Champion Home

Kathy Mitchell

Content Posted by Kathy Mitchell

It takes a children’s village to complete a book festival

Terra McVoy, the book festival’s director of programming, at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur shows some of the children’s books featured at this year’s AJC Decatur Book Festival.
From its inception in 2006, the AJC Decatur Book Festival set out to be a festival for everyone, including the very youngest readers. In fact, each festival includes books, authors, activities and a special area designated for young book lovers. “W...

GPC’s interim president works to steer college through rough financial waters

Like many institutions of higher learning, Georgia Perimeter College is facing significant financial challenges, but interim President Rob Watts wants to assure prospective students and the community at large that, in spite of the difficulties, it’...

Sara Fountain to step down as Leadership DeKalb executive director

Leadership DeKalb had been around only five years when Sara Fountain joined its class of 1992. She was so impressed with the organization that she stayed involved. When the executive director position become available 11 years ago, she expressed an i...

Twelve 24 Boutique celebrates the plus-size woman

Owners Melanie Williams, left, and Angela Hargro say they have complementary business skills. The day of the grand opening, the store was crowded with shoppers. Photos by Kathy Mitchell
Angela Hargro said that the boutique in downtown Decatur that she opened with partner Melanie Williams was “born out of frustration as a shopper.” “It was so hard to find clothes in my size that didn’t look like something somebody’s grandmo...

Leadership DeKalb wins IKEA’s office makeover contest

Katherine Mason is all smiles as she shows off the new look of her office.
Leadership DeKalb in its 26-year history has been involved in makeovers of a sort. By training and inspiring community leaders, the organization has transformed communities in which these leaders work and volunteer. Earlier this month Leadership DeKa...

Summit offers help for women veterans

Often when Americans think of problems that military veterans may face such as post-traumatic stress disorder, homelessness or joblessness, they are inclined to think of men. But experts in health care and related fields say that women who have serve...

Hurray for red, white and blue as DeKalb celebrates the nation’s birthday

  A lthough the Fourth of July comes mid-week this year, the festivities will be in full swing in and around DeKalb County as America celebrates its 236th birthday. Here are some of the events marking Independence Day here in DeKalb this year.  Av...

Two killed in shooting at funeral

DeKalb County Police have identified the two men who died following a shooting June 7 during a funeral held at Victory for the World Church in Stone Mountain. DeKalb County Public Safety Director William Miller said that Delmetrius Heard, 28, and Car...

A petit bit of France comes to Kirkwood

Marchet Sparks said she was inspired by small markets throughout the French countryside, but her customers seem attracted to Le Petit Marche as a breakfast and lunch destination.
When Marchet Sparks visited France in 2004, traveling extensively throughout the southern Provençal region then up to Paris and Normandy, she was charmed by little markets with freshly prepared foods and local goods that dotted throughout the cou...

Organizing donated items a labor of love for 80-year-old volunteer

Bobbie Wakamo looks over the thousands of books donated to the United Methodist Children’s Home that must be sorted by type and subject. Photo by Kathy Mitchell
Years of shopping flea markets and yard sales have left Bobbie Wakamo with a good eye for quality used goods and a talent for pricing such items. That has made her an ideal volunteer with United Methodist Children’s Home, whose principal fundraiser...