Author: On Common Ground News

Loretta Washington, president and CEO of LCW Engineering Inc. in South DeKalb County, has received the “Georgia Engineer of the Year In Construction” Award by Engineering Georgiamagazine. Washington was honored for her work in the construction management and design-build industry. Washington served as project manager for the Interstate 75 widening project in Lowndes County, one of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s first design-build projects. Washington also oversaw the maintenance task order for the I-75 resurfacing project from the Brookwood Interchange to Interstate 285 in Fulton and Cobb counties; and recently, she completed utility relocation services for the I-285/Georgia 400 design-build-finance…

Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will host its 2nd Annual Egg Extravaganza on April 13, 2 to 5 p.m., at Exchange Park, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur. The event will include vendors, face painting, a bounce house, giveaways and photos with the Easter Bunny. Participants should bring their own basket. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The event is free to attend. Egg hunters will be split into the following age groups: Ages 1 to 3 Ages 4 to 6 Ages 7 to 9 Ages 10 to 12 Ages 13 to 14 Ages 15 and up The event is…

The City of Clarkston has passed a sweeping nondiscrimination ordinance to protect LGBTQ people, making it only the third city in Georgia with such protections. “This ordinance is an important step for our city to truly codify our stance as welcoming to all, and is critical to our ability to safeguard our neighbors civil and human rights,” City councilmember Andrea Cervone said. The Clarkston City Council passed the measure 4-1, with one abstention, on April 2. The council meeting was filled with attendees, including Doraville City Councilmember Stephe Koontz and former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard. The nondiscrimination policy…

Join DeKalb County Commissioner, who represents the county’s super District 7, and the Stonecrest Citizens Coalition for a town hall meeting. The meeting will be held on April 25, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Stonecrest. Cochran-Johnson will discuss community issues and address residents’ questions and concerns. Representatives from DeKalb County’s Code Enforcement, Parks and Recreation, Sanitation, Watershed Management, Public Safety, MARTA, and Roads and Drainage also will attend the meeting.

The City of Stonecrest is expanding its Parks and Recreation staff. Director Sean DePalma announced that Brandon Jamil Riley was hired as the new Operations Manager for Parks and Recreation. Riley formerly served as Executive Director of the East DeKalb Boys & Girls Club for three years and was an employee of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta organization for seven years. Sheldon S. Fleming was recently hired as Recreation Lead, DePalma said. Fleming has spent three decades working in the green industry, focusing on public parks, farms, woodlands, community gardens, providing environmental education to the public.…

The city of Stonecrest has awarded a $2 million paving contract to Blount Construction.  The company will begin paving and repairing 18 of the city’s worst streets as part of a project funded by a Local Maintenance Improvement Grant and matching Special Local Option Sales Tax funds. “We are moving forward as promised. We have selected our paving contractor through the competitive bid process, and we will be starting the priority paving next month,” Mayor Jason said. In addition to the 18 roads, Blount Construction will also pave a two-lane portion of Turner Hill Road from Rockland Road to…

DeKalb County will host three Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) open houses in April to give citizens an opportunity to review work completed, find out what is in progress and ask questions. Open house dates and locations are as follows: Tuesday, April 9, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030 Wednesday, April 10, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Central DeKalb Senior Center, 1346 McConnell Drive, Decatur, GA 30033 Thursday, April 11, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Lithonia, GA 30058 County officials will be on hand to discuss projects…

The Rockdale County Department of Transportation will hold a public information open house on Thursday, April 25, 5 to 7 p.m.. at Heritage High School, 2400 Granade Rd. S.W., Conyers. The public is invited to drop in to gain insight and provide comment on RDOT’s upcoming sidewalk/multiuse trail project along Granade Road from SR 138 to McCollum Road. Representatives from Transportation, Parks and Recreation, Rockdale Water Resources and Stormwater will attend the meeting and answer questions. For more information, email Genetha Rice-Singleton at genetha.rice-singleton@rockdalecountyga.gov.

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will offer on-the-go breakfast and snacks, along with a hot lunch of fajita chicken, Amarillo rice and Italian green beans on Tuesday, April 2. The free meals are being provided to families during the Spring Break. Meal service on Tuesday will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Snapfinger Elementary School, 724 N. Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston. Because resources are limited, backpack distribution will be limited to one per family, officials said.. For more information, visit the DeKalb County School District’s School Nutrition Services website at www.dekalbschoolsga.org/school-nutrition.

Foster children will be the beneficiaries of donations collected during a community breakfast sponsored by DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. A suggested minimum donation of $20 is requested for the community breakfast on Saturday, April 27,9 a.m., at Greenforest Community Baptist Church, 3188 Rainbow Dr., Decatur. Currently in DeKalb County, there are 904 children under the age of 18 in the foster care system. “We partner with one common goal: to serve the children and families of DeKalb County,” said Kwesi Booker, director of the DeKalb office of the Division of Family and Children Services. Thurmond will give…