Author: On Common Ground News

Atlanta   Designer show house lights up the holidays at Callanwolde Arts Center Tour the historic Candler estate for the annual Christmas at Callanwolde Designer Show House featuring some of Atlanta’s hottest interior designers daily through Dec. 13, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors are invited to enjoy a self-guided tour of the 27,000-square-foot Tudor revival mansion bedazzled by some of Atlanta’s most prominent designers. Tours last approximately 45 to 60 minutes. Guests will also be able to experience an Aeolian pipe organ at select times and holiday shopping at the Callanwolde artist market. Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase…

A stop to buy produce at a Fresh MARTA Market now can include “Charlotte’s Web” or classic cartoons at the College Park and Five Points stations. MARTA, in partnership with Serenbe Playhouse and Serenbe Film, is incorporating family -riendly programming into the transit experience. This alliance is part of the agency’s long-term strategic plan to invigorate its stations with different types of art, including performances, concerts and visual art pieces. “Going to a pop-up market now becomes a layered experience—buying locally sourced produce, viewing or experiencing art—that gives our customers the opportunity to maximize the benefits of their trip,” said…

CONYERS—Springfield Baptist Church, 1877 Iris Drive S.E., Conyers, will host its annual holiday production, “Soulful Noel: A Message of Hope,” on Dec. 9-11. The story of Soulful Noel, in its second season, tells the story of the birth of Jesus from an Afro-centric, biblical perspective. Steeped in the traditions of the Black Church, the production brings to the stage powerful, spirit-filled singing and dynamic acting. The opening night performance will be on Friday, Dec. 9, 8 p.m. The
Red Carpet Gala Reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $25. A matinee will be held Saturday, Dec. 10,…

DeKalb County Public Library is preparing to build a new library branch—the first since the Scott Candler branch opened in 2012. The public is invited to join county officials, library trustees, administrators and staff for a ground-breaking ceremony for the new Ellenwood library on Monday, Dec. 12, 11 a.m. The ceremony will be held at the site for the new branch, 4331 River Road, Ellenwood. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held at the Salem-Panola Library, 5137 Salem Road in Lithonia. Construction on the facility will begin in January and the new branch is expected to open…

DeKalb County Public Library is partnering with Kids Video Connection (KVC) to offer teens free video production and media literacy workshops next year. During the workshops, participants will be introduced to media literacy concepts, camera operation and careers in media as they write and produce a video project. The purpose is to help prepare the students to excel in 21st century careers demanding technology and communications skills. KVC is an educational media arts organization that teaches young people communications skills and media literacy. KVC has received an $8,750 community grant from the Best Buy Foundation to help fund the workshops.…

Leaders of the East Metro DeKalb Community Improvement District (CID) have selected an experienced administrator to serve as its organization’s first executive director. Sanders of Stone Mountain will oversee the daily operations of the East Metro DeKalb CID. Sanders most recently served as an Assistant Director of the Georgia Department of Revenue, where he managed hundreds of employees and multi-million dollar budgets. “This is a unique opportunity to work directly with corporate and community leaders to produce real positive results,” Sanders said. “I am ready to immediately help the CID increase public safety, improve curb appeal and make this a…

Arnitris Strong, founding editor of Blessed Be the Tie (www.blessedbethetie.com), knows all too well the anguish mothers face with the separation of their child when returning to the workforce. Four years ago, she discovered that journaling was an effective way to help cope with mommy guilt and maintain the bond with her child. Now, she’s helping other working mothers to leverage the practice of journaling to maintain a deep connection with their children with the release of “Dear Butterfly: A Devotional Journal for Mothers.” “The bond a child has with its mother is the lens through which it will filter…

The Georgia Supreme Court today unanimously overturned the conviction of former DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis, citing technical errors that occurred during his trial. The court said in a 30-page opinion that while there was sufficient evidence to find Ellis guilty of perjury and attempt to commit theft by extortion, “we must nevertheless reverse Ellis’ convictions based on certain evidentiary errors that occurred at his trial. Accordingly, we affirm in part and reverse in part to allow for a retrial on the charges of criminal attempt to commit theft by extortion and perjury.” The Court said the trial judge made a…

Jason Lary, who led the Stonecrest cityhood movement to victory, announced today that he plans to run for mayor of the new city. Lary said that as the chief architect of the Stonecrest Yes Committee, he is ready to give birth to the vision of economic development and self governance that he and others have worked on for so long. The referendum to create the city of 50,000 residents passed on Nov. 8. “After four years of being the person who has put it together, selected the team and worked on the model for the city, I believe…

Michael Thurmond, Oz Nesbitt, Sherri Washington and Marcelo Baines are among the newly-elected local officials who are participating in a four-day orientation this week with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia in Athens. The session ends Friday. In November, Thurmond was elected as DeKalb County’s CEO; Nesbitt was elected as Rockdale County’s Chairman of the Board of Commissioners; Washington was elected as Rockdale’s Post 1 Commissioner; and Baines was elected the first African American chairman of the Newton County Board of Commissioners.