Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA. – DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs will host a series of free fall festivals, Oct. 28 – 31, at various recreation centers throughout DeKalb County. This year’s festivals will include face painting, hikes, music, games, contests, hayrides, food and more. All members of the community are invited to attend, and children are encouraged to wear costumes. The 2022 Fall festivals include: Friday, Oct. 28 N.H. Scott and Decatur Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Halloween Carnival, 2230 Tilson Road, Decatur, 7 – 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 Redan Recreation Center and New Covenant Christian Ministries…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA–The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners has approved a new ordinance that will make it more difficult to drag race on Gwinnett County streets. The ordinance, approved on Tuesday, Oct. 4, allows Gwinnett Police to impound vehicles involved in street racing for up to a month. State law does not address impounding – only fines. The county’s action is on the heels of local cities such as Atlanta and Sandy Springs passing similar ordinances. In May, Gwinnett Police along with other local police departments made more than 80 arrests on Peachtree Corners Circle and Spalding Drive, leading to…

ATLANTA –The MARTA Board of Directors’ GM/CEO Search Committee voted to advance interim GM/CEO Collie Greenwood as the sole finalist for the permanent position. State law requires a 14-day waiting period before the MARTA Board of Directors can vote to confirm his selection and extend an official offer of employment. A nationwide search, conducted by Krauthamer & Associates, identified 11 candidates with varying backgrounds in transportation and other business sectors. The Search Committee, chaired by MARTA Board Chair Rita Scott, interviewed 5 candidates and concluded that Mr. Greenwood is the best fit for MARTA. A former bus operator, Greenwood rose through…

DECATUR, GA.— The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections will host a Special Called Meeting on Monday, Oct. 10, at 1:30 p.m.   The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the contract with Konnech.  This meeting will be conducted via teleconference (Zoom). Simultaneous public access to the meeting will be available via livestream on DCTV’s UStream channel at https://video.ibm.com/channel/dctv-channel-23.   To make a public comment, join via Zoom: https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/97184078303 or dial in via phone toll free at 888-270-9936 and use conference code: 171493.  Public comments of two minutes or less may be made live via the teleconference. For those…

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA–Bishop Gary Hawkins, Sr. has anointed his eldest son, Gary “G.J.” Hawkins, Jr., as the future successor of Voices of Faith Ministries. The pastoral installation of Pastor “GJ” Hawkins was held at Voices of Faith’s main campus in Stone Mountain and its Conyers’ campus on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022. The installation comes as VOF prepares to celebrate Bishop Hawkins’ 28th pastoral anniversary and Founder’s Day on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022.  The church’s Empowerment Night is set for Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022. During the installation, Bishop Hawkins told the congregations that it was his desire to prepare his son…

CONYERS, GA—The 42nd Annual Olde Town Conyers Fall Festival takes place on Saturday, Oct.15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., in historic Olde Town Conyers. What began as a fundraiser by the Rockdale County Historical Society in 1980 to help fund operational costs for the Depot (which now houses the Conyers Welcome Center) and Old Jail Museum, has become an annual fall tradition for Conyers residents and visitors. While the Historical Society still exists, the organization turned over the coordination of the festival to the City of Conyers in 2008. “More than 100 vendors are expected to participate this year,” said Events Coordinator…

Atlanta–Emmy Award and du Pont Gold Baton Award winner A’Lelia Bundles will be the guest speaker at the launching of a tour to honor the historic work of her great-great-grandmother, Madam C. J. Walker, the country’s first African American female millionaire.  The Hidden Gems Tours launch will take place on Monday, Oct. 10, noon to 2 p.m., at Loudermilk Center, 40 Courtland Street NE, Atlanta. Trevor Pearson, a former journalist, and business development officer from New York, developed the idea for the three-hour walking tour, while researching a book about the Ride Share industry. During trips, riders often asked two…