Author: On Common Ground News

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA —Kadance Thornton, a rising sophomore at Redan High School, has been selected to serve on the elite Sandy Hook Promise National Youth Advisory Board for the 2021-2022 school year. Thornton is a member of the Youth Action Team and serves as vice president of the Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Promise Club at Jared’s Heart of Success, Inc. youth organization. The Sandy Hook Promise Youth Advisory Board exists to empower, educate and engage a core group of youths to serve as the national voice of SAVE Promise Clubs and Sandy Hook Promise. SAVE and Sandy…

CONYERS—Families in Rockdale County are invited to register for a free summer enrichment program hosted by Conyers City Councilwoman Connie Alsobrook in collaboration with Beyond the Bell. The eight-week program, open to youths ages 17 and under and their parents or guardians, will be held June 7 through July 31, ending with a Back-to-School extravaganza. “After more than a year of our youths being under one restriction or another due to Covid, I wanted to give them an opportunity to get out of the house this summer and have some fun and perhaps enjoy some life-altering experiences,” Alsobrook said. “I have…

DeKalb County Cooperative Extension is accepting registrations for its “June Gardening” virtual classes.  The free, one-hour classes will be offered from 6 to 7 p.m. on the following dates: June 16: “Managing Plant Disease in Home Gardens and Landscapes” June 23: “Chinese Kitchen Garden” June 29: “General Landscape and Garden Maintenance ” Registration is required: https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9YoVsusoNxLrmPs or email yanyu.chen@uga.edu to register.  For more information, contact the DeKalb County Cooperative Extension Office at 404-298-4080, or visit our website at https://extension.uga.edu/county-offices/dekalb.html.

The Gwinett County Board of Commissioners approved a contract to install a roundabout at the intersection of Sardis Church Road and West Rock Quarry Road. The roundabout will be located  near the future Seckinger High School on Sardis Church Road. In addition to the roundabout, the project includes installation of a signalized intersection at the driveway for Seckinger High School and the installation of sidewalks, curb and gutter, street lighting and associated drainage improvements. Peach State Construction Co. LLC was the lowest of six responsive bidders. The $2.1 million project is funded by the Special Purpose…

Only 26 percent of county’s African American and Hispanic populations are fully vaccinated   Inspired by President Joe Biden’s declaration that June will be a “national month of action” to get more Americans vaccinated against COVID 19, the DeKalb County government, DeKalb Board of Health and DeKalb NAACP are partnering to provide  residents with COVID-19 vaccinations without exiting their vehicles on, Saturday June 5. In addition, one 20-pound box of Georgia-grown fruit and vegetables, one dozen eggs and a 10-pound package of chicken hindquarters will be distributed. Beginning at 8 a.m., DeKalb County Board of Health medical professionals and DeKalb Fire…

Be Someone, Inc. is offering free online chess classes for seniors + children DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Chess is a healthy and peaceful pastime for both senior citizens and children. Orrin C. Hudson, founder and CEO of Be Someone Inc., based in DeKalb County, has developed exciting training options to help these groups learn the game and thoroughly enjoy the experience. Hudson, who is widely known and respected for his championship chess skills, is offering free online chess lessons for local seniors and children. He has crafted the experience where participants can maximize their enjoyment for those who want to learn how to…

DECATUR, GA— Beginning Saturday, June 5, the DeKalb County Board of Health will modify hours at its Doraville and Stonecrest COVID-19 vaccination sites. On Saturday, the COVID-19 vaccination site at the Doraville MARTA station will be closed due to the COVID-19 vaccination and food distribution event to be held at four locations throughout the county. Also beginning on Saturday, the DeKalb County Board of Health’s COVID-19 call center will now be closed on Saturdays. The call center will maintain its normal hours during the week, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Starting Monday, June 7, the Stonecrest vaccination site will…

The DeKalb County Board of Health is partnering with three community organizations to provide farmers market vouchers through the Healthy Bucks voucher program – the Diabetes “You Can Win” Foundation, Inc., Lithonia Head Start, and the Ruby A. Neeson Diabetes Awareness Foundation, Inc. Healthy Bucks, modeled after a similar program in New York City, offers incentives for community members to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and participate in nutrition education. Clients will be able to redeem vouchers for bags of produce at any Fresh on DeK: DeKalb Mobile Farmers Market stop during this market season, which begins June 7. Fresh on DeK makes weekly stops throughout the county, providing fresh, affordable produce and food demonstrations. About 71 percent of…