Champion Free Press 2-22-13

7/29/2019 Champion Free Press 2-22-13

1/24

College Heights Early Childhood LearningCenters Teacher of the Year Mary McMahonintroduces Obama.

President Barack Obama spoke to attendees at the Decatur Recreation Center about his desire to implement a high-quality, universal pre-K program. Photos by TravisHudgons

www. championnewspaper.com

www.facebook.com/championnewspaper

www.twitter.com/championnews

WWW.CHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM FRIDAY, FEB. 22, 2013 VOL. 15, NO. 48 FREE

FREEPRESS A PUBLICATION OF ACE III C OMMUNICATIONS

Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker and Stone Mountain.

Like Us On Follow Us On

by Daniel [email protected]

President Barack Obamatold residents that CitySchools of Decatur isa place to get a goodbang for your educa-

tional buck.The kids that I saw today,

theyre some of the lucky ones,Obama said.

After a brief visit to CollegeHeights Early Learning Center,Obama spoke to Decatur residentsabout his plans to implement auniversal pre-K program nation-

wide.During his Feb. 12 State of the

Union address, Obama said fewerthan three in 10 4-year-olds haveaccess to a high-quality preschoolprogram.

For the poor kids who needhelp the most, this lack of ac-cess to preschool education canshadow them for the rest of theirlives, Obama said.

Obama told residents that edu-cation needs to start at the earliestpossible age and City Schools ofDecatur had done just that.

College Heights, which servespupils ages 6 weeks to 4 years,

places a strong emphasis on earlylearning. During his brief visit,Obama said he learned about thecurriculum, which consists oflearning numbers, being taughthow to ask and answer criticalquestions and how to work wellwith others.

That whole playing wellwith others thing is a trait we canuse in Washington, Obama said.Maybe we could bring the teach-ers up[and] every once in awhile have some quiet time.

See Obama on Page 15A

Obama pushes pre-K in Decatur


2/24

T Cap F P, Fa, F. 22, 2013 Pag 2ALocal News

City appoints its rst judges

Mayor swears inDeKalb police ofcers

uBrOOKHAVEn

uBrOOKHAVEn

CLAUDIA G. LAWSONDeKalb County Tax Commissioner

ATTENTIONMOTOR VEHICLE OWNERS

Effective March 1, 2013, House Bill 386 removes the sales and annual advalorem tax on newly-purchased vehicles. A one-time title tax of 6.5%(2013), 6.75% (2014) and 7% (2015) replaces the annual tax. Heres whatyou need to know:

New one-time title ad valorem tax fee applies to all title transactions

(new and used vehicle purchases, transfers, all transfers among

family members, or vehicles new to the state) and eliminates payment

of sales tax and annual ad valorem tax.

If you purchase a vehicle in Georgia after January 1, 2012 but before

March 1, 2013, you may have the option of paying annual ad valorem

tax or a one-time title ad valorem tax fee. Vehicles purchased out ofstate are not eligible to opt in.

Whether paying the one-time title ad valorem tax fee OR annual ad

valorem tax, requirements for insurance, emissions, drivers license

and the renewal of your tag by your expiration date remain the same.

If you purchased a vehicle before 2012, you will remain on the

current annual ad valorem tax system.

SOUTH OFFICE

2801 Candler Rd. #66

South DeKalb Mall

Decatur, GA 30032

NORTH OFFICE

1358 Dresden Drive, NE

Atlanta, GA 30319

MAIN OFFICE

4380 Memorial Drive

Suite 100

Decatur, GA 30034

(404) 298-4000www.dekalbcountyga.gov/taxcommissioner

by Carla [email protected]

DeKalb County policeofcers can now write tick-ets for the city of Brookhav-en.

On Feb. 6, BrookhavenMayorJ. Max Davis sworein 135 DeKalb ofcers, whowill be authorized to issuecitations that will be legallyrecognized in the citys newmunicipal court system.

City ofcials said theofcers will be able to writetickets that will appear in

Brookhaven municipalcourts.

Davis said the city willbe building its own policedepartment over the nextfew months, but the citymust hire a permanent citymanager before it can hirea police chief, who willthen start building the newdepartment.

We are still in theprocess of reviewingpotential candidates for thecity manager position, saidcity spokesperson MichelleErste.


Brookhaven MayorJ.Max Davis has sworn in thecitys rst judges.

Former Cobb Countymagistrate judge Laura

Stevensonwas ap-

pointed asBrookhav-ens chief

judge andJonathanGranadeas judge

pro tem onFeb. 12 at the city councilmeeting.

Stevenson, who obtainedher juris doctor from theUniversity of North Caro-ina School of Law, is a solo

practitioner at her law rm,Law Ofce of Laura E. Ste-venson. Her areas of practicenclude commercial disputes,

employment, ERISA and

COBRA claims, consumercredit and civil rights.She has held various fac-

ulty, speaker and moderatorpositions in her profession.Stevenson and her family areesidents of Brookhaven.

Granade is a Brookhavenesident and shareholder

with law rm Casey GilsonP.C. where he representsgovernmental entities andemployees and private busi-

nesses and individuals invarious litigation matters.Before joining Casey Gilsonin 2003, Granade served asan assistant district attorneyin the Toombs Judicial Cir-cuit near Augusta where he

prosecuted hundreds of casesin superior,

probateand munic-ipal courts.

Heprovidedtrainingand adviceto law en-forcementagencies

including sheriffs depart-ments, municipal police de-

partments, and the GeorgiaState Patrol. He is a graduateof the University of Geor-gia and Emory UniversitySchool of Law.

Davis also made his rstcommittee appointments atthe council meeting. StanSegal, a retired senior execu-tive in the information tech-nology industry, was namedchairman of the planningcommission. Also appointedto the planning commissionwere Shannon Cameron,John Funny, Rob Fran-cour, John Hess, Jack Hon-dred and Adrian Schmidt.

Tim Nama was namedchairman of the zoning

board of appeals. Nama is a

founding partner in MayeldSignature Homes, which has

built more than 500 homes inDeKalb, Fulton, and Gwin-nett Counties. Hope Baw-com, Jed Beardsley, DonBolia, Kent Gipson, CoreySelfand Glenn Viers werealso appointed to the zoning

board of appeals.Joseph Patin was ap-

pointed chairman of the

alcohol board. Additionalmembers will be added inthe future, according to cityofcials.

Stevenson Granade

TheStone MountainCommunity

Improvement Districtis seeking proposals

for the maintenance of itscommon area and right-of-way

landscape maintenance.

Please go towww.stonemountaincid.comfor further information.


3/24

Pag 3A T Cap F P, Fa, F. 22,, 2013

DeKalb officers arrested, charged with protecting drug dealersby Daniel [email protected]

Two DeKalb County Po-ice ofcers, a Stone Moun-

ain Police ofcer and twoformer county jail ofcerswere among 12 people ar-ested Feb. 12 in a drug traf-

cking sting by the FBI.Dennis Duren, 32,and

Dorian Williams, 25, of theDeKalb County Police De-partment, have been placedon administrative leave withpay, pending the outcome ofan internal investigation.

According to an FBIpress release, Duren andWilliams were protectingdrug dealers during the traf-

cking sting.Interim DeKalb Po-ice ChiefLisa Gassneraid what both ofcers areharged with is incompre-

hensible, because they areworn to protect the commu-

nity from such offenders.These ofcers do not

eect the character of thehundreds of DeKalb CountyPolice ofcers that wear thebadge. Their alleged actionsonly assist in eroding thepublics trust in those thathonorably serve and that isruly disheartening, Gassner

aid.Duren has been employed

by the DeKalb County

Police Department since2002 and is assigned to theTucker precinct along withWilliams, who was hired in2007.

Stone Mountain PoliceofcerDenoris Carter, 42,was arrested and has beenplaced on unpaid admin-istrative leave pending aninvestigation. Stone Moun-tain Police ChiefChanceyTroutman reassured resi-dents that he and his staffare committed to keepingthem safe.

If the allegations aretrue, Ofcer Denoris Carterhad a serious lapse in judg-ment to get involved incriminal activity and betray

the public trust, Troutmansaid.According to a news re-

lease from the FBI, Duren,Williams and Carter, alongwith seven Atlanta Policeofcers, two former DeKalbCounty Sheriff ofcers, aFederal Protective Servicesofcer and ve civilianshave been charged with ac-cepting thousands of dollarsin cash to provide protectionduring drug deals.

U.S. Attorney Sally Quil-lian Yates said the ofcerswho were charged sold their

badges to those they shouldhave been arresting.

They not only betrayed

the citizens they were swornto protect, they also betrayedthe thousands of honest,hard-working law enforce-ment ofcers who risk their

lives every day to keep ussafe, Yates said.

Among the civilians whowere arrested were GregoryLee Harvey, 26, of StoneMountain, and Jerry Man-nery Jr., 38, of Tucker.

Yates said the undercoveroperation arose out of an in-vestigation into an Atlanta-area street gang in 2011.Alcohol, Tobacco and Fire-arm (ATF) agents allegedlylearned from an informant ofpolice participation in drugdeals.

Acting at the directionof the FBI and ATF, Yatessaid, the informant set uppolice protection for upcom-ing drug deals he was toparticipate in, involving thesale of several kilograms ofcocaine.

According to a press re-lease, the ofcers arrestedand charged Feb. 12 partici-pated in various stings setup by law enforcement of-cials. Yates said the ofcers,usually in uniform and dis-playing a weapon, patrolledthe parking lots where the

deals took place and moni-tored the transactions, whichwere recorded.

Former DeKalb CountySheriff jail ofcers Mony-ette McLaurin and ChaseValentine allegedly por-trayed themselves as depu-

ties and provided protectionfor what they believed wereseveral drug transactions in2013.

McLaurin is charged withattempted possession withintent to distribute more thanve kilograms of cocaineand with possessing a re-arm in furtherance of a drugtrafcking crime. Valentineis charged with attemptedpossession with intent to dis-tribute more than 500 gramsof cocaine and possession ofa rearm in furtherance of a

drug trafcking crime.Similarly, Duren, Wil-liams and Carter are chargedwith having provided pro-tection for what they thoughtwere several separate drugdeals.

Duren allegedly accepted$8,800 in cash for his ser-vices and allegedly offeredto drive his patrol vehicle tofuture transactions for an ad-ditional $800, which he laterreceived. He is charged withconspiring to commit extor-tion by accepting bribe pay-ments and attempted posses-

sion with intent to distributemore than ve kilogramsof cocaine. Duren also is

charged with possessing arearm in furtherance of adrug trafcking crime.

Williams, along with twocivilians, accepted $18,000

for their services, accordingto federal investigators. Hehas been charged with con-spiring to commit extortionby accepting bribe paymentsand attempted possessionwith intent to distributemore than ve kilograms ofcocaine.

According to a releasefrom the FBI, Williams alsosuggested that future drugtransactions should takeplace in the parking lot ofa local high school duringthe afternoon, so that the

exchange of backpackscontaining drugs and moneywould not look suspicious.

Carter, working with acivilian, allegedly provided

protection for what he be-lieved to be ve separatedrug deals, which took place

between April and Sept.2012. Both allegedly ac-cepted payments totaling$23,500 and are chargedwith conspiring to commitextortion by accepting bribe

payments, attempted posses-sion with intent to distributemore than ve kilograms

of cocaine and possessing arearm in furtherance of adrug trafcking crime.

Valentine McLaurin Duren Williams Carter


4/24

Where on earth was CEOBurrell Ellis when PresidentObama came to Decatur? Readon. But I must first get this out ofhe way because its getting to beeally old news and a disclaimer is

necessary.What I am about to say about

he departure of former DeKalbSuperintendent CherylAtkinsons bad form and an apology up

front is necessary. I told you so.

One learns trends very quicklyafter decades of being in the busi-ness of observing human behaviorn real time. Oh there were hoots

and howls and brickbats and mis-iles hurled this way when early

on I opined that Dr. Atkinsonwas over her head, lacked goodudgment in major decisions and

would likely be found guilty of thevery cronyism she was supposedlyhired to root out.

Evidence of same, her goodbuddy Ralph Taylor was caughtplagiarizing and forced out. NowDr. Atkinson is gone and the bands

play on. Thats a not so thinlyveiled reference to Dr. Atkinsonsfirst colossal mistake of suspend-ng all band activity in the wake

of the tragic hazing death of theFlorida A&M band student whohappened to have graduated froma DeKalb County school.

That said, cautious optimisms in order with the board moveo hire former state Labor Com-

missionerMike Thurmond as

interim superintendent. To theboards credit, they have chosenin Thurmond an undisputed, wellrespected leader. Also, the board

is showing vision and courage inembracing a national trend of hir-ing administrators from outsideeducation circles who possess thebusiness acumen and skill setsto run these billion dollarbusi-nesses called school systems. Thethought is a good leader can runanything. While the administra-tor runs the business side of thehouse, educators are freed ofadministrative chores to do whatthey do best--educate our children.

Over the 30-plus years thatI have been involved in DeKalbschools as a parent, in PTA andas a TV news reporter, I have of-

ten witnessed excellent teachersand principals being promoted tocounty level positions for whichthey had little or no experience.Its akin to reward and punishmentor promotion to ones level of in-competence. So lets see how thisplays out.

In the meantime, dont blameDr. Atkinson. She is a pleasantperson who simply did not havethe skills, political savvy and ex-perience to run the states thirdlargest school system and cleanup the decades of doo-doo shestepped into. There were forces

on the board who manipulated herhiring knowing her shortcomings.Those same forces outed the bestcandidate to the press before set-tling on Dr. Atkinson. They did itfor their own purposes, control.

And remember, SACS, thebusiness that systems pay into foraccreditation, is not a regulatoryagency. Remember to follow themoney. Ask questions and seekanswers. Who really wants control

of the board? Who really controlsthe systems dollars? Who wantsto control the systems money?

On the subject of education,

everyone was justifiably all a-twit-ter when President Obama cameto Decatur to visit the nationallyrespected College Heights EarlyChildhood Learning Center. Hesang songs and played with some200 children in the school. In hisremarks to the gathered throng thepresident gave Georgia an Afor its early learning initiativesand pledged to work with statessuch as ours that make high qual-ity pre-K education a priority. Thepresident noted that schools suchas College Heights give parents apeace of mind knowing that theirchildren are in a safe, high quality

learning environment every day.These same kids he said show

up to kindergarten ready and eagerto learn and become successfulstudents. One could not disagreewith the president that early edu-cation before kindergarten is agood bang for the educationalbuck and benefits children fromdifferent income levels and physi-cal challenges. The term he usedwas children being leveled up.Oh it was a great day in Decatur.What a Valentines Day gift forscores of children who will neverforget seeing the president of the

United States.But where, oh where, wasCEO Burrell Ellis? All of ourDemocratic elected were there.The president acknowledgedCongressman Hank Johnson andDecatur MayorJim Baskett. Hequipped that Atlanta MayorKa-sim Reed had snuck in. What,no mention of DeKalb CountyCEO Burrell Ellis? The countyCEO not acknowledged even in

his absence? That would seem tobe a major faux pas on the part ofthe president and his handlers, orwas it? At no time did he mention

our chief executive officer.Sensitive to protocol and won-dering how many people werealso wondering about the CEOsabsence and lack of acknowledge-ment by our commander-in-chief,an inquiry was made of countyspokesman Burke Brennan whosaid the CEO was out of town.Pressing as to whether the CEObeing out of town was for personalor county business, Brennan re-sponded that the CEO did receivean invitation, but he had been inthe company of the president onmany other occasions.

Granted the presidents visit

was on short notice and fell onValentines Day, but good lead-ership requires flexibility and ahealthy appreciation for proto-col. The president in his openingremarks duly noted that he hadbought a gift and flowers for firstlady Michelle and that he neededto get back to Washington in timefor their date. The presidentnot mentioning Ellis name evenin his absence was glaring, if notdeliberate. The CEOs absencewas an inexcusable lapse in judg-ment. It was disrespectful and acolossal breach of protocol for the

CEO of the county not to be onhand to greet the president of theUnited States in the CEOs back-yard.

Steen Miles, The Newslady,is a retired journalist and formerGeorgia state senator. ContactSteen Miles at [email protected].

On leadership and protocol

Page 4A The Champion Free Press, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013Opinion

The Newslady


5/24

Let Us Know What You Think!

THE CHAMPION FREE PRESSencourages opinionsfrom its readers. Please write to us and express yourviews. Letters should be brief, typewritten and containthe writers name, address and telephone number forverification. 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 [email protected]

FAX To: (404) 370-3903 Phone: (404) 373-7779Deadline for news releases and advertising: Thursday, one week prior

to publication date.

EDITORS NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributingeditors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor or publishers.The Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement atany time. The Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.

Publisher: Dr. Earl D. Glenn

Managing Editor: Kathy Mitchell

News Editor: Andrew Cauthen

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.

www.championnewspaper.com

DISPLAY ADVERTISING (404) 373-7779 x 110

FREEPRESS

STATEMENT FROM THE PUBLISHER

We sincerely appreciate the discussion surrounding this and any

issue of interest to DeKalb County. The Champion was founded in1991 expressly to provide a forum for discourse forallcommunityresidents on all sides of an issue. We have no desire to make the newsonly to report news and opinions to effect a more educated citizenrythat will ultimately move our community forward. We are happy topresent ideas for discussion; however, we make every effort to avoidprinting information submitted to us that is known to be false and/or assumptions penned as fact.

One Mans Opinion

Keep your face towards the sun-hine, and shadows will fall behind

you.Walt Whitman (1819-892), an American essayist, poet

and journalist.

I first met State RepresentativeMichael Thurmond when he wasa freshman legislator in 1986. Aharecroppers son, he became the

first Black man in Clark County

ince Reconstruction elected to theGeorgia General Assembly. In 1998,he was elected Georgias labor com-missioner, and was twice re-elected.

During his last term in office,and during one of the most difficultabor markets in Georgia history,

Thurmond created Georgia Work$,a job skills re-training programhat allows unemployed workerso begin working again, with theirraining costs and wages split be-ween the employer and the Georgia

Department of Labor. This success-ful model was later adapted and ad-opted nationally by the U.S. Depart-ment of Labor.

Thurmond is charismatic, savvyand has an incredible ability tobring together people of disparate

backgrounds and viewpoints andget them working together as ateam. Nowhere is that skillset moreneededthan among the leadershipof our DeKalb County School Sys-tem.

Running an urban school systemwith a declining tax digest, 100,000students, 15,000 employees and150 schools and centers is no easytask. A corporation with almost $1billion in annual revenues requiresprofessional management and aboard of directors with its eyes onthe ball.

Thurmond is an optimist and arealist, and when pressed, willing tomake the tough calls. This is anoth-er rarity in higher and public educa-tion. I believe Thurmond will getthe ball farther down the field. His

partisan track record may give somepause in a GOP dominated legisla-ture and state government, howeverthey can ill afford another major hitto the economic development brandof Atlantaand for a second majormetro school system to lose its ac-creditation in a handful of years.

We all may be painfully awareof the differences among the city ofAtlanta, DeKalb County, ClaytonCounty, Gwinnett County, etc., butI assure you in London, Monterrey,Mexico, Beijing and even simplyLos Angeles, those are all just At-lanta. DeKalb County has 700,000residents and 100,000 children inpublic schools, and they are worthfighting for by any standardor defi-nitionpolitical, demographic or

otherwise.Thurmond is an inspirational

speaker. He will need that abilityduring his appearance before thestate school board this week. Clay-ton County has also already beenhere, though there is mountingevidence that the lesson was notlearned, and a second trip to thewoodshed may be necessary. RuralMiller County most recently had itsentire board removedand with orwithout DeKalbs current boardThurmond is going to need to lead.

My next recommendation is forthe consideration of all nine currentmembers of our DeKalb SchoolBoard. If you truly believe that ourchildren come first, and that ourfirst priority should remain successin the classroom and that you have

personally done nothing wrong,then you really have only one prac-tical choice to assist and supportyour new superintendent.

Before the State Board of Edu-cation or Gov. Nathan Deal makeany decision or consider taking anypunitive action, simply and proudlyresign from the office that you cur-rently hold for the good of the coun-ty, our children and this system.Our current structure and board arebroken, perhaps irretrievably. If youfeel so inclined, in your statementor letter of resignation, declare yourcandidacy to seek the position thatyou currently hold, and be electedback to this board. If the governorremoves the entire board, and thenappoints an interim board, there will

still be special elections held forthose seats soon after.

Those on the board and in dis-tricts where they remain regardedwith respect, appreciation and hav-ing the best interests of our childrenin mind may well be put right backin place. Those who dont, probablywont. The status quo has to go,as it is increasingly entrenched inineptitude, infighting and a generalinability to reach consensus, set adirection and move forward with aplan.

Sadly, as with our DeKalb Com-mission and the DeKalb LegislativeDelegation, racial politics and oftennorth/south in-fighting which isembarrassing to witness, generallycommand more time and attentionthan most any more relevant issue

of the day. Mike Thurmond will bewalking toward the sunshine. If youcant get out of the shadows, at leastplease have the courtesy to standdown and get out of his way.

Bill Crane also serves as a

poli tical analyst and commenta-tor for Channel 2s Action News,WSB-AM News/Talk 750 and now95.5 FM, as well as a columnist

forThe Champion, ChampionFree Press andGeorgia Trend.Crane is a DeKalb native andbusiness owner, living in Scott-dale. You can reach him or com-ment on a column [email protected].

A new attitude

The Champion Free Press, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 Page 5AOpinion


6/24

T Cap F P, Fa, F. 22, 2013 Pag 6ACommunity

Champion of the Week

if you would lke to nomnate someone to be onsdered as a

future champon of the Week, please ontat Kathy Mthell at

[email protected] or at (404) 373-7779, ext. 104.

Kim GokceSince cofounding the

Cross Keys Foundationin 2009, Kim Gokce hasbeen workingtirelessly forthe residentsand childrenof DeKalbCounty.

In 2012,Gokce wasnamed vol-unteer of theyear by the

YMCA ofMetropolitan Atlanta. Eachyear, the award is given toa volunteer who has madea significant contributionto the mission of the morethan 20 area YMCA cen-ters in Atlanta.

Gokce was namedvolunteer of the year forhis work to bring YMCA-managed recreational andeducational programs toan underserved populationin the Cross Keys HighSchool attendance zone,which includes Cross Keys

High School, SequoyahMiddle School, as well asOakcliff, Cary Reynolds,Dresden, Montclair andWoodward elementaryschools.

Low-income house-holds, high immigrationand English language learn-

ers characterizethe area, locatedin north DeKalbCounty.

Gokces effortsfocused on estab-lishing a partner-ship between theMetro AtlantaYMCA and theDeKalb County

School Districtthrough the Cowart Fam-ily YMCA center.

To me, it was a no-brainer. The children getmore opportunities, theYMCA expands its reachto underserved children,and the schools get badlyneeded attention for theunderutilized and expen-sive-to-maintain fields,Gokce said.

The agreement startedwith YMCA-managedyouth soccer programs atthe fields of Cross Keys

High School and since hasexpanded to similar pro-grams at Sequoyah MiddleSchool and area elemen-tary schools.

Many of the students

living in the Cross Keysarea are immigrants orfirst-generation U.S. citi-zens, like Gokce himself,whose father emigratedfrom Turkey.

Our tagline is everyopportunity for everychild. We have sevenschools [in our area]; fiveelementary schools, onemiddle school and onehigh school. Every oneof these schools shares

something in commonhigh poverty, Gokce said.Gokce said that people

have a common miscon-ception that the schools inthe area are failing schools.

The demographics,the language barrier andthe poverty or low incomehas created an environ-ment where there is notan enormous amountof community support,Gokce said.

Gokce also was ap-pointed by Gov. Na-than Deal to serve on

the City of BrookhavenCommission, which wasestablished to help easeBrookhavens transitioninto cityhood.

DeKalb Medicalreceives LCI grant

y Carla [email protected]

DeKalb Medical waswarded a $120,000 grantrom the Atlanta Regional

Commission (ARC) for itsLivable Center InitiativeLCI).

The grant was givenor the Medline Regional

Activity Center. The studywill focus on the arearound DeKalb Medical on

N. Decatur Road and willlan for redevelopment ofnderutilized and vacantroperties to create housingptions as well as commer-

ial, ofce and retail space.ARC said the study

will incorporate lifelongommunities conceptsnd the establishment ofwellness district for

he DeKalb Medical area.The plan will also addressidewalk and bicycle trailslong main roads in therea to create a more walk-ble center to improve con-ections to MARTA busoutes and Emorys Cliffhuttle.

The LCI grants are

iven to help communi-ies create new plans foruality growth and helpevelop innovative policieshat support more vibrant,onnected communities.

Once the studies and plansre complete, the com-

munities will be eligible

for additional LCI fundingfor transportation projects

needed to implement theirplans.Since 1999, LCI has

assisted 111 communitieswith more than $154 mil-lion in grants to developstrategies that reduce trafccongestion and improveair quality by connectinghomes, shops and ofces.

LCI has helped com-munities across metro At-lanta re-tool and redesignover the years, creatingmore places that attractresidents and businessesalike, ARC Chairman TadLeithead said. Our localgovernment partners haveused these grants to thebenet of their communi-ties and the entire region.

The LCI program isfunded with federal trans-portation dollars. Thegrants fund 80 percent ofthe study, with the recipientmaking a 20 percent contri-bution.

Communities are ea-ger to revitalize their towncenters and underutilizedproperties to create places

that foster a vibrant neigh-borhood feel and environ-ment, said Doug Hooker,ARC Executive Director.LCI grants have helpedcommunities re-imaginewhat they can be, and thenhelped them make thoseplans a reality.


7/24

T Cap F P, Fa, F. 22, 2013 Pag 7ACommunity

aRoundDEKALBatLantaChurch play to focus on Black history

Greater Piney Grove Baptist Churchs MCA Dra-ma Ministry will present a Black history play Sunday,Feb. 24, at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary. The play, TheLiving Museum of Gospel Greats, is under the direc-ion of Dr. Joyce Miller. This is a musical tribute toate great gospel music singers. Admission is free.Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church is located at

879 Glenwood Ave., SE, Atlanta.

aVondaLE EStatES

City recognized for workplace wellness

The City of Avondale Estates has been nameda finalist in theAtlanta Business Chronicles annualawards recognizing metro Atlantas healthiest em-

ployers.City Manager Clai Brown commented, Work-place wellness is absolutely vital for reducing healthcare costs. However, Avondale Estates wellness pro-gram, thanks to the commitment and efforts of ourpartner DeKalb Medical and our grantor, Local Gov-ernment Risk Management Services, continues topay back in multiple waysit positively influences ourassociates productivity, attendance and teamwork,as well as our workplace culture.

Championed by the citys Director of Finance KenTurner, Avondale Estates wellness program has pro-duced significant aggregate improvements in partici-pating associates biometric health evaluations.

Dr. Shealynn Buck, executive director of Corpo-ate Health and Wellness for DeKalb Medical, said,Through the citys commitment to fostering a healthy

work environment, its associates as a whole realized

measurable reductions in chronic disease risk factors,such as heart disease and diabetes.According to the American Institute of Architects,

the history of public health in America is intrinsicallynked to the design of place, Avondale Estates City

Planner, Keri Stevens said. We are enthusiasticabout finding ways to begin extending more wellnessopportunities to our City residents.

According to the Chronicle, todays wellness pro-grams are designed around an organizations people,eadership and financial goals; wellness programsenhance employee health and improve organizationalclimate. The Chronicle recognized metro Atlantaswellness leaders from among the areas notable pub-c, private, small, medium and large organizations.

dEcatuR

Spring gardening class offered

The Decatur Library presents Snapshot Plant YourFirst Spring Garden on Monday, Feb. 25, 10-11:30

a.m. This class is for first-time gardeners or thosetransitioning to organic methods of vegetable garden-ing, according to library officials. Stephanie Van Pa-rys, executive director of the Wylde Center, will teachparticipants about spring and summer vegetablesand herbs perfect for our region. This program is partof the series, Living the Green Life, to promote andeducate the community about a green, sustainablelifestyle. Sponsors are the Wylde Center, the City ofDecatur and DeKalb County Public Library. DecaturLibrary is located at 215 Sycamore Street, Decatur.For more information, call (404) 370-3070.

Library to showAkeelah and the Bee

Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library will showAkeelah and the Bee, starring Laurence Fishburne,Angela Bassett and Keke Palmer, Friday, Feb. 22,1:30-3:30 p.m., as part of its Friday Movies series.

The 2006 movie is rated PG and runs 112 minutes.Movies in the Friday Movies series are a mix of newreleases and old favorites. When available, moviesare presented with closed captioning to assist thehearing impaired. Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library islocated at 1282 McConnell Drive, Decatur. For moreinformation, call (404) 679-4404.

Musical to be shown at library

Pitch Perfect, a musical comedy starringAnnaKendrick, Brittany Snow and Rebel Wilson, willbe shown at the Covington Library Saturday, Feb. 23,at 2 p.m. as part of its New Movies Series. PerfectPitch is rated PG-13. The Covington Library is lo-cated at 3500 Covington Highway, Decatur. For moreinformation, call (404) 508-7180.

Library offers consumer education clinic

The Decatur Library is offering a free consumereducation clinic on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 5:30-7 p.m.

Those who are struggling with debt or have beensued for a debt and have questions may find answersin this presentation by the DeKalb Volunteer LawyersFoundation. Local attorneys will discuss informationregarding debt cases in DeKalb County and facilitateone-on-one consultations. Participants should bringall documents related to their cases. Decatur Libraryis located at 215 Sycamore Street, Decatur. For moreinformation, call (404) 370-3070.

Book discussion group to meet

Pub Fiction, a book lovers group, will meet to dis-cuss the groups current book selection and social-ize with other like-minded folk, Thursday, Feb. 28,7- 8 p.m. at Harbour Bar and Fish House. The bookselection is Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. Formore information and to RSVP, call (404) 370-4850,ext. 2257. Harbour Bar and Fish House is locatedat129 Church St., Decatur.

Passport Day set for March 9

DeKalb County Superior Court ClerkDebra De-Berryis hosting Passport Day in the USA, on Sat-urday, March 9, from 10: a.m.- 3: p.m., to providepassport information to U.S. citizens and to acceptpassport applications. Appointments are not nec-essary as always when applying in the Clerks Of-fice. Those interested may apply for a passport forroutine or expedited service. DeKalb Superior Courtalong with hundreds of local acceptance facilitiesaround the country are joining the Department ofState in celebrating Passport Day in the USA 2013, anational passport acceptance and outreach event.

U.S. citizens must present a valid passport book

when entering the United States by air. U.S. citizensentering the United States from Canada, Mexico, theCaribbean and Bermuda at land borders and seaports of entry must present a passport book, pass-port card or other travel documents approved by theU.S. government.

For more information on Passport Day in the USAat the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court Officeand how to apply for a U.S. passport, call (404) 371-2251.

DeKalb Superior Court office is located in theDeKalb County Courthouse, 556 N. McDonough St.in Decatur.

LitHonia

Writers support group to meet

A writers support group will meet at the Stone-crest Library Tuesday, Feb. 26, 6:30-8 p.m. The eventis open to all writers of any literary form and genre.Participants should bring their work, whether com-pleted or in-progress, to read, discuss and receivegroup feedback. The support group meets the last

Tuesday of every other month (October, December,February, April, June and August), except holidays.Stonecrest Library is located at 3123 Klondike Road,Lithonia. For more information, call (770) 482-3828.

StonE Mountain

CID enhancing lights at interchange

The Stone Mountain Community ImprovementDistrict (CID) is working to enhance the safety andappearance of Mountain Industrial Boulevards busi-est interchange.

Design and planning efforts began in February forthe installation of streetlights at the U. S. 78-MountainIndustrial Boulevard interchange. Currently, the bridgeand ramp areas have no nighttime illumination.

CID President Emory Morsberger said the ex-isting conditions provide a real safety challenge, evenfor those who routinely drive in the area.

The absence of adequate lighting makes thisinterchange barely noticeable at night, Morsbergersaid. Beyond the safety applications, new lightingwill be critical to enhancing this interchange as a rec-ognizable gateway for our business corridor.

In addition to the lights, the CID is in the earlyplanning stages to install and maintain landscaping

improvements at the interchange. These landscapingefforts will mirror those undertaken by other CIDs withinterstate access, including the upgrades along I-85at Jimmy Carter Boulevard.

The improved lighting and appearance will workjointly with our other ongoing maintenance of the cor-ridors appearance, Morsberger said. All of our ef-forts are aimed at raising property values and attract-ing employers to available spaces. We are committedto seeing 2,000 new jobs created here this year.

The full extent of the lighting coverage will be de-termined during the planning and permitting phase,which will continue throughout the year. Installationwork will likely commence next fall.

The cost of lighting purchase and installation isunderwritten by funding from Georgias State Roadand Tollway Authority (SRTA). Last summer, the SRTAannounced a $500,000 grant would be awarded to

the Stone Mountain CID for several infrastructure im-provements throughout the District.


8/24

T Cap F P, Fa, F. 22, 2013Local News

See Libraries on Page 10A

Victims: Bishop Long knew about scammer

DeKalb libraries awarded grant toenhance knowledge about Islam


Former members of NewBirth Missionary Baptist Church

n Lithonia have led a new suitagainst Bishop Eddie Long,alleging that he was warnedbeforehand about a fraudulentnvestment scheme that caused themo lose nearly $1 million.

In 2009, Long sponsored aeries of investment seminars athe church titled The Wealth Tour

Live, which took place Oct. 17-23. In the original lawsuit, led inOctober 2011, 10 former membersalleged that Long used his positionat the church to coerce those inattendance to trust Ephren Taylor,hen CEO of City Capitol Corp.

Taylor, who was in his early 20s at

he time, was presented by Long asa self-made millionaire, and anordained minister.

According to the lawsuit, Longdid not invest himself, but urged hiscongregation to invest with Taylor,whom he introduced as his friendand) brother prior to the seminar.

The new lawsuit, which nowncludes 12 plaintiffs and was led

Feb. 6, says that two weeks beforethe seminars took place, Long andthe church were warned thatTaylor and his company woulddefraud church members who

participated in the seminar.According to the suit, on Oct.5, 2009, an anonymous personcalled the church to warn Longthat Taylor would defraud theseminar attendees by sellingthem promissory notes and thatthere would be no return on theinvestments.

The suit alleges that Longsassistant, Lori Allen, wrote downthe warning from the caller in amemorandum and sent it to Long.

The suit also says that Alleninformed another church ofcial ofthe message, who then forwardedthe message via email to Long

and another church ofcial. JasonDoss, the attorney representing theplaintiffs, said his clients would nothave lost their money if Long hadheeded the warning.

When a church receives awarning that is so specic aboutwhat was going to happen.they should have stopped theseminar, not allowed the seminars

to happen, he said. Had thathappened we wouldnt be heretoday.

According to the suit, with theencouragement of Long and Taylor,

the former members transferredfunds from their IRA and 401Kaccounts to self-directed IRAsthat were set up and maintained atEquity Trust Bank Company.

Once the plaintiffs money wasrolled into self-directed IRAs, theplaintiffs were instructed to executepromissory notes in favor of CityCapital, the suit said. The noteswere for nine-to 12-month termsand promised a rate of returns of15-20 percent.

Doss said a lot of his clients arein bad shape nancially and coulduse the money that they lost.

Their houses are being

foreclosed, he said. Some of themare living in their basements toconserve [money]. Its sad.

These people have devoted theirlives to this church, Doss said.They trusted the bishop and trustedthat the church would certainly lookout for their best interest. Theyrevery disappointed that the seminarstook place at all.

y Nigel Roberts

Muslims have been a partf the American fabric forenerations. Yet, it was notntil the terrorist attacks on/11 that many Americansecame aware of their pres-nce. Since then, there haseen mistrust and misinfor-

mation about the Muslimommunity and their reli-

ion.An effort is under way to

ncrease knowledge aboutMuslim Americans and Is-am. A National Endowmentor the Humanities grant toour DeKalb County Public

Library branches will pro-ide a range of materials tonhance public knowledgebout Muslims in America.

The Decatur, Clarkston,Northlake-Barbara Loarnd Stonecrest branches aremong the more than 800 li-raries and state humanities

ouncils across the nationhat received the grant.Through this funding, the

four DeKalb branches willmake available to residents25 books, three lms andother resources that providea reliable source of infor-mation about Islam, Mus-lim culture and the historyof Muslims in the UnitedStates. All the materials willbe available for checkoutat the libraries beginningMarch 1.

According to a Pew Fo-rum on Religion and PublicLife survey, 55 percent ofAmericans say they knownothing or very little aboutIslam. About one-third saidthey knew some thingsabout the religion and 9 per-cent said they knew a greatdeal about the faith. Lessthan half of Americans (41percent) said they are per-sonally acquainted with aMuslim.

Im pleased that severalDeKalb libraries received

this NEH grant to help fos-ter greater knowledge andunderstanding of the rich

history and culture of Mus-lims in the United States andaround the world, U.S. Rep.Hank Johnson (GA-4) saidin a DeKalb Public Librarystatement. Its through edu-cation that we foster bondsof unity between and amongpeople of diverse back-grounds, leading to a morepeaceful society.

Since the 9/11 attacks,

Muslims have become thesubjects of suspicion be-cause of their religion orcountry of origin. Ten yearsafter the attacks, more thanhalf (55 percent) of the Mus-lims Americans surveyedsaid that life has becomemore difcult, Pew reported.

They highlighted beinglooked at with suspicion (28percent) and being calledinsulting names (22 percent).Their religion has madethem the targets of airportsecurity and law enforce-

ment, they reported to re-searchers.Abdullahi An-Naim,

Long


9/24


PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE FOR PHASING OUT OF INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITIES

Public Hearings, 6:30 8:00 PM at:

February 19, 2013 at AIC Auditorium

1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd

Stone Mountain, GA 30083

February 26, 2013 at AIC Auditorium

1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd


In accordance with SPLOST IV and the 2011, ten-year master facility plan*, the DeKalb County School District proposes to phase-out twelve (12) instructional facilities over the next five years: 1)

Austin Elementary Facility, 2) Avondale High Facility, 3) Clifton Elementary Facility, 4) DESA/Terry Mill Facility 5) Fernbank Elementary Facility, 6) Meadowview Elementary Facility, 7) MidwayElementary Facility, 8) Ronald McNair Middle Facility, 9) Pleasantdale Elementary Facility, 10) Rockbridge Elementary Facility, 11) Smoke Rise Elementary Facility and 12) Wadsworth Elementary

Facility.

Students from these schools will return back to their schools after construction as listed in Table 1 and Table 2. The date of phase-out, date of last instruction, and proposed use for each affected

building is also listed below in Table 1.

In Table 2, please note that Peachcrest ES and Gresham Park ES are two, new, 900-seat schools. It is envisioned that students from Clifton ES and Meadowview ES schools will move into the new

Gresham Park ES. Students from Knollwood ES and Midway ES will move into the new Peachcrest ES.

Any attendance lines adjustments for any receiving schools and their adjacent schools in order to accommodate the relocated students within each schools capacity limits will be discussed the year

prior to phase out. Fernbank ES is presently scheduled to occupy Avondale MS during the construction period.

References: Ten-year Facility Master Plan (http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/www/documents/vision-2020/master-plan.pdf)

Table 1. Instructional Facilities to be Phased-out

Instructional

FacilityFacility Address

Date of Last

Instruction at Facility

and Date of Phase

Out

Resident Students Transferred and Where Future Use of Facility

Austin Elementary

Facility

5435 Roberts Drive

Dunwoody, GA 30338

June, 2018 All students to attend replacement Austin ES

facility

Torn down and replaced by new facility

Avondale High

Facility

1192 Clarendon Ave

Avondale Estates, GA 30002

June, 2016 All students to attend new Comprehensive Arts

Magnet School at Avondale MS facility

Declared surplus and possible reuse or disposal

Clifton Elementary

Facility

3132 Clifton Church Rd

Atlanta, GA 30316

June, 2015 All students to attend new Gresham Park ES

facility


DESA/Terry Mill

Elementary Facility

797 Fayetteville Rd

Atlanta, GA 30316

June, 2016 All students to attend new Comprehensive Arts

Magnet School at Avondale MS facility


Fernbank

Elementary

Facility

157 Heaton Park Drive NE

Atlanta, GA 30307

June, 2013 All students to attend Avondale MS during

construction and then return to replacement

Fernbank ES facility in Fall 2015


Meadowview

Elementary Facility

1879 Wee Kirk Rd

Atlanta, GA 30316

June, 2015 All students to attend new Gresham Park ES

facility


Midway

Elementary

Facility

3318 Midway Rd

Decatur, GA 30032

June, 2015 All students to attend new Peachcrest ES facility Declared surplus and possible reuse or disposal

Ronald McNair

Middle Facility

2190 Wallingford Dr.

Decatur, GA 30032

June, 2018 All students to attend replacement McNair MS

facility


Pleasantdale

Elementary Facility

3695 Northlake Drive

Doraville, GA 30340

June, 2018 All students to attend replacement Pleasantdale

ES facility


Rockbridge

Elementary Facility

445 Halwick Way


June, 2018 All students to attend replacement Rockbridge

ES replacement


Smoke Rise

Elementary Facility

1991 Silver Hill Road


June, 2018 All students to attend replacement Smoke Rise

ES facility


Wadsworth

Elementary Facility

2084 Green Forrest Dr.

Decatur, GA 30032

June, 2015 All students to be housed at Knollwood ES

facility


Table 2. Receiving Instructional Facility, Proposed Size, Grade Configuration, and Cost

Receiving Instructional Facility Address

Prop. Facility

Capacity

(Students)

Grade

ConfigurationExpansion, Cost, and Funding Source

Arts School at Avondale Middle Facility 3131 Old Rockbridge Rd Avondale Estates, GA 30002 1,100 K-12 Add auditorium, $4.0 million, SPLOST IV

Austin Elementary Facility 5435 Roberts Dr Dunwoody, GA 30338 900 PK-5 Rebuild 900 seat school, $18.4 million, SPLOST IV

McNair Middle Facility 2190 Wallingford Dr. Decatur, GA 30032 1,200 6-8 Rebuild 1200 seat school, $34.6 million, SPLOST IV

Fernbank Elementary Facility 157 Heaton Park Drive NE Atlanta, GA 30307 900 PK-5 Rebuild 900 seat school, $18.4 million, SPLOST IV

Gresham Park Elementary Facility 1848 Vicki Ln Atlanta, GA 30316 900 PK-5 Rebuild 900 seat school, $18.4 million, SPLOST IV

Knollwood Elementary Facility 3039 Santa Monica Dr. Decatur, GA 30032 650 4-6 No expansion necessary

Peachcrest Elementary Facility 1530 Joy Ln Decatur, GA 30032 900 PK-5 Rebuild 900 seat school, $18.4 million, SPLOST IV

Pleasantdale Elementary Facility 3695 Northlake Drive Doraville, GA 30340 900 PK-5 Rebuild 900 seat school, $18.4 million, SPLOST IVRockbridge Elementary Facility 445 Halwick Way Stone Mountain, GA 30083 900 PK-5 Rebuild 900 seat school, $18.4 million, SPLOST IV

Smoke Rise Elementary Facility 1991 Silver Hill Road Stone Mountain, GA 30087 600 PK-5 Rebuild 600 seat school, $18.4 million, SPLOST IV*

*Cost for 600-seat school pending review.


10/24


by Andrew [email protected]

It was a distracted driverwho forever changed theife ofCynthiaWilliams of

Tucker.In August 2006, her

7-year-old son Christo-pher was a passenger ina vehicle that ipped nineimes. Christopher sufferedxtensive head trauma.

I had to pull the plug onhim a week later, Williamsaid. It was on my birth-

day.After that event Williams

began a campaign againstdistracted driving, whichhe believes caused herons death.

I want to save moreives by making the wholeountry a no phone zonen vehicles, said Williams,

founder of Parents AgainstDistracted Driving.

Currently there are0 states that have lawsestricting the use of cell-

phones while driving andRep. RahnMayo (D-84)wants Georgia to join thosetates. Mayo has sponsoredegislation in the Georgia

House of Representativeshat he said would reducehe amount of distracted

driving on Georgia roadsand highways.

I believe cellphone use

is one of the common causesof trafc accidents due todistracted driving, Mayosaid.

The proposed law, HB31, would require drivers touse hands-free devices whentalking on the cellphone anddriving.

This bill is a safety billand would protect drivers,Mayo said. Distracted driv-ers are causing dangerous

conditions because of a lackof focus and attention to theroad and more attention totheir conversation.

The phone being held isone reason why the drivercant have two hands on thewheel. This bill would cur-tail distracted driving andmake Georgia roads saferfor others, Mayo said.

Mayo said there is someopposition to the proposedlaw from those who believeit legislation would infringeupon their rights.

My belief is when

youre distracted and youreholding a cellphone, you notonly put yourself in dangerbut youre putting the lives

of others in harms way dueto the large number of traf-c accidents and fatalitiescaused by distracted driv-ing, Mayo said.

HB31 is one I hope willsave lives and protect ourdrivers and make conditionssafer for motorists on Geor-gia roads.

According to data com-piled by the GovernorsHighway Safety Associa-

tion, 10 states prohibitalldrivers from using handheldcellphones while driving;33 states ban all cellphone

use by novice drivers; and39 states ban text messagingfor all drivers. An additionalve states prohibit text mes-saging by novice drivers.

Texting while driving in

Georgia has been bannedsince 2010; Mayo said thatlaw has helped.

Its a deterrent whendrivers understand the law,discourages them from us-ing handheld devices andtheyre more mindful oftheir behavior because oflaws in place, Mayo said.We see on the road the[signs] that give driverswarnings not to text anddrive; there have been cita-tions issued by law enforce-ment and I believe the no-

texting law has helped.I would like to expandthe law to include a prohibi-tion of handheld cellphoneuse so that we can reducetrafc accidents and curtailthe amount of distracteddriving even more, Mayosaid.

The proposed law wouldlessen some of the carcrash statistics, said Wil-liams, who speaks at funer-als and tells surviving fami-ly members that this personis in a casket because some-one was using a phone.

My testimony can savethe life of you or your chil-dren, she said.

Mom: Cellphone ban in cars would have saved son

A bill proposed by a state lawmaker from DeKalb County would ban cellphone use by drivers.

Financing Government Contracts

Since 1993JLC-FiNaNCiaL.COM404.229.7743

Libraries Continued From Page 8A Study to focus on area surrounding Suburban Plaza

a professor at Emory LawSchool and a scholar of Is-am and human rights, said

Muslim Americans need tohare their stories with the

broader American culture tohed stereotypes. He plans

o tell these stories in a bookength project to be pub-ished by the Oxford Univer-ity Press.

In the aftermath of 9/11,he said that, globally, Mus-ims are the primary victims

of radical Islamists, in placesike Afghanistan, Pakistan

and Iraq. And while extrem-sm represents an element inhe Muslim community, it

does not reect the ideologyof the entire community.

Being a Muslim doesnot mean being monolithicor uniform, because there

are Muslims who are conser-vative, or who are liberal,he said. We should notnsist on a single identity

as exclusive of everything

else. We should live by allthe identities we have, eachas and when most relevant.Thats the idea of being anAmerican Muslim.

Kitty Wilson, the librarysystems grant facilitator,

said all four branches willpresent programs this year topromote the new materialson Muslim Americans.

The library highlightedthree book titles in its an-nouncement.Acts of Faith:the Story of an AmericanMuslim, the Struggle forthe Soul of a Generation byEboo Patel is the authorspersonal story of growing upMuslim in America. AmitavGhoshsIn an Antique Landis a historic ctional accountof 800 years of Egyptian his-tory. AndMinaretby Leila

Aboulela is a novel abouta young, secular Muslimwoman who comes to em-brace orthodox Islam afterimmigrating to the West.

DeKalb County has beenawarded a Livable CentersInitiative (LCI) planning grant

by the Atlanta Regional Com-mission (ARC) for the areasurrounding Suburban Plaza.

The study will bring to-gether residents, businessesand property owners to reach aconsensus on future develop-ment and public improvements

in the area which includesportions of Scott Boulevardand North Decatur Road fromMedlock Road to DeKalb In-dustrial Way, as well as ChurchStreet.

The area includes DeKalbMedical, Suburban Plaza, PatelPlaza and nearly 30 acres ofvacant car lots.

This location is excellent

and it is vastly underutilized,said DeKalb CommissionerKathieGannon. I believethis area can be successfullyredeveloped for mixed-use de-velopments that will bring newvibrancy and improve the qual-ity of life for the surroundingresidential areas.


11/24


DAs Office hosts CourtWatch training session

Suburban Plaza protestors lose appeal Gas company holdsmeeting about pipelineby Andrew Cauthen

[email protected]

Developers are free tobegin work in DecatursSuburban Plaza after a com-munity group lost an appealo block a Walmart super-

center.The DeKalb Zoning

Board of Appeals voted to

deny the appeal of GoodGrowth DeKalb, a group ofesidents formed more than

a year ago to promote thesustainable development ofheir community.

The groups appeal chal-enged the building permitssued by DeKalb Countyn December, asserting thathe building permit does not

comply with county ordi-nances governing stormwa-er control, tree protection

and truck trafc associatedwith development.

We dont believe per-mits were granted in ac-cordance with the law, saidMary Shellman, resident ofhe Medlock community and

a member of Good GrowthDeKalb. We dont believerucks should be on Med-ock Road. It cannot handlehat trafc. We just dont

need another magnet formore vehicles.

Shellman said the pro-posed development is theantithesis of what GoodGrowth DeKalb supports.

We dont believe a

big autocentric, giant de-velopment at SurburbanPlaza is healthy, sustainablegrowth, Shellman said.Wed like to see something

that encourages people towalk, to ride their bikes, tosupport small businessesthere.

The appellate decisionmeans developers can pro-ceed with the proposed150,000-square-foot store,which would have groceries,a deli, pharmacy, and an op-tical center.

Suburban Plazas owner,Selig Enterprises, haspredicted that the improvedshopping center, which willincrease by 30,000 squarefeet, would add 600 to 800jobs to the community andspur redevelopment in thecorridor.

Walmart spokesman BillWertz said, We are de-lighted to be partners withSelig Enterprises in thisretail redevelopment, whichwe believe will be verypositive for the community.

Walmart is lookingforward to adding 300 newjobs and millions of dollarsin new tax revenue to thecounty by being part of thisproject, Wertz said. Weare also excited about offer-ing the community anotheroption for fresh, affordablefood and other merchan-dise.

The ruling was goodnews for Suburban Plazasdeveloper, Selig EnterprisesInc.

I think they made thecorrect decision it was made

on the facts, said ScottSelig, vice president of SeligEnterprises Inc.

Selig said his companywill continue with its plans

to redevelop the shoppingcenter.

Our plans are in, Seligsaid. We will start gearingup to start demolition.

Construction is plannedto begin in late spring withthe shopping centers reno-vation to be completed inearly 2015.

Despite the yearlong pro-

tests from residents, Seligsaid his company is here tostay.

If you check our reputa-tion out around this entireregion, its impeccable,Selig said. We are not mer-chant-developers. In otherwords, we dont build andthen sell. We build and webuy and we dont sell.

Were a family develop-er, Selig said. Im fourthgeneration. Weve been herefor 90-something years. Weare a good neighbor.

Although he said he be-lieves the development willbe a great amenity, Seligsaid he understands the mis-givings of some residentsthe supercenter coming toSuburban Plaza.

People hear this andthink, Whats coming?Selig said. Its scary. Any-thing new that changeswhats there is scary.

Looking back, when itsall done and fully running,I think everyones going tobe extremely thrilled withwhats there, Selig said.

When its done, you willnot recognize what wasthere before. Its going tobring it back and go beyondwhat the glory days were.

The DeKalb CountyDistrict Attorneys Ofcewill host the Court Watch& Code Compliance Train-

ing seminar Saturday, Feb.23, on the fourth oor ofthe DeKalb courthouse, lo-cated at 556 N. McDonoughStreet in Decatur. The eventis 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and

begins with a complimentarybreakfast. This is a greatopportunity for homeownersassociations and residentsto learn more about court

proceedings and the criminaljustice system as a whole,said DeKalb County DARobertJames. A portion ofthe seminar will be dedicated

to the new code complianceand enforcement process.

The Court Watch programwas designed by the District

Attorneys Ofce to educateresidents about trackingcases that have impactedtheir communities.Thereis a signicant benet whencommunities come togetherto ght crime, James said.This seminar encouragesresidents to get involved in

preventing and reportingcrimes in their neighbor-hoods.

To attend this free semi-nar, RSVP by calling (404)687-7179; RSVP required.

Atlanta Gas Lights (AGL) Eastside Pipeline construc-tion will be the subject of a community open house Feb. 26,6-8 p.m. at the Greek Orthodox Cathedrals Hellenic Com-munity Center, 2500 Clairmont Road.

To ensure the continuing safety and reliability of AGLspipeline system, older pipes are being replaced with state-of-the-art plastic and steel pipes. These enhancements arepart of AGLs pipeline replacement program, a 15-yearproject that started in 1998 to replace more than 2,800

miles of bare steel and cast iron natural gas pipelines inGeorgia, according to AGLs website.Construction on the Eastside Pipeline, which dates back

to the 1950s, began in late summer 2012 and will continuein phases through the end of 2013. The 24-inch pipelinewill run approximately 28 miles from AGLs Riverdaleliqueed natural gas facility in Clayton County to a con-nection point near the intersection of Buford Highway andClairmont Road in DeKalb County, according to AGLswebsite.

Construction will include several interstate and railroadcrossings. The route primarily follows existing Atlanta GasLight easements and public right of way. Communities nearthe route in Clayton County, DeKalb County, and the cit-ies of Riverdale, Forest Park, Atlanta, and Decatur will seeconstruction at different times along the route for the dura-tion of the pipeline replacement.

For more information, call (404) 584-3130 or [email protected].

Wearing shirts that read Stop Walmart in Decatur, protestors lose a bid to halt construction of theupercenter. Photo by Andrew Cauthen


12/24

T Cap F P, Fa, F. 22, 2013 Pag 12ALocal NewsuDrUID HILLS

No amount of time would be sufficient to recognize all of the

tra ilb lazer s who saw what no one else could , did wha t no one

else dared and gave us all what we needed most. Georgia Power

is proud to honor the achievements of African-Americans

th roughout Black His tory Month and more importantl y beyond.

THE CELEBRATION LASTS 28 DAYS;

THE CONTRIBUTION, A LIFETIME.

georgiapower.com

Clifton Ridge subdivision gets red light againby Andrew [email protected]

To their disappointment,

residents in the Druid Hillscommunity say they willhave to go to court to con-inue their battle against a

proposed subdivision in thehistoric district.

Residents were hopingfor an end to their decade-ong ght against the subdi-

vision planned by propertyowners Robert H. Bucklerand Anthony McCullar.The men want to subdividehree lots on Clifton Roadnto seven lots, ranging fromwo-thirds to four-tenths of

an acre.The property is locatedn the historic Druid Hills

which was designed by re-nowned landscape architectFrederick Law Olmsted,who also designed CentralPark in New York and thegrounds of the Biltmore Es-ate in Asheville, N.C. The

community is listed on theNational Register of HistoricPlaces.

The countys ZoningBoard of Appeals votedFeb. 13 to deny an appealof a decision to issue a land

disturbance permit for theproperty.

The core issue is wheth-er or not these developersneeded to have a certicateof appropriateness fromhe Historic Preservation

Commission before theycould get approval from theplanning commission forheir subdivision, said Rob

Benfeld, an attorney for theDruid Hills Civic Associa-tion.

Bruce MacGregor,president of the Druid Hills

Civic Association, said,The decision today wasvery disappointing.

The Zoning Board ofAppeals seemed to be con-fused, MacGregor said. Itwas a simple question. Washe land development permitssued properly or not?

MacGregor said, Thenext step is to go to court.Again. At our own expense.

It was very disappoint-ng, MacGregor said.

This has gone on 10 years.The ownerhas lost eightawsuits. Hes lost three

attempts at the General As-sembly to change state law.The only things he has wonhave been two administra-ive decisions by DeKalb

CEO BurrellEllis adminis-tration.

The next showdown in theght will be March 18 beforeDeKalb County Superior

Court Judge AshaJackson.A temporary restraining or-der for the development ofthe property was set to expireFeb. 17, but Jackson has ex-tended it until a court hearingMarch 18.

See Druid Hills on Page 13AAttorney Rob Beneld represents Druid Hills residents who lost an appeal to stop a subdivision.Later, a judge extends a temporary restraining order for the project. Photo by Andrew Cauthen


13/24

T Cap F P, Fa, F. 22,, 2013 Pag 13A

wants Callanwolde to useits outdoor amphitheatermore frequently.

Id like bring in someacoustic groups or cham-ber music, Johnson said.

Maybe some Shakespeareplaysthings that dontrequire a loud sound butthat would be nice for thepublic.

In addition to addingmore music program andgrowing Callanwoldesarts program, Johnson saidshe wanted to improve thegrounds at the large Gothic-Tudor style mansion, whichwas completed in 1920 andwas home to the Charles

Howard Candler family.Howard Candler, the

oldest son of founder of theCoca-Cola Co. Asa Can-dler, was the president ofCoca-Cola from 1916 to

1923.Johnson said she wanted

to work with DeKalb Coun-ty to promote Callanwoldeand undertake several capi-tal campaigns to raise fundsto improve the grounds andsome of the unused build-

ings at the mansion. Ad-ditionally, Johnson wants to

begin offering tours.I want Callawolde to

be a household name andwhen people visit Atlanta.I want it to be a place theywant to come and see,

Johnson said.

New director has fresh vision for historic arts center

Send your comments and/or concerns regarding Comcasts current performance underthe current franchise agreement and/or the future cable-related needs and interests ofyour community to www.dekalbcountyga.gov.

DeKalb County Wants to Hear From YouRegarding the Proposed Franchise Agreement Renewal

with Comcast Cable Communications

BLUEGRASS EVENINGfeaturing authors Joshilyn Jackson, Karen White,and a concert by Dappled Grays

Saturday, March 9, 2013 7:00 p.m. Decatur Librarydekalblibrary.org/foundation, or 404.370.8450 ext. 2238


Callanwolde Arts Cen-ers new executive direc-or, Peggy Still Johnson,

carries a

long listof occu-pations:entre-preneur,accom-plishedpianistand vocalperform-er, com-poser,

arranger and educator.Johnson is on the advi-

sory board of the GeorgiaState University School of

Music, the board of gov-ernors (Composer Seat)of the Atlanta Chapter ofThe Recording Academy(Grammy Organization)and the board of directorsof the Atlanta Film Festi-val, among others.

Callanwolde Fine ArtsCenter is the destinationhat all my lifes experi-

ences have brought me to,Johnson said.

Johnson said her experi-ence of running a business,her love of architectureand her work as a musicnstructor and composer

have all prepared her to behe arts centers executive

director.I want to make it clear

hat Callanwolde is alreadya fantastic place, I am hereo make it better, Johnson

said.In 1988, Johnson found-

ed the Peggy Still Schoolof Music, which has sincegrown to include more than600 students and 45 in-structors at three locationsn Atlanta, Alpharetta and

Woodstock. In 2011, John-son sold the school.Johnson has also per-

formed all over the worldand most recently workedwith Stephen King, JohnMellencamp, and T BoneBurnett on their musicalproduction Ghost Brothersof Darkland County as thevocal coach and copyist.

As executive director,Johnson said she wantso develop more outreach

programs at Callanwoldeo host wellness programs

with seniors and those withspecial needs, and makemore programming avail-able to veterans and lowncome families.

Johnson also said she

ohnson

The Northeast will see mostly clear to partly cloudy skies with a few snow showers today,

scattered rain and snow Friday and Saturday, with the highest temperature of 45 in Germantown,

Md. The Southeast will experience mostly clear skies with isolated thunderstorms today,

scattered showers and thunderstorms Friday and Saturday, with the highest temperature of 84 in Naples, Fla. In

the Northwest, there will be partly cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered rain and snow today through Saturday,

with the highest temperature of 52 in Colville, Wash. The Southwest will see mostly clear to partly cloudy skies

today through Saturday, with the highest temperature of 68 in Artesia, N.M.

Weather History

Feb. 21, 1935 - Frequent dust

storms occurred in eastern

Colorado during the month,

forcing schools to close and

people to stay indoors. A

fatality occurred on this date

when two section cars collidedon the railroad near Arriba,

Colo., due to poor visibility.

Feb. 22, 1986 - A 12-day siege

of heavy rain and snow, which

produced widespread ooding

and mudslides across northern

and central California, nally

came to an end. The storm

caused more than 400 million

dollars in property damage.

Weather Trivia

Is sunlight refected by

snow? ?Answer:Yes,morethan80

percentofsunlightgetsreected.

Detailed Local Forecast

Today we will see partly cloudy skies with a high

temperature of 59, humidity of 41%. Light winds.

The record high temperature for today is 75 set

in 1976. Expect mostly cloudy skies tonight with

a 70% chance of showers, overnight low of 44.

The record low for tonight is 19 set in 1963.

THURSDAYPartly Cloudy

High: 59 Low: 44

FRIDAY

Showers LikelyHigh: 57 Low: 47

SATURDAYShowers Likely

High: 59 Low: 45

SUNDAYScat'd Rain

High: 62 Low: 47

MONDAYFew Showers

High: 60 Low: 42

TUESDAYPartly Cloudy

High: 63 Low: 45

WEDNESDAYMostly Sunny

High: 64 Low: 41

Local Sun/Moon Chart This Week

Day

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

SundayMonday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Sunrise

7:15 a.m.

7:13 a.m.

7:12 a.m.

7:11 a.m.7:10 a.m.

7:09 a.m.

7:08 a.m.

Sunset

6:27 p.m.

6:28 p.m.

6:29 p.m.

6:30 p.m.6:31 p.m.

6:32 p.m.

6:33 p.m.

Moonrise

2:48 p.m.

3:44 p.m.

4:41 p.m.

5:40 p.m.6:39 p.m.

7:40 p.m.

8:42 p.m.

Moonset

4:12 a.m.

4:53 a.m.

5:31 a.m.

6:08 a.m.6:42 a.m.

7:16 a.m.

7:51 a.m.

Full

2/25

Last

3/4

New

3/11

First

3/18

Last Week's Local Almanac

Date Hi Lo Normals Precip

Tuesday 55 45 56/36 0.28"

Wednesday 53 39 56/36 0.04"

Thursday 56 37 57/36 0.00"

Friday 62 30 57/36 0.00"

Saturday 44 30 57/37 0.00"

Sunday 46 22 57/37 0.00"

Monday 58 25 58/37 0.00"

Rainfall. . . . . . . . 0.32" Average temp. . 43.0

Normal rainfall. . 1.16" Average normal 46.6

Departure .. . . . .-0.84" Departure . . . . . -3.6

Local UV Index

3 50 - 2 4 6 8 107 9 11+

UV Index

0-2: Low, 3-5: Moderate,

6-7: High, 8-10: Very High,

11+: Extreme Exposure

The Champion Weather Feb. 21, 2013Seven Day Forecast Todays Regional Map

Tonights Planets

Rise Set

Mercury 7:52 a.m. 7:45 p.m.

Venus 6:56 a.m. 5:43 p.m.

Mars 7:53 a.m. 7:23 p.m.

Jupiter 11:49 a.m. 1:56 a.m.Saturn 11:40 p.m. 10:38 a.m.

Uranus 8:48 a.m. 9:02 p.m.

National Weather Summary This Week

StarWatch By Gary Becker - Thank You, Mrs. Hurd

I was diagnosed with lung cancer in late April of 2007. I was on the cusp of retirement as director of the Allentown (PA) School District Planetarium, and I was angry.

My high school students looked at me with surprise, and many of them asked, So you were a smoker? I wasnt, except for one drag at the age of 14. My family

physician, Gerald Miller, played it safe, thinking maybe I had TB, so I was pulled from work because of the probability of being contagious. That gave me valuable time

to read about the disease which allowed me to converse with my surgeons in a more knowledgably manner. The operation was performed on June 3, laproscopically by

William Burfeind, a young teaching physician from Duke University. The hospital was St. Lukes in Bethlehem. I can still see Burfeinds smiling face looking down at

me in recovery. He said, We sliced and diced that tumor and could nd n o cancer. After a very painful night in ICU, I was transported up t o a room in the Hurd Pavilion of St. Lukeswhere I received state of the art treatment by a large cadre of caring nurses and physicians. Four days later, I walked out of the hospital without assistance. In 2009, when I was asked

to join the Moravian College faculty, I spent lots of time working with retiring professor Joe Gerencher, a wonderful mentor. When I nally got to see the Collier rooftop observatory,

there was this new A-shaped, roofed building blocking a critical view of the horizon in the southwest. Horizonal astronomy was always one of my interests. I was abbergasted. The

students called it PPHAC, the Priscilla Payne Hurd Academic Center. Priscilla Payne Hurd died February 5 at the grand age of 93. What do you say to a woman whose generosity

helped save your life, but messed up your horizons? There are only two words that come to mind. Thank you, thank you, thank you... www.astronomy.org

Dunwoody

57/43Lilburn

58/44

Snellville59/44

Decatur

59/44

Morrow

60/44

Hampton

61/45

Union City

60/44

College Park

60/44

Atlanta

59/44

Doraville

58/44

Smyrna

58/44

Lithonia

60/44


14/24

Pag 14A T Cap F P, Fa, F. 22,, 2013

County police department struggling to maintain stafngby Andrew [email protected]

The DeKalb County Police De-partment is having difculty keep-ng enough ofcers on the force.

Interim Police ChiefLisa Gas-sner said the department is losingapproximately 10 ofcers eachmonth.

Currently we are understaffed,Gassner told the countys Boardof Commissioners during a budgetretreat Feb. 15 at Stone MountainPark. The proposed 2013 countybudget of DeKalb CEO BurrellEl-is has $1 million to hire 25 ofcers.

That would pay for half an

academy, Gassner said.ZacharyWilliams, the countyschief operating ofcer, said thecounty administration may have toask for another $1 million to fund afull police academy of 50 ofcers.

Currently, there is a policeacademy underway, but it takes ap-proximately a year for ofcers to

go through an academy and hit thestreets, Gassner said. The academyclass is expected to graduate inApril.

According to county ofcials,DeKalb has 1,128 authorized policedepartment positions but currentlyonly 953 are lled, leaving 175 va-cancies. The countys current bud-get only funds 30 of those positions.

Gassner said her Christmas listwould be to have four academieswith 50 ofcers eacha total of200 spots. Were only authorizedcurrently for the 30 thats in thebudget, Gassner said. And itwould be a year before we see anyof these ofcers.

Gassner said DeKalbs policeforce will also be affected by thepending Brookhaven police depart-ment.

Approximately 50-60 police of-cers will be reassigned to otherzones once the newly formed city ofBrookhaven begins its own policeforce later this year.

Before that occurs, the DeKalbpolice department will have lostapproximately 60 ofcers, Gassnersaid.

Commissioners said the policedepartment needs a stafng strategy.

We want a ve-year plan, saidCommissionerElaineBoyer topolice department representativesduring the retreat. What you havein your budget doesnt even look tothe future. There is no excuse forone academy a year.

We need to know why werelosing ofcers, Commission Ka-thie Gannon said, and what is thelevel of service we need forunin-corporated DeKalb.

CommissionerStan Watson saidthe DeKalb County Police Depart-ment has a reputation for runningone of the best police academies inthe state.

Weve got to talk about whywere losing these ofcers, Wat-son said. If we train them and theyleave, were going to have a revolv-

ing door. We cant just run themthrough the best academyandthey leave.

Watson said some ofcers aregoing to Clayton County, which hasan education assistance program forofcers.

Can you imagine our ofcersgoing to Clayton County? he said.

Gassner said there are a multi-tude of reasons why DeKalb of-cers are leaving the police force.

Some are just changing ca-reers, she said. Some are goingplaces where they can make moremoney. Some are going because ofeducational reasons; they want toimprove and we dont offer some-

thing like that. Some are going intoprivate business. A lot of it is cen-tered around the economy.

Williams told commissionersthat he would present a two-yearstafng strategy to the Board ofCommissioners budget vote onFeb. 26.

The appeal to the zoning boardwas made by DeKalb commissionersKathie Gannon and JeffRader and

he Druid Hills Civic Association.There was an appeal of an er-

oneous decision made by our ad-ministrative staff, Gannon sad.Unfortunately the board of appeals

did not look at those facts and madea motion to deny [the appeal].

Even though it was made

through some kind of decision [or]deal on the part of the CEOs ofce,there was no agreement of any kindthat we [commissioners] have everseen or ever been involved in, Gan-

non said.In July 2012, Ellis was named in

a lawsuit over a land displacement

permit for the proposed subdivision.Five months later, the county gaveBuckler permission to proceed with

part of the subdivision, and the law-suit was dropped.

The owner said he had led alawsuit against the CEO and thenagreed to drop it if they would settle

and give him a permit, MacGregorsaid. That doesnt seem like theright thing to do me. Is that the way

permits are now issued in DeKalbCounty?

Druid Hills Continued From Page 12A

nterim DeKalb County Police Chief Lisa Gassner told commissioners recently that the department is not hiring enough ofcers to maintain its stafng levels. File photo.


15/24

City Schools of Decatur AssociateSuperintendent Thomas Van Soelenaid approximately 25 percent of Col-ege Heights 340 pupils receive free oreduced lunches. However, a decade agohat number was closer to 70 percent.

Although Georgia maintains a lownationwide education rating, many of theapproximately 3,800 pre-K classroomsn the state are finding unique ways to

educate young children. Currently, thereare 84,000 pupils enrolled in Georgiaspre-K program.

Obama said College Heights isunique because each class combineschildren from different socioeconomicbackgrounds and children with disabili-ies.

Youre not seeing some of thattratification that leads to these major

achievement gaps, Obama said. Letsmake it a national priority.

The president said maintaining a

high-quality early childhood educationprogram would help improve gradua-ion rates, reduce teenage pregnancy andtrengthen the economy.

Additionally, Obama echoed remarkshe made in his State of the Union speechabout the importance of investing in thefields of science, technology, engineer-ng and math (STEM).

Our commitment to our kids edu-cation has to continue throughout theiracademic lives and equip them with theools they need to compete in the fu-ure, Obama said. Thats why were

working to train 100,000 new STEMeachers.

Although he said the country hasmade great strides in making higher edu-cation accessible for more Americans,Obama urged colleges to keep costs downor their federal funding could suffer.

Taxpayers cant keep on subsidiz-ng ever-escalating price tags for higher

education, Obama said. Once our kidsgraduate from high school, we need tomake sure that skyrocketing costs dontpush middle-class families out or saddlehem with debt.

Obama also told Congress to changehe Higher Education Act so that afford-

ability and value are included in deter-mining which colleges receive federalaid.

GregWhite, director of the DecaturActive Living Department, said havinghe president visit was a wonderful op-

portunity for the city, which he describedas very progressive.

It means a lot, White said. Wevealways maintained the school system re-ally well. We need to think about howo make things better for young people

education-wise so they can become pro-ductive citizensthats what the govern-ment is all about.

Obama applauded Georgia for mak-ng significant progress on its pre-K pro-

gram and said that the states efforts willensure its children will grow up with the

kills they needs in the workplace and ascitizens.In the end, thats what this is all

about, giving our kids the best possiblehot at life, Obama said.

City Schools of Decatur teachers, DeKalb County Commissioner Kathie Gannon, Congressman Hank Johnson (below,right) and other attendees greeted President Obama at the Decatur Recreation Center. Photos by Travis Hudgons

The Champion Free Press, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 Page 15ALocal News

Obama Continued From Page 1A


16/24

T Cap F P, Fa, F. 22, 2013 Pag 16AEducation

Music nonprot teaches underserved youth to enact social change

Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper


Middle school students invy Preps AMPlify program

were preparing to leave earlyFeb. 14 for a Valentines Daydance, but before they leftAtlanta Music Project directorAisha Bowden had them lineup into two rows.

Now were going topractice our solfeggio,

Bowden said. Solfeggio is ainging technique used to teachdifferent pitches.

The students soon began tolowly ascend the major scale,houting, do, re, mi, fa, so, la,i, do.

Now in its third year,he Atlanta Music ProjectAMP) has been providing

music education to youth inunderserved schools throughoutmetro Atlanta to enact socialchange. Bowden said thatwhat the students learn in theprogram goes far beyond aigorous musical education.

In the pursuit of musicalexcellence they will developkills that they can use later onn life, Bowden said. Theyllearn self-control, tenacity; all

of these character traits thatwill help develop them into abetter human beings.

AMP began by offeringorchestra programs and thisyear it also started its vocalprogram AMPlify. Each week,more than 150 students attendhree to ve two-hour classes

after school to learn voice

training, or how to play donatedclassical instruments.

Recently, Ivy PreparatoryAcademy in DeKalb Countyreceived a Steinway grandpiano, which was donatedto AMP by NordstromsDepartment Stores. Bowdensaid that the donatedinstruments are for all of thestudents to use, not just thoseparticipating in the AMPprogram.

They get really excited atrst when they see that brightshiny instrument, Bowdensaid.

Bowden said after theexcitement wears off thestudents have to focus theirenergies on undertaking arigorous music programtaught by instructors who areprofessional musicians andeducators in Atlanta.

The only thing required forthe classes is that the studentsshow up; there is a strictattendance policy and studentsare expected to attend every

class.The reason attendance

guidelines are so strict, Bowdensaid, is because although AMPaims to help students achieve ahigh level of success they arereceiving a musical educationthat they would otherwise haveto pay a great deal for.

Bowden taught in theWashington, D.C., publicschool system for nine yearsbefore moving back to Atlanta.She began as a volunteer forAMP in 2009 while she worked

as a middle school chorusteacher. Bowden then partneredwith AMP cofounderDantesRameau to form the choralprogram.

During their time at AMP,Bowden said students aretaught a range of things such ashow to read and write music,improvise, perform onstage ina choral ensemble or orchestra,and compose and arrangemusic.

We had our rst miniperformance the other day andsome of them already came tome with a condence to getin front of a crowd, Bowdensaid.

Bowden said some middleschool students have a hardertime performing in front of acrowd, but practicing it in AMPwill help them overcome thefear of giving speeches later inlife.

We create a family-likeatmosphere here, Bowdensaid.

Although the teachers are

paid a stipend, Bowden saidmany of them have mastersdegrees in performance andmusic education and they aresome of the best musicians inthe Metro Area.

They do this becausethey have a gift but they alsohave a passion for [helping]others, Bowden said. Webring the music to the studentsneighborhood and we try toknock down any access barriersto musical excellence.

Aisha Bowden, left, director of the Atlanta Music Project (AMP) works with a group of choral students, right and bottom, at Ivy Preparatory Academy in Kirkwood. Studentsnterested in the free program offers must adhere to a strict attendance policy.


17/24

T Cap F P, Fa, F. 22, 2013 Pag 17AEducation


DeKalb County Board ofEducation memberEugeneWalker relinquished his

position as board chair aftera lengthy executive sessionmeeting Feb. 18.

Walker said he wasresigning as chair and takinghis name out of the running

because it is in the bestinterest of the district.

I will be stepping downas chair and we will havean election for a new chair,Walker said. We will makewhatever sacrices necessaryto move us forward and moveus forward in a positive way.

The board also voted onseveral action items afteradjourning from executivesession. It hired former GeorgiaAttorney General ThurbertBaker to help develop andfacilitate a corrective action

plan in response to a letterfrom the districts accreditingagency, AdvancED.

The board also hired Dr.Valya S. Lee of Educatingwith Ease for training ongovernance issues.

In December 2012, theDeKalb County SchoolDistrict (DCSD) was placed onac

Documents

Champion Free Press 2-22-13