Author: On Common Ground News

Looking for ways to celebrate the Fourth of July in metro Atlanta? Grab your lawn chairs and blankets, sunscreen and repellant and check out On Common Ground News’ curated list of family-friendly events offering free admission, festivities and fireworks. Enjoy your weekend! Friday, June 30 City of Lawrenceville’s Prelude to the Fourth Lawrenceville’s Prelude to the Fourth Festivities and fireworks will be held 5:30 to 10 p.m. on the Lawrenceville Lawn. Enjoy live music from the 1980s and 1990s, inflatables, face painting, aerialist, axe throwing and more. Bring your own picnic or purchase food from vendors onsite. Bring a canned…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt will host the inaugural “Chillin’ with the Chairman” event on July 9, 3 p.m.,1240 Dogwood Dr. S.W. Conyers, GA. The chairman is hosting the event to give away free box fans to needy seniors while supplies last. The event is being held to assist vulnerable populations including seniors to cope with temperatures that have soared into the high 90s in the last several days. Seniors will be able to pick up the fans from designated drive-up areas. Recipients must remain in their vehicle during the pickup. “Keeping cool and…

ATLANTA — This Fourth of July marks the 247th Independence Day celebration since the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1776. While American society has changed drastically over the centuries, Independence Day is an excellent opportunity for individuals and businesses to reflect on their history and celebrate the future. However, as is typical during every holiday, it is crucial to remain aware of scammers looking to use Independence Day festivities to con people out of their money. Independence Day scams typically take form in one of the following ways: Travel and rental scams. Some families take the Fourth of July…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, with assistance from the U.S. Marshal’s Office, has arrested a suspect in the murder of a man in Stone Mountain, Georgia last year. The Sheriff’s Office arrested 19 year-old Atlanta resident Jamarcus Jones on June 27, 2023 at a Stonecrest, Georgia residence where the female occupant, allegedly an acquaintance, was living illegally and was being evicted. Jones was taken into custody on warrants charging him with the Dec. 26, 2022 shooting death of Joshua Reed on Russwood Avenue in Stone Mountain. No probable cause was given. Jones was transported to the…

ATLANTA –MARTA’s public art program, Artbound, announces the selection of four artists for the creation of eight mosaics to be installed on the platform levels at Five Points Station. The mosaics will serve as both navigational aids and visually striking art pieces. The artists, selected from a pool of over 150 candidates, will bring their creative vision and unique perspectives to the Northbound, Southbound, Eastbound and Westbound platforms at Five Points. Over the next six weeks, the artists will finalize their concept designs, with the installation phase to take approximately one year. The artists and their hometowns: Nick Benson (Atlanta)…

ATLANTA– Family, friends and colleagues are saddened by the passing of Southwest Atlanta Entrepreneur Maceo A. Brown, who 33 years ago started the largest African American-owned security and alarm monitoring company in Georgia. Mr. Brown is being remembered by many for his leadership, business acumen and philanthropy, continuing his legacy as an industry leader on. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Brown received numerous honors including the Atlanta Business League Hall of Fame Inductee and Corporation of the Year Award, Concerned Black Clergy of Atlanta Business of the Year Award, Atlanta Tribune’s Business Achievement Award, the Herndon Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County is making recreation centers and libraries throughout the county available as cooling centers Friday, Saturday and Sunday due to a heat advisory. As defined by the National Weather Service’s Peachtree City Forecast Office, a heat advisory is issued when “feels like” temperatures are expected to reach or be greater than 103 degrees, or when the actual air temperature is expected to be at 105 degrees or greater. DeKalb County libraries and recreation centers will be available as cooling centers, during the locations’ normal business hours. For a list of DeKalb County recreation centers, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/weather. A…

ATLANTA –Those attending the Peachtree Road Race and July 4 fireworks in downtown Atlanta are encouraged to take MARTA. MARTA is most efficient way to attend the 54th running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race, Peachtree Health & Fitness Expo, and Centennial Olympic Park fireworks. New this year, MARTA fare stickers are available to affix to your bib for easy travel on race day. Fare stickers were included in 1300 early bird race packets and are also available for purchase at the Health & Fitness Expo. PEACHTREE HEALTH & FITNESS EXPO · Sunday, July 2, and Monday, July 3 ·…

DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson is presenting his free concert series again this summer at the Rainbow Park Amphitheater, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. The “Thriving Thursday” finale is June 28 featuring Malcom Jamal Warner, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of HipHop through jazz. The free concert series transitioned on June 24 to weekends, launching with actor/singer/jazz musician Terrence “TC” Carson. No concert is planned for July 1 but one is scheduled July 8. The final concert will be held on Sept. 16. The summer concert series, which Johnson launched in 2022, draws a multi-generational crowd. In addition…