Author: On Common Ground News

Seminars will focus on resource, opportunities + incentives DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is inviting entrepreneurs and small business owners to her DeKalb County Business Summit on Thursday, March 12, 2020, 8 a.m. to noon, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 2500 Clairmont Rd. NE, Atlanta. The DeKalb County Business Summit will provide attendees pertinent information on infrastructure, public safety, Tax Allocation Districts (TADs), overlay districts, Opportunity and Empowerment Zones, and more. In addition, attendees will learn how these resources can…

Sean DePalma director Parks and Recreation The City of Stonecrest plans to upgrade its security surveillance system at its six parks. New security cameras will be installed at Browns Mill Recreation and Aquatic Center and license plate readers will be installed at Browns Mill, Southeast, Everett, Fairington, Miner’s Creek/Panola Sholas Trailhead and Salem parks. The new surveillance system will replace an older, outdated system, said Sean DePalma, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. The City Council approved spending $94,982 for the system-wide upgrades during the council’s Feb. 24 meeting. Under…

DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk Debra DeBerry and DeKalb Sheriff Melody Maddox are hosting the fourth annual “VOICES, A Women’s History Month Event” on Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur. The theme is “Valiant Women of the Vote.” The guest host will be Joyce Littel of V-103 and 1380 WAOK. This year, the Blue Table Talk  roundtable discussion facilitators will include: Maria Balais, executive director of Leadership DeKalb; Dior Brown, owner of Truth Honey; Kristy Fields, owner of KolorBar & Spa; DeKalb…

DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk Debra DeBerry and the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority are hosting two free notary training sessions on March 20 at theMaloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur. The first session is 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and the second session is 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The training workshop is open to the public and recommended to anyone who is a notary public in the State of Georgia or would like to become one. A notary public is required to follow the law. Failure to do so could result in costly lawsuits and penalties.…

  The DeKalb County Sanitation Division will host a household hazardous waste recycling event Saturday, March 21, 8 a.m. – noon, at the Sanitation Division’s Central Transfer Station, 3720 Leroy Scott Drive, Decatur. DeKalb residents will have an opportunity to properly dispose of dangerous household items that are no longer in use. Hazardous materials such as aerosols, batteries, adhesives, flammables, lawn care products, fluorescent light bulbs, photo chemicals, paint, paint-related products and artist supplies will be accepted. Paint will be limited to 10 gallons per vehicle. Agricultural waste, ammunition, radioactive materials, pharmaceuticals, biohazardous…

The Rockdale County Board of Elections will host an event to educate residents on new voting machines the county will be using in upcoming elections. The demonstration will be held on Thursday, March 5, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Rockdale County Board of Elections Office, 1261 Commercial Drive SW Suite B, Conyers. The event is free and open to the public.

The Rockdale Clerk of Courts and the Conyers-Rockdale Library is hosting another Law Topic Speaker Series on Saturday, March 7, 10:30 a.m. to noon, at the Nancy Guinn Memorial Library, 864 Green Street S.W., Conyers. Attorney Gary Washington will present “Act Like a Citizen, Think Like a Cop: Know Your Rights” in the library’s meeting room on the ground floor. Washington will speak on traffic stops, pedestrian stops, searches, automobile searches, police home visits, questioning, interrogations and arrests. Learn how to interact with law enforcement while protecting your rights. This program is free…

Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. will host this year’s first “Shop Talk” forum on Saturday, March 21, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., at F&D Barbershop, 1501 Highway 138 S.E., Conyers.

The first event in this year’s series will feature the following speakers to address their questions and concerns: Commissioner Sherri Washington, Post 1 Clerk of Superior and State Courts Ruth Wilson Phinia Aten, Chief Magistrate Judge Shop Talk is a grassroots forum held at local barbershops and beauty salons to introduce government officials to those who may not know who they…

The Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts will present Preschool Pops: Butterfly Ballad on Thursday, March 12, 10 – 11 a.m., at the Rockdale Auditorium, 903 N Main Street NW, Conyers. This Preschool Popschildren’s presentation will include a performance by the Atlanta Puppeteers Piccadilly Puppets entitled, “Butterfly Ballad.” Developed originally for the Callaway Gardens Butterfly Center, this story follows Katy and Kevin Caterpillar through the stages of their lives – from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly – and their fascinating migration to Mexico, narrated by Mother Nature. Tickets are $4 at the…

More than 400 participants attended the Congressman Hank Johnson’s Restoration Resources Fair at Georgia Piedmont Technical College on Feb. 20. The fair was held to help ex-offenders find a job, receive healthcare, food assistance and get a review of their criminal record. “This event, which built off previous resource fairs we’ve held, is a community effort to help break the cycle of recidivism and poverty and help make those who have been previously incarcerated more productive, healthy citizens,” said Congressman Johnson. “I am especially grateful to all our vendors who came out and our special guests…