Author: On Common Ground News

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, delivered the keynote address at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) forum on brand protection and anti-counterfeiting strategies. The free, all-day conference brought together policymakers, practitioners, and business owners interested in learning about policies and strategies to more effectively combat counterfeit goods. More than two dozen experts in the fields of brand protection and anti-counterfeiting took in-depth look at such topics as: Fighting counterfeits in a global market; Utilizing new technologies to protect brands; Enlisting allies in…

Members of the Greater Hidden Hills Community Development Corporation (GHHCDC), in partnership with DeKalb County Super District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, elevated their anti-litter campaign by sporting trash costumes during their June 1 cleanup. The Saturday cleanup marked the culmination of the “Your Community, Your Litter—Pick It Up! campaign, which was launched in March by GHHCDC and Cochran-Johnson. Volunteers who donned the costumes waved and held up colorful signs with anti-litter messages to get the attention of motorists and pedestrians at the intersection of Covington Highway and South Hairston Road in South DeKalb. The goal was to call attention to…

By Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr. | Rockdale Probate Judge In 2018, the Georgia Legislature enacted legislation entitled the Strengthening Families Act. Pursuant to this Act, by executing a Power of Attorney for Temporary Delegation of Caregiving Authority to an Agent (“power of attorney”), a parent of a minor child may place the child with a grandparent, great-grandparent, stepparent or former stepparent, step-grandparent, aunt or uncle, great aunt or uncle, cousin, sibling, or a nonrelative who is approved as an agent by a child-placing agency or a non-profit entity or faith-based organization. If the parents are not married, the non-custodial parent…

The Stone Mountain Sue-Kellogg Library will close for renovation on June 15. The renovation will include an updated floor plan, updated finishes, new furniture and restrooms. The work will be completed by C.T. Darnell Construction and is expected to take six to nine months. The Stone Mountain-Sue Kellogg branch is the first of three libraries in District 4 that will get an upgrade. Clarkston and Covington branch renovations are pending for scheduling, officials said.  DeKalb County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, who represents District 4, said the county has allocated $1.5 million for the Sue Kellogg branch renovation.   “I am eager for…

DeKalb County crews will begin work in July on a $20 million project that will replace seven miles of 60-to-100-year-old water pipes in the Briarcliff and North Decatur areas. DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said replacing the old infrastructure would resolve reported low water pressure issues in the areas. “Resolving water pressure issues in the Briarcliff and North Decatur area is a top priority for DeKalb County government,” Thurmond said. “DeKalb County is committed to fixing these longstanding problems and has directed significant resources to get the job done.” The project will include the installation of more than one mile…

Join Congressman Hank Johnson, who represents Georgia’s Fourth District, for a Twitter Town Hall on Friday, June 14, 2 p.m., on twitter.com. The virtual town hall meeting will allow community stakeholders an opportunity to tweet in their concerns regarding a variety of issues ranging from healthcare to student loans. Tune into the town hall discussion by following @RepHankJohnson and tweet your questions to #AskHank.

  Atlanta Gas Light has filed a request with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) seeking a $96.1 million adjustment to base rates. The proposed hike represents a $3.80 monthly increase rate for the typical residential customer. Hearings on the proposal will be held at the PSC office Sept. 10-12. A decision is expected in December. Any new rate adjustments likely would go into effect Jan. 1, 2020. If approved, the request would fund critical system improvements over approximately a three-year period.  The adjustment would allow Atlanta Gas Light to make its system safer, comply with new regulations, respond faster…

DeKalb County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw will host a community meeting on the proposed District 4 senior center on Monday, June 17, 6 to 8 p.m., at Antioch AME Church, 765 S. Hairston Road Stone Mountain. The public is encouraged to attend and provide feedback about the design of the building and programming services. The senior center will be located on a 2.7-acre, county-owned parcel at 4875 Elam Road, Stone Mountain. Wood Inc., the architect of record, will be present to discuss initial design ideas, get feedback and answer questions. “This new senior center, with the added amenity of a swimming…

The city of Stonecrest’s new welcome video gives a brief overview of the city’s amenities and growth. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/ud5TzCUknvI

DeKalb County Public Library (DCPL) is waiving overdue fines for materials in the children’s and teens’ collections during “Fine-Free Summer.” The initiative runs June 1 to Aug. 31 and is designed to encourage reading and remove any barriers so children will read more during the summer months. The DCPL Board of Trustees approved Fine-Free Summer for the second year after a successful summer in 2018. Fees will still be assessed on lost or damaged items and normal checkout periods will still apply.