Author: On Common Ground News

 Left to right: Rockdale County Magistrate Judge Phinia Aten and Conyers City Council members Connie Alsobrook and Valyncia Smith Photos and video by Glenn L. Morgan  Video      https://youtu.be/HliEEIKSHwE CONYERS, GA–The swearing-in ceremony for the firstAfrican-American women to join the Conyers City Council drew a packed crowd tonight (Jan. 8) at the Cherokee Run Golf Club in Conyers. Connie Alsobrook and Valyncia Smith were sworn in by Magistrate Judge Phinia Aten, the first African American to hold the Rockdale County’s  Magistrate judge’s seat. Alsobrook and Smith are the first African-American women  in the city’s 165-year history to take seats…

Police Chief Gene Wilson  Conyers Police Department is again offering active shooter/threats preparedness training to citizens interested in learning how to best react to such an incident. The goal of the training is to educate the public on where to go and what to do in the event of an active shooter or other threat. “In today’s climate we realize the importance of training not only our officers, but educating our citizens as well,”  said Police Chief Gene Wilson. “We have had great participation in similar programs last three years and are pleased to offer it once again.” The…

District 4 Congressman will honor students and teachers who participated in the 2019 Congressional App Challenge on Friday, Jan. 24, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Black Box Theater, 910 Center St., NE, Conyers. The challenge was open to students and faculty from Congressional District 4, which includes DeKalb, Gwinnett, Rockdale, and Newton counties. Judges for the contest included representatives from Pandora Music and the Culture Base Mobile Application. Established in 2015, the Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide contest hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives in effort to promote computer science education. A total of 123 districts in…

Dr. Claire Sterk and Dr. Eugene Walker will be honored during DeKalb’s King Celebration. Emory University President Claire Sterk and Dr. Eugene Walker, a former state senator and former DeKalb school board chairman, will be honored during DeKalb County’s 36th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. Sterk and Walker will receive the Nathaniel Mosby Humanitarian Award, which celebrates the recipients’ commitment to tireless community service and outstanding dedication to being an agent for positive change. Appointed to head Emory University in 2016, Sterk is the first woman to serve as Emory University’s president. Additionally, she is the Charles…

The public is invited to attend a free film screening of “Suppressed: The Fight toVote”on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m., at St. Paul AME Church, 1704 S. Stone Mountain -Lithonia Road, Lithonia. The film, created by Robert Greenwald, weaves together personal stories from voters across the state of Georgia to paint a picture of voter suppression in the 2018 midterm election in which Stacey Abrams ran to become the first black female governor in the US. Featuring experts, poll watchers and everyday Georgians, the film speaks about the impact of voter suppression and the threat it poses in 2020. For…

The Stonecrest Chamber of Commerce is hosting “Tax Geaks” at its first meeting of the year on Thursday, Jan. 16, 11 a.m. at the AEI Startup Factory, 7310 Stonecrest Concourse. Tax Geaks will present a tax planning workshop to educate business owners on how to stay compliant, organized and financially strong. Attendees will learn about recent updates in tax law, how to keep good filing records, ways to track deductions and more. For more information, visit www.stonecrestchamber.com.  

During the month of January, the DeKalb LifeLine Animal Project will be offering$20 pet adoptions. Adoption includes spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, microchip and more. DeKalb LifeLine has  nearly 1,000 pets in its care and it is seeking those willing to adopt a pet or serve as foster homes for pets, if  adoption is not feasible. For a list of shelter locations or for more information, visit lifelineanimal.org or call 404-292-8800.

The community is invited to attend a family history symposium on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2 to 5:30 p.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3355 Georgia 155 North, Stockbridge. Workshops will include tips on how to get started on your family history, how technology is impacting family history work and how to reclaim one’s heritage. Attendees will get the opportunity to explore familysearch.org. For more information, call Janice Jones at jlj1992@yahoo.com.  

Health TRUST Rockdale, the grant-making division of the Hospital Authority of Rockdale County (HARC), will accept applications Feb. 3-7 for its first grant cycle of 2020. Nonprofit or government agencies working to improve the physical and mental health of Rockdale residents are encouraged to consider applying. Agencies interested in applying for a grant during the upcoming cycle should contact HARC Executive Director Julie Mills at 770-922-1441 or jmills@healthtrustrockdale.org prior to Jan. 31. Potential applicants should carefully review the grant program guidelines and 2020 deadlines by visiting www.healthtrustrockdale.org. Participation in a pre-proposal conference/orientation session is mandatory for all new applicants. Previous grantees also…

The Southeastern F.O.G. Alliance awarded DWM with the 2019 FOG Program of the Year award. The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) was recently recognized with a top award for prioritizing public health and preventing sewer spills caused by Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG). Awarded by the Southeastern FOG Alliance, DWM recently received the 2019 FOG Program of the Year award for outstanding program management including inspection, documentation, enforcement and public education. Approximately 40 percent of sanitary sewer overflows in DeKalb County are caused by FOG being poured down sink drains. FOG coats the inside…