Author: On Common Ground News

The Conyers Rockdale Library System is partnering with the Georgia Department of Labor, Rockdale-Chamber of Commerce and the Conyers-Rockdale Economic Development Council to host a job fair at the Nancy Guinn Memorial Library on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2 to 4 p.m. More than 20 employers will be in attendance and actively seeking local talent. Patrons who attended the library’s  Career Readiness Seminar will be allowed to enter the job fair an hour before the general public at 1 p.m. The job fair will be held in the lower level library meeting room. The library is located at 964 Green St., Conyers. Register…

Voices of Faith Ministries is hosting a car and bike show on Saturday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the church’s Stone Mountain campus, 2500 Rockbridge Road S.W. The Parking Ambassadors & Merge Youth Ministries have teamed up to host the event which will include a health fair with free health checkups, performances, live music, raffles and prizes for cars and bikes that place. Come out and meet the Buffalo soldiers who will be attending the event. This event was made possible by the following sponsors: Gwinnett Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, MLB Transportation, Target, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Malcolm…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan Parents will be receiving letters in the mail in the coming months regarding an extensive lead testing initiative being conducted at over 150 DeKalb County schools and facilities. In a press conference held earlier today, DeKalb County School District (DCSD) Superintendent Dr. Stephen Green, joined by the Director of DeKalb County Board of Health Dr. Elizabeth Ford and DeKalb County Interim CEO Lee May announced plans to test the schools’ water supply for lead starting Tuesday, Sept. 20, concluding Summer 2017. DCSD officials stated that there is no evidence of water quality issues and…

Gov. Nathan Deal, along with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, today announced that Honeywell, a Fortune 100 company specializing in diversified technology, software development and manufacturing, will create more than 800 jobs and invest $19 million in Atlanta. Honeywell will establish a software development center, the first of its kind, and the headquarters for its $9.4 billion Home and Building Technologies (HBT) business in Midtown. “When innovative companies such as Honeywell choose to locate in Georgia, it is a testament to the state’s thriving technology sector and business-friendly climate,” said Deal. “The University System of Georgia was instrumental in attracting…

Browns Mill Road, from Evans Mill Road to Panola Road, will be closed to traffic on Sept. 13, 2016, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to install a water main across Browns Mill Road. Road closure signs will be posted in the area, advising motorists of construction work and traffic restrictions. For questions, contact the Department of Watershed Management at (770) 270-6243.

MARTA customers and local residents can once again be welcomed by an assortment of fresh fruits, veggies and other healthy produce at the Fresh MARTA Markets. The markets will be outside the fare gates, which will allow individuals who live in the area to shop. Due to the success of the market that debuted last July at the West End Station, three new pop-up locations will include College Park, Five Points and H.E. Holmes stations. The weekly pop-up market provides better access to fresh, healthy foods in a transit accessible location. The market accepts cash, credit and EBT…

Gas prices declined for the 11th consecutive day Sunday; falling 4 cents in Florida, 5 cents in Tennessee and 6 cents in Georgia. “Gas prices immediately began their seasonal downward trend at the beginning of September,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Refineries are entering maintenance season as they begin the switch to winter-blend gasoline. This fuel has fewer additives, making it cheaper to produce than summer-blend gasoline, which leads to lower gas prices. Gas prices should follow a downward trend through the rest of the year, unless there are refinery issues or if oil prices surge.” Regional Gas…

Two weeks ago, the Lithonia Farmers Market invited Chef Cassandra (AKA the Chef in Pearls) to come out and host a food demonstration using farm-fresh and store-bought tomatoes. She sliced the tomatoes and garnished them with olive oil, salt and pepper, setting them on separate trays to distinguish the two varieties. As shoppers walked by, she invited them to guess which tomato was from the farmers market, and which one was from the grocery store by observing and tasting them. To our delight, most people got it right. By looking at the color of the tomato and taking a sample…

You can now dine around the clock at the new Denny’s restaurant located at 2657 Panola Road in Lithonia. Denny’s held its soft grand opening on Sept. 7-8, treating customers to free hotcakes. Franchisee owner Donnell Thompson says he is excited about the new location because it offers patrons a sit-down restaurant on Panola Road. In January 2015, Thompson, who is president of RWDT Foods, Inc., opened a location in Snellville and he plans to open a Denny’s on Fulton Industrial Boulevard in Atlanta. The Lithonia Denny’s is Thompson’s 11th location. Thompson, a former NFL defensive end for the Baltimore…

The City of Atlanta will study raising its minimum wage for all full-time workers to at least $15 per hour, phasing in the increases over a three-year period beginning in 2018. The Atlanta City Council unanimously passed a resolution co-sponsored by Councilmembers Andre Dickens and Felicia Moore to complete the feasibility study by Dec. 14. “I believe that the quality of services provided in the City to its residents will be advanced because raising the wages reduces costly employee turnover, eliminates disruption in services, increases productivity and creates a more stability work environment,” said Dickens. “Statistics show that increasing the…