Author: On Common Ground News

Keep Conyers/Rockdale Beautiful is reminding Rockdale County residents to recycle their Christmas trees at the upcoming “Bring One for the Chipper” event. The event will be held on Jan. 5, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Home Depot, 1330 Iris Drive, Conyers.  In DeKalb, the city of Chamblee’s Keep Chamblee Beautiful is coordinating a recycling event for Chamblee residents at Chamblee’s Public Works Department, according to keepgeorgiabeautiful.org.  Bring One for the Chipper is Georgia’s annual statewide Christmas tree recycling program sanctioned by Keep Georgia Beautiful. This year marks the 27th year of the program. According to Keep Georgia Beautiful, the program…

In observance of New Year’s Day on Tuesday, Jan. 1, garbage, recyclable materials and yard trimmings collection for residential customers will be based on a revised collection schedule as follows: Monday, Dec. 31 – Normal collection day. Tuesday, Jan. 1 – New Year’s Day observed; no collection service. Wednesday, Jan. 2– Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Tuesday, Jan. 1, will be serviced on Wednesday, Jan. 2. Thursday, Jan. 3– Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Wednesday, Jan. 2, will be serviced on Thursday, Jan. 3. Friday, Jan. 4 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day…

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners will hold a Committee of the Whole, Special Called Meeting and Executive Session, Thursday, Jan. 3, 9 a.m. in the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur. The tentative agenda follows: Committee of the Whole • Committee Reports • Decide DeKalb – Quarterly Report • Review of the Proposed Executive Agenda for Jan. 8, 2019 • Review of Commissioners’ Preliminary Agenda for Jan. 8, 2019 Special Called Meeting • Executive Session Other Matters

Marvin Daniels July 30, 1963—Sept. 28, 2018 The piles of gifts kept coming as the names of the “adopted” children were called out during a holiday celebration hosted by Words of Comfort Ministries, based in Snellville. In fact, the children had so many gifts that volunteers had to pass out large garbage bags so the families could haul the presents home. The wrapped presents weren’t the only gifts received. Several kids also received bicycles. Dr. Gayle Daniels, who founded Words of Comfort Ministries, Inc. community outreach, worked with several partners to provide the abundance of gifts to the 15 families…

More than three dozen needy students at three DeKalb County elementary schools have winter coats, thanks to the local community pitching in to help. Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary and the city of Stonecrest worked in partnership with the Lithonia-Stonecrest Kiwanis Club on “Project Warmth” to provide students from Flat Rock, Fairington and Stoneview Elementary schools with jackets and toys for the holidays.  Other partners included Caribbean Shipping International; Cross Culture Church, where Rev. Woodrow Walker II is pastor; and Hen Pen, Inc. The students received the gifts just before the DeKalb school district’s Winter Break began.

DeKalb County Sheriff Jeff Mann (kneeling, front) is surrounded by kids who were guests at the 14thAnnual Adopt A Family luncheon on Dec. 20 at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff was joined by Jail Division Commander Major L. Akies (standing right) and guest Debra DeBerry, Clerk of Superior Court, (back row fourth from left). The children and their guardians are participants in the DeKalb Family and Children’s Services Kinship Program and Bethany Foster Care.

DeKalb State Court Judge Ron Ramsey coordinated the third annual “Angel Wings” initiative this year to provide $50 gift cards for 30 homeless and transient students and their families. McDonald’s franchise owners John and Shiroleen Hurt again collaborated with Judge Ramsey to provide the gift cards. The Hurts, who own 17 McDonalds, DeKalb and other metro Atlanta counties, supported the same effort last year, assisting 25 homeless students with $50 gift cards. Judge Ramsey said he hopes that the effort will continue to grow each year and is very grateful to his friends, the Hurts, who share his heart for…

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. – Rho Kappa Lambda (RKL) Chapter marked the 18th anniversary of the chapter’s founding by distributing food to needy families this month. More than 20 of the fraternity brothers gathered at Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Lilburn to box fresh vegetables and perishables for families in need. The fraternity participated in a host of service activities each year since the chapter was founded on Dec. 8, 2000. The chapter partners with its companion, the RKL Education Foundation, to support the Future Men of Distinction mentoring program for ages 13-19;  the Alpha Youth Academy partnership…

The Reading Committee of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority’s Chi Tau Omega Chapter, which serves  Rockdale and Newton counties, donated books to 25 residents of Elks Aidmore, Inc.,  a residential program that assists families in crisis.   Each resident received two books from the Peyton Skky series, which is written by local author Stephanie Perry Moore. The presentation was made on Dec. 23.     Pictured from left to right: Melva Henderson, president elect of Chi Tau Omega Chapter; Pattie McGrew, Education coordinator – Elks Aidmore Inc;  Dr. Joy Jackson Guillford, President  Chi Tau Omega Chapter; and June Hawkins Jones, Chi Tau…

Officer Edgar Isidro Flores, age 24 of Decatur, answered his final call as a Police Officer with the Dekalb County Police Department on Thursday, December 13, 2018. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at 11:00am at All Saints Catholic Church, 2443 Mt. Vernon Road, Dunwoody, GA 30038 and on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at 11:00am at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 6439 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch, GA 30542. Interment will be held on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 in Yonah Memorial Gardens following the funeral service. The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 16, 2018…