Author: On Common Ground News

Twenty children who attend the after-school program at Lucious Sanders Recreation Center in Lithonia recently had the opportunity to attend the stage drama, “Cobweb Dreams.” What made the outing so special? The kids got to see the Champion Middle School Drama Club perform the play at the ART Station in downtown Stone Mountain, thanks to the South DeKalb Rotary Club. The Drama Club, under the direction of Drama Instructor Rwanda J. Hammond, performed “Cobweb Dreams, which was written by playwright Lindsey Price who sets the fun-filled fantasy that runs parallel to the events of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. South…

Keep DeKalb Beautiful will host a rain barrel workshop on Saturday, March 24, 2 to 3:30 p.m., located at Oak Grove United Methodist Church, 1722 Oak Grove Road, Decatur. Participants will learn how to build rain barrels and leave with a completed project. Rain barrels harvest roof runoff, which can be used to irrigate landscape plants or gardens. Just 1 inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof provides 623 gallons of water. The rain barrel workshop is $25 per household and limited seating remains. All proceeds will benefit Friends of Frazier-Rowe Park. To register, call Keep DeKalb Beautiful at 404-298-4080.

DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey Mann and Superior Court Clerk Debra DeBerry are hosting VOICES, A Free Women’s History Month event on Saturday, March 24, 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., at the Porter Sanford, III Performing Arts & Community Center 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. The guest speaker will be Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado, also known as the “Historian In Heels.” Panelists will include Ciera Allen, M.D.; Commissioner Kathie Gannon; Yolanda Lee, First Lady, Berean Christian Church; Sarah-Elizabeth Langford Reed, Former First Lady, City of Atlanta; Gabrielle Maddox, realtor; Robin Morris, Ph.D.; and DeKalb School Board Member Vickie B. Turner. Panelists will discuss…

To improve services and guide the future development of programs and facilities, Rockdale County is conducting a strategic parks and recreation master plan. The master plan is a comprehensive approach to outlining goals, identifying new opportunities, determining project phasing, and setting the framework for development and maintenance of facilities, offerings and services. A major component of this process is public input, which includes a community survey. Rockdale County is using the consultant team of Lose & Associates, Inc. to prepare the proposal. The planning process included staff interviews, discussions with county officials, community needs, and two public information sessions. “The…

LifeLine Animal project presents its DeKalb County Animal Services Pet of the Week, Kali.  This sweet girl arrived at the shelter with a broken leg, but thanks to the veterinary staff, and her foster home, she can finally bounce and play again.  Kali is a sweet, playful gal with soulful brown eyes and a love for all things fun. Her foster parents say she’s the best-behaved dog they’ve ever seen. She’s also already potty trained and knows some commands, including “sit” and “lay down.” Kali has a great sense of humor and is sure to make you smile. She’d love…

Rockdale County Probate Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr. One of the primary functions of the Probate Court is to resolve estate matters. If the deceased person (“decedent”) had a valid Last Will and Testament (“Will”), the estate will generally proceed through the probate process. If not, estates are resolved through administration. Because the probate and administration processes can be more complex than the issues addressed in this article, you are encouraged to seek legal counsel prior to proceeding with estate matters. The probate process involves determining the validity of a Will. As a part of this process the Court must…

Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful (KCRB) is accepting registrations for the Great American Cleanup (GAC) on Saturday, April 28, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., at Pine Log Park Pavilion, 1500 GA Highway 138, Conyers. The half-day event, which KCRB hosts in partnership with the City of Conyers and Rockdale County, encourages citizens to pick up garbage, tires and other debris around the community, and teaches youth about the importance of litter prevention and recycling. This year, the GAC event will also involve the efforts of Rockdale County officials, department directors and staff. In addition to removing debris from several locations, Rockdale County…

DeKalb County Watershed Management repair work is well underway and proceeding as expected to replace the 48-inch water main that broke Wednesday morning near Buford Highway. Crews laid the first 48-inch pipe overnight, and have mobilized additional joints to begin installing today. Work is expected to be complete Friday evening. Yesterday, crews isolated the large water main and water pressure was restored throughout most of the county. A boil water advisory remains in place for DeKalb County Watershed customers until microbiological tests confirm water is safe for consumption. Samples for testing were drawn from 49 sites throughout the county…

Superintendent/CEO R. Stephen Green of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) invites students, parents, staff and community members to the “On The Scene with Dr. Green” community conversation on Thursday, March 8, 7 p.m., Druid Hills Middle School, 3100 Mount Olive Drive, Decatur. The event will begin promptly at 7 p.m., at Druid Hills Middle School. Dr. Green will give a brief statement about the state of DCSD before answering questions directly from the audience. “On The Scene with Dr. Green” is an opportunity to learn more about your schools and to have your concerns addressed. To learn more, visit…

Lance Hammonds, a chemical sales manager and community activist, has qualified for the DeKalb County School Board District 6. “I am very excited about the opportunity to continue to serve the families of DeKalb County,” said Hammonds.  “I am running because I believe the key to a prosperous community is academically superior schools with achievement outcomes that rival the top schools in the nation. I want to make DeKalb County Schools the destination of choice for young families looking for the best education for their children.” Hammonds said he believes quality education requires a community commitment. Hammonds is a SE…