Author: On Common Ground News

Former State Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler and 15 other women on New Year’s Day are launching a collection of heart-felt messages to inspire, encourage and empower a new generation of young women in the wake of a murdered Clark-Atlanta University student. The book, entitled “A Message to Our Daughters: Turning Trials into Triumphs,” was compiled by Dawkins-Haigler and will launch on Jan. 1 at www.amazon.com. “After the murder of Clark Atlanta University student Alexis Crawford at the hands of her roommate and the roommate’s boyfriend, we felt compelled to share our stories of faith, perseverance and the ability to overcome all…

The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold a community meeting to review upcoming park improvements for Hairston Park, Stone Mountain. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6 p.m., at the DeKalb Watershed Management Building, 4572 Memorial Drive,Decatur. The meeting will take place in conference room A. Information will be provided on current park improvements and recreation projects. For . information, contact LaShanda Davis, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs public relations specialist, at 404-371-3643 or lsdavis@dekalbcountyga.gov.

The DeKalb County Sanitation Division is offering free Christmas tree curbside collection for residents within its service area, through Friday, Jan. 10. Trees will be collected during residents’ regularly scheduled sanitation collection service days. To participate, residents must remove all decorations from trees and place them curbside. Tree length must be 7 feet or less. Trees that cannot be trimmed to the required size may be taken to the county-owned Seminole Road Landfill or collected by the Sanitation Division’s special collection unit (fees may apply). All trees will be recycled and converted to mulch. For more information about…

The Rockdale Democratic Party will have its first general meeting of 2020 on Saturday, Jan. 25, 9 a.m., at a location to be determined.  Save the date! During the meeting, elections will be held for Post 2 Precinct captains, At-Large Precinct captains and open board seats. Post 2 precinct captains: Those who are interested in running must email a letter of interest to the board. At-large precinct captains: All seats will be reviewed for reappointment by the Board. Open board seats: There are vacancies for 2nd V. Chair and Secretary. Eligible candidates must have served as Precinct Captain for…

  Recycle your live Christmas tree! Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful (KCRB) will host the “Bring One for the Chipper” program at the Home Depot, 1330 Dogwood Drive, Conyers on Saturday, Jan. 4, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Chipper program offers citizens the opportunity to dispose their cut trees at a central location in the community, while recycling the trees for reuse for a good cause. Across the state, thousands of volunteers in hundreds of Georgia’s communities come together for the Chipper event. Since its inception in 1991, more than 27 years ago, the program has collected more than 6 million…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan Staff Writer A group of people packed a morning chess camp and breakfast hungry for knowledge at the International House of Pancakes in Stone Mountain on Dec. 23. The pre-holiday workshop gave parents and children an introduction to chess fundamentals and the opportunity to meet and learn from internationally-known chess champion Orrin C. Hudson, founder of the nonprofit mentoring organization, Be Someone. More than 30 adults and children huddled around Hudson’s giant chess board to learn strategies and techniques to win on the chess board and in life. Hudson, who has been teaching chess for…

The Redan Soul Line Dancers in DeKalb County helped spread some holiday cheer by pitching in to buy Christmas presents for a single mother with eight children. The dancers were able to assist the family through an organization called Helping Oppressed Mothers Endure (H.O.M.E.). “We enjoy coming together dancing, but we love helping the community and others. It is truly a blessing to be a blessing and to share the true meaning of Christmas,” the organization said in a statement. The group has held dancing events to also help raise funds for people with dementia, DeKalb County Senior Olympics and…

State Rep. Vernon Jones, District 91, remembers how tough life can be as a farmer and he’s motivated to spread goodwill, especially toward kids, this time of year. “My parents were farmers. Sometimes, we didn’t get anything for Christmas, if the crops didn’t do well,” Jones said. “Everybody else would have new bikes and we would have to ride theirs. We would have to have Christmas at another time.” This year, Jones received donations of about 40 bikes that he provided to DeKalb County’s Child Advocacy Center, which sponsors a program called “Hope for the Holidays” to…

Stonecrest District 4 Councilman George Turner and District 3 Councilwoman Jazzmin Cobble honored dozens of the city’s devoted volunteers at a joint Town Hall meeting, wrapping up 2019 activities for their districts. The Dec. 19 awards program was held at Big Miller Grove Baptist Church, 3800 Miles E. Fowler Way, Stonecrest. “We just wanted to celebrate them for their commitment as volunteers. Their dedication and service means a lot to the city and this was just our way of saying thank you to those who were appointed to various committees that represent District 4 and District 3,” said Turner.…

Mayor Jason Lary (left) and Al Franklin (far right) pose with Tony Terry for a snapshot. R&B recording artist Tony Terry swooned guests with his hit song, “When I’m With You,” as he kicked off the Dec. 20 holiday celebration hosted by the City of Stonecrest at the AEI Startup Factory. Mayor Jason Lary presented Terry keys with to the City at the benefit event, which included buffet food bars, live entertainment and dancing. Terry, who lives in the metro Atlanta area, said he was thrilled to be honored and receives keys to the city. Proceeds supported Stonecrest Fest, Inc. to assist…