Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold a Spring Break Mini Camp April 2-6, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cost of camp is $10 for a day of activities for children ages 5-15. Participants must provide their own breakfasts, lunches and snacks. To access online registration, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks and click the “Register Online” button on the department’s homepage, or register in person at any of the locations listed below: Browns Mill Recreation Center, 5101 Browns Mill Road, Lithonia, GA 30038 Exchange Recreation Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30034 Gresham Recreation Center, 3113 Gresham Road, Atlanta, GA…

Rockdale County Planning and Development Department announces the final upcoming public meeting for the Comprehensive Plan 2040. The meeting will be held March 22, 2018 at the Parker Road Government Annex, located at 1400 Parker Road. This drop-in event will include a brief presentation that will be given starting at 5:30 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m. The presentations will be followed by input activities for citizens, which will help the planning department establish the needs and opportunities for land use and potential development in Rockdale County. The previous Comprehensive Plan is set to expire at the end of 2018. The…

Today, students from throughout the DeKalb County School District joined millions of students from around the nation for Walkout Day on March 14, one month after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. The national event was held for 17 minutes to remember the 17 victims who were killed during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre. Students at Arabia Mountain High School and Cedar Grove High walked out of their classrooms at 10 a.m. and stood outside during peaceful, well-organized assemblies to honor the victims and call for stricter gun laws.

Five outstanding students invested in community service in Rockdale County are finalists for the Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families’ 2018 John K. Morgan Scholarship. This is the eighth year the Rockdale Coalition has offered the $4,000 scholarship for a student who has demonstrated outstanding community service in Rockdale County and plans to continue that level of commitment while pursuing post-secondary education. The scholarship is named for John K. Morgan, former president and chief executive officer of Acuity Brands Lighting and community advocate. Since the inception of the John K. Morgan Scholarship, more than $45,500 has been awarded to deserving…

Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary will make an appearance today at 4:30 p.m. on CNBC ‘s “Closing Bell,” where he’ll be a featured guest panelist to discuss and rate city prospects that are bidding for Amazon’s H2Q headquarters. Lary said he has been invited to do a six-week run on “Closing Bell” for a segment called “Dash for Amazon.” Today’s interview will be the first in the segment and he and other panelists will rate bids made by Chicago and Miami. Lary said he returns on the show Thursday to rate and discuss Atlanta’s bid for H2Q. Last October, Larry pitched…

MARTA will host a retail concessions industry day on Wednesday, March 14, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at MARTA headquarters, located at 2424 Piedmont Road in Atlanta. The event is a chance for food, beverage, and specialty retail vendors to learn about concessions opportunities at four rail stations and how to respond to the request for proposals (RFP) once it is released. “We are thrilled to be able to implement our long-awaited retail and concessions program,” said MARTA interim GM/CEO Elizabeth O’Neill. “This is a chance for MARTA to move from a vending machine program to a lively and energized…

Planning your wedding or want to see the latest bridal and tuxedo fashions? Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB) is hosting the 2018 Wedding Expo and Fashion Show on Sunday, March 18, at Stone Ridge Event Center, 1750 Stone Ridge Drive Suite A, Stone Mountain. The expo, which starts at noon, will be a premiere event offering attendees the opportunity to interact with wedding planning professionals including event venues, photographers, cake designers, bridal gown and tuxedo vendors, musicians, and caterers among others. “Our goal is to help you plan your dream wedding in a fun, and exciting way. This expo has brought together…

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) addressed the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) today (March 13) as part of the opening session of the High Court’s Judicial Conference. The United States Judicial Conference, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, oversees the governance of the federal judiciary, from amending the rules of evidence to updating the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Introduced by Chief Justice Roberts, Johnson attended the session as Ranking Member of Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet. Attorney General Jeff Sessions made opening remarks and invited Members of Congress – Chairs and Ranking Members of…

Today (March 12), three DeKalb County School District (DCSD) elementary schools sent pinwheels to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Under the leadership of Austin Elementary principal Ann Culbreath, students at Austin, Kingsley and Dunwoody Elementary schools will deliver 3,500 pinwheels with artwork and uplifting messages to the Florida school. Students at all three DeKalb schools held a Pinwheels for Parkland” event last Friday in which students crafted the pinwheels. An Atlanta-based moving company, Bulldog Movers, is delivering the pinwheels free of charge. The pinwheels will be presented to Marjory Stoneman Douglas on Wednesday, March 14, for the…

The qualifying period the May 22, 2018 elections ended on Friday, March 9, at noon. Here is a look at candidates certified for key local races:  DeKalb County Board of Commissioners District 2 Jeff Rader, Democrat, Incumbent District 3 Felton Wright, Democrat, Retired Larry Johnson, Incumbent District 7 Gregory Adams, Democrat, Incumbent John E. Tolbert, Jr., Democrat, Regional Manager General Motors Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, Associate Publisher/CEO Ed Williams, Democrat, University Professor Board of Education, District 2 (Non-partisan race) Candice D. McKinley, Attorney Marshall Orson, Incumbent, Consultant/Attorney Board of Education, District 4 Allyson Gevertz, Non-Partisan, Former School Psychologist…