Author: On Common Ground News

Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. will host the first Shop Talk forum of 2019 on Saturday, March 16, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., at Madd Skillz Barbershop, 2445 Salem Road, Suite 215, Conyers. The first event in this year’s series will feature the following speakers to answer questions and concerns: S. Census Bureau Representative Phinia Aten, Chief Magistrate Judge Troy Smith, Rockdale Code Enforcement Manager Dawn Stewart, Rockdale Code Enforcement Analyst Shop Talk is a grassroots series that provides opportunities for community residents to get to know their government officials and to address their concerns. For more…

E.R. Shipp Black Heritage of Rockdale County will host its 2019 celebration and induct 10 people into its inaugural Black Heritage Hall of Fame on March 16, 2 p.m., at the J.P. Carr Community Center, 961 Taylor St., Conyers. The community is invited to a fascinating program that will not only celebrate black trailblazer but one that will feature a symposium about four notable black historic sites in Rockdale, Newton, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. Rockdale native daughter E.R. Shipp, who received the Pulitzer Prize as a journalist for the New York Daily News in 1996, will moderate the symposium, “Embracing…

Toney Elementary School students were excited to greet DeKalb County Deputy Sheriff Marks as he arrived to participate in the school’s annual Career Day on March 5. In addition to answering questions about law enforcement, Deputy Marks took an opportunity to appoint class members as Junior Deputy Sheriffs for DeKalb County.

Left to right:  Kids in Need staff members Ray Wright and Rita Wright, Georgia United Credit Union Business Development Manager Leigh Gant, RCPS Public Relations Specialist Anne Principe, Kids in Need Supervisor Marcus Harvin, Atlanta Community Food Bank driver Lamar Watson stand next to dozens of pallets with more than 22,600 pounds of school supplies donated for Rockdale students from the ACFB Kids in Need program.   The Kids in Need program of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, through a partnership with Georgia United Credit Union, recently donated more than 22,600 pounds of school supplies to Rockdale County Public…

DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs’ Browns Mill Recreation Center, in partnership with Zeta Sorority, Inc, Iota Eta Zeta Chapter and the DeKalb MLK Jr. Cluster schools will host a Health and Wellness Education Spring Fest Fair Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., l5101 Browns Mill Road, Lithonia. The Health and Wellness Education Spring Fest Fair will be a free event for the family to enjoy. Residents are encouraged to come out to experience live entertainment, food, demonstrations and receive educational information from healthcare professionals.

DeKalb County Cooperative Extension will host “Adding Color to your Garden” as part of the 2019 Gardening in Georgia series. The class will be held on March 11,11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the DeKalb County Cooperative Extension Auditorium, located at 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur. During this class, attendees will learn how to plan, purchase and plant a variety of annuals and perennials that will provide you with color year-round. The cost is $10 per person. For more information about ordering plants or to learn more about other programs and services, contact the DeKalb County Cooperative Extension Office at 404-298-4080…

The DeKalb History Center will host its Annual Meeting and Silent Auction on Friday, March 22,in the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, 101 E. Court Square, Decatur. The Annual Meeting is open to members of the History Center and will begin at 6 p.m. The silent auction fundraiser, open to the public, will include a free evening of food and music with bidding on items donated by local businesses. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The silent auction includes event tickets, golf, dinner certificates, art, jewelry, hotel stays, special tours, books, professional services, children’s activities, fitness opportunities and more.

Conyers’ St. Patrick’s Day celebration will step off at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15, at the “World’s Fastest Growing St. Patrick’s Day Parade” in Olde Town Conyers. The parade, a Conyers tradition since 1980, will be led by Grand Marshal Mayor Vince Evans and honorary grand marshals Bill Rogers, Marty Jones, Chris Bowen and Randy Mills, former city councilmen and former mayor, respectively. Bagpiper Robert Harwell will accompany the grand marshals, playing classic Irish tunes. Local businesses, organizations and school groups also will participate in this year’s parade. Anyone who wishes to participate in the two-block walking parade…

Pictured L-R: Dr. Dwayne Turner, First-Place Winner Issahaku Alhassan, Dr. Leslie Richmond, Jo Ann Harris and Congressman Hank Johnson. On March 1, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) joined health officials, teachers, and parents from across DeKalb County to honor elementary school students who competed in the 14thAnnual Dental Quiz Bowl Competition. Hosted at the DeKalb County Board of Health’s Winn Way office, the competition was a day filled with celebrating the importance of oral health. There were giveaways for students who competed and awards and medals for the winners. Johnson served as the keynote speaker of the program. “Early in…

Southwest DeKalb High School’s tennis team is demonstrating that it serves well not only on the court but in the community as well. Recently, members of the team spent time volunteering at Open Hand Atlanta by preparing, plating and packaging meals for senior citizens and those who have critical or chronic illness and disabilities.  Team members prepared a total of 800 meals for the home deliveries managed by Open Hand Atlanta, a nutrition-based agency that has been in existence since 1998. The Southwest DeKalb tennis teams’ involvement in the Open Hand Atlanta community service effort was part of the teams’…