Author: On Common Ground News

The Rev. William D. Watley, Ph.D., senior pastor, and the Music and Worship Arts Department at Saint Philip A.M.E. Church, 240 Candler Road, SE/Atlanta, will present its 4th Annual Black History Month Negro Spiritual Concert on Sunday, Feb. 23, 5 p.m. in the sanctuary. This free concert will feature Negro spirituals hosted by Saint Philip’s Choir #1 and includes the following invited choirs:  Berean Seventh Day Adventist Church Inspirational Voices; Cascade United Methodist Church’s Chancel Choir; Greenforest Community Baptist Church Choir; North Decatur Presbyterian Church Choir; Ray of Hope Christian Church’s Voices…

  The DeKalb History Center’s February Lunch & Learn will be presented by culinary historian Akila Sankar McConnell on Tuesday, Feb. 25, noon to 1 p.m., at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse(2ndfloor), 101 E. Court Square, Decatur. For nearly 100 years, the single-biggest industry in Atlanta was the food industry, and African Americans played a huge role in defining what was sold, eaten, and cooked in this city. Join McConnell to learn how food entrepreneurism propelled the rise of Atlanta’s black middle class and contributed to the success of the Civil Rights Movement. Learn about early black…

Andrew Young, former Atlanta Mayor and United States Ambassador to the United Nations, was honored as a “Living Legend” at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Feb. 9. Dr. Jamal Bryant honored the 87-year-old civil rights leader as part of the church’s Black History Month celebration. Young, who worked as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement and executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, served as a United States congressman and later, the 55thMayor of Atlanta. Noted for his role in drafting the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights…

The Conyers Downtown Development Authority (DDA) recently presented the 2019 Outstanding Achievement Award to Keish Momin for his efforts in the renovation and beautification of Iron Skillet Southern Kitchen and 908 Special Events located at 908 Commercial Street in Olde Town Conyers. Built in 1900, 908 Commercial Street formerly housed an agriculture emporium, insurance office, furniture store, and retail space before the restaurant side that is Iron Skillet Southern Kitchen opened in June 2019. Momin purchased the propertyin 2017 and began making renovations to the restaurant and special events facility.  Keish Momin and Sonia Momin “The Conyers Downtown Development…

Piedmont Rockdale Hospital’s Volunteer Auxiliary has donated $4,000 to the hospital’s newly opened heart failure clinic. The auxiliary’s donation will assist the clinic in expanding its ability to care for patients, and purchase much-needed equipment for the new clinic. The Heart Failure Disease Management Clinic at Piedmont Rockdale opened in December and provides outpatient services such as patient education, lab monitoring, intravenous diuretic medications, and disease management support. “Hearing the term ‘heart failure’ can lead people to believe that their heart has stopped working and there’s nothing they can do to get better,” said Kelly Fairbrass, NP-C. “Heart failure is…

Rockdale County High School and Heritage High School were named 2020 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools by State School Superintendent Richard Woods, a distinction RCPS high schools have achieved for more than 10 consecutive years. “I congratulate our AP Honor High Schools for their commitment to expanding AP course offerings and participation across all disciplines while simultaneously increasing AP exam achievement among all students,” said Rockdale Schools Superintendent Terry Oatts. “As a district, we are expanding our AP course offerings at each of our high schools as we are committed to facilitating optimal student learning, achievement, and growth, in…

Keep Conyers Rockdale Beautiful is hosting the “Our Town” Public Service Announcement(PSA) Contest for 8-12 grade students in Rockdale County. To enter the contest, students can create a 30 to 60-second PSA encouraging youths to recycle and to have an overall appreciation of their town. The video and audio must be clear and in focus and have proper lighting. Students must credit the information used in the video. The video needs to be filmed in a minimum of 1920 x 1080. Entries must include original content. No copy written material is permitted. The video cannot have any cursing, lewd acts or inappropriate gestures. Credits…

Tyler Rhashad Anderson, Charlie Lee Geddis and Antonio Jermaine Crowley   The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit has made a third arrest in connection with armed robbery and murder of an elderly man who was shot at a gas station in Ellenwood. Decatur resident Tyler Rhashad Anderson, 24, had been sought on warrants for felony murder and armed robbery in the shooting death of Jesse Turner on Panthersville Road in Ellenwood on Oct. 7, 2019.  Two other suspects, Charlie Lee Geddis and Antonio Jermaine Crowley, both 22, were arrested earlier. The Sheriff’s Office worked with the U.S. Marshals on…

Cityhood movement’s impact on DeKalb to be discussed  Members of the DeKalb County House Legislative Delegation will host a town hall meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 6:30 – 8 p.m., at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive,Decatur. The meeting will include a presentation from Ted Baggett of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government on the analysis of fiscal impact on DeKalb County from potential incorporation. For more information, contact Cheryl Jackson at 404-656-0109 or cheryl.jackson@house.ga.gov.

Have you been searching for a great volunteer opportunity? Would you like to make an impact in your community? DeKalb County’s Juvenile Court Judicial Citizen Panel Review is seeking volunteers to advocate for children of the community. Participation in the panel program benefits not only children and families, but volunteers also gain useful experience and take pride in knowing that they have helped improve the life of a child. Training/orientation for new volunteers will be held on March 19 and 20, 9 .a. to 5 p.m.,  at the DeKalb County Juvenile Court, 4309 Memorial Drive, Decatur. Attendance is required on both…