WWW.CHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2011 • VOL. 14, NO. 25 • FREE FREEP•RESS A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS • Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker and Stone Mountain. Thousands turned up for the Decatur Book Festival over Labor day weekend. Photo by Daniel Beauregard Volunteers and organizations presented Two very different women share same stage with Community at book festival by Daniel Beauregard
[email protected] Out of the nearly 500 authors at this year’s Decatur Book Festival, Mischa Champions Awards Merz was probably the only woman who might consider getting punched in the face a friendly gesture. Merz, an Australian female boxer, by Gale Horton Gay B. Levett Sr., a philanthropist the past 26 years, were runners-up. was at the City Hall Stage this year in the county for more than 30 DeKalb Rape Crisis Center was talking about her newest book The ight of DeKalb County’s years, who received the individual selected as the 2011 Organization Sweetest Thing, a creative nonfi ction most dedicated volunteers Community Champion Award. Community Champion with the book that details life as a female boxer. She said that her the book addresses Eand community service Bonnie Kallenberg, a consignment Center for Pan Asian Community many of the answers she was seeking organizations were recognized store owner who supports refugee Services and Senior Connections in her fi rst book, like how to deal with last week at a patriotic-themed resettlement outreach efforts, and receiving runner-up honors. being punched in the face for the fi rst luncheon held at the Crowne Plaza Calvin Sims Jr., a “community Essence Snowden, 13, of Stone time.