Author: On Common Ground News

Gwinnett County is accepting applications for federal Housing and Urban Development Block grants from nonprofits and local governments through Thursday, May 27. The county received approximately $4.4 million in Community Development Block Grants, about $1.7 million in HOME Investment Partnership Grants, and $376,000 in Emergency Solutions Grants. Grant funds are available for local nonprofits and governments that support affordable housing and the needs of Gwinnett’s homeless and low-income communities. CDBG grants can cover the purchase of buildings by nonprofits and a wide range of construction uses including sidewalks, streets, parks and homeless shelters. Grant funds must benefit lower-income areas. CDBG…

DECATUR– Starting Monday, April 25, the DeKalb County Board of Health will shift operations at its Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church testing site in East Atlanta to three days a week. New site hours are as follows: Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church COVID-19 Testing Hours (effective April 26, 2021) Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday CLOSED 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CLOSED 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CLOSED 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CLOSED Appointments and registration for COVID-19 testing are required and available online. To ensure testing resources are available for individuals who have pre-registered for testing on their scheduled…

Need to get rid of some clutter in your home? This Saturday, April 24, is the Gwinnett Solid Waste Management and Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s annual Earth Day recycling event where residents can bring electronics, paint, tires, and paper. Paper shredding is limited to five copier paper boxes; paint is limited to 10 gallons; and tires are limited to eight. Most recycling is free except for projection or console TVs ($35), monitors ($15), and printers ($5). Cash only. COVID-19 guidelines will be in place. This free event runs from 9 a.m. to noon at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, 2405 Sugarloaf…

DECATUR—DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) encourages voters to plan ahead and obtain a voter identification card from the DeKalb County VRE office.  There is no cost for obtaining the ID card, and it is specifically intended for voters who do not have a valid (unexpired) state-issued driver’s license or ID card. “We are committed to the voters of DeKalb County, and will be actively communicating how the voting experience may be different for some voters with the passage of SB202,” said DeKalb VRE Director Erica Hamilton. “For voters who do not have the appropriate identification, the time…

By Mark Brock DCSD Athletics Specialist Sitting in ninth place with just 12 points coming out of the field events, the Stephenson Jaguars roared to 76 points on the track winning six events to pass Decatur for an 88-79 lead to take the 2021 DCSD Boys’ Track and Field Championships title over the weekend. The Jaguars were sitting in ninth overall heading to the track on Friday with Dunwoody leading the pack with 48 points. Dunwoody had powered to the lead with a one-two-three finish in the pole vault led by the record setting vault of Alon Rogow of…

LAWRENCEVILLE— The Gwinnett District Attorney’s Office is commemorating the 40th anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week this week, April 18 to 24. This year’s theme is Support Victims. Build Trust. Engage Communities. “We kicked off our events by mailing a written message from District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson along with a bookmark detailing community resources to our survivors of homicide victims,” said Victim Witness Program Director Uzma Khan. “We want all victims to know that we are here to support them.” The Victim Witness Program invited a victim survivor, several community agencies and members of local law enforcement to record…

Roots Down will install edible, native landscapes at five libraries   DeKalb County District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson is launching edible landscapes at five libraries in her district as part of a wider Fruitful Communities initiative led by Roots Down. Residents are invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony at the Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road, on Earth Day, April 22, 2 p.m., to learn more about the initiative and explore the initial design concepts for the installation. The Fruitful Communities initiative focuses on addressing food insecurity, creating green jobs, combating climate change by installing Productive…

Site will feature a farmers’ market, array of outdoor activities   LITHONIA—DeKalb County officials on Monday, April 19, joined Super District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson for the groundbreaking of the $1.4 million Education, Market, Botanicals, Agriculture and Recreational Center (E.M.B.A.R.C.) Youth Farm. The farm will be developed on the 50-acre site of the former Bransby Outdoor Y Park, located at 1185 Rock Chapel Road in Southeast DeKalb. The farm will offer entrepreneurship training for youths, along with a farmers’ market, country store, hen house and greenhouse. Residents and tourists alike also will be able to enjoy trails, rockclimbing, zip…

DECATUR,GA – The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs has installed five new Chronolog photo stations in honor of Citizen Science Month. The Chronolog stations are located in Mason Mill Park and Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve. During April, volunteers from all over the world become involved in research by participating in local science community projects and events through collecting data, analyzing results, and solving scientific problems. Citizen Science Month is the perfect time for patrons to visit DeKalb’s parks and snap fun photos of nature, park officials said. The purpose of the Chronolog photo station is for…

CONYERS, GA–Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. is encouraging members of the community to join in a county-wide cleanup on Saturday, May 1. Check-in for the event will be held at 8 a.m. at the county government annex located at 1400 Parker Road. The Chairman’s Countywide Cleanup will include  Rockdale County officials, department directors and staff, along with citizen volunteers who will help collect litter, tires and other debris during the eight-hour event. “Through this event, we are letting the members of the community know that we share their same interest in the beautification of Rockdale,” Nesbitt said. “Together, we can…