April 26, 2014
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Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News VOLUME 20 NUMBER 4 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM APRIL 26, 2014 FREE SERVING DEKALB, FULTON, GWINNETT, HENRY AND ROCKDALE COUNTIES n WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OCGNEWS DeKalb Deputy Chief Operating Officer Cedric Alexander See Jesse Jackson, page 7 By Joshua Smith D eKalb County police are continuing their investigation and monitoring social media sites for parties and other possible large gatherings, since a shooting erupted at Wade Walker Park in Stone Mountain on Easter Sunday. Police said more than 1,500 people were at the park when the melee broke out around 7 p.m. after police shut down an event promoted on social media as the “Big A** Cook-out.” Thousands of Instagram posts on social media show hundreds of young people smoking, dancing and partying. Trash and beer packages were strewn throughout the park. “They did not have the proper permits to operate in the park. A police officer on duty patrolling the park noticed the large crowd, immediately pulled the plug on the DJ and started shutting down the cookout,” said DeKalb Deputy Chief Operating Officer Cedric Alexander. “This kind of behavior is chaotic and it is not going to be tolerated in DeKalb.” Earlier that afternoon, an Easter egg hunt was held at the park, drawing hundreds of children and their families. The egg hunt, sponsored by DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson, ended at 5 p.m. just as the cookout was getting under way. At On Common Ground News’ deadline, police were still searching for the two men who began shooting after having a verbal altercation with another male. The pair began firing at the male who got in a car with two young women. The women, Chardonae Meeks and Mya Scott, both 19, were grazed by the bullets as the suspects opened fire. Police said the victims are believed to be from Stone Mountain and have been treated and released from Grady Hospital. “According to witnesses, a male with the victims got into an argument with a group of people. The argument led to the shooting as police officers were shutting down the cookout and hundreds of kids were walking to their vehicles,” said Captain S.R. Fore, a spokesman for the DeKalb Police Department. Three days after the shooting, DeKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton and DeKalb police hosted a community forum at Wade Walker YMCA, where the park is located, to address the issue and discuss ways to avoid similar problems in the future. “ “We had great participation from the community. People shared their ideas for improvement and police officers shared with the community what they are doing to avoid this in the future,” said Barnes Sutton, whose District 4 covers parts of Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Clarkston and Avondale Estates. “We also discussed some signs to look for when approaching an event like this. We want residents to know that they are safe, the park is a safe place to have fun and this event was not sanctioned by anyone. If the cookout promoters would have taken those steps to get the permits, you wouldn’t have had an incident with any neighbors, people drinking liquor, doing drugs and dancing on top of cars and most importantly, you wouldn’t have those two shooting victims. We will all have to do our part to avoid something like this happening again in our community.” Barnes Sutton says the county requires security guards and/or police officers, portable toilets and established section parking at sanctioned events. If none of these exists at a large event, police should be contacted. Anyone who has any information about the shooting should call 404-577-TIPS. You can remain anonymous and information leading to a successful arrest could lead to a reward of up to $2,000. Police investigating Easter shooting at Wade Walker Park Jesse Jackson gives McNair High students a message of hope By Joshua Smith F amed civil rights leader Jesse Jackson gave students at DeKalb County’s McNair High School an uplifting message just in time for the graduation season. “Students must make the right choices today. They say children are our future, but I disagree with that. The children are our right now,” Jackson told McNair’s student body. “Down with dope, up with hope. Kids need to realize their mind is a pearl, and they can learn anything in the world. You can be anything you want to be. If you apply yourself, there is nothing you can’t achieve. A teacher, engineer, a lawyer, you can be anything if you make achieving and making a contribution top priorities.” Jackson was in town on behalf of the civil and human rights group he founded in 1971, the Rainbow Push Coalition. He was on a mission to visit Fortune 500 companies and stakeholders in the Atlanta area to increase hiring opportunities for minorities. He said it was important to make a stop at the school because of its namesake. “Ronald McNair went to college with no money and asked professors and the dean to let him study there for free and told staff if he didn’t do well, they could kick him out immediately after the first semester. He obliviously did well. McNair later became an engineer, an astronaut and became one of the greatest minds of our age as a scientist and astronaut,” said Jackson. “His name alone embodies hope and the students here can learn a lot about the man that this school was named after.” McNair Principal LaKeisha Walker said Jackson’s message was just what her students needed to hear. “When Senator Gail Davenport told me Mr. Jackson had some free time, I had to make sure we were available to welcome him with open arms. Our students needed to hear a message of hope, a message that preaches the benefits of a quality education,” said Walker. “I was glad he (Jackson) touched on those issues and more. Anytime we can offer encouragement to our students, especially from a dignitary like this, we have to be all ears.” Sen. Davenport, who represents Georgia’s D-44, covering Clayton and DeKalb counties, was able to bring Jackson to McNair, which is in her The above Instagram photo shows young people partying on Easter Sunday at Wade Walker Park in Stone Mountain.
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The April 26th edition of On Common Ground News
Transcript of April 26, 2014
Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News
VOLUME 20 NUMBER 4 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM APRIL 26, 2014 FREE
SERVING DEKALB, FULTON, GWINNETT, HENRY AND ROCKDALE COUNTIES n WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OCGNEWS
DeKalb Deputy Chief Operating Officer Cedric Alexander
See Jesse Jackson, page 7
Paid for by Tom Brown for Congress Treasurer George Coletti
By Joshua Smith
DeKalb County police are continuing their investigation and monitoring social
media sites for parties and other possible large gatherings, since a shooting erupted at Wade Walker Park in Stone Mountain on Easter Sunday.
Police said more than 1,500 people were at the park when the melee broke out around 7 p.m. after police shut down an event promoted on social media as the “Big A** Cook-out.” Thousands of Instagram posts on social media show hundreds of young people smoking, dancing and partying. Trash and beer packages were strewn throughout the park.
“They did not have the proper permits to operate in the park. A police officer on duty patrolling the park noticed the large crowd, immediately pulled the plug on the DJ and started shutting down the cookout,” said DeKalb Deputy Chief Operating Officer Cedric Alexander. “This kind of behavior is chaotic and it is not going to be tolerated in DeKalb.”
Earlier that afternoon, an Easter egg hunt was held at the park, drawing hundreds of children and their families. The egg hunt, sponsored by DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson, ended at 5 p.m. just as the cookout was getting under way.
At On Common Ground News’ deadline, police were still searching for the two men who began
shooting after having a verbal altercation with another male. The pair began firing at the male who got in a car with two young women. The women, Chardonae Meeks and Mya Scott, both 19, were grazed by the bullets as the suspects opened fire. Police said the victims are believed to be from Stone Mountain and have been treated and released from Grady Hospital.
“According to witnesses, a male with the victims got into an argument with a group of people. The argument led to the shooting as police officers were shutting down the cookout and hundreds of kids were walking to their vehicles,” said Captain
S.R. Fore, a spokesman for the DeKalb Police Department.
Three days after the shooting, DeKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton and DeKalb police hosted a community forum at Wade Walker YMCA, where the park is located, to address the issue and discuss ways to avoid similar problems in the future. “
“We had great participation from the community. People shared their ideas for improvement and police officers shared with the community what they are doing to avoid this in the future,” said Barnes Sutton, whose District 4 covers parts of Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Clarkston and Avondale Estates. “We also discussed some signs to look for when approaching an event like this. We want residents to know that they are safe, the park is a safe place to have fun and this event was not sanctioned by anyone. If the cookout promoters would have taken those steps to get the permits, you wouldn’t have had an incident with any neighbors, people drinking liquor, doing drugs and dancing on top of cars and most importantly, you wouldn’t have those two shooting victims. We will all have to do our part to avoid something like this happening again in our community.”
Barnes Sutton says the county requires security guards and/or police officers, portable toilets and established section parking at sanctioned events. If none of these exists at a large event, police should be contacted.
Anyone who has any information about the shooting should call 404-577-TIPS. You can remain anonymous and information leading to a successful arrest could lead to a reward of up to $2,000.
Police investigating Easter shooting at Wade Walker Park
Jesse Jackson gives McNair High students a message of hope By Joshua Smith
Famed civil rights leader Jesse Jackson gave students at DeKalb County’s McNair High School an uplifting message just
in time for the graduation season. “Students must make the right
choices today. They say children are our future, but I disagree with that. The children are our right now,” Jackson told McNair’s student body. “Down with dope, up with hope. Kids need to realize their mind is a pearl, and they can learn anything in the world. You can be anything you want to be. If you apply yourself, there is nothing you can’t achieve. A teacher, engineer, a lawyer, you can be anything if you make achieving and making a contribution top priorities.”
Jackson was in town on behalf of the civil and human rights group he founded in 1971, the Rainbow Push Coalition. He was on a mission to visit Fortune 500 companies and stakeholders in the Atlanta area to increase hiring opportunities for minorities. He said it was important to make a stop at the school because of its namesake.
“Ronald McNair went to college with no money and asked professors and the dean to let him study there for free and told staff if he didn’t do well, they could kick him out immediately after the first semester. He obliviously
did well. McNair later became an engineer, an astronaut and became one of the greatest minds of our age as a scientist and astronaut,” said Jackson. “His name alone embodies hope and the students here can learn a lot about the man that this school was named after.”
McNair Principal LaKeisha Walker said Jackson’s message was just what
her students needed to hear. “When Senator Gail Davenport told
me Mr. Jackson had some free time, I had to make sure we were available to welcome him with open arms. Our students needed to hear a message of hope, a message that preaches the benefits of a quality education,” said Walker. “I was glad he (Jackson) touched on those issues and more.
Anytime we can offer encouragement to our students, especially from a dignitary like this, we have to be all ears.”
Sen. Davenport, who represents Georgia’s D-44, covering Clayton and DeKalb counties, was able to bring Jackson to McNair, which is in her
The above Instagram photo shows young people partying on Easter Sunday at Wade Walker Park in Stone Mountain.
PAGE 2 APRIL 26, 2014
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APRIL 26, 2014 PAGE 3
LIKE US ON:
APRIL 26, 2014 VOLUME 20, NO. 4
EDITOR/PUBLISHERValerie J. Morgan
GENERAL MANAGERGlenn L. Morgan
STAFF WRITER Joshua Smith
ADVERTISING MANAGER Richard S. Hill
ABOUT US On Common Ground News is published weekly by On Common Ground, Inc. The newspaper serves DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Rockdale and Henry counties. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher or the newspaper’s advertisers.
No portion of this newspaper may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher.
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As the CEO of DeKalb County, I:• Managed the county's largest law enforcement agency• Developed DeKalb County's annual public safety budget• Created the DeKalb County Police Foundation to provide a $100,000 life insurance policy for every officer• Established the Nation's rst local office of Homeland Security•• Formed the DeKalb Emergency Management Agency (DEMA)
As your next Sheriff, I will:• Reassign sworn deputies from administrative roles to the streets• Go after criminals who prey on our seniors, women, and children• Partner with the schools and courts to reduce truancy and daytime burglaries• Streamline internal operations to improve efficiency•• Augment and support law enforcement agencies across DeKalb
www.VernonJonesForSheriff.com(404) 957-3627
DeKalb County will go to once-a-week pickups for trash and recyclables starting the week of April 28 in several residential communities.
The three-month pilot program is designed to test consolidating collections of all garbage and recyclables to one day per week. The pilot includes 28,000 households throughout DeKalb County. Included are areas of unincorporated DeKalb, and portions of Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody, and Lithonia.
Affected households have already been notified by mail about the program. Most of them have already received a new 65-gallon roll carts container, as well as literature explaining the program and its objectives. For pilot participants, the once-a-week collections will all occur on their current recycling day
Residents who have been selected for the pilot program will have their garbage, recycling, and yard trimmings all collected on the same day in separate containers. Garbage will be collected in the aforementioned 65 gallon green roll cart container, recycling in the 18-gallon recycling bins and blue bags, and yard trimmings in customer supplied paper bags or other appropriate containers.
The new containers also allow the
DeKalb Sanitation Division to test new semi- and fully-automated equipment on sanitation trucks. The current method of manual collection of garbage requires frequent lifting in conditions that often cause injuries to employees and put them at risk of handling potentially sharp objects
such as broken glass and potentially harmfully chemicals. Through the use of the new carts, lifting movements will be reduced and exposure to collectors from potentially harmfully contents of garbage will be limited, reducing costs from accidents and injuries, county official say.
This depicts the proper method for placing various materials for collection in the pilot program area. At left, garbage in the 65-gallon green container, recycling in the blue bins and bags, and yard waste in paper containers at right.
DeKalb launches once-a-week sanitation pilot program
The deadline to apply to serve as a LAUNCH summer intern (Leadership Achievement Using New Collegians at Home) is Wednesday, April 30. The paid internship, offered by Rockdale County Tax Commissioner RJ Hadley, provides students the opportunity to develop workplace and leadership skills, while
serving the citizens of Rockdale. Starting in June, LAUNCH interns will provide support to the Rockdale County Tax Commissioner’s Office and assistance to the Tax Commissioner during engagements in the community. Responsibilities include executing general office duties, assisting with events,
developing initiatives, and providing other support as needed. Students and recent graduates of Georgia colleges and universities are eligible to participate. Preference will be given to Rockdale County applicants. To apply, visit www.rockdalecounty.org.
Rockdale tax office offers summer internship to college students
PAGE 4 APRIL 26, 2014
Coming Up
Live Healthy Gwinnett, a program of the county’s Parks and Recreation Department, will host a free event, “Pop Up Park,” on Saturday, April 26, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., at Eastside Medical Center, 1700 Medical Way, Snellville.
Attendees can enjoy stretching, gardening tips, disc golf games and face painting. The event will offer inflatables for children to enjoy, free health screenings, a rock-climbing wall, physician lectures and live music from local artists. Food trucks will be on site as well. http://livehealthygwinnett.com.
Live Healthy Gwinnett invites all to “Pop-Up Park”
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Jumper Jacks Essay ContestJumper Jacks Essay ContestMarch 10 – June 9
1. Online at Jumperjacks.com under Jumper Jacks Essay Contest link2. Email to [email protected]. Jumper Jacks Essay Contest • PO Box 725246 • Atlanta, GA 31139
Entry is $5 per participant. There are three ways to enter:
Parents, teachers, family, friends, and community leaders, and community members are asked to register participants ages 10-19 in the Jumper Jacks Essay Contest for a chance to win $150, $100, $50, and $25, plus official Jumper Jacks Merchandise, publication, and free admission to a Jumper Jacks Writing Workshop. All participants will be invited to an awards ceremony at the end of the contest. Participants are asked to write a 1-2 page essay answering the question, “Who Am I”?We want to know who you are, what your interests are, what you want to be, and anything else that tells us about you.
DEKALB Extension office focuses on eye care and diabetes
The DeKalb County Extension Office will offer a free workshop, “More than Meets the Eye: Eye Health and Diabetes,” on Tuesday, April 29, 6:15 p.m.
The workshop will focus on managing diabetes to preserve vision and eyesight. Other topics include cooking tips for those living with diabetes, meal planning and how to exercise with diabetes.
Participants are asked to reserve a seat in advance by calling 404-298-4080.
Library, Decatur Housing Authority to host health fair The DeKalb County Public Library System and the Decatur Housing Authority
will host the “Collaborative Health Fair: Get Fit @ Your Library,” on Tuesday, May 6, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Oliver House, 1450 Commerce Drive, Decatur.
Adults 18 and older are invited to meet representatives from the DeKalb Medical Center, Diabetes Association of Atlanta, American Heart Association, Emory University and other medical groups to learn about services and get free health screenings such as blood pressure checks.
For more information, call 404.508.7190, ext. 2257.
ATLANTATire recycling event set for Atlanta’s District 5
Atlanta Councilmember Natalyn Archibong is inviting residents of District 5 to participate in the 13th Annual District 5 Tire Round-Up on Saturday, April 26, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 815 Old Flat Shoals Road, S.E., Atlanta.
The communities of East Lake, East Atlanta, Kirkwood, Lake Claire, Edgewood, Reynoldstown, Old Fourth Ward, Sweet Auburn and Cabbagetown are invited to take part by dropping off discarded rim-free tires free of charge.
“The Tire Round-Up is very important for the City of Atlanta,” said Archibong. “It is a great opportunity to clean up illegal dumping sites around our neighborhoods. By working together as a community, we can diminish the health hazards and the dangers associated with these sites. In addition, rainwater that collects in abandoned tires will create breeding grounds for mosquitoes.”
The tire event is for residents in Atlanta’s District 5, only. 404-330-6048.
Learn the tips to mastering credit The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System’s central library, One Margaret
Mitchell Square, Atlanta, will host a free workshop on mastering credit on Tuesday, April 29, 3 – 5 p.m.
“Financial Solutions” radio talk show host Rob Wilson will discuss how to build a 750+ credit score without writing letters and how to do it within 24 months.
The workshop kicks off a series of financial classes at the library. On May 13, the library will host “Managing Your Money.” The series concludes on June 24 with “Taking Control Now.” 404-730-1875.
GWINNETTCounty celebrates National Drinking Water Week
In celebration of National Drinking Water Week, Gwinnett County’s Department of Water Resources will welcome the public to the county plant for tours and activities.
The event takes place on Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Shoal Creek Filter Plant, 1755 Buford Dam Road, Buford. The event will include a tour of the filter plant, activities for kids, and free refreshments. 678-376-4200.
ROCKDALE
Drumming circle to perform in Olde Town Olde Town will come alive Hosted by the Conyers-Rockdale Council for the
Arts, a community-drumming circle will take place on Friday, May 2, 7 – 8:30 p.m., weather permitting.
The drum circle takes place in the Lewis Vaughn Botanical Gardens off of Commercial Street in Olde Town Conyers and is hosted to promote community awareness, goodwill and positive energy.
The event is free. No vendors or alcohol allowed. For more information, contact Jackie Sprague at 770-922-3143 or visit the council online at www.conyersarts.org or on Facebook.
APRIL 26, 2014 PAGE 5
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Rockdale launches Sheriff’s Citizens AcademyThe Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is seeking
participants for its newly-revamped Sheriff’s Citizens Academy, a 14-week program that provides hands-on training and an up-close look at the RCSO.
Sheriff Eric J. Levett announced the new academy will start on May 6. The free program, open to Rockdale County adults 18 and older, will be held every Tuesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m., ending on Aug. 5.
“I, along with numerous members of my staff, have been working on enhancing the Sheriff’s Citizens Academy for months now. I am very pleased with the newly enhanced version, and I am excited to roll it out as the first Sheriff’s Citizens Academy since I became Sheriff,” said Levett, who took office in 2013. “While the Sheriff’s Citizens Academy is designed to educate residents, it also gives our residents an opportunity to interact with and to get to know the men and women of the RCSO.”
Citizens will learn about the various responsibilities of the bureaus at the RCSO. The newly enhanced Academy will no longer be limited to the classroom. Participants also will get firearms training and act out a mock crime scene and a criminal trial as part of the 14-week course.
The Sheriff’s Citizens Academy is limited to 25 people. The deadline for applications is May 1. Applications can be picked up at the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office or by e-mailing [email protected]. Applications can be hand-delivered to the RCSO or mailed to the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, Attention: Investigator Reents, 911 Chambers Drive, Conyers, GA 30012.
DeKalb, DJ Greg Street partner to host youth summit DeKalb County’s Office of Youth Services and V103 radio
personality Greg Street are teaming up to host a Teen Summit on Youth Violence and Social Media.
The summit is set for Thursday, May 1, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur.
“In light of recent events at Wade Walker Park, the summit will give our young people a voice at the table about teen violence—a local and national issue—that we must address here in our own community,” said DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May. “We must invest in our youth and provide the tools to help them identify and prevent this destructive behavior.”
The summit will promote awareness, identify resources, and engage the community to help foster a commitment to ending teen violence. DeKalb County high school students are invited to join DeKalb County officials, and special celebrity and community guests to share their thoughts and learn about youth violence. Students will also have the opportunity to speak with vendors about summer employment opportunities.
Seating is limited and registration is encouraged. To register, visit http://bit.ly/1nDgI2B.
STEM open house to showcase 3-D printing and animation
DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson will welcome technology professional, Dhata Harris, at an open house showcasing 3-D printing demo and animation using an Xbox.
The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) open house will take place Tuesday, April 29, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at DeKalb’s Exchange Park Intergenerational Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur.
Dhata Harris is the founder of the nonprofit, The Enitiative Group. His organization’s mission is to empower minorities and underprivileged youths with greater earning potential and informational access through the use of electronic media, the internet, and other technological resources.
“Mr. Harris has already done an exceptional job with youth at New Life Christian Academy of Excellence,” states Commissioner Johnson. “This event will allow him to expand on that presentation by sharing another program showcasing 3-D technology and animation. He will be utilizing the latest version of the MakerBot 3-D printer, keeping him on the cutting edge of the latest technological advancements. This is an amazing benefit to our young people. I look forward to as many of them as possible coning out and taking advantage.”
Exchange Park is home to the newest STEM Center in DeKalb’s District 3, thanks to Commissioner Johnson’s partnership with the Goodwill Community Foundation (GCF) Learn Free programs. These programs, hosted by Power My Learning and a host of Microsoft technology, provide learning opportunities to anyone who wants to improve the technology, literacy and math skills needed to be successful in both, work and life. For more information, call 404-371-2425.
Rep. Johnson announces $3.2 million to help homeless
Three DeKalb County organizations will receive more than $3.2 million from the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to fight homelessness.
Jerusalem House received $215,000, Project Open Arms $450,000 and Caring Works received more than $600,000 to provide housing and support services for the homeless and their families.
Congressman Hank Johnson, District 4, announced the grants as part of nearly $1.6 billion HUD has committed to renew support for 7,100 housing service programs for the homeless.
“While I’m pleased these grants have been made available to our local agencies fighting homelessness, sequestration has hampered our efforts to put the country on a path to end veterans and chronic homelessness as well as to end homelessness among children, family, and youth,” said Johnson. “We must do more to help citizens get back on their feet.”
PAGE 6 APRIL 26, 2014
DeKalb Early College Academy ranks No. 1 in state on performanceDeKalb Early College Academy, a joint venture
between Georgia Perimeter College and the DeKalb County School District, was named the top school in the state in the most recent College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).
The Georgia Department of Education released results earlier this week for the 2013 CCRPI, with the DeKalb Early College Academy scoring the state’s highest rating of 99.3 from 110 possible points. The CCRPI overall score for Georgia high schools is 72. For middle schools, the overall score was 75; and for elementary schools, it was 78.5.
The performance index measures how well K-12 public schools fare in terms of standardized test scores, academic progress, graduation rates and closing the achievement gap between different groups of students. Last year, the DOE cited DECA for having the highest graduation rate among high schools in DeKalb County based on 2012 data.
DeKalb Early College enables high school students from underrepresented groups to spend their first two years of high school at the academy campus in Stone Mountain and their final two years of high school at Georgia Perimeter College’s Clarkston Campus. These students earn high school and college credits simultaneously through dual enrollment. Of this year’s 37 academy graduates, 16 also will graduate from Georgia Perimeter College with associate degrees in May.
“I am proud of the partnership with GPC and DECA,” said Kathryn Hall, GPC’s DECA program coordinator. “I am thankful to the GPC staff and professors who assist and inspire the students with not only the completion but also the level of success they achieve in their 11th and 12th grade years at GPC. The fact that DECA students are able to earn over 48 hours of college credits before graduating from high school is a huge benefit and contributing factor to the high score in the CCRPI.”
A second DeKalb school, the DeKalb School of the Arts, scored in the top five of Georgia¹s 447 high schools on the reformulated CCRPI.
“We are encouraged that DeKalb is the only district in the state to have two high schools in the top five,” said Superintendent Michael Thurmond. “We have planted the seeds for far more academic growth and achievement throughout our
school system and we expect for them to bear fruit in coming years in this and other critical measurements.”
Three of DeKalb’s elementary schools Wadsworth, Austin and Kittredge placed in the top 25 of the state’s more than 2,000 elementary schools. Several other DeKalb schools showed remarkable improvements as the reformulated CCRPI placed greater emphasis on academic progress. Cedar Grove, a Title I high school with seven of 10 students
from low-income families, posted significant gains, as did Clarkston High School and Cross Keys, which have high percentages of English Language Learners.
“The DeKalb County School District is placing a greater emphasis on academic growth and achievement just as the state has recalibrated its performance index to do the same,” said Thurmond. “We are proud of students, parents, teachers and staff and we’re confident that our progress will continue.”
The Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection is warning consumers about a timeshare resale scam in which scammers falsely claim that they are representatives of Georgia Escrow Services Inc.
Here is how the scam typically works:
Consumers who own vacation timeshares in Mexico receive a phone call from someone allegedly working for a travel company. The caller tells the consumer that there is a buyer interested in purchasing the consumer’s timeshare property. The caller then explains that Georgia Escrow Services Inc. will act as the escrow agent. While the timeshare sale is supposedly pending, the company posing as Georgia Escrow Services adds previously undisclosed fees and/or taxes, which consumers pay upfront via wire transfers. Consumers are told these fees include a mandatory tax imposed by the Mexican Government. However, research reveals the Mexican government does not require this tax. In addition, the company collects other fees from the sellers until the sales eventually fall through. The consumers are then unable to recuperate their money. One consumer lost over $100,000 in this scam.
While there is a legitimate
company called Georgia Escrow Services, it has nothing to do with timeshare sales or vacation travel packages, nor does it market its services to consumers. Scammers, who appear to be located outside the United States, have hijacked this business’ identity to perpetrate the fraud. By filing fraudulent documents with the Secretary of State the scammers have amended the company’s official contact information and officers to reflect the scammers’ contact information and fake identities.
They have created a fake website, www.GaEscrow.com, which lists the principals’ names as the stolen identities the scammers are using. The scammers even present the consumer with fraudulent surety bonds, so consumers think they have a guarantee of getting their money back if the sale falls through. This all makes it so that a consumer investigating the company online or with the Secretary of State is led to believe that the Georgia Escrow Services they are communicating with is legitimate.
Consumers who believe they have been victims of this scam should contact the Federal Trade Commission by visiting the web site:https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
• If you are trying to sell your timeshare, keep in mind the following tips and warnings: A request to wire money in connection with a timeshare resale or rental is a big sign of fraud. Once the money is wired, there is almost no chance of recovering it.
• Be suspicious of any uninvited solicitations or offers to buy or resell your timeshare, particularly those that seem “too good to be true.” If you are considering such an offer, contact your timeshare resort or timeshare developer, who may be aware of a new or ongoing scam and the legitimacy of a particular person or entity. In addition, there may be significant restrictions on sales, transfers or rentals that you may not have been aware of.
• Avoid paying money to a reseller upfront. If possible, find a reseller that takes its fee after the timeshare is sold. If you must pay a fee in advance, ask about refunds. Get refund policies and promises in writing.
• Be wary of high-pressure sales tactics; they often indicate a scam.
• Ask your resort’s developer, resort
manager or owner’s association if they have a newsletter, website or bulletin board where owners can advertise their timeshare for resale.
For more information, contact Shawn Conroy, Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection, at 404-656-3790.
State officials warn consumers to beware of Timeshare resale scheme
OCGNEWS
LIVING WELL HEALTH AND BEAUTY EXPOMark your calendar for the Living
Well Health and Beauty Expo on Saturday, May. 10, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Lou Walker Center, 2538 Panola Rd. Lithonia, GA 30058.
The entire family is invited to enjoy a day promoting healthy living. The Expo will offer free health screenings, free samples, door prizes, professional makeovers, consultations, body wraps, facials, fitness clinics, health exhibits, and a children’s interactive pavilion.
Vendor and exhibit opportunities are still available. For more information, call Tamara Mack-Cox at 678-768-0890.
• Team 3, www.team3personaltraining.com• Utley Chiropractic, Decatur• Belk• Jam in the Now Productions• Allstate, Moses Cowart Agency, Conyers• Bodies, The Exhibition• ARMSPA–Adonica’s Renewal Majestic Spa, Conyers
APRIL 26, 2014 PAGE 7
Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News
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ELECTIONS 2014Meet BOE candidates on Leadership DeKalb’s online voter video project Leadership DeKalb has received a $25,000 grant from The Community
Foundation for Greater Atlanta to fund It’s For Them, DeKalb, a voter education project for the county’s upcoming Board of Education (BOE) elections.
Leadership DeKalb used the grant to inform the public on the county’s Board of Education candidates through nonpartisan online videos, candidate questionnaires and live forums. The online videos went live on April 22.
Additional voter information, such as how and where to vote, will be available on the project’s website, www.itsforthemdekalb.org.
“We appreciate the opportunity to work with The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to help inform DeKalb County citizens on one of the most important elections this year on May 20,” said Ron Alston, chair of Leadership DeKalb. “At the end of the day, youth matters most. By helping voters make well-informed choices on future leadership, we are working to ensure that the youth of DeKalb County have a quality education.”
Leadership DeKalb is partnering with the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Junior League of DeKalb County, Parents Council United and South DeKalb Improvement Alliance to sponsor a forum for Districts 5 through 7 School Board seats on Tuesday, April 29, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur.
The forum will be moderated by Linda Torrence, principal/chief executive officer of Torrence Management/Communications, LLC.
Candidates from Districts 2 through 4 participated in a forum on April 22 at the Tull Auditorium at Emory University School of Law, 1301 Clifton Road. Both forums are free and open to the public. No registration is needed.
For more information, contact Leadership DeKalb at [email protected] or 404-373-2491.
Rockdale Blue Academy helps Democrats prep for elections
The Rockdale Democratic Party will continue its “Blue Rockdale Academy,” a series of workshops designed to get voters and volunteers ready for the May 20 election. County Tax Commissioner RJ Hadley, who is leading the free workshops, will cover Campaign Public Relations and Media Communications on April 28, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and Political Fundraising Basics on April 29, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Classes are held at the Rockdale Democrats’ headquarters, 1264 Parker Road, Conyers.
Registration is required. Classes are free, but the Party requests you register by the Sunday before the scheduled class date. No phone or email registrations. You must register individually. No joint/group registrations. To register, text message your name, email address and desired class dates to 770-648-4859.
district, because she worked with Jackson for the Rainbow Push Coalition. “I was so elated that Jesse Jackson could come to McNair. It’s always a good
thing to have Jessie at a school because he is very engaging with students and offers so many valuable words of encouragement such as: The ground is no place for a champion, pick yourself up and dust yourself off for something better,” said Davenport. “Jesse Jackson, who is a civil rights giant, is a perfect example that it doesn’t matter where you come from. You can be anything you want to be if you are willing to pay the price and put in the required work to get there.”
Tiara Brooks, the school’s junior class president, said Jackson’s visit was a living-history lesson.
“We just learned about Jesse Jackson in February for Black History Month, so after I found out he was coming, I researched him more and all I can say is wow, he has done so much for our community and this nation,” said Brooks, who is 17. “My whole family was excited when they found out I would be introducing him. We consider it an honor.”
Jesse Jacksoncontinued from page 1
Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson is joined by DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, State Sen. Gail Davenport, DeKalb County School Board member Michael Erwin and McNair High students before his inspirational speech on April 23 in Atlanta.
PAGE 8 APRIL 26, 2014
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We Worship Faith-Based News & InspirationFor more church news, visit
ChurchesNow.com
First ladies and ministers’ wives in the metro Atlanta area are invited to an empowerment summit that will be held May 17 at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast, 5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross.
“We are excited and looking forward to women coming together for a dynamic and inspirational panel discussion and praise and worship to edify the body of Christ,” said Minister Jeanette Cody of Greenforest Community Baptist Church in Decatur, who is one of the event’s organizers. “First ladies and ministers’ wives play a very important role in ministry and we want to pour back into their lives for the sacrifices that they make every day.”
Rev. Dr. Elaine M. Flake, co pastor of the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral, Jamaica, N.Y., will be the keynote speaker for the summit. Internationally-acclaimed gospel singer Babbie Mason will lead praise and worship. A plated breakfast will be served and pastoral/ministerial widows will be recognized at the event.
The deadline for registration is May 3. Tickets for the event are $49. To register, contact:Beverly Pigg, First Lady, Philadelphia Baptist Church, Conyers: 404-370-2650Maudriella Mason, First Lady, Providence Baptist Church, Marietta: 770-823-2091Minister Jeanette Cody, Greenforest Community Baptist Church: 404-402-3046
Fulton schools, faith leaders to unite for forum
First Ladies and Ministers’ Wives Summit set for May
Fulton County Schools’ officials and
faith leaders will meet Thursday, May 1, for a half-day forum aimed at creating partnerships between schools and houses of worship.
Superintendent Robert Avossa, principals, school board members, and other district leaders will lead the discussions, which will focus on how the faith community can partner with the school system to help students thrive.
The event will be held 9 a.m. to noon at Stonecreek Church, 13540 Highway 9 North in Milton. Registration and networking begins at 8:30 a.m.
There will be breakout sessions
and a panel discussion on the issues faced by schools, as well as information on services offered by the school system to support students’ emotional and educational needs.
“Our faith houses – churches, synagogues and others, for example – offer unique ways to reach families within our community. They often can break through the barriers that our teachers or adults in the schools can’t,” said Superintendent Avossa.
“It’s a natural, synergistic partnership for our schools and houses of worship to work together. I look forward to the commitment activity at the end of this year’s summit where faith leaders will share their “One Thing” that will help our students thrive.”
This faith summit will mark the third that the district has held. Last year’s event drew more than 300 attendees and resulted in several new partnerships, such as the ones between
Roswell North Elementary School, First Baptist Church of Roswell and Zion Missionary Baptist Church. The churches support students through mentoring programs, donations of school supplies, and preparing “backpack meals,” where food is sent home to disadvantaged families.
In South Fulton, the senior pastor at Kingdom of God International Ministry coordinates a pre-trial diversion program where faith leaders work with teens who are first-time offenders in trouble with the law. Faith leaders work with the students on goal-setting, decision-making, accountability, leadership development and conflict management, and make recommendations on their progress to judges in Fulton County’s magistrate court.
The Faith Summit is free to attend. Registration may be made at www.2014faithsummit.eventbrite.com.
Fairfield sets Mothers’ Day brunch
Fairfield Baptist Church, 6133 Redan Road, Lithonia, is hosting a Mothers’ Day brunch program on Saturday, May 10, 11 a.m.
Fairfield’s First Lady Y’vonne Benton and the church’s Wings Ministry are encouraging all women to come together for a special fellowship honoring mothers, mother figures and mothers-to-be.
State Rep. Dee Haigler will be the special guest speaker and Leslie Pace of the Pace Sisters will be the guest soloist.
Tickets are $25. For more information, call 770-482-7660, ext. 0 or e-mail: [email protected].
Superintendent Robert Avossa
“�Our�faith�houses�–�churches,�synagogues�and�others,�for�example�–�offer�unique�ways�to�reach�families�within�our�community.�They�often�can�break�through�the�barriers�that�our�teachers�or�adults�in�the�schools�can’t.”
APRIL 26, 2014 PAGE 9
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Seniors News for our Senior Community
GOT NEWS FOR SENIORS?In this new section, we are spotlighting seniors who are celebrating
milestones, as well as those who are active in the community, their churches, civic organizations and social clubs. We want to know about seniors who inspire you and are making a difference in our lives. We want to know about events, forums and other news that impacts seniors so that we can continue building a better community.
We encourage you to pitch story ideas and submit events for our seniors’ calendar.
Feel free to e-mail us at [email protected] or call for questions: 678-526-1910.
Senior Connections, which provides programs designed to help seniors “age in place” in the comfort of their homes, has sold out its Senior Prom and awards program set for May 2 at the Thalia N. Carolos Hellenic Center in Decatur.
David Ratcliffe, the retired chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company, has been selected to receive the 2014 Community Connections Award at the event. Lori Geary, WSB-TV political reporter, will serve as the evening’s emcee.
“We are pleased that the event is sold out. However, we still continue to need help from our donors, friends and partners,” said Debra Furtado, Senior Connections’ Chief Executive Officer. “As per Mr. Ratcliffe’s wish, proceeds raised will go toward fighting senior hunger in Metro Atlanta and Middle Georgia. Our goal this year is to raise $200,000 through a combination of corporate sponsorships, event tickets, silent auction sales and general donations.”
The presenting sponsor for the event is Fidelity Bank. Generation
Mortgage is the Champion sponsor. Additional sponsors include: Silverman Construction Program Management, Georgia Power, United Distribution, SunTrust, Georgia Natural Gas, Troutman Sanders, Ernst & Young, Emory Alliance Credit Union, Brooks, McGinnis & Company, LLC, Humana and BNY Mellon.
Established in 2009, the Community Connections Award recognizes older adults who have been, and continue to be, outstanding business and community leaders, and who have given back significantly to the communities in which they live and work. Previous recipients include former Decatur Mayor Elizabeth Wilson, former DeKalb County CEO Liane Levetan, Fidelity Bank Chairman Jim Miller, and last year’s honorees, Mr. and Mrs. Arnie Silverman of Silverman Construction Program Management.
A silent auction will be held at the event. Silent auction website is active for pre-bidding and pre-viewing at http://bidpal.net/2014SeniorProm.
DeKalb For Seniors, Inc. announces “Senior of the Year” finalists
DeKalb for Seniors, Inc. has named 12 finalists for its 2014 Senior of the Year awards.
The Senior of the Year, second and third place winners will be announced at the Theresa Walker Senior of the Year Silver Gala Awards, which will be held Saturday, May 3, noon, at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Lithonia.
Radio gospel giant Larry Tinsley, host of V-103/WAOK’s Sunday Morning Praise, will serve as master of ceremonies for the luncheon.
DeKalb For Seniors, Inc. is the nonprofit organization that serves as the fundraising and advocacy arm for the Lou Walker Senior Center, which serves active seniors 55 and older.
This year’s finalists are:
• Elayne W.Hunter, nominated by Congressman Hank Johnson
• Jessie Greene, nominated by Ousley United Methodist Church
• Elder Lula Levy, nominated by Commissioner Stan Watson and New Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church
• Colonel Hank Woolard, nominated by the Rev. Mary Lou Gilbert
• Iula Wright, nominated by DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson
• Dorothy M. Spencer-Amey, nominated by Anderson Welch, Sr.
• Mary Oneita Randall, nominated by Antioch A.M.E. Church
• J.D. Hall, nominated by Conneva Hall and members of the Lou Walker Senior Center
• Vivian Granger, nominated by Constance Talford
• Delores Orr, nominated by Eula Hill
• Arlene Fitts Winfrey, nominated by Dr. Richard Shaw and Trust Zetta
• Martha P. Epps, nominated by the City of Lithonia and Mayor Deborah Jackson
Individual tickets for the awards luncheon are $30 or $240 for tables of eight. For more information, call Donna Dees at 678-982-9805.
Senior Connections’ prom fundraiser is sold out
Larry Tinsley
PAGE 10 APRIL 26, 2014
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Business News
DeKalb Chamber sets Business Financial and Growth Symposium
The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce will host a Business Financial and Growth Symposium on Wednesday, May 7, 8:30 – 11 a.m. at Georgia Perimeter College, 555 North Indian Creek Drive, Building CN-220, Room 222, Clarkston.
Presenters from the Small Business Administration, the Small Business Development Center and Cornerstone Bank, will discuss: available programs for veterans, 7(a) loan programs, as well as small business assistance and resource programs.
The symposium is free to attend. Registration and breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m. The forum begins as 9 a.m.
For more information or to register, contact Katerina Taylor at 404-378-8000, ext. 225 or email [email protected].
The Conyers-Rockdale Chamber, which offers the public annual trips to the Far East, is adding
Germany and the Azores Islands to its heavily stamped passports.
The Chamber is encouraging anyone who wants to go—even those who live outside of Rockdale County—to sign up, said Chamber President Fred Boscarino. Last year, travelers from Georgia, New York, New Jersey and even California took the trip with the Chamber to China.
“These are some great trips. Both are great ways to take an international vacation,” said Boscarino. “There will be planned activities and plenty of free time for sightseeing and shopping.”
The trip to Austria and Germany is planned for Sept. 19 – 27. The cost for the nine-day excursion is $3,049 per person, double occupancy. For single occupancy, add $499. The trip will take off from Atlanta for round-trip airfare to Innsbruck. After arriving in Innsbruck, the host destination of the 1964 and
1976 Olympic Winter Games, travelers will enjoy superb accommodations and enjoy some 160 restaurants, cafes and bars offering traditional Tyrolean and Austrian specialties and international dishes. Breathtaking alpine views of lakes and rugged Mountains and an array of historic sites await visitors, as well as the world famous “Oktoberfest.”
“Everyone’s been to an Oktoberfest in the U.S., but none of them are like the original,” said Ian Scott, the travel manager who is working with the Chamber on the trips. “The trips offer travelers the best of both worlds. We have something planned for the travelers that just want to go, relax and enjoy the view to the traveler that
needs to be on the go every minute of a vacation.”
The eight-day trip to the Azores Islands, located about a thousand miles west of continental Portugal, is planned Nov. 4 – 11. The cost is $2,249 per person, double occupancy. For single occupancy, add $450. The trip will take flight from Boston, Massachusetts, and features stunning vistas and blue lakes bordered by flowers and dazzling views of the Atlantic Ocean, the exotic botanical gardens of Parque Terra Nostra, as well as great indigenous food specialties and a visit of a tea plantation.
Trips include round-trip airfare, first-class hotel stays, breakfast, lunch and dinner on select days, as well as tours with English-speaking guides.
Payments are being accepted now. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce, 936 Green St. S.W., Conyers at 770-483-7049 or visit www.conyers-rockdale.com.
Conyers-Rockdale Chamber invites you to travel to Germany and the Azores Islands
Small Business Essentials from experts The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce will host “Small
Business Essentials: The Experts Speak,” on Wednesday, April 30, 2:30 – 5 p.m. at 147 Technology Parkway, Suite 200, Peachtree Corners.
The free workshop will show attendees will learn about business and marketing plans, the tips to a successful educational workshop, financial and lending assistance, licensing and taxes, minority assistance and networking.
Representatives from the City of Peachtree Corners, the University of Georgia, the Gwinnett Chamber and minority assistance and certification specialist will lead the workshop. 770-232-3000.
DeKalb Chamber makes interim leadership appointments
With Leonardo McClarty’s announced departure as president of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, the organization’s executive board has appointed John Kelley and Greg Russell to oversee the Chamber’s operations until a search for a new president is completed.
Both, Kelley of Georgia Power, and Russell of Private Bank of Decatur, serve on the Chamber’s board of directors. Kelley will be responsible for all executive and administrative processes, while financial processes will be reported to Russell.
McClarty’s resignation is effective May 23. He has accepted a job as economic development director for the city of York, Pennsylvania.
The board’s chair, John Shelton, president/CEO of DeKalb Medical, said in a release that the Executive Board also has appointed Katerina Taylor, the current membership director, to provide interim leadership and promoted her to Director of Operations and Investor Relations. Taylor came to the Chamber over one year ago as a 15-year veteran banker. The current staff will report to her and she will be responsible for directly reporting all Chamber business to the board members and Chamber board.
Board members Diane McClearen of Oglethorpe Power and Patrick Putman of The Private Bank and Trust Company have been appointed as co-chairs of the search team for the Chamber’s new president.
APRIL 26, 2014 PAGE 11
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