Author: On Common Ground News

Luna Brown, 5, enjoys picking plumerias, the flowers most commonly used to make leis, outside a local library in Waimanalo, Hawaii. She and her mother, Mackenzie Morgan, who is a certified meditation and yoga instructor based in East Metro Atlanta, recently spent some time on the island of Oahu exploring and recharging. Their two-month learning adventure included daily yoga on the beach, exploring some of the island’s most picturesque hiking trails, visiting local artisan farmers markets and immersing themselves in the food, land and customs of local Hawaiian life.

VALDOSTA, GA – Wild Adventures Theme Park is celebrating those who have served with free admission and welcoming the return of patriotic fireworks displays and the Harlem Globetrotters during the Celebrate America Festival. “At Wild Adventures, we feel it’s incredibly important to honor and recognize the men and women who have served our country,” said Patrick Pearson, director of sales and marketing. “With free admission, those who have served will be able to enjoy thrilling rides, Splash Island Waterpark and a whole lot more.” All active, retired, disabled and honorably discharged military will receive free admission during the Celebrate America Festival, now…

ATLANTA – Did you know that Georgia Power owns several recreational lakes for the public to enjoy fishing, swimming, hiking and camping? As many Georgians plan summer vacations across the state, Georgia Power is reminding visitors of the recreational opportunities the company offers across the state right near home. As part of the company’s commitment to conservation and the outdoors, Georgia Power remains the largest non-governmental provider of public recreation in Georgia, maintaining and operating approximately 100,000 acres of land, 60,000 surface acres of water and more than 15 lake properties for years.   Get easy access to lakes and recreational facilities online By…

ATLANTA—Gov. Brian Kemp has appointed Sen. Emanuel Jones (D – Decatur) to the Georgia Jobs and Infrastructure Committee on Economic Impact, which will be responsible for receiving applications and making recommendations to the governor regarding federal coronavirus relief funds allocated to Georgia through the American Rescue Plan. State government entities, units of local government, industries, and nonprofits will be eligible to apply. “Today, I am naming a bipartisan group of state leaders to three Georgia Jobs and Infrastructure Committees focused on broadband, water and sewer infrastructure, and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Kemp. “These committees…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Hank Johnson, a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, voted in favor of the INVEST in America Act (Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America) that passed the House of Representatives, 221-201. | WATCH REP. JOHNSON’S FLOOR SPEECH IN SUPPORT OF THE INVEST ACT | The bill includes five  transportation projects that  will collectively bring nearly $20 million in transit investments to the Fourth District, which Johnson represents. The INVEST Act is a $715 billion in surface transportation re-authorization and water infrastructure bill that creates…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – Rockdale County Parks and Recreation announces the opening of the Milstead Splash Pad at Milstead Park, 1665 Main Street, Conyers, as well as facility rentals for the Summer of 2021.   The splash pad will open on Monday, July 12, , and will be open every day from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. until Aug. 1. After Aug. 1, the splash pad will only be open on weekends and will officially close on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021.  Beginning August 2, all indoor and outdoor facilities will be available to the public to…

DECATUR, GA– In observance of the Independence Day Holiday, the DeKalb County Board of Health’s COVID-19 vaccination site at the Doraville MARTA station, located at 6000 New Peachtree Rd., in Doraville, will be closed on Saturday, July 3. In addition, all Board of Health offices and health centers will be closed on Monday, July 5. Vaccination operations at the Doraville MARTA station will resume on Tuesday, July 6. Normal hours of operation for this location are Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. All Board of Health offices and health centers will re-open…

DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb Human Services Department, in partnership with the DeKalb Community Development Department, is currently providing a limited number of summer vouchers and scholarships for qualified youth to attend approved, in-person summer camp programs in DeKalb County. The DeKalb Summer Camp Voucher Program provides summer camp options for youths from income-eligible families. DeKalb youths ages 5-15 may attend a variety of programs that are open now through July 30, 2021. To obtain the list of approved program providers, visit www.dekalboys.org/voucher-program. Interested individuals must contact the location that they wish to enroll their child. Each individual organization will…

https://youtu.be/iK5iNqxRbvA Video by Valerie J. Morgan   Glenn L. Morgan, publisher of ocgnews.com, is recovering from knee surgery. This was Morgan’s second surgery—a revision—to the same knee. He had the four-hour surgery on June 14. The stitches were removed today (June 30) and he got a positive nod from his surgeon that he’s “looking good.” Morgan used a cane to walk to his vehicle, which was driven by his daughter, Mackenzie. His home duty “nurse”—5-year-old granddaughter, Luna—was filled with joy as he made his way to the back seat, where she was waiting. “Can I touch it?”…