YEAR IN REVIEW: LIFESTYLE – The Champion Newspaper | 404-373-7779

Plenty of developments within the life-style area in 2025

A blended bag of developments befell in 2025 within the existence of DeKalb residents. Individuals, teams, and nonprofit organizations provided one thing new or adjusted their efforts to counterpoint the group in a wide range of methods. Residents’ lives have been additionally affected by financial and nationwide developments and sought methods to adapt to the altering setting.

Egg costs/shortages not going over simple

Breakfast lovers, bakers, and followers of quick-throw collectively meals are possible in a panic in regards to the scarcity of eggs and dramatic spike in egg costs. Many retailer coolers are naked and when cartons of eggs are discovered, the costs are sometimes surprising.
The chook flu that resulted within the slaughter of 145 million chickens, turkeys and different birds because the outbreak started is guilty, and the price of eggs has practically doubled in some locations, in accordance with varied information sources.
Some grocery shops at the moment are limiting what number of cartons of eggs may be bought at one time.
Waffle House’s 50 cents per egg surcharge made information in early February because of the uptick in egg costs. One can solely marvel if different eating places will comply with go well with.

 

Soul singers compete to be a star

Singing competitions exhibits are a preferred style, however a brand new one making its debut focuses solely on soul music.
Auditions and the 5 rounds of competitors for “American Soul Star” have been going down in Stonecrest and Atlanta since January. One hundred vocalists from across the nation began singing for the judges with 10 making it to the finale held at New Black Wall Street Market in Stonecrest on March 1 and one being named the debut present’s star.
“Showcasing soul singers from across the country, it stands apart from mainstream talent competitions by celebrating artists who truly embody the essence of soul music,” states a press launch in regards to the present.

Indoor farm producing greens year-round to struggle starvation
A brand new form of farm has come to DeKalb County that’s not depending on sunshine and rain and isn’t topic to climate’s dramatic adjustments. This farm is situated indoors with supreme rising situations. A ribbon reducing was held May 20 for Growings!, a hydroponics farm, situated in a former warehouse at NETWorks Cooperative Ministry facility in Tucker.
The constructing homes a meals pantry the place purchasers select their groceries, and that now will likely be enhanced with herbs and greens grown on the farm.
Lettuce, cucumbers, arugula, Swiss chard, cilantro, tomatoes, and basil have been among the many crops rising within the indoor farm on its opening day.

Clarkston showroom shows girls’s worldwide abilities

Vibrant coloured cloths, beads, and patterns dominate in a small showroom in Clarkston, the place the handiwork of girls who as soon as fled their homelands at the moment are on show. Dresses, wine tote luggage, napkins, desk runners, necklaces, earrings, pillows, and different crafts are among the many objects out there on the market at Johari Clarkston on Church Street. Most of the work are these of native refugee and immigrant girls who’ve gained stitching expertise via the Amani Sewing Academy.
Many of the women-turned-entrepreneurs hail from Eritrea, Congo, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Burma, Syria, and different nations.
The showroom is situated within the Amani Women’s Center, whose mission is to offer “culturally tailored programs and services that empower and contribute to the economic security, spiritual, mental, and physical well-being of refugees and immigrant women.”
It presents stitching, well being and management applications in addition to an English as a second language buddy program, translation and interpretation, and different companies.

 

Book membership places emphasis on silence

Book golf equipment are sometimes perceived as a bustle of e book lovers sharing their opinions passionately and loudly.
However, these days a distinct sort of e book membership has emerged at which mum’s the phrase.
At Silent Book Clubs, bookworms collect at a venue to learn their books in silence surrounded by different readers. The idea has grown so fashionable that chapters have been established worldwide. The authentic Silent Book Club was based by two pals in San Francisco in 2012, in accordance with their Silent Book Club web site.
“Silent Book Club (SBC) is a global community of readers, with more than 1500 chapters in 54 countries around the world led by local volunteers,” states the web site. “SBC members gather in public at bars, cafes, bookstores, libraries, and online to read together in quiet camaraderie.”
In metro Atlanta, there are chapters in Brookhaven, Buckhead, Snellville, Stockbridge and a number of other different cities. The Decatur Silent Book Club began in 2022 by Doe Times with about 10 to fifteen folks, in accordance with Jennifer Trent, who at present is without doubt one of the membership’s co-hosts. Now the conferences common 30 readers though 50 to 60 individuals are members. “People pop in and out,” mentioned Trent.

New studying lab coming to Dunwoody Nature Center

For years, guests to Dunwoody Nature Center (DNC) have praised its rambling outside setting however complained that its indoor areas are too few and too crowded. Officials are hoping to place an finish to these complaints with the addition of a brand new studying lab.
A groundbreaking was held July 16 for the brand new Wildcat Creek Learning Lab with metropolis of Dunwoody and DNC officers promising that the brand new house will enhance capability for current applications and permit for the addition of latest applications.
“Wildcat Creek Learning Lab will be transformative, allowing us to serve more program participants and park visitors throughout the year,” mentioned Dunwoody Nature Center Executive Director Nancy Longacre. “Our current facilities are no longer sufficient to meet the growing demand for outdoor nature camps, field trips and community programs. This new space will help us expand our reach and deepen our impact.”

The Bite of Korea serves up greater than meals

Almost each desk is full at The Bite of Korea and there’s loads of chatter and obvious pleasure. It’s not the meals that has this crowd so engaged; it’s the chance to be taught a brand new language—Korean.
Geonwood Lee, who goes by Gavin, is the proprietor of this Tucker eatery, however on this Saturday he’s the trainer and considerably of a strict one, admonishing the category to reach for the following assembly a minimum of 10 minutes earlier than the beginning time.
This early August morning, some 50 individuals are packed into the restaurant for the hour-long class that ends when The Bite of Korea opens for purchasers.
Lee has been instructing Korean right here for 3 years and this class is his greatest one but. He mentioned 60 folks signed up for it this summer time.
The free courses draw folks from Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Snellville, and Duluth, mentioned Lee. Some are thinking about touring to Korea, some have Korean kin, others are followers of Korean music and drama.

Coping with grief

Eventually nearly everybody experiences shedding pals, kin, colleagues, and family members.
Dealing with dying and the grief that follows is complicated and multifaceted. According to grief counseling specialists, dealing with dying and grief is as particular person as folks themselves and there’s no one path for grieving.
“It’s a deeply personal experience,” mentioned Denisa Millette, Ph.D., an authorized scientific trauma specialist and psychotherapist who practices in Tucker.
“There’s this idea that grief follows a linear course,” Millette mentioned. “Grief is more like a rollercoaster than a straight line.”
“It’s difficult to say somebody is moving through grief in the way that they should. There isn’t a right way to grieve.”

New home to extend home-away-from-home alternatives for households of sick kids

Parents of critically sick kids have a mess of points to deal with and never having to fret about housing, transportation, and meals could be a main reduction.
Soon the opening of a brand new Ronald McDonald House will assist relieve these issues for some mother and father whose kids are receiving therapy on the Arthur M. Blank Hospital of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
“We could not be more excited about it,” mentioned Tracey Atwater, president and CEO of Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities (ARMHC).
Located on N. Druid Hills Road on the Arthur M. Blank Hospital campus, the brand new 110-room home contains 92 visitor rooms, 18 transplant suites, a fivestory playscape, household kitchen, chef kitchen, indoor and outside eating room, backyard, and extra.

Callanwolde rising to satisfy group demand

The ready could also be coming to an finish.
For years, lots of these hoping to safe a spot in one in all Callanwolde Fine Art Center’s most sought-after courses have needed to accept being added to a ready record.
With the anticipated buy of a church throughout the road from the middle and the ultimate push to shut out a multi-million-dollar capital marketing campaign, Callanwolde is on the verge of a serious growth that’s anticipated to double the middle’s capability for courses and different applications. “This is the biggest thing since the inception of Callanwolde as a fine arts center,” mentioned Andrew Keenan, government director of Callanwolde, including that the brand new construction will lead to doubling the middle’s capability for courses and program.
“It’s remarkable what’s happening right now,” he mentioned