Author: On Common Ground News

CARTERSVILLE, GA–The Tellus Science Museum is reopening the Bentley Planetarium with upgraded projectors on Saturday, May 18, in conjunction with the Museum’s Star Party. The new system features 4k laser technology, which will enhance guests’ experience with brighter, clearer,and more saturated images. “We’ve spent the past six months communicating with various local, national, and international experts about this installation, and several additional weeks training staff on the new system we chose,” said Karisa Zdanky, said Tellus Astronomy program manager. “This project has involved many of our museum departments and team members, and it’s really exciting to see it finally come…

Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, who is running for DeKalb County CEO, is inviting DeKalb residents to join her for a one-hour county-wide Tele Town Hall on May 15, 6:30 p.m., covering major issues that impact DeKalb County.   “During this Town Hall, I will share my plan to move DeKalb progressively forward as I address critical issues at the forefront of our future,” Cochran-Johnson stated. “DeKalb is at a crossroad and the next CEO will be charged with acting on key issues that will define our communities. Join me for a candid conversation on my plan to usher DeKalb into its best days…

ATLANTA — A delegation of business leaders and government representatives recently led a week-long economic development tour to Korea with plans to ignite international investment in Fulton County. Develop Fulton, a major collaborator behind the overseas initiative, aims to position the county, particularly South Fulton, as the epicenter of business expansion opportunities in the United States. Georgia State Sen. and Develop Fulton Chairman Brandon Beach touted Georgia’s reputation as the premier location in the nation for business and economic development. “Fulton County is the nucleus of smart growth that represents an area uniquely positioned to attract major attention for future…

LITHONIA, GA—State Rep. Doreen Carter, District 93, invited the community to join the “House District 93 Friends Breakfast Meetup,” which was held on Saturday, May 11, at Robert’s Soul Food Rerstaurant, 2810  Evans Mill Road, Lithonia. Folks who came out had a chance to meet community leaders from DeKalb and Rockdale counties and to order from the restaurant’s newly added Southern-style breakfast, served on Saturdays. Several candidates running for office fueled up at the breakfast meetup, before hitting the campaign trail to get out the  voting for the final Saturday voting day. The three-week early voting period ends on Friday,…

CONYERS, GA—Storm cleanup in Conyers, thanks in large part to the city’s Storm Assistance Program (SAP), is winding down after an EF2 tornado caused damage in the city of Conyers and Rockdale County on April 3. The SAP was launched on April 10 and targeted city residents on streets and in neighborhoods hardest hit by the storm, and without the means to pay for removal of downed trees and debris. Fifty-six applications for assistance were received, with 39 of those eligible for aid within the city limits. Of the 39 remaining applications, work has been completed for 33 of the…

LITHONIA, GA–Tony Royal, owner and operator of Robert’s Soul Food Restaurant, presented the inaugural Robert’s Soul Food Restaurant Scholarship in the amount of $500 to Amyra Sabir in honor of the late founder, Michael E. McClinton. Additionally, Mrs. Marilyn McClinton joined Royal at Martin Luther King Jr. High School to present the Michael E. McClinton Memorial Book Scholarship in the amount of $250 to Amyra in memory of her husband. The young Kennedi  Ray, joined her grandmother in presenting the scholarship in her “Papa’s” honor. “It was important to me to continue to reinvest in the community in which I serve. One…

ATLANTA – The MARTA Board of Directors will hold in-person and virtual public hearings to consider the proposed fiscal year 2025 Operating and Capital Budgets on Wednesday, May 15, at 7 p.m. and Thursday, May 16, at 7 p.m., with a community exchange session beginning one hour earlier.      WHAT:          MARTA public hearings on FY 2025 budgets WHEN:           Wednesday, May 15 6 p.m. – Community exchange 7 p.m. – Public hearing WHERE:       DeKalb Maloof Auditorium 1500 Commerce Drive Decatur, Ga. 30030 MARTA:        Blue line to Decatur Statio Bus routes 15 and 283 WHEN:          Thursday, May 16  6 p.m. – Community…

LITHONIA, GA—The Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce will celebrate two high school students who were selected as the 2024 recipients of its book scholarships. The scholarships will be presented to Brooklynn Armstrong and Jordan Johnson, who are both graduating seniors at Arabia Mountain High School, at the Chamber’s Third Wednesday Luncheon on May 15. The luncheon will be held 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, 5440 Hillandale Drive, Lithonia (second floor conference room). In order to be eligible for the $500 book scholarships, the students had to write an essay and be accepted to attend any college or secondary…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA–Gwinnett County Police has announced its 2024 Police Citizens Advisory Board. The board’s mission is to foster a partnership with the police department, working together to solve community problems and enhance public safety. The board consists of Gwinnett residents who are selected by either a commissioner or a professional entity within the county. Below is a list of the individuals appointed to the board in 2024, as well as the entities that selected them: Renee Liverpool – nominated by Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson Catherine Hardrick – nominated by District 1 Commissioner Kirkland Carden Andre Johnson – nominated byDistrict 2…

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it will launch a road tour to Southeastern states to connect underrepresented  entrepreneurs with contract funding for innovation and technology. The America’s Seed Fund Road Tour supports next-generation research & development (R&D) and commercialization of innovations and provides over $4 billion each year in non-dilutive funding from 11 participating federal agencies. “America relies on ingenuity to develop critical technologies and create the industries of the future, and we need all great ideas and inventions to propel our global leadership,” said SBA Administrator Isabel C. Guzman. “This is a remarkable time to start up in this country – under the Biden-Harris Administration, we…