Author: On Common Ground News

Update: Due to expected cinclement weather, the meeting date has changed to Dec. 12, from 1 – 4 p.m. LITHONIA—Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance(AMHAA) will host its second community engagement session to determine the future of the historic Bruce Street School site, DeKalb County’s first public school for blacks. The outdoor, drop-in meeting will be held on Sunday, Dec. 11, 1- 4 p.m., at the former school site, 2449 Bruce St., Lithonia. The three-hour drop-in session will feature several activities to gain community feedback on how the ruins of the former school might be preserved as a historic…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Gwinnett County Planning and Development will hold a job fair on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., in Lawrenceville. The job fair will be held in the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Conference Center (second floor), 75 Langley Drive. Masks are recommended but not required. The department wants to fill several positions including code enforcement, inspections and planning. During the event, applicants can discuss career opportunities with the department’s staff and interview for posted positions. Job hopefuls are encouraged to apply online for the positions listed on GCGA.us/PandDJobFair before Dec. 8. Gwinnett County offers competitive benefits, paid training,…

ATLANTA—Former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams announced her campaign for Governor today (Dec. 1). In conjunction with the announcement, Abrams released a video titled One Georgia focusing on her campaign. The video, narrated by Abrams, features images of Georgians from across the state and outlines Abrams’ efforts over the last four years to build a “stronger Georgia.” From her fierce advocacy for voting rights, to supplying food banks during the pandemic, to eliminating medical debt for tens of thousands of Georgians, Abrams discusses her dedication to delivering for Georgia. “Opportunity and success in Georgia shouldn’t be determined by your zip…

FULTON COUNTY, GA—The Fulton County Library System, in collaboration with the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Foundation, announced, One Book, One Read a county-wide book club with the aim of getting as many people across reading, talking about and engaging with the same book. The goal is to promote critical conversations, community building and literacy all while having fun with your friends, family and neighbors. The Library System’s first ever One Book, One Read program will begin with Caste: The Origins of OurDiscontents by Isabel Wilkerson. The book’s core resides in comparisons between the caste system in India, the American race system, and the rise of…

Story Updated Dec. 1: Graves thanks supporters, Incumbent Jimmy Clanton for his service STONECREST, GA—Tara Graves overwhelmingly defeated incumbent Jimmy Clanton in the Nov. 30 runoff for the District 1 Stonecrest City Council seat, earning 68.05 percent (296 votes), according to unofficial results released at 9:40 p.m. by DeKalb County elections officials.   Clanton received 31.95 percent (139 votes), elections officials reported. Graves, who has never run for office before, started the runoff race with a strong lead from supporters showing up for advanced voting. According to stats, she received 116 votes during advanced voting while Clanton received 46…

ATLANTA—Gov. Brian P. Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, and their daughters will kick off the 2021 holiday season with the lighting of Georgia’s Christmas Tree on Wednesday, Dec. 1. The event will be held at the State Capitol in the North Wing rotunda at 2 p.m.  The First Family will be joined by leadership from the Georgia Building Authority and special guests, Clark Howard and the Atlanta Boy Choir. The First Family invites all Georgians to come together for this special time to reflect on the joy of Christmas and the importance of generosity and fellowship during this time…

ATLANTA– Georgia Power has provided Hosea Helps with a $50,000 donation to support more people in more counties this holiday season. In early 2017, the nonprofit was forced to leave its decades-long home due to a change in the building’s ownership and plans for redevelopment. Recently, Hosea Helps moved into an expanded location in south Atlanta, allowing the organization to serve 30 percent more families in low-income communities and expand its operation into 31 counties across Georgia. With Georgia Power’s support, the nonprofit will also be able to expand its outdoor space for youth communities and a community garden, as well as a…

Update: Tara Graves receives whopping 68.05% (296 votes). Incumbent Jimmy Clanton receives 31.95 percent (139 votes), according to results released at 9:40 p.m.The numbers reflect advance voting and Election Day results. STONECREST, GA—Tara Graves soared to victory tonight in the runoff against incumbent Jimmy Clanton for the District 1 Stonecrest City Council seat, early results show. Graves was leading in three of all  four precincts, according to unofficial results. Seeking office for the first time, Graves received overwhelming support at the Stonecrest Library precinct receiving 117 votes to Clanton’s 45 votes. Here’s a breakdown of the unofficial results posted at the…

STONECREST, GA—On Common Ground News’ Publishers Glenn and Valerie Morgan will be the special guests at the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce’s Mix and Mingle on Wednesday, Dec. 1. The Morgans will be honored for over 26 years of dedicated community service as founders of On Common Ground News, which launched in 1995 and now publishes exclusively online (www.ocgnews.com). The Chamber’s Mix and Mingle will be held on Dec. 1, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta East, 7846 Stonecrest Square, Stonecrest. Members and others are invited to come out and celebrate and…

DECATUR, GA –The National Association of Counties (NACo) next week will host a series of meetings in DeKalb County, the home county of NACo President Larry Johnson, a DeKalb County commissioner. The events are expected to attract over 200 county officials from across the country. NACo will hold its annual Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Symposium Dec. 1-3. It will focus on pressing issues facing urban counties, those with populations greater than 500,000. The symposium’s theme is “Urban Counties THRIVE,” part of President Johnson’s year-long effort to position counties to emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever. Among…