Author: On Common Ground News

Rockdale County Probate Judge Charles K. Mays has announced his office is hosting a Community Mental Health Summit to answer questions about mental illness and how to find the resources needed to help those living with the illness. The Community Mental Health Summit takes place on Saturday, Nov. 5, 9 a.m., at the Rockdale Career Academy (RCA), 1064 Culpepper Drive, Conyers. Mays said the summit is really needed in Rockdale. “My office deals with many people and situations pertaining to individuals with mental illness, especially since all lay affidavits come through the Probate Court,” said Mays. “The problem is that…

ATLANTA Community music fest features local youth artists  Join Dunwoody Music for the fourth annual Village Fest Saturday, Oct. 29, 4 to 8 p.m., at the Dunwoody Nature Center , 5343 Roberts Drive, Atlanta. The event will showcase more than 20 acts featuring local child and teen artists. The event is free, and donations will be collected to raise funds to purchase IPads that will be incorporated into the Nature Center’s programing throughout the year. For more information, call 770-394-3322. Walk to help people living with Parkinson’s Disease Join the National Parkinson Foundation’s annual fundraising walk event entitled…

Lieutenant Greg Carson of the Conyers Police Department is conducting a multi-agency training event on Oct. 24, at 9:30 a.m., at Springfield Baptist Church, 1873 Iris Drive SE, Conyers. Carson said the church asked the Police Department to conduct an active shooter/hostage preparedness event at their location to help educate and prepare their congregation in the event of a crisis as well as provide law enforcement a training opportunity.  Covington Police, Newton County Sheriff’s Office and DeKalb SWAT teams will also be participating.

Lithonia First United Methodist Church recently celebrated Pastor’s Appreciation Sunday on Oct. 9.  The church honored Pastor Leon Matthews along with Mrs. Pamela Matthews and son, Mackenzie. The Rev. Matthews has served as Senior Minister at the church since 2010.  By his character and service, he demonstrates what it means to be a Christian who follows in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, his congregation says. Under his leadership, the church is enjoying a season of growth and renewal.  In the pastor’s own words, “The best is yet to come!”

The DeKalb County Board of Health’s STD/HIV Prevention Program will host an STD/HIV Haunted Maze health fair, which will feature free STD and HIV testing and other health screenings. This event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Exchange Park Recreation Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur. The event will also offer food, vendor trick-or-treating, a photo booth, face painting, an entertaining and educational STD/HIV haunted house and more. For more information, call 404-270-2453.

The DeKalb County Board of Ethics has launched a new website, www.dekalbcountyethics.org, that provides a one-stop shop for the ethics needs of DeKalb residents, employees and officials. The website is an educational resource for anyone seeking information about responsibilities under the DeKalb Ethics Code and advice given by the Board of Ethics. The website includes information about conflicts of interest, gifts, proper use of county property, outside employment and more.Additionally, the website contains: Biographies and contact information for the ethics board members and county ethics officer. Meeting dates and past minutes. The DeKalb Ethics Code and Rules. Advisory Opinions of…

The Technical Board of Appeals in DeKalb County is seeking an individual to fill a vacancy on the board as a representative for District 5, Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson announced. All members of the board shall be residents and homeowners in DeKalb County. Board members shall have at least seven years of experience in the building industry. Members of the board shall hold no other county office, appointed position within the county or any other county compensated position. To apply, CLICK HERE. Follow the instructions to complete and submit an application to the Office of Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson. For more information,…

DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs will host a series of free fall festivals Oct. 21 – 31 at various recreation centers throughout DeKalb . This year’s festivals will include face painting, hikes, music, games, contests, hayrides, food and more. All members of the community are invited to attend, and children are encouraged to wear costumes. The 2016 fall festivals include: Friday, Oct. 21 Davidson Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, 4 – 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 Browns Mill Recreation Center, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Midway Recreation Center, 7 – 10 p.m. H. Scott and Decatur Alumni Chapter of Kappa…

The community is invited a workshop, “Surviving and Saving Tools for the Upcoming Tax Season,” on Oct. 29, 1 to p.m., at the Hairston Crossing Library, 4911 Redan Road, Stone Mountain. The workshop will help attendees understand: The updates and changes for the 2016 Tax Season Audit triggers Filing Status – Knowing how to file correctly Itemized deductions versus standardized deductions Charitable donations versus non-charitable deductions Retirements and Investments to reduce your tax liability The workshop is presented by Tau Pi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in partnership with the Council for Community Enrichment, Inc.; Hairston Crossing…

Food sovereignty means that a community has the authority to determine the origin, the quality and the standards of the food that they consume. The term became popularized in the 1990s with the La Via Campensino movement, a movement started by farmers around the world bringing the difficulties of farming to the forefront. This global protest of small-scale farmers from acknowledging their inability to make a living wage under the status quo, found its way into every-day dialogue. From the early La Via Campesino movement to now, the concept of food sovereignty has evolved beyond farming rights, and now includes…