About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 2023)
LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2023 • PAGE 7 Veterans campaign to save American Legion Post destroyed by fire BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM Two Marines are leading a campaign to try to save a resource they say is valuable for local veterans and the community. American Legion Post 207, which opened in 1952 in Tucker, served more than 3,000 veterans in the Tucker, Stone Mountain, and Lilburn areas until an electrical fire destroyed the building in 2019. While some progress was made in rebuilding the facility, the COVID-19 pandemic, supply shortages, and rising costs for building materials in the years that followed halted work. Now, Post Commander Anthony Mathis and Campaign Chair Scott Brady are trying to pick up where the work was left off and raise enough funds to keep the project from facing permanent closure at the end of January. "We're calling our campaign Save the 7," said Brady. "While one of our goals is to raise the funds needed to complete construction on the building to make it serviceable, our main focus is to provide resources and programs that lead to good health and good skills in a way that is repeatable and sustainable for veterans who are struggling." According to the American Legion's website, the organization was formed after World War I to advocate for and support veterans. Currently, there are 12,000 posts serving more than 2 million veterans across the country, stated officials. "Help comes in the form of personal assistance, cash grants, donated goods, disaster relief, labor, networking, volunteerism and advocacy," stated the organization's website. Brady and Mathis said if they are able to raise enough funds, they would like the new and improved facility to include a gym and community garden as well as programs that provide mentorship and job training opportunities. "Our goal is to raise $750,000 in 2023, but we're looking to raise $216,000 by end of month to meet commitments to pay the past due amounts for work already completed," stated Brady, who said permit delays, new ordinances and an insurance company denying part of the funds owed were the reasons for debt. "So far, we've received a very positive response from the community, but many people did not even know Post 207 was in danger of closing permanently, so getting the word out is critical," said Brady. A photo from the American Legion Post 207 Facebook page shows what the building and area looked like before a fire destroyed the building in 2019. File photo Sponsorship opportunities include purchasing a memorial brick that will be inscribed with a loved one's name for $100 each as well as naming rights to the building, banquet hall, lounge, patio, garden, barbecue area and gym with larger donations. Brady and Mathis said once construction is complete, American Legion Post 207 will also give back to the community by hosting events such as barbecue competitions and car shows, as well as hosting food drives for those in need. "We hope to have a thriving post with a few hundred active members who are dedicated to supporting veterans and the surrounding community," said Brady. Donations are now being collected through PayPal at savelegion207@gmail.com. For more information, contact alpost207@hotmail. com. Students at Stone Mountain arts academy stand out at international festival BY KATHY MITCHELL FREELANCE REPORTER When performing arts students representing 125 groups from 28 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Canada, and Australia, came to the Atlanta area earlier this month for the 2023 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta (JTF Atlanta), a group representing a DeKalb County- based institution made a dazzling impression, according to Denise Burcham, director of Smoke Rise Academy of Arts in Stone Mountain. She said performing arts professionals who served as festival judges were effusive in their praise of performances of students representing Smoke Rise Academy of Arts. At the 2023 JTF Atlanta, which was January 13 through 15 at the Cobb Convention Center, students performed 15 minutes of a Broadway Junior® musical for adjudicators. The Smoke Rise Academy of Arts cast performed Oliver Junior and selections from Disney's Finding Nemo Junior and KIDS during the New Works Showcase. Theirs was the first performance anywhere of Finding Nemo Junior. Among the judges was composer and lyricist Rob Rokicki, who commented, "I was so impressed with the sophistication of this presentation. They tackled intense subject matter and threw themselves into it. There was great real heart and great dance precision in their presentation. ... I was taken by the level of maturity in these young people, as well as the nuance and passion they brought to their characters." Another judge, Khalia Davis, actor and multidisciplinary artist and artistic director of Bay Area Children's Theatre, said, "This cast had a stunning level of commitment to the darker and harder moments of the piece. It's clear that Smoke Rise Academy of Arts gives its artists a safe space that allows them to fully explore and embody the depth of character needed to pull off such difficult material." Drama Desk nominated actor Evan Ruggiero, also among the judges, noted, "Smoke Rise Academy of Arts delivered incredible vocals and storytelling. This show has very deep and difficult subject matter. These students executed it flawlessly and with maturity well beyond their years. It's clear they were very well rehearsed and that allowed to let them shine as true artists." Dedicated to rewarding and celebrating excellent student- driven musical theater programs, JTF Atlanta bills itself as the largest youth theater festival in the world. "There is a JTF in California, but I don't think it's as large as the one in Atlanta," Burcham said. "Smoke Rise Academy of Arts Drama is a theater program representing Smoke Rise Baptist Church. Describing itself as an Students at Smoke Rise Academy of Arts gave a performance at Junior Theater Festival Atlanta that SEE FESTIVAL ON PAGE 8 dazzled judges and won major recognitions.
