Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA– On Tuesday, March 14, a portion of the Warren Avenue between Pace Avenue and Hill Boulevard was closed while crews work to repair sewer pipe for three continuous days, barring any weather issues. The work will continue through Friday, March 24. The Small Diameter Sewer Cleaning Project is part of DeKalb County’s $2.4 billion capital improvement program, the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) will be improving the capacity and service of the Watershed systems serving your community. For more information, visit the DWM website at www.dekalbwatershed.com, call the DWM Project Information Line at 1-800-986-1108 or email projectinfo@dekalbcountyga.gov.

STONECREST, GA—The Easter Bunny will make an exciting arrival on Saturday, April 8, at the Southeast Athletic Complex, 5845 Hillvale Rd. Rd.The City of Stonecrest invites your family to participate in the return of the Stonecrest Easter Egg Drop. The scramble for eggs will be separated by age groups, and gates will open at 10 a.m. The celebration will include games, crafts, frozen treats, and pictures with the Easter  Bunny. For more information on the Stonecrest Easter Egg Drop and marketing opportunities for your business during the event, contact the city’s Parks and Recreation Events Coordinator, Tonya Ashley at tashley@stonecrestga.gov.

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The Rotary Club of Stone Mountain is hosting the Second Annual Champions of Education fundraiser event, Saturday, March 18, at the Georgia Piedmont Technical College DeKalb Conference Center, 495 N. Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston The event will feature the presentation of awards to inspiring educators, organizations, and businesses that have supported students, teachers, and local education systems during the pandemic. Among the recipients of this year’s awards is Orrin C. Hudson, a nationally-known chess champion and founder of the Be Someone academy, which has mentored and taught more than  88,000 students. Hudson will be recognized for his outstanding…

STONECREST, GA– Mayor Jazzmin Cobble will deliver her first State of the City address on Thursday, March 23, at 7 p.m., at the Mall at Stonecrest, 8020 Mall Parkway, Parking Lot 1C. Cobble will share the accomplishments of the city and the vision for moving Stonecrest forward. The program will include an open discussion between Cobble and Atlanta’s 58th mayor, Shirley Franklin about the best practices, challenges, and triumphs with moving a city forward through a transition. The event is open to the public. Guests should register for the event on the city’s Eventbrite page at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stonecrest-state-of-the-city-address-tickets-591174056517. The event doors will…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) DeKalb County Branch announces its Annual Unity Breakfast to be held on April 29 at the Greater Travelers Rest Church – House of Hope, 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. The keynote speaker will be Georgia NAACP President Gerald Griggs. The master of ceremonies will be television personality, Rodney Harris, Meteorologist/Traffic Anchor for Atlanta News First. The purpose for the Unity Breakfast is to invite the community to learn more about the NAACP and join in its our mission to achieve equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing…

CONYERS, GA. – Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) celebrates the return of Parent Academy in person for its 21st semester on Saturday, March 18, 2023. Thefree, half-day event for parents and teens, held 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Rockdale Career Academy, offers free classes and resources on a wide variety of topics to help families find success. To register, please visit www.rockdaleschools.org/parentacademy. RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts opens the day as the keynote speaker with the “State of the School System” overview. Afterwards, attendees attend two breakout sessions and can choose from dozens of classes. Class topics range from mental health and wellness to reading strategies, school and…

CONYERS, GA—The Rotary Club of Conyers honored the 2023 STAR Students and their chosen STAR Teachers during an awards luncheon held at the Conyers-Rockdale Nancy Guinn Memorial Library. The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) STAR Program recognizes high school seniors who have the highest SAT score in their graduating class and are in the top 10 percent or top 10 students in their graduating class. The 2023 Rockdale County STAR Students and their selected STAR Teachers are: Chace Cleveland (Heritage High School) and teacher Kimberley Donaldson (Rockdale Career Academy) Justin Sterlin (Rockdale County High School) and teacher Keri Wagstaff…

ATLANTA–Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said Thursday(March 16) that all Georgia Regional Commissions recorded a rise in the unemployment rate in January. Due to seasonal factors from December to January, data that is not seasonally adjusted typically shows an increase in unemployment – a seasonal trend that happens each year. “Despite a nationwide pandemic and challenging economic times, continued investments in Georgia’s labor force and thriving business community have kept our economy strong,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. “As labor commissioner, it is my No. 1 priority to help more Georgians get back to work and fill the jobs that our businesses…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Hills Academy, an all-male private, college-prep Christian school, flexed its academic excellence and walked away as the first-place winner of the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl in Rockdale County. The competition was held at Rockdale Career Academy among students in grades 6-8. Hills Academy, the only private school competing, was followed by Rockdale County Public Schools: Davis Middle School, which placed second, and Conyers Middle School, which placed third. Hills’ team was comprised of black males. The Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl is a state competition that quizzes students on books from the current list of Georgia Children’s Book Award…