Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA — The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will officially launch its NextGen Bus Network on April 18. The new modern network offers high frequency service with buses arriving every 15 minutes or better. This historic initiative represents the first time since MARTA began bus operations in the early 1970s that the entire system has been redrawn from scratch. The new bus network is designed to meet the needs of modern customers using transit in an ever-evolving Atlanta region. Moving away from the incremental changes of the past, MARTA is launching the network designed for how people live and work today,  officials…

UPDATED: 4.18.2026 ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA— The Rockdale Farmer’s Market is opening for the season on Sunday, April 19, in Conyers. The markets will offer fresh produce and vegetables, baked breads and other homemade goods, as well as homemade crafts. This is your chance to shop local farmers, support small businesses, get healthy, and enjoy Sunday afternoons and Wednesdays.  Leslie Lambert, who is coordinating the vent, said about 20 vendors have signed up including Diamond P. Cattle, which will be selling selected meats. Vendor Janet Dillard shared via social media that she is looking forward to the market. She said she…

STONECREST, GA– The city of Stonecrest has launched a new marketing campaign celebrating the people, progress, and spirit of DeKalb County’s most populated city, home to an estimated 60,000 residents, officials announced on Tuesday, March 31.  The “Stonecrest PROUD!” campaign features a new 2:59-minute rap song that hypes up Stonecrest’s assets—including the Browns Mill Aquatic Center, Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, the Mall at Stonecrest and the mega New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.  City officials say the four-month civic pride initiative, which run April-August, will be driven by a series of social media videos spotlighting Stonecrest residents, businesses, city employees…

CONYERS, GA—Business owners and leaders are invited to a listening session on Monday, April 27, from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at Conyers City Hall, 901 O’Kelly Street.   Hosted by Mayor Connie Alsobrook and City Council member Sherri Washington, the session is designed to invite open dialogue among business owners and professionals to strengthen the local business environment and facilitate further collaboration between the city and businesses. Conyers Mayor and City Council launched “Conyers Conversations Listening Sessions” earlier this year as a means of engagement and collaboration with citizens. “We want to provide an intimate space where we can speak freely with…

ATLANTA–The Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (GAHBA) will present the 2026 Atlanta Parade of Homes over the course of three weekends: April 18-19, April 5-26, and May 2-3.  For more than 60 years, the event has been a magnet for prospective homebuyers, real estate agents, interior design influencers and inspiration seekers. And this year is expected to be no different as GAHBA presents the largest annual Spring showcase of new homes across metro Atlanta. This year’s Parade will feature 25 builders and over 150 homes spanning 24 cities and 20 counties.  “Each year, the Atlanta Parade of Homes showcases the very best of…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County Planning & Sustainability Department is hosting a DeKalb Community Academy “Towers 101” meeting on Thursday, April 30, from 6 to  8 p.m. , 1399 Austin Drive, Decatur.  This session is designed to empower residents by providing important information about zoning, housing, revitalization, and how local government processes work. County officials say this meeting is especially important for residents in the Towers area, as it creates an opportunity for them to learn, ask questions, and connect with county resources. To RSVP for the meeting, click the QR code in  the flyer below:

CARTERSVILLE, GA —The cheers echoed across Cooper’s Furnace Day Use Area on April 11, where 44 kids and their families surrounded the pond.  “I caught my first fish! Let’s go!” several kids shouted in excitement.  This joy captured what the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) inaugural Greater Atlanta Kids Nature Day was all about as 100 attendees were introduced to fishing and the outdoors with the help of union volunteers and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The event was part of a series of free, community-based youth outreach events organized under USA’s flagship conservation program, Work Boots on the Ground. Each…

CONYERS, GA. –   Registration for Kindergarten is now open for the 2026-2027 school year.  All student registration for Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is online at www.rockdaleschools.org/registration. Parents must provide the documentation described below.             For Kindergarten, children must be 5 years old by Sept. 1. Kindergarten registration takes place online atwww.rockdaleschools.org/registration. The child’s school will be assigned at the time of registration. Parents should contact the elementary school to visit their school and to be assessed for kindergarten readiness. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Registration for all students takes place at the RCPS Student Registration webpage, www.rockdaleschools.org/registration. Photos or scans of required documents can be uploaded into…

MCDONOUGH, GA—A host of family, friends and shoppers celebrated Precious Solemates’ one-year anniversary on Saturday, April 11, 2026, enjoying a pink carpet runway fashion event, food, prizes, and giveaways.  What began in 2025 as a vision to provide timeless, quality footwear and accesesories for boys and girls has quickly become a welcoming boutique ready to serve parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, godparents, and others  looking to dress their children for casual wear and life’s special moments.  From stylish kicks to Sunday best, Precious Solemates offers an array of quality, classic footwear for children.  The store is a destination for families gearing…