malcome, 2174 O’hara Pl., SE, Atlanta, GA 30315. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Jan. 02, 2018. Witness the Honorable J.P. Boulee, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 4th day of Jan., 2018 01/13, 01/20, 01/27, 02/03

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

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM10437

Donna Joyce Vinson PLAINTIFF VS Charles Edward Battle DEFENDANT NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: Charles Edward Battle 953 Glynn Oaks Dr. Clarkston, GA 30021 By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Jan. 04, 2018. You are hereby notified that Oct. 04, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Donna Joyce Vinson, 953 Glynn Oaks Drive, Clarkston, GA 30021. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Jan. 04, 2018. Witness the Honorable J.P. Boulee, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 4th day of Jan., 2018

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CrossRoadsNews

January 20, 2018

www.crossroadsnews.com

Back to Basics

Join us at the Mall at Stonecrest Main Stage Lower Level near Sears

Section B

CrossRoadsNews

Wellness Expo

January 20, 2018

“You will return relaxed, refreshed and renewed.”

Expo grand prize is a luxurious wellness, spa getaway

2346 Candler Road Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007

www.CrossRoadsNews.com editor@CrossRoadsNews.com The Health & Wellness Special Section is a publication of CrossRoadsNews, Atlanta’s award-winning weekly newspaper.

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Reporters Jennifer Ffrench Parker Tekia L. Parks Editorial Intern Rosie Manins Multimedia Editor Sharif Williams CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsNews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written . permission of the publisher © 2018 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

One very lucky 2018 Health & Wellness Expo patron will win a three-nights all-inclusive stay for two adults at luxurious Zoëtry Paraiso De La Bonita in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Debbie Hines Brown, travel advisor and Cruise Planner franchisee who arranged the wellness and spa getaway for the 2018 expo grand prize, said the winner is in for a real treat. “This resort is all Debra Hines Brown about health and holistic wellness,” said Brown, whose business curates wellness trips around the world for clients. “It’s designed for total relaxation. It’s all natural, offers healthy foods, butler service, and is very eco-friendly,” she said. The resort, which has only has only 100 suites, is situated along Cancun’s famed Riviera Maya. It is a AAA Five Diamond resort offering magnificent ocean views, gourmet dining, unlimited top shelf spirits, and much more. Brown, who has stayed at Zoëtry Paraiso De La Bonita, said all of the suites are designed for ultimate comfort so that guests can unplug from daily life and envelop themselves in tranquility. “You are not going to have a cookie-cutter experience,” Brown said, “And you can do as little or as much as you like.” The package which includes gourmet dining, top-shelf alcohol, and 30-minute spa treatment, is valued at $3,000. It is good between Oct. 5, 2018, and Oct. 5, 2019, except during blackout periods. Brown is also offering up to $500 in airfare credit for flights arranged by her agency. The hotel stay and airfare credit are not redeemable for cash.

Zoëtry Paraiso De La Bonita is a Five Diamond resort offering magnificent ocean views, gourmet dining, unlimited top shelf spirits, and much more.

Brown, who left corporate America in 2014 to open her travel agency, said wellness retreats and getaways, which she defines as “traveling to replenish your physical, emotional and spiritual health,” are a big part of her business because her customers are looking for a more authentic travel experience. She also arranges destination weddings, family and class reunions, ocean and river cruises and other specialty trips in places like India, Dubai, New Zealand and the Mediterranean. “We match clients to the best travel experience,” Brown said. Even though they can book trips on web sites like Expedia, Brown said customers turn to her because she has relationships with the hotels and the tourist boards in the countries they want to visit. “I have been to these places and know

what they are like,” Brown said. “I know what the food tastes like. I know what the beach looks like. I know the value. I am looking out for them. I fix problems before they occur. They have someone who is their advocate.” Brown said the winner of the Zoetry resort stay can look forward to rejuvenation and pampering. “You will return relaxed, refreshed and renewed,” she said. To enter to win the trip, expo goers must visit at least 15 exhibitors at the CrossRoads News 2018 Health & Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest, Jan. 27 from noon to 5 p.m. on the mall’s lower level between Dillard’s and First Class Barber Shop. For more information about the resort visit www.zoetryresorts.com/paraiso Visit Brown’s agency at www.smartbirdtravel.com or call 404-480-4408.

13th Annual Health & Wellness Expo Grand Prize Entry Form Visit at least 15 of these exhibitors* at the Mall at Stonecrest and enter to win a three-nights all-inclusive stay for two adults at luxurious Zoëtry Paraiso De La Bonita in Riviera Maya, Mexico, and up to $500 in airfare credit. Restrictions apply. Drawing takes place at 4:45 p.m on Jan. 27, 2018 at the Main Stage in front of Sears on the lower level of the Mall at Stonecrest.

_____ AAA, Auto Club South

_____ Cruise Planners - Debbie H. Brown

_____ Lou Walker Senior Center

_____ Arabia Mountain Alliance

_____ DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson

_____ Nuspecies Corporation

_____ Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates

_____ DeKalb Medical

_____ Oakhurst Medical Centers, Inc.

_____ Children’s HealthCare of Atlanta

_____ DeKalb County Sheriff

_____ PNC Bank

_____ ClearCaptions

_____ Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Center

_____ Congressman Henry “Hank” Johnson

_____ Humana, Inc.

_____ CrossRoadsNews

_____ JenCare

_____ UniverSoul Circus _____ WellCare Health Plans, Inc.

Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City _____________________________________________ Email_______________________________________________________________________ Home phone _________________________________________________ Cell ___________________________________________________________

* Trip must be taken between Oct. 5, 2018, and Oct. 5, 2019, except during blackout periods. Eligible entries must be validated by at least 15 exhibitors and must include your complete name, address, email address and telephone number. Employees and immediate family members of CrossRoadsNews and the Mall at Stonecrest are not eligible to win. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. You MUST be present to win.

CrossRoadsNews

January 20, 2018

Wellness Expo

More than 20 exhibitors will showcase their goods and services.

13th Annual Health & Wellness Expo Program Jan. 27, 2018 • Noon to 5 p.m. • The Main Stage in front of Sears Lower Level, The Mall at Stonecrest

Noon Emcee Jazzy Jan Martin

Tribute to Movement with Rae Rae “Exercise Motivator” Clark

12:30 p.m. Lou Walker Senior Center Tai Chi Group

1:00 p.m. Antonio “Chozen One” Hinton

Antonio “The Chozen 1” Hinton

1:30 p.m. Delois Grizzle, President Decatur-DeKalb Chapter of 100 Black Women of DeKalb 2 p.m.

Ken Wilson & Diane Gilliard

Healthy Food Demo with Life Chef Asata Reid

2:30 p.m. Grace Dance Group 3 p.m.

Rae Rae Clark

Delois Grizzle

Lou Walker Dance Troupe

3:15 p.m. Conservatory of Dance 3:30 p.m. Ballroom Dancers Ken Wilson & Diane Gilliard 4 p.m.

Chef Asata

The Beulah Boys

Lou Walker Senior Center Tai Chi Group

Grace Dance Group

Lou Walker Dance Troupe

The Beulah Boys

4:30 p.m. Crowd Line Dancing 4:45

Grand Prize Drawings for a 3-night All-Inclusive Wellness Trip to Zoëtry Paraiso De La Bonita, Mexico, or a Fabulous Health & Wellness Expo Gift Basket from the Mall at Stonecrest

5 p.m.

Expo Ends

Conservatory of Dance & Fine Arts

Wellness Expo

CrossRoadsNews

January 20, 2018

“I feel so blessed to have reached so many people at the health and wellness expo.”

Fitness motivator Rae Rae Clark has spent the last three decades, including CrossRoadsNews Expos since 2006, encouraging people of all ages to embrace movement in their daiiy routine.

Rae Rae and friends to kick off expo with ‘Tribute to Movement’ In her 32 years of teaching and motivating people to “move it, move it,” exercise motivator Rae Rae Clarke estimates she has been before more than a million people at expos, community walks, and classes at the YMCA, senior centers and churches. She said training and encouraging people to exercise is her passion. She especially loves sneaking movements on people through dance. “People love to dance,” Clark said. “We are going at it and at the end, they go ‘wow.’ Low and behold they are tired and have done some sweating.” At the 13th annual CrossRoadsNews

Health and Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest on Jan. 27, Clark will do a tribute to movement to celebrate her years as the exercise motivator and her partnership with CrossRoadsNews and the newspaper’s publisher, Jennifer Parker. Ten dance groups will do a medley of everything from line dancing, to ballroom dancing and hip hop dancing to celebrate movement. “People may not want to exercise, but they love to dance,” she said. In 1995, Clark launched a 23-year mission to reach millions, and she said she has achieved it. At the CrossRoadsNews Health

& Wellness that attracts 5,000 to 6,000 people to the Mall at Stonecrest annually, she has been in front of 65,000 to 78,000 people. And that is a single event. Since 2006, she has kicked off the expo with warm-up exercises and crowd participation. “I feel so blessed to have reached so many people at the health and wellness expo,” she said. This year, Clark is looking to reduce her schedule. “I am part-time retiring,” she said with a laugh. “I am not quitting, just taking it a little easier.” Over the years, Clark has compared the

human body to a car. “For a car to drive, it must have gas, oil and a tune-up,” she said. “For our bodies to move, we need exercise, water and stimulation. If we are consistent with it, we don’t have this obesity epidemic.” Clark and the dancers will kick off the 2018 expo at noon from the Main Stage near Sears. It will be energetic and as usual, expo patrons will get to participate. The expo takes place on the mall’s lower level between Dillard’s and First Class Barber Shop. For more information, visit www.crossroadsnews.com or call 4-4-284-1888.

CrossRoadsNews

January 20, 2018

Wellness Expo

‘Back to Basics’ is expo theme 2018 Health & Wellness Expo participants will be encouraged to get up and dance as an easy, fun way to burn calories and stay fit.

Each New Year comes with the promise of new beginnings, and 2018 is no different. This year at CrossRoadsNews’ 13th annual Health and Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest on Jan. 27, we are offering fun ways to dance your way to fitness, healthy food demos, free health screenings, and lots of information and resources to help you to be successful. But best of all, we will be your cheerleaders, encouraging you to make changes that you can stick with longer than a month. Nationally, most people are done with their New Year’s Resolutions three weeks after they make them. While it is tough to hang in there with our resolutions to lose weight, move more, eat better and reveal a healthier us, we know it can be done if we work together. Experts say that the people who are most successful at dumping carbs and moving more are those who find a buddy to encourage them, and one who for whom they can stand up. The theme of our 2018 Health and Wellness Expo is “Back to basics,” which means embracing the tried and proven methods and

skirting fads and tomorrow’s new thing. It has long been common knowledge that to lose weight, we have to consume less than we are using. So if you have a sedimentary desk job, you can’t eat like a landscaper who is on the move all day, burning calories. This “back to basics” thing is a very common sense approach. If we are conscientious with it, results are just around the corner. But we have to remember that we did not amass the weight in a month, so why expect to lose it in a week? The expo, staged in partnership with Children’s Healthcare at Hughes Spalding and the Decatur-DeKalb Chapter of 100 Black Women, takes place noon to 5 p.m. on the lower level of the Mall at Stonecrest. Be on time to catch Rae Rae “the Exercise Motivator” Clark’s Tribute to Movement at noon, visit at least 15 of our exhibitors to enter to win the fabulous all-inclusive trip to the Zoetry Wellness Resort in Mexico, and don’t leave until the Beulah Boys exit the stage for a crowd line-dance off. The Mall at Stonecrest is at 1-20 and Turner Hill Road in Stonecrest. For more information, call 404-284-1888.

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CrossRoadsNews

If “healthy eating” has become a confusing montage of fad diets and “new” fitness trends, I have good news for you.

January 20, 2018

H ealth & W e

Head back to basics to jumpstart healthy living

By Life Chef Asata Reid

Do you feel overwhelmed by all of the nutrition advice in the news lately? Are you tired of diets that don’t work? Are you confused by words like “keto” and “vegan” and “paleo?” In this digital age, many of us are suffering from information overload. And unfortunately, that can lead to making unhealthy decisions, or procrastinating on making healthy life changes. If “healthy eating” has become a confusing montage of fad diets and “new” fitness trends, I have good news for you. Let’s get back to basics so that we can make healthy decision without having to consult the Internet, social media or the latest health guru. Getting back to basics is about three things: n Balanced nutrition. n Appropriate portions, and n Energy balance.

Balanced nutrition In the entire world of food, how do you make balanced nutrition simple? First, think about your food in terms of macronutrients, which are carbohydrates, fats and proteins. The USDA recommends that if you consume 2,000 calories in a day, no less than 45 percent of those calories should come from the carbohydrates you consume, like pasta, bread, oatmeal and cereal. Calories from proteins should make up 10 to 35 percent of your daily consumption, from foods like chicken, beef and fish. No more than 35 percent of your calories should come from the fats you eat, like butter, olive oil and cream. n Carbs: 45%-65% n Protein: 10%-35% n Fat: 20%-35% If you follow these guidelines you can maintain a healthy weight. If you need to lose weight, then adjust your caloric intake by reducing it by 500 calories a week -- that’s one plain bagel with cream cheese, one Starbucks Venti Caramel Frappuccino with 2 percent milk and whipped cream, or four slices of bacon -- so we’re not talking major deprivation. A decrease in 500 calories per week can result in the loss of one to two pounds per week. Appropriate portions America suffers from portion distortion. The size of our portions has been on the rise since the 1950s and so have our waistlines. Twenty years ago, a fast-food cheeseburger averaged 330 calories. Today that burger is bursting at 590 calories. The average person would have to lift weights for an hour and a half to burn off that extra 257 calories.

The National Institutes of Health says been better for us, and downsizing our porthat 20 years ago, an order of fries would tions can help keep us at a healthy weight. add 210 calories to your diet. You can do this by using Today those fries have more The size of our portions your hand as a guideline. A than doubled in size and will closed fist is about the size of has been on the rise add 610 calories to your daily a portion of slow-digesting since the 1950s and intake. That’s a difference of carbs like sweet potatoes, 400 calories, which would brown rice, quinoa or lentils. so have our waistlines. take you an hour and 10 Your portion of protein – Twenty years ago, a minutes to walk off. fast-food cheeseburger chicken breast, filet of fish – Dinner plates in the 1960s should be about the size and averaged 330 calories. were typically nine inches in thickness of your hand. Today that burger is diameter in most American A closed fist also reprehouseholds, but today it isn’t bursting at 590 calories. sents the size of a serving of uncommon to find 12-inch fruit. Two thumbs equals a dinner plates for every meal, every day. serving of nuts and seeds, and one thumb As everything has gotten bigger, it hasn’t is about the amount of nut butters or cheese

you can eat as a serving. Plant based fats like olive oil, avocado and flaxseed oil can enhance your diet, and a serving of those fats is the size of half your index finger. Another way to keep portions in check is to focus on whole foods, and make half your plate vegetables at each meal.

Energy balance If you consume more energy (calories) than you burn, then you may find yourself

January 20, 2018

ellness

E xpo

CrossRoadsNews

Sixty minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity on most days will help adults avoid gradual weight gain.

with balance in nutrition, portions and energy

Yoga and tai chi (left) are tied to stress reduction and decreased joint pain.

Walking, swimming and biking are gentle on the joints. You don’t have to train for a marathon to stay healthy, but if you want to, go for it!

adding on excess weight. It’s important to note that all calories are not created equal though, and that’s why we have to strive for a balanced diet. For example, one gram of fat has twice the calories of one gram of protein or carbohydrates. That is why it is recommended that carbohydrates and proteins make up the bulk of your diet. Alcohol provides seven calories per gram, but it doesn’t have the nutrients needed to enhance a balanced diet, which is why you

hear people refer to alcoholic beverages as empty calories. Excess alcohol can contribute to unhealthy weight gain. n Fat: 1 gram = 9 calories n Protein: 1 gram = 4 calories n Carbohydrates: 1 gram = 4 calories n Alcohol: 1 gram = 7 calories

Move to lose While most trainers I work with attest that “abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym,” the importance of physical activity is

undeniable. Moving your body burns calories, and it doesn’t just have to happen in the gym. Being active in your daily life can lead to an increased calorie burn. Little things add up like taking the stairs and parking farther away from the door. Walking, swimming and biking are gentle on the joints. Yoga and tai chi are tied to stress reduction and decreased joint pain. You don’t have to train for a marathon to stay healthy, but if you want to, go for it! The National Institutes of Health recommends that adults do a minimum of two-and-a-half hours of moderate-intensity

aerobic activity a week. That’s 30 minutes over five days. Sixty minutes of moderate- to vigorousintensity activity on most days will help adults avoid gradual weight gain. Hopefully, you see a theme weaving through these three tips: balance. A balanced diet with moderate portions and balanced energy exertion will support a healthy lifestyle. The takeaway here is that you don’t have to go on an extreme diet or fitness regime to make improvements in your health. In fact, if you are already stressed and overburdened, the added stress of extreme dieting and exercising can set you up for certain failure. Start by assessing where you are in these three measures and adjust towards healthier goals. Tweaking your nutrition, your consumption and your physical activity can help to build a healthier lifestyle that will outlast any fad diet or the latest fitness craze. Life Chef Asata Reid specializes in Food that Fits Your Lifestyle. For more information visit www.lifechef.net and www.youtube.com/ chefasata. Follow her at Twitter/ChefAsata and Facebook/LifeChef

W ellness E xpo

CrossRoadsNews

January 20, 2018

“The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake.”

Michelle Obama Trail beckons for health and well-being District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson (right) said he was inspired to name the trail after MIchelle Obama because of the high prevalence of heart attacks and diabetes among African Americans.

By Tekia Parks

Runners and cyclists who use the trails off Panthersville Road in DeKalb, will now be exploring the great outdoors on the Michelle Obama Trail. Commissioner Larry Johnson unveiled the new name for the South River Trail on Jan. 13 in honor of former First Lady Michelle Obama. The decision to name the trail for Obama, the nation’s first African-American first lady, was made by the DeKalb Board of Commissioners on Nov. 7, 2016, more than a year ago. The trailer marker shows Obama, wearing a helmet, riding a bicycle. It is inscribed with a quote from Obama: “The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake. This isn’t the kind of problem that can be solved overnight, but with everyone working together, it can be solved. So, let’s move.”

Kelly Jordan / SPECIAL

During the eight years she was first lady, Obama championed movement with her “Let’s Move” campaign. Johnson said he was inspired to honor Obama this way because of the disparity in heart attacks and diabetes in AfricanAmerican communities like ours. “This is just another way to move forward.” he said. The three-mile trail is part of the South

River Trail that begins near the Georgia State University Decatur campus. The Michelle Obama Trail also connects to the newly opened Barak H. Obama Magnet School of Technology in Atlanta. Cheerleaders from the Barak H. Obama Magnet School of Technology, decked out in their red, white and blue school colors, cheered on the crowd. Despite frigid temperatures, Bert Shellie,

a District 3 resident, rode his bike to the unveiling. He said he has been on the trail regularly since it opened in May 2016. “I rode back down on the trail and go from there back to the school,” he said. When the weather warms up, Shellie says he plans to walk and ride his bike on the trail with his wife, Karen. The Michelle Obama Trailhead is at 2946 Clifton Springs Road in Decatur.

January 20, 2018

W ellness E xpo

CrossRoadsNews

Free screenings for diabetes, hypertension at health expo

DeKalb Medical and Oakhurst Medical Centers will offer free screenings for high blood pressure and diabetes at their tables.

In DeKalb County and nationally, African Americans are disproportionately afflicted by high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and that is why you can get free health screenings at the CrossRoadsNews 2018 Health & Wellness Expo on Jan. 27. Oakhurst Medical Centers and DeKalb Medical will be offering free screenings for diabetes and hypertension from their tables on the lower level of the Mall at Stonecrest.

Hypertension, which often has no symptoms, is often called the silent killer. The only way to determine if your blood pressure is high is to test it. Physicians say that prolonged hypertension can lead to stroke. The expo takes place noon to 5 p.m. on the lower level of the Mall at Stonecrest between Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and First Class Barber Shop.

CrossRoadsNews

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January 20, 2018

Show Your PRIDE, South DeKalb!  Don’t Litter  Mow, Trim & Paint  Clean to the Curb

A PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE FROM CROSSROADSNEWS

January 20, 2018

CrossRoadsNews

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CrossRoadsNews

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January 20, 2018

That’s not just a patient. That’s a princess.

As one of the top ranked pediatric hospitals in the country, we treat more than one million patients each year. And not one of them is a number.

CHILDREN’S AT HUGHES SPALDING 35 JESSE HILL JR DR SE, ATLANTA

choa.org/hughesspalding

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