Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County will host the first “Kites Over DeKalb Festival” on Sunday, April 14, noon to 4 p.m., at Wade Walker Park, 5605 Rockbridge Road, Stone Mountain. The free family event is open for all ages and will feature music, bounce houses, kite-flying demonstrations, contests and food vendors. Participants may bring their own kites or create one at the free kite-making station while supplies last. To access online registration, visit www.kitesoverdekalb.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact LaShanda Davis, Parks public education specialist, at 404-371-3643 or lsdavis@dekalbcountyga.gov.

DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs is accepting registration for youths ages 10 to 18 who would like to perform in its fourth annual Poetry Slam. The event will be held Friday, April 19, 7 p.m., at Mason Mill Recreation Center, 1340 McConnell Drive, Decatur in celebration of National Poetry Month. The deadline to register is April 5. The Poetry Slam will feature young poets and writers from DeKalb. Admission is $5. To access online registration, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks and click the “Register Now” button on the department’s homepage, or register in person at any DeKalb recreation center. For more information,…

Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson, noted mentor and anti-violence and peace activist, is inviting the community to celebrate “Good Deeds Day” on Thursday, April 11, 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the Stone Ridge Events Center, 1750 Stone Ridge Drive, Stone Mountain. “There will be free food, free parking and I will be giving specific strategies to help students clearly understand there are consequences for every move they make in life,” said Hudson. Hudson, recognized around the nation for his mentoring work in the community through his nonprofit, Be Someone, will use a giant chessboard to teach strategies on problem solving and success.…

Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. is hosting his annual “Lend A Ham” program just in time for Easter. The purpose of the program is to help senior citizens in need of assistance during the holiday. Frozen ham donations are being accepted 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. seven days a week at Courtesy Dodge, 1890 Dogwood Drive in Conyers until April 14. The hams will be distributed on April 14, 3 p.m., at the Olivia Haydel Senior Center, 1240 Dogwood Drive S.W., Conyers. The distributions are first-come, first-served. For more information, contact Andrea Lee, executive assistant to the…

Springfield Baptist Church in Rockdale County is inviting interested high school graduates to apply for its 2019 academic scholarships. Scholarships in the amount of $800 are available for students in Rockdale/Newton and surrounding counties. The deadline to apply is March 30. The following criteria must be met: Applicants must be accepted and enrolled as a full-time student at a two-year or four-year post-secondary institution. The student must have a current cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The student must have demonstrated spiritual leadership qualities and have documented community service experience. The student must be recommended by a teacher or staff…

This year, the historic Antioch-Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church is celebrating its 150-year anniversary with several events commemorating its milestone as one of DeKalb County’s oldest African American churches. The church will kick off its celebration on Sunday, March 24 with two worship services. Pastor James C. Ward, Antioch-Lithonia’s pastor, will preach at the 7:30 a.m. worship service. Pastor Michael Taylor, Shiloh Baptist Church in Jonesboro, will preach at the 10:30 a.m. worship service. Pastor Taylor, a native of Greenville, Mississippi, is the senior pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Jonesboro, the oldest African-American church in Clayton County. Pastor Ward…

Zoning Public Hearing:Tuesday, March 26, 9 a.m., Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers   Voting Session:Tuesday, March 26, 10 a.m.,  Assembly Hall , 901 Main Street, Conyers   Spring Recess:Board of Commissioners meetings scheduled for Tuesday, April 2 and Tuesday, April 9are cancelled   Evening Work Session:Tuesday, April 16, 7 p.m., Shoal Creek Elementary School, 1300 McWilliams Road, Conyers   Zoning Public Hearing:Tuesday, April 23, 9 a.m., Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers   Voting Session:Tuesday, April 23,10 a.m., Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers

  The DeKalb Parks Citizen Advisory Board Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26, 6 p.m. at the DeKalb County Fire Rescue Headquarters, 1950 West Exchange Place, Tucker. The meeting will take place on the first floor in room 111. Information will be provided on current park improvements and recreation projects. For more information, contact Carol Underwood, administrative coordinator, at 404-371-2927 or cjunderw@dekalbcountyga.gov.

DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs is seeking sites to participate in the Summer Food Service Program June 3 to July 19. The Summer Food Service Program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded program that partners with agencies to ensure that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. To qualify as a site, 50 percent of children served must meet the income guidelines for free- and reduced-price meals in the National School Lunch Program. Children who are members of households that receive food stamp benefits or Aid for Dependent Children (AFDC) assistance automatically qualify.…

DeKalb County District Health Director S. Elizabeth Ford, M.D. As part of American Diabetes Alert Day, the DeKalb County Board of Health is hosting a Diabetes Alert Day event on Tuesday, March 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the T.O. Vinson Health Center, 440 Winn Way in Decatur. The event is free and open to the public. Activities will include a panel discussion, healthy snacks and testing to measure blood sugar. Individuals with pre-diabetes can learn about and enroll in the Prevent T2 program to avoid developing type 2 diabetes. “Everyone should be aware of their risk for…