Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA—Mayor Andre Dickens and Invest Atlanta announced the relaunch of the Atlanta Heritage Owner Occupied Rehab Program, which provides forgivable loans up to $30,000 to eligible homeowners to address needed health and safety repairs. Applications are being accepted until Friday, September 22, 2023. Created to help legacy residents remain in their homes amid rising prices, the program gives priority to senior households, military veterans, disabled head of households and those who have lived in their homes for more than 15 years. Eligible home repairs range from roofs, minor plumbing and electrical work to ADA improvements, siding, painting and more. Funds provided…

DECATUR, GA – DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson’s office announced today that no more free tickets are available for the highly-acclaimed stage play, “It’s All About Me, Part Two,”  scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. “I am extremely proud to present this amazing play. I urge everyone to take advantage of this rare opportunity to attend a high-quality production and be entertained with a purpose,” Commissioner Cochran-Johnson had stated earlier today. “Many people do not realize there are cures for several blood-borne diseases through bone marrow donorship, so despite not having…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Board of Health is hosting its Passport to Health and Wellness festival and vaccination event on Saurday, Sept. 23, 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the Board of Health’s Richardson Health Center, located at 445 Winn Way in Decatur. Three variations of flu shots will be available – Fluarix, for children 6 months and older; Flublok for adults 18 years and older, immunocompromised individuals, or those who would like a vaccine that may give a higher level of protection; and Fluzone High-Dose for individuals ages 65 and older, providing a higher level of protection for this age…

By Mark Brock DeKalb County School District Athletics Specialist DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County’s high school football programs get back into action with seven home games this weekend with the Stephenson Jaguars against the Tucker Tigers rivalry renewing for the ninth time. The two high profile DeKalb programs first met in 2012 with Stephenson winning a 13-6 battle before Tucker ran off three in a row. The teams have played every year since 2016 except for the 2020 season cut short by Covid. Stephenson won 30-24 in 2017 and has reeled off four consecutive victories including 28-3 a year ago…

Public advised to use caution around animals acting oddly GWINNETT COUNTY– Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and Enforcement and the Gwinnett County Health Department advise residents to use caution and avoid animals behaving in unusual ways after a cat tested positive for the rabies virus. On Thursday, Sept.7, a rabid cat bit its owner near the 4000 block of Annistown Road in Snellville. The cat later tested positive for rabies. Rabies can be transmitted to humans and pets through bites or scratches from wild animals such as foxes and raccoons. All pet owners should ensure that their pets are current on…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA— Gwinnett County will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 18, 11 a.m., to celebrate the completion of the Elizabeth H. Williams Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library and the City of Snellville Business Center. The new 44,000-square-foot facility is part of The Grove at Town Center development in Snellville. The two-story building houses the library on the first floor, while the city of Snellville will use the second floor as a business center. Features of the new library include adult, teen and children’s areas, 30 computer workstations and a multipurpose room. The library and business…

ATLANTA–DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson joined First Lady Jill Biden during her visit today (Sept. 15) at Emory University to announce a renewed, more ambitious “Cancer Moonshot” program, an initiative aimed at reducing the rate of cancer in the U.S. by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years. First Lady Biden’s visit highlighted the program as the first project funded under the Biden Administration’s Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The agency aims to accelerate better outcomes for society’s most challenging health problems. The $1.8 billion Cancer Moonshot program, initially approved by Congress in 2013, is being  reignited to mobilize efforts toward…

ATLANTA –The city’s Department of Watershed Management (DWM) is offering assistance to Atlanta residents in need of cleanup and/or remediation following   heavy rain that flooded several areas across Atlanta on Thursday, Sept. 14. City officials said the heavy “rain event” originated in the city’s northwest region but progressed across Atlanta, causing flooding in many areas. Parts of downtown Atlanta, including the Atlanta University Center and Peoplestown community, experienced as much rainfall in 15 minutes as typically would be seen in a three-hour spa, city officials said. DWM has made and is continuing to make investments in its collection and stormwater…