Author: On Common Ground News

The DeKalb NAACP will celebrate its annual observance of Jubilee Day on Jan. 1, 2019 at 10 a.m., at  Rainbow Park Baptist Church, 2491 Columbia Drive, Decatur.  Jubilee Day commemorates the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863 and is considered African Americans’ Independence Day. The event is celebrated every year by NAACP branches throughout the country. The DeKalb branch of the NAACP’s 2019 program has an international theme: “Searching for Justice Worldwide!” “Prior to being emancipated from human bondage, many brave black men and women escaped to or immigrated to other countries looking…

Rockdale County government officials invite the public to the inaugural Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Event on Monday, Jan. 21, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Rockdale Career Academy Auditorium, 1064 Culpepper Drive SW, Conyers. Talented dancers from Jenae’s Dance Experience and Showtime Pros, as well as local talent from Rockdale County Public Schools will perform in a celebration that will highlight Dr. King’s legacy and his impact on civil rights, past and present, under the theme, “This is America”. Admission is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs is accepting new or gently-used coats for its first coat drive until Friday, Dec. 21. As the temperature starts to drop, the Department of Recreation Parks & Cultural Affairs is working to provide some comfort to those in need. Citizens are encouraged to drop off coat donations at one of county recreational facilities during normal operating hours: Fire Rescue Headquarters,1950 W. Exchange Place, 3rd floor, Tucker, GA 30084 Browns Mill Recreation Center, 5101 Browns Mill Road, Lithonia, GA 30038 Exchange Recreation Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30034 …

DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold an official ribbon cutting ceremony for the county’s newest park amenities on Monday, Dec. 10, at noon. The ceremony will be held at Zonolite Park, 1147 Zonolite Place, Atlanta. A total of $32,000 was contributed to enhance the park play areas including a new picnic shelter, garden beds and walkways. The public is invited to join county officials, parks staff and Park Pride representatives at the ceremony.

DeKalb County parks officials will hold an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the county’s newest pier on Friday, Dec. 14, at 11 a.m. The ceremony will be held at Chapel Hill Park, 4002 Lehigh Blvd, Decatur. A total of $158,000 was contributed to construct a fishing pier with a pavilion and a trail to improve connectivity. The public is invited to join county officials, parks staff and Park Pride representatives at the ceremony.

The DeKalb History Center has launched an authors’ program called Hops at the History Center, which debuts on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 6 p.m. The nightly program will feature authors, lectures, and discussions over a wide range of topics. All programs will take place at the DeKalb History Center, and will be ticketed. The debut event will feature Author Andre Joseph Gallant, who will be speaking about his new book, A High Low Tide: The Revival of a Southern Oyster. Gallant, who lives in Athens, Georgia, is an independent journalist whose writing has appeared in Oxford American, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bitter Southerner,…

The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is getting behind  State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick, D-Lithonia, to push for funding a public awareness campaign for computer science education and efforts to encourage more diversity and inclusiveness among tech companies. The caucus passed two resolutions at the 42nd Annual National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) conference on Nov. 29 that were modeled after  House resolutions Kendrick proposed during the 2018 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly. “Encouraging equal access to opportunities in technology is crucial to keeping up with the demand of a growing tech economy across our state…

The Decatur City Commission announced it has selected long-time Assistant City Manager Andrea Arnold to become Decatur’s next City Manager. City officials say they anticipate that an agreement with Arnold will be ratified at the City Commission meeting on Dec. 17 and that she will begin her new role on Jan. 1, 2019. She will succeed Peggy Merriss, who is retiring. Arnold, who has served as Assistant City Manager since 2004, came to work for the city in 1997 from the Atlanta Regional Commission. Mayor Patti Garrett said the City Commission was very impressed with Arnold. The City Commission received…

Guardianships can take away a person’s rights to decide to marry, make contracts, consent to medical treatment, and establish a residence. Conservatorships allow the appointee to manage the ward’s finances and assets, buy and sell property, and enter into business and commercial transactions. Both the guardianship and conservatorship can also take away a person’s right to bring and defend actions in court. There are several other, less intrusive ways to act on behalf of someone with diminished mental or physical capacity. One or more of the following alternatives may serve the needs of an incapacitated adult without unnecessarily limiting his…

  By Valerie J. Morgan Atlanta’s Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson, founder of the Be Someone mentoring program for youths, was one of the “Points of Light” honorees selected to attend today’s farewell ceremony for the award’s founder, President George H.W. Bush. President Bush died Nov. 30 in Houston at age 94. His wife of 73 years, Barbara, passed away in April. The funeral for the nation’s 41stpresident took place at the Washington National Cathedral. The farewell ceremony was held at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., where Hudson, a DeKalb County resident and other Points of Life honorees paid…