Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA— Georgia gas price average continues to decline at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgia drivers are now paying an average price of $2.96 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline (subject to change overnight). Monday’s state average is 8 cents less than a week ago, 17 cents less than a month ago, and 22 cents less than this time last year. It now costs $44.40 to fill a 15-gallon tank of regular gasoline. Drivers are now paying almost $3.00 less to fill-up at the pump compared to last month. “Pump prices have steadily decreased across Georgia over the past few weeks,” said Montrae Waiters, AAA-The Auto Club Group spokeswoman. “Declining crude oil prices continue…

STONECREST, GA – The City of Stonecrest will hold its third annual Holiday Tree Lighting celebration at Browns Mill Recreation Center on Saturday, Dec. 10, beginning at 4 p.m. The family-friendly event will kick off with the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a music performance by J. Cordell, immediately followed by the tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. City officials plan to transform the area into a winter wonderland, complete with artificial snow, a Nutcracker performance, and a Gingerbread house. The Center will include festive holiday decorations and a special mailbox for guests to drop off their letters…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) and the Georgia Democratic Delegation sent a letter to Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Christopher Nunn seeking answers as to “what factors led to the decision to close the Georgia Rental Assistance (GRA) program to new applications, why the decision took days for DCA to announce publicly, and what DCA plans to do with the remaining federal funds supporting the program.” The state of Georgia received nearly $1 billion in federal funding to prevent people from being evicted. The lawmakers said the sudden cutoff last month was “unacceptable” and their lack of transparency…

STONECREST, GA– Leaders of several of the nation’s most influential civil rights organizations gathered on Sunday(Nov. 4) to rally and get out the vote for Georgia’s hotly contested Senate race. The battle between Democratic incumbent, Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger, Herschel Walker, will be decided on Tuesday, Dec. 6. During the noon press conference and rally, organizers urged voters to make their voices known in the mid-term election at the ballot boxes on Election Day.  The rally was held at the New Black Wall Street, 8109 Mall Parkway, Stonecrest. An incubator of minority and women-owned business, The New Black…

DECATUR, GA–DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson presented his 15th Annual Tree Lighting at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center in Decatur on Nov. 29. Community residents witnessed the lighting of the tree, atop of the building and enjoyed music before going inside for the Stepp Stewart’s Soulful Christmas musical performance.  Afterward the performance, attendees enjoyed hot chocolate, apple cider and Christmas cookies. https://youtu.be/LmjqAqRkARE Video and photos by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News

DECATUR, GA– Eldorado Drive NE, between Chrysler Drive N.E. and Renault Lane N.E., will be closed to through-traffic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, through Monday, Dec. 26, to facilitate the point repair on a sanitary sewer line at 2340 Eldorado Drive NE. Road closure and detour signs will be placed in the area during the road closure period advising motorists of construction work in the area and of local traffic restrictions. Questions regarding this road closure should be addressed to Gabe Cummings, project manager, SAK Construction, LLC at 615-852-0988.

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb County’s Hamilton Recreation Center, 3262 Chapel St., Scottdale, will host a Parents Night Out and Kids’ Pajama and Pancake Party on Friday, Dec. 16, 6 to 11 p.m. The Parents Night Out program offers a safe, fun environment for children to spend an evening while parents enjoy a little time to themselves. Youths ages 5-13 are welcome to participate and encouraged to wear pajamas. Registration is $10 per child and will include food, karaoke, games, door prizes, music and more. Pre-registration is required and is on a first-come, first-served basis. To access online registration, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks and click the…

DECATUR, GA— Dee Dixon, CEO of American Red Cross of Georgia, will be the guest speaker at the DeKalb Legislative Community Cabinet breakfast on Saturday, Dec. 3, 9 to 11 a.m.  The breakfast will be held at Southwest DeKalb High School (auditorium atrium, 2863 Kelley Chapel Rd., Decatur. Dixon is the first African American to hold the position of CEO at the American Red Cross of Georgia. Other speakers expected at the breakfast include Tori Silas, Senior Directorof Government & Regulatory Affairs at Comcast Cable,  Angela Brown of MedCura Health, and Tim Hardy, DeKalb County Code Enforcement Director. The DeKalb…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County Public Library (DCPL) system will offer a smorgasbord of activities to celebrate the Doris K. Wells Heritage Festival honoring DeKalb’s first African-American librarian.  The festival, which begins Dec. 1 and runs through Jan. 31, 2022, will feature more than 25 programs including music, dance, food, crafts, informational workshops and other activities for all ages at many of DeKalb’s library branches. The Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library, where the late Wells was a longtime manager, will kick of its event on Dec. 10.  The  event will include African folk tales with children’s author Ada Ari; family portraits…