Author: On Common Ground News

The City of Pine Lake will serve as an official waystation during the first ever Georgia Great PollinatorCensus on Saturday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Pine Lake Clubhouse, 300 Clubhouse Drive, Pine Lake. The public is invited to be a part of the historical initiative as citizen scientists by helping record the numbers and types of pollinators that populate the state during late summer. The project, which is sponsored by the University of Georgia’s Extension Office, is open to Georgia residents of all ages. Participants do not have to be an entomologist to participate. The Pine…

Pictured left to right are members of the Stonecrest Housing Authority: Bill Bruckner, Chairman; Marty Garrison, secretary; Mayor Jason Lary; Nathan Alexander, Vice Chair; Diane Robinson; and Dennis Dae. The Stonecrest Housing Authority recently adopted a bond inducement resolution that will pave the way for a $70 million senior community.  The community will include a 238-unit, senior housing facility with 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms and a 14,000-square-foot  Senior Day Out Community Center to be located at 6757 Covington Highway. The Housing Authority was developed earlier this year by Mayor Jason Lary and the city council.  The authority consists of one representative from each council district.  The adopted resolution will allow the city to issue bonds of up to $40 million to help fund the development,…

To thank the community for 100 years of support, the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory is offering 100 free admission days throughout 2019 in celebration of the museum’s centennial. Free admission will be offered every Thursday during the month of August, between 1 to 4 p.m. at the Carlos Museum, 571 South Kilgo Circle, Atlanta. During visits, SmARTy Packs, tote bags that focus families’ time in the galleries with themed activities suitable for ages 5 and up, may be checked out for free at the information desk by leaving a driver’s license.

Pictured are Head Coach Marius Nolden, Council member George Turner, team members Skylon Jackson, Jaden Johnson and Daelyn House, Assistant Coach Anthony Jackson and Mayor Jason Lary. By Valerie J. Morgan Stonecrest city officials honored the DeKalb Lions, presenting members of the team and their coaches with a proclamation declaring Aug. 12 as DeKalb Lions Day.  The Lions made history in July when they became the first African-American youth baseball team from the United States and from Georgia in 11 years to compete in the 2019 Cooperstown Baseball World “Hall of Fame” Tournament. Council member George Turner, who…

By Mackenzie  N. Morgan A crowd of residents packed the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners’ Aug. 13 meeting to voice their opinions about short-term vacation rentals as the county prepares to present a new ordinance on Oct. 17 regulating the properties. The Rockdale Board of Commissioners heard mixed viewpoints on how the county should deal with the properties, which opponents say are a nuisance to neighborhoods. Vice Chair Doreen Williams ran the meeting in the absence of Chairman Oz Nesbitt. Rockdale County Director of Planning and Zoning Kc Krzic provided an update on the developing ordinance stating…

DeKalb County property owners will receive $131 million in property tax relief soon. Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson has announced that property tax bills will be mailed the week of Aug. 12. “DeKalb is committed to delivering high-quality services while providing substantial property tax reductions for the second consecutive year,” said DeKalb County CEO . The county rolled back the Combined Countywide Operational rate, which was 10.364 mills in Fiscal Year 2018 to 9.952 mills in Fiscal Year 2019, reducing the rate by 0.412 mills. The projected value of the millage rate rollback is $12 million, which will provide a…

On Aug. 4, at approximately 3 p.m., the two females pictured entered Home Depot, 1330 Dogwood Drive, and made a fraudulent purchase by using someone else’s Home Depot credit card information. Any information leading to the arrest of the suspects may result in a cash reward of up to $2,000. Tipsters will remain anonymousand are asked to contact Crime Stoppers with anyinformation: Call 404-577-TIPS (8477). Click: www.CrimeStoppersAtlanta.org Fraud  

The City of Conyers has banned booting—the practice in which private companies use mechanical locking devices on unauthorized vehicles that have parked in privately-owned parking lots. The City Council recently passed an ordinance prohibiting the practice at the recommendation of the Conyers Police Department. Conyers Police Chief Gene Wilson called for action, saying that the regulation of the booting practice has become increasingly difficult to regulate. He said recent incidents involving booting companies have created a drain on public safety resources. “The experiences our officers and citizens have had with booting companies have often been contentious and the fines…

The Decatur Library will host Sam Wheelock for a song writing workshop and performance on Tuesday, Aug. 27 in the library’s auditorium, 215 Sycamore Street, Decatur. The workshop will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. followed by a performance at 7:15 p.m. Sam Wheelock is an blend of the many musical influences of the Eastern Tennessee Mountains. He recalls members of the Carter Family playing in the front yard of a family home but also the influences of mountain blues and jazz. The event is funded by the Friends of the Decatur Library and is free to the public.…

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson will host a  summit focused on the multi-billion dollar creative arts industry on Aug. 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. Industry leaders in the creative field from the metro Atlanta area will share their insights in plenary and breakout sessions on how to break into this multi-billion dollar industry and turn your passion into your profession. Some of the money makers include video and music production, web development and UX/UI design. The creative industry in Georgia generated a $62.5 billion in total economic impact…