Author: On Common Ground News

The 50+ Ministry at Voices of Faith honored six high school graduates at its scholarship awards on July 23. The ministry, comprised of seniors who are ages 50 and older, hosts fundraisers annually to award the scholarships, said Elder Debra Higgins, who coordinated the program, along with Linda Williams-Sanchez, 50+ Ministry president. “It’s our way of giving back and rewarding and encouraging our youths,” said Elder Debra Higgins, who coordinates the scholarship program. “These students have excelled in high school with honors. Their achievements include extra-curricular activities in school, the community and VOF. They have membership in various organizations and have…

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, 6400 Woodrow Road, Stonecrest, hosted a back-to-school event on July 22 and over 1,000 book bags and school supplies were distributed for free to the community. The “Summer Lift & Blazing Back to School Festival” was held in partnership with the Savvy Foundation, Nationwide and City of Stonecrest Councilmember Diane Adoma, Walmart and Georgia Home Theater, to name a few. In addition to the book bag giveaway, there were drawings for laptops, Ipads and games. The festival also featured plenty of family fun and activities including a petting zoo and pony rides, bounce houses, live…

The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) will host a Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) Permitting Program Workshop on Thursday, Aug. 3, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Department of Watershed Management, 4572 Memorial Drive, Decatur. Discharges containing high concentrations of fats, oils and grease from food service establishments such as restaurants, schools, nursing homes and other public facilities can cause blockages or overflows. To help prevent FOG from entering the sewer system, DWM developed the FOG Permitting Program Workshop to educate facilities about the county’s permitting, maintenance and monitoring requirements. The workshop will provide an overview of the…

Fairfield Baptist Church, 6133 Redan Road, Lithonia, is set to celebrate its annual Homecoming and Family and Friends’ Day beginning Saturday, Aug. 5. This year’s celebration will be bittersweet as it will mark the beginning of many activities planned for the church’s retiring pastor of 40 years, the Rev. Micheal Benton. The theme is “Commemorating the Past, Celebrating the Present and Embracing the Future Together.” The event will begin with a parade, which will depart at 8 a.m. from the parking lot of New Covenant Ministries, 1760 Philips Road, Lithonia and end at Fairfield Baptist Church. Following the parade, the…

State Rep. Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain) recently hosted the first meeting of the Cannabis and Hemp Symposium at the State Capitol. The symposium met to discuss the policies, opportunities and challenges of the cannabis and hemp industry within the state of Georgia. “As we make changes to our state laws regarding cannabis and hemp, it is important that we keep our communities engaged and informed,” said Mitchell. “The first Cannabis and Hemp Symposium was a success, and I look forward to future meetings as we work to increase public awareness on this industry.” The program focused on the key…

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) announced its newly hired principals for the 2017-2018 school year on July 25. “Research shows when schools have effective leadership, student and staff performance will increase. Working with our five regional superintendents, we have identified a group of highly-qualified and highly-motivated individuals to join our team,” said Superintendent/CEO R. Stephen Green. “With these talented educators in place, we will continue to raise our expectations and outcomes for achievement.” The newly-hired group of principals includes: Dresden Elementary School – Jesse U. Berger Flat Rock Elementary School – Malik Douglas Kelley Lake Elementary School – Peggy…

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) is inviting K-12 students who live or attend a school in the Fourth Congressional District to demonstrate their technology skills by developing an app. “Science and technology are transforming our world and we must do all we can to ensure our kids are taking part in and helping shape the changing economy,” said Johnson. “I’m proud of the students who participate in the challenge. This competition has showcased some of the Fourth Congressional District’s brightest young minds as they take on cutting-edge technology that is becoming an increasing part of all our lives.” The Congressional App…

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson was recently elected chairman of the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) during the organization’s 82nd annual conference in Franklin, Ohio. The Large Urban County Caucus is the premier forum for urban county leaders and is the voice for America’s metropolitan counties before Congress and the administration. Comprised of county executives, governing board members and other senior elected officials, members of the Large Urban County Caucus focus on urban challenges and solutions, engage in peer-to-peer information exchanges and inform national policy discussions. Commissioner Johnson, who also has served as a member…

  The life of Dr. Keith E. Baird, whose trailblazing work in linguistic anthropology focused on the politics of language, will be celebrated on Aug. 12, 1 to 4 p.m., at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 2833 Flat Shoals Road, Decatur. Dr. Baird made his transition on July 13 in Atlanta. He was 94, said his daughter, Marcia Baird Burris, who was married to the late Charles “Chuck” Burris, who became the first African-American mayor of the city of Stone Mountain in 1997. Mayor Burris served until 2001. Dr. Baird’s body has been donated to Morehouse School of Medicine for use…

The City of Stonecrest will conduct a special meeting addressing zoning and sign ordinances. See below for the full agenda.