DEKALB

DeKalb gears up for summer food program

DeKalb County’s Parks and Recreation Department will hold its summer food service program for needy youths from June 4 – Aug. 3.

The federally-funded program is provided to DeKalb youths up to the age 18 to ensure that needy children have access to nutritious meals during the summer.

The deadline to apply for the program is May 25.

Agencies with summer camps that are interested in becoming a site for the program should call 678-698-1114.

Applications also can be obtained at the Tucker Recreation Center, 4898 LaVista Road in Tucker; the  Manuel Maloof Center, 1300 Commerce Road in Decatur; or at www.Dekalbcountyga.gov/parks.

‘Sold’ offers inspiring message about youths, power of God

STONE MOUNTAIN—Darlene Caffey is going beyond the classroom walls to bring to the stage an inspiring message about today’s youths.

Caffey, who teaches 8^th grade in DeKalb County, has produced and written a play that will be presented next monthand she’s encouraging the community to support the event.

“Sold” will be staged on June 1, 6:30 p.m., at Voices of Faith, 2500 Rockbridge Road. S.W., Stone Mountain.

“The play is about a group of young people trying out for a song that I wrote,” said Caffey, who is pproducing the play through her company, Destiny Productions and Publishing.  “Only one girl has the anointing to do so, but when she ultimately wins, standing for Christ—despite them hating on her—she wins them over as well.”

Caffey said the play addresses the fact that youths are not too young to live for Christ, and that if they let their lights shine, others will see their good works and glorify God.”

Caffey said she decided to name the play Sold” based on the title of the first song that she composed as a writer. She has written several other songs since then. 

Decatur launches “Blue Sky” concert series

The City of Decatur will host its “Blue Sky” free concert series every Wednesday throughout May, 12 – 1 p.m.

Concerts will be hosted at the city’s Community Bandstand, 101 East Court Square, Decatur.

The series includes live performances from a variety of artists—from jazz to acoustic folk.

The Decatur Business Association sponsors the annual series.

The series kicks off on May 2, with “McNary,” an alternative country music group.

For a complete schedule of shows, visit www.decaturdba.com or call 404-371-8386.

Johnson challenges residents to ‘Day of Play’

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson will join First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” health initiative by hosting “A Day of Play in DeKalb on May 19, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Exchange Park Intergenerational Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur.

Mrs. Obama’s national Let’s Move campaign is designed to help combat childhood obesity and enlists the support of communities across the country. Nearly one in three children in the United States is overweight or obese. In Georgia, nearly 40% of children are obese—Georgia has the second highest childhood obesity rate in the United States.

Johnson said everyone in the community must work hard to combat a plague that is prematurely killing young people.

“With the high rate of childhood obesity so prevalent, this generation will be the first to not reach the age of 40. Being active and staying active is one way to help combat this epidemic, and I support the First Lady’s Initiative and join her in fighting this epidemic,” said Johnson.

“Stepp Stewart,” who has been featured on the Dr. Oz television show, is partnering with Johnson to present exercise workout routines from his  “Stepp With Me and Burn It Up,” a cardio dance workout DVD series. He’ll show participants how to get their workout on.

Organizers say the Day of Play promises to be a fun, active and “edu-tainment” event. The event is free to attend. Everyone is invited.

For more information, contact the Office of Commissioner Larry Johnson at 404-371-2425.

ATLANTA

Piedmont Park welcomes Atlanta Jazz Fest

Atlanta’s Piedmont Park in downtown Atlanta will welcome show-stopping performances for the 35^th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival on May 26 – 28, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m..

Regarded as one of the country’s largest free jazz festivals, the annual musical showcase celebrates jazz legends and up-and-coming jazz artists with three full days of live music in Piedmont Park.

The park is located at the intersection of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue, in Atlanta. 404-546-6820.

GWINNETT

County offers free retrofit kits to conserve water

For homes built before the 1993 low-flow plumbing standards, Gwinnett Water Resources Department is offering free retrofit kits. The kits will help homeowners who live in older communities and want to be a part of Gwinnett’s conservation efforts.

Inside the kit are two 1.0 gallon per minute bathroom faucet aerators, a 1.5 gallon per minute swivel kitchen faucet aerator, a low-flow showerhead, two toilet leak detection dye tablets, and a toilet tank bank. Homeowners can pick up a free kit at DWR’s central facility, 684 Winder Highway, Lawrenceville. Kits are available at the customer service counter from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Thursday.

To help homeowners eliminate costly, but seldom seen, water leaks within their toilets, the Department also provides free leak detection kits. The kits are available at DWR’s central facility as well. You may also have one mailed to you by contacting Heather Moody at 678-376-6722 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

ROCKDALE

Rezoning Town Hall meetings

The City of Conyers will host two rezoning town hall sessions on May 17, 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 1194 Scott St., the second floor of the Conyers Police Department.

Conyers proposes to amend the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and change the zoning districts along the Georgia Highway 138/Georgia Highway 20 corridor starting south of Interstate 20 to Millers Chapel Road and the Old McDonough Road corridor to the Village Design (VD) District. Residents and property owners in the area are invited to learn more about the proposed change in zoning at two upcoming town hall meetings. 770-602-2606.

Keep Conyers Beautiful sponsors recycling event

Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful is sponsoring a free “Clean Your Files/E-Recycling” event for citizens and businesses to safely recycle electronics and old documents. Paper recycling will be done on May 18, noon – 4 p.m. and both, paper and electronics, will be recycled on May 19, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Professional electronics and paper recycling companies will securely handle all items under the supervision of Rockdale County staff.

A $10 cash fee will be charged for televisions. Console and projection televisions will not be accepted. Only these electronics will be accepted: personal computers, laptops, modems, servers, printers, UPS batteries, CD-ROMS, fax machines, cell phones, circuit boards, copiers, scanners, power supplies, phone systems, wire and cabling, keyboards, typewriters, floppy drives, computer mouse and mice, test equipment, disk drives, PC monitors, and microwaves.

This event will be held at Rockdale’s Government Annex Building parking lot, 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. For more information, call 770-278-7052 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Ceek to Fulfill offers job training to youths

Ceek to Fulfill, a nonprofit organization, is offering a job training class to needy youths in Rockdale County who are 18 to 21 years old.

The free, six-week  program is open to youths who meet the program’s income guidelines. Participants must have a high school diploma or GED.

The class is designed to help students with interviewing and communication skills. Students who complete the program will earn a Georgia Work Ready Certification.

For more information, call 770-602-0543 or visit www.ceek2fulfill.com.

On Common Ground News is an independent African-American owned community resource newspaper serving residents and businesses in DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Rockdale, and Henry counties.

These are the areas we focus our efforts in reporting on. DeKalb county areas consist of Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Tucker, Clarkston, Stonecrest, Decatur, Avondale, Estates, Eastlake, and Pinelake. Gwinnett county areas consist of Lawrenceville, Snellville, and Buford. Henry county areas consist of Ellenwood and Stockbridge. Fulton county areas consist of Atlanta, College Park, and East Point. Rockdale county area consist of Conyers.

The information contained in this On Common Ground News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of On Common Ground, Inc. For questions about redistribution or use online or print, call 770-679-5607.