Author: On Common Ground News

The city of Lithonia will host its annual Christmas tree lighting on Sunday, Dec. 1, 5 to 6:30 p.m., at Kelly Park, located off of Main Street. The community is invited to greet Santa and enjoy Christmas carols and performance by the Lithonia Middle School band and choir. The event is free. 

The official kick-off to Conyers’ holiday season takes place the weekend of Dec. 6-7 in Olde Town. Sponsored by the city of Conyers, the Olde Town Christmas Party will be held on Dec. 6, 5 to 8 p.m. Families are encouraged to enjoy visits with Santa in the Conyers Depot/Welcome Center at 901 Railroad Street. The evening also includes hayrides, train rides, marshmallow roasting and a wide variety of complimentary holiday craft stations and activities sponsored by downtown merchants and local businesses. The C.J. Hicks Elementary School Falcons, under the direction of Thomas Russell, will perform at 6…

The Monastery of the Holy Spirit welcomes the community to celebrate the holiday season at the annual Christmas concert on Saturday, Dec. 14, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Monastery’s Abbey Church, 2625 Highway 212 SW, Conyers. Music Director Robert Henry will present the concert, now in its 40thyear, in conjunction with theAtlanta Boy Choir and its Men’s Alumni Chorus. The program also will include a small chamber group (SATB), featured Artists-in-Residence singers, and a special piano recital by the director and renowned concert pianist, Dr. Robert Henry. Guests will hear classical compositions, along with traditional carols, spirituals and Latin…

The Davis Bozeman Law Firm has partnered with Atlanta’s Streetz 94.5 to live broadcast as it distributes free turkeys to families in need while supplies lasts. The giveaway will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 4 to 6 p.m. at the Stonecrest Walmart, 8424 Mall Parkway, Stonecrest.  

L-R: Congressman Hank Johnson  and Congressman Rob Woodall Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) and Congressman Rob Woodall (GA-07) have introduced the bipartisan H. Res. 706, which designates Nov. 9 as “Gold Star Father’s Day” nationally. “I believe it is important to extend the same recognition to Gold Star Fathers as it currently exists for Gold Star Mothers and families,” said Johnson. “On Gold Star Father’s Day, we will honor fathers who have lost children in service to the United States of America and recognize their unimaginable loss. The debt we owe our veterans and their families is immeasurable. The sacrifices…

The DeKalb County Sanitation Division will offer free residential bulky item curbside collection from Nov. 22 through Dec. 21. Residents within the Sanitation Division’s service area will have an opportunity to place bulky items, including furniture and large appliances, curbside for collection. Collection schedules will be based on residents’ designated sanitation service day as follows: Residential customers whose regularly scheduled sanitation service day is Monday will be serviced on Friday, Nov. 22, or Saturday, Nov. 23. To prevent collection delays, items should be placed at the curb no later than 7 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22. Residential customers whose regularly…

In observance of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Nov. 28, sanitation collection service for residential customers will be based on the following revised collection schedule: Monday, Nov. 25 – Normal collection day Tuesday, Nov. 26 – Normal collection day Wednesday, Nov. 27 – Normal collection day Thursday, Nov. 28 – Thanksgiving Day observed; no collection service. Friday, Nov. 29 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Thursday, Nov. 28, will be serviced on Friday, Nov. 29. The Sanitation Division’s administrative office, North Transfer Station and Seminole Road Landfill will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29, reopening on Monday, Dec. 2, during normal…

Rockdale County’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony will kick off the holiday season on Friday, Nov. 22, on the front lawn of the Historic Rockdale County Courthouse on Main Street. Attendees may enjoy S’mores at 6 p.m. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Main Street will be closed between Milstead Road and Court Street from 4 – 9 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to park in the designated public parking at Courthouse, Board of Commissioners, and City of Conyers lots throughout Olde Town Conyers. Please do not park in marked reserved parking spaces. Seating will be first-come, first-served. Visitors are encouraged…

L-R: Tammy Grimes and Dave Marcus Early voting for the Stonecrest City Council District 5 special election runoff will be held Nov. 21-27. The candidates in the race are Tammy Grimes and Dave Marcus, elections officials confirmed after certifying the Nov. 5 results on Nov. 15. Stonecrest voters who live in District 5 may cast ballots at the DeKalb County Voter Registration & Elections Office, 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur, or the Stonecrest Library, 2123 Klondike Road, Stonecrest, during the early voting period. Both locations will be open on Nov. 21, noon to 4:30 p.m., and Nov. 22-27, from 8 a.m.…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit announced the arrest of De’monte Lamar Anderson, a 24-year-old Decatur resident who was wanted on a felony murder charge in connection with the death of Dwayne Bernard Roberts. Anderson is accused of shooting Roberts twice with a handgun during the Oct. 20 incident on Flat Shoals Road in Decatur, causing his death, authorities said. DeKalb sheriff’s investigators located Anderson at a Decatur apartment complex, where he was taken into custody without incident and transported to the DeKalb County Jail. murder.