It was announced during the graduation service that the NAHS Class of 2013 earned more than $10 million in scholarships.

Did you take photos or video of the NAHS graduation Wednesday? Share them here with neighbors and friends on Buckhead Patch by clicking the big “Upload Pics Video” button above!

Atlanta Public Schools posted all the social media updates and photos during the graduation exercises, which began at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Scroll through the Storify application above to review the updates and excitement or check out Atlanta Public Schools’ Twitter feed at @apsupdate.

Here at Patch, we like to be thrifty, so we talked to two barbeque experts and uncovered some really good ideas to help you save money on your next outdoor party.  

1. Start with a marinade. This means planning ahead — say, Friday. But it’s worth it, says Rick Browne, host of Barbeque America on PBS, because you can pass up that well-marbled ribeye steak and buy a less tender and less expensive choice to grill like a flank steak or chuck steak. Just marinate it or brine for one or two days and then cook long and slow on the barbeque grill to break down tissues but maintain moisture. “You need to include an acid in the marinade, perhaps juice, vinegar or soy sauce, but avoid cola which is so acidic it can turn meat into a soggy mess.” Try these marinade recipe ideas.

2. Set your grill to medium heat. It’s so easy to overcook meat, especially when you’re entertaining. “Grilling over medium heat is key because the beef will be browned perfectly and cooked evenly,” says Dave Zino, Executive Chef and culinary spokesperson for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association. The same goes for chicken.

3. Dessert? Try Grilled Fruit. It’s inexpensive and unexpected. “I love to grill fruit like watermelon, pears and pineapple. It really doesn’t get any easier or healthier than that. If you need something to cool off with, serve the grilled fruit with a scoop of frozen yogurt or ice cream,” Zino recommends.

4. Choose poultry instead of beef. Browne is a fan of “beer-butt chicken”, placing an entire chicken on the grill with an open can of beer inserted into it. “The beer steams the flesh and produces very moist and succulent meat.” He also likes turkey dogs and turkey bacon as a healthier choice for his popular “bacon wrapped cheese hot dogs” for kids. (There is no recipe — you just wrap the hotdog in cheese, and wrap cooked bacon around it. Rolls and condiments are optional.)

5. Or choose fish instead of beef. Browne likes to grill salmon on disposable cedar planks, which he soaks first so that the salmon remains moist while cooking.

6. Make your own coleslaw and baked beans. If you’ve got the time and the inclination, this is a big money-saver. We’re partial to Paula Deen’s coleslaw recipe and this root beer baked bean recipe from Aarti Sequeira of Food Network fame. And you can find healthy recipes in Browne’s Big Book Of Barbeque Sides.

7. Buy meat on sale or in bulk. Rick Browne says don’t be afraid to buy meat in the sale section of the meat display. “You can always take it to the store butcher to check out if you aren’t sure and rewrap.” Plus buying in bulk from Costco or another retailer is a great way to save money if you’re feeding a crowd.

8. Yes, you do want leftovers.  If you get a great deal on a package of steaks, grill them all up, says Zino. “I slice that steak up the next day and wrap it in a burrito for a protein-rich breakfast or serve it on a salad for a nice light steak salad with extra veggies and vinaigrette.”

Planning a Memorial Day party or barbeque? Tell us what you’re cooking in the comments below.

Patch is about helping your neighbors, and after the devastation near Oklahoma City where a giant tornado claimed the lives of at least 24 people, including at least eight children, Oklahoma is our neighbor. In addition to hoping the best for the survivors and rescue workers still trying to make sense of the devastation today, here are some links where you can donate your time or money to help the recovery efforts.

Give:

• Those wishing to donate to the Alpharetta-based Southern Baptist Disaster Relief can do so here.

• GOOGLE: Okla. tornado crisis map. Here is a map from Google of the tornado devestation with links for how to help.

• The Red Cross says in the immediate aftermath, the best way to help is to donate at RedCross.org or text REDCROSS to 90999.

• The Salvation Army has mobilized in Oklahoma, and you can support them by donating online; or by texting STORM to 80888 to contribute $10 to the Salvation Army’s relief efforts; or by making a donation via phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

• Use the Red Cross Safe Well’s site to check on status of family members.

• Here is the Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief’s website to target your donations directly where they are needed.

• United Way of Central Oklahoma’s Disaster Relief Fund is open and accepting donations. Donations can be made online at www.unitedwayokc.org or sent by mail to United Way of Central Oklahoma, P.O. Box 837, Oklahoma City, OK  73101. Note that your donation is for May Tornado Relief.

• Contributions can be made securely to the Moore Shawnee Tornado Relief Fund at www.TulsaCF.org. Donations can also be mailed to the Tulsa Community Foundation offices at 7030 S. Yale, Suite 600, Tulsa, OK, 74136.

Share:

Do you have any experience with a tornado or other natural disaster? What do people need most after going through something like this? Share your tips with us by writing a blog post.

If you know of someone local who was affected by the tornado or who is working to help the victims, please contact your local editor.

On May 16, Mary Massey made an outcry that a Wells Fargo bank employee may have been stealing money from her account.

According to police, Atlanta Police Major Fraud Unit investigators “jumped on it quickly” and contacted the bank to gather evidence.

The investigation revealed that bank teller Daniel Araujo befriended Massey and manipulated her into signing cash withdrawal slips and stole a total of $10,600 from her account.

Massey said she thought Araujo was being helpful by always walking her in and out of the bank. She said he was always sure to have her sign a slip when she was there, which was later revealed to be the cash withdrawal slips.

“It was bad. I tell you, I never have been done that way before. I worked all my life and tried to save my money because I knew when I got older, I couldn’t work,” Massey told Fox 5 Atlanta.

Araujo confessed to the crime on May 17. He was charged with felony Theft by Taking, and Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person. A review of his personal account records show more than $50,000 in cash deposits recently.

He has been released on $30,000 bond.

Investigators are working with the bank to identify any other potential victims.

Wells Fargo told Fox 5 that there would be no loss to their customer, Massey, because of this.

Anyone with information about the crime is askd to contact Atlanta police.

Ronnie Houston, 24, Darius McKenzie, 23, and Sedarius Tidwell, 22,  have all been arrested and charged with multiple counts of hijacking a motor vehicle, armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, use of a firearm during commission of a felony and credit card fraud.

According to police, the crimes began on April 21^{with the theft of a 1998 Honda Accord on Fairburn Road in southwest Atlanta.}

Here’s the rundown of the crime spree from a release provided by APD:

“The men then used that vehicle to steal a Volkswagen GTI on April 22^{at gunpoint on Greenwood Avenue in northeast Atlanta.}

Later on April 22, the men allegedly carjacked a Dodge Nitro from a gas station in College Park. On May 1^st, the men bumped a Buick Enclave from behind at the intersection of West Wesley and Howell Mill roads in Buckhead. When the victims got out to check damage to their vehicle, they were robbed and carjacked at gunpoint.

Investigators were also able to determine that the men used the several victims’ credit cards to make purchases at local stores. They also connected one of the suspects to a burglary on Dale Lane in southwest Atlanta, and a pedestrian robbery on Redbud Lane in southwest Atlanta.” 

Tidwell was arrested by Atlanta Police on May 3rd. Houston was arrested on May 10^th and McKenzie on May 21^st with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals U.S. Marshals Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force Counter Gang Unit and APD Gangs and Fugitive units.” 

“These men, already on probation, were responsible for a crime spree that preyed upon our citizens,” stated Atlanta Police Chief George Turner in the release. “Thanks to the hard work of our investigators and cooperation with our partner agencies, we’ve been able to bring these dangerous men to justice.”

All three men are being held in the Fulton County jail. Investigators continue to examine evidence to determine if the men are linked to more crimes.

-Information provided by the Atlanta Police Department

The Boy Scouts of America voted to end its ban on gay youths, Thursday. The 1,400-member national council voted to allow openly gay youths to join the organization. The change in policy will take effect on Jan 1.

The Boy Scouts of America will maintain its ban on gay adult leaders and members who do not believe in God.

“The Boy Scouts of America still supports an untenable, unreasonable and unnecessary discriminatory policy by excluding gay leaders and staff members,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, in a statement. “If the Boy Scouts are truly a values-based organization, bigotry can’t be part of the program.”

The vote came during organization’s two-day meeting in Grapevine, TX. The organization plans to continue their ban on gay adult Scout leaders.

In metro Atlanta, often seen as one of the most gay-friendly urban areas in the U.S., opinion on the issue has been mixed.

In Southwest Atlanta, a longtime scout leader says his Christian faith will require him to give up Scouting, one of his life’s passions, if the organization decides to open membership to gay people.

However, many wanted the ban repealed. A Buckhead businessman even went so far as to return his hard-earned Eagle Scout badges to the Boy Scouts to protest the the ban.

What do you think about today’s decision? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below.

Related Items:

Should the Boy Scouts Allow Gay Members?

Cascade Boy Scout Leader Says He’ll Leave if Gays are Allowed

Buckhead Gallery Curator Returns Eagle Scout Badges Until Boy Scouts Lift Gay Ban

Candler Park Gay Minister Says Boy Scouts’ Gay Ban ‘Very Discriminatory’

Midtown Residents Speak Out on Boy Scouts Gay Ban

Leader of Gay Dad Group Won’t Allow Grandchildren in Boy Scouts if Ban Continues

Patch Poll: The Boy Scouts Ban on Gays

Well, yes, they can be.

Here, though, is to keeping things in perspective. For more than a month now, Patch and Grape-Nuts have teamed up to present stories about your neighbors, neighbors who have faced challenges that would seem insurmountable to many of us. 

But not to the people we’ve featured in this series, Journeys.

Not surprisingly, the stories have generated dozens of comments on Patch and on Facebook: “Great story…” “Thanks for sharing…” ”So wonderfully inspiring…” 

And, so, here they are again. Great stories shared to inspire. Take a look at what these people have faced. Then click on the story to see their responses. And feel better about your tough Wednesday.

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Flesh-Eating Bacteria Survivor Aimee Copeland’s Goal: Helping Others: In May 2012, Aimee Copeland of Snellville, GA., had just completed her core courses for a master’s degree in psychology when she fell into a creek and cut her leg in an accident involving a homemade zip-line. The wound was infected with typically fatal flesh-eating bacteria in the accident, and Aimee lost her left leg, her right foot and both hands. But she did not lose her spirit.

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Restaurateur Mixes Good Food With Good Deeds: Brian Maloof is lightning quick to point out that he’s not changing the world in the way that Sir Hillary did. But as the owner of Atlanta landmark Manuel’s Tavern, Maloof is making a big difference in the lives of quite a few people in his hometown. He is well-known for giving back to the poor and homeless in his neighborhood, and for helping ex-convicts reenter society by giving them employment.

School Advocate Helps Students in Solar Power Challenge: Kim Gokce of Brookhaven, GA, is chairman and founder of an advocacy group for the new city’s only high school, Cross Keys High School, an old institution that Gocke’s group is helping to renovate. Despite its challenges (many students are learning English as a second language and live at or below the poverty level), Cross Keys students reach high academic scores, and many are able to attend some of the nation’s top schools.

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Teenager ‘Inspires Selfless Service Through Mentorship’: When he was only 13, Shaun Verma, a high school senior, founded the nonprofit MDJunior, an organization that brings together health-care professionals and students to nurture a mentoring relationship. MDJunior focuses on underserved communities and developing countries. In 2012, MDJunior was awarded special recognition by the White House, the President’s Council on Service Civic Participation.

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Laura Whitaker Helps Special-Needs Kids at Extra Special People: Laura Whitaker is the executive director of Extra Special People, a nonprofit in Watkinsville, GA, that enhances the lives of children with disabilities by offering them recreation, education and socialization. Whitaker has been the executive director of ESP since 2006, and was only 21 when she took on the job. Under her leadership, the nonprofit has grown from a summer camp program to a year-round one, providing after-school care and family counseling for more than 150 children throughout 10 counties in Northeast Georgia.

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Man is First Double Amputee to Finish Ironman Triathlon: Sandy Springs, GA, resident Scott Rigsby has, without a doubt, “run with perseverance the race marked out” for him, as the Bible says. In 2007 Rigsby became the first double amputee to finish the Ironman World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona, HI. The famous triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.2-mile marathon run.

The Atlanta Board of Education Budget Commission met on Monday to review the proposed budget for fiscal year 2014 and considered three teacher furlough days, eliminating a 3 percent salary bonus to employees who haven’t received a raise in five years and other cuts in an attempt to close a $61 million budget gap.

The board also debated smaller class sizes, which in some schools are larger than state guidelines. But Superintendent Erroll Davis said it wasn’t the time to spend $20 million or so to reduce class sizes so they would fall more in line with Georgia standards.

Some board members indicated Monday they were fine with class sizes staying as-is, as long as they don’t increase, while others want to see them decrease in the coming school year. According to state law, public high school classroom sizes can’t exceed 32 students, but the state Board of Education has ignored those requirements in recent years as school districts across Georgia have wrestled with financial difficulties.

According to APS figures in the 50,000-student district, it would cost close to $24 million to reduce class sizes by five students, and about $5 million to shrink by one student the size of classes. 

The board has until May 30 to pass a preliminary budget in anticipation for a final vote next month. Several meetings are planned for next week in an attempt to make up for the $61 million budget shortfall.

In addition to not paying the bonuses and instituting furloughs on non-instructional days, Davis has suggested spending $20 million from reserve funds to assist in closing the budget gap.

Not filling current vacant positions for an extended period of time and reducing programs are other possible measures that could be taken to save money for the district.

See here for live blog coverage of Monday’s meeting from the APS Twitter account @apsupdate.

Are you concerned about the size of APS classes? Let us know in the comment section below.

See also:

• APS Budget Basics
• NAPPS Statement on APS Proposed FY14 Budget
• APS Looking Into Selling Former North Fulton High Campus

According to Creative Loafing, the city plans to install free Internet access for the two parks and possibly for some Atlanta recreation centers, the Atlanta Beltline and even possibly the Buckhead Community Improvement District.

City officials are in talks with Buckhead CID, Central Atlanta Progress and the Midtown Alliance about bringing free wi-fi to each of those business districts.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed originally wanted a wi-fi network to cover the entire city, but the city cannot afford a citywide network.

The cost for installation of the necessary infrastructure and subsequent maintenance at Piedmont Park will cost several hundred thousand dollars, but will likely be up and running in the next six months, according to Interim Chief Information Officer Michael Dogan. That would put the expected start date of the service around the end of 2013 or the beginning of 2014.