Author: On Common Ground News

The DeKalb County School District (CSD) is on a mission to highlight the successes of its public schools. The district has launched a campaign with seven outdoor billboards located in strategic locations across the county with the message: “I Love DeKalb Schools.” The billboards are part of the first phase of a what the district calls a “revolutionary” marketing effort, which will also include print ads, television commercials, an original jingle performed by DCSD students, promotional materials and social media. In addition, a new webpage http://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/ilovedcsd/ has been launched simultaneously, with messaging that reflects the unity, spirit and diversity of…

The community celebrated the completion of renovations at the Johnson Park Recreation Center, 2781 Ebenezer Road, Conyers, during an open house on July 27. The county spent $334,000 renovating the recreation center putting in new carpet, new paint, upgrades for the disabled to use restrooms, renovated locker rooms and improvements to the gym and indoor pool area. Rockdale Chairman Oz Nesbitt commended staff for work at the recreation center, saying he was proud of the improvements.

The city of Stonecrest, this year, will collect only 5 percent of the taxes levied on lodging for hotel/motel guests. The Stonecrest City Council amended its hotel/motel tax ordinance on July 24 to collect only 5 percent—not 8 percent as it had approved on June 19. City Attorney Thompson Kurrie said the city would be able to collect the full 8 percent, as DeKalb County had before the new city was formed, with the approval of state legislators. Meanwhile, city officials said 3 percent of the hotel/motel taxes would be used for the city’s general operating fund, while the remainder…

While many back-to-school events around metro Atlanta featured backpacks and school supplies for students heading back to school, pampering was the order of the day for a special group of girls in Rockdale County. Voices of Faith Ministries hosted a “Back-to-School Royal Pampering Party” on July 22 for female students who are members of its Rockdale congregation. Deaconess June Hawkins Jones said ten students in middle and high school participated in the free mentoring event, which included sessions on skin care, meditation and strategies for succeeding in college. The church’s Youth Ministry, under the leadership of Pastor Matthew Jenkins, sponsored…

DeKalb County celebrated the grand opening of a new animal shelter on July 26. The 33,440-square-foot facility sits on 5.3 acres in Chamblee and can accommodate more than 400 animals. The new $12 million shelter is almost twice the size of the old facility on Camp Road and features a 1,300-square-foot clinic that includes a surgery prep and surgery room, lab area, secure pharmacy storage and holding areas for animals scheduled for surgery. The clinic will provide spay-and-neuter services for animals adopted from the shelter. The new shelter is open and located at 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Chamblee. “The county…

Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson, noted youth mentor and anti-violence activist, will host a back-to-school event on Aug. 5, 1 to 4 p.m., at the Fairfield Inn & Suites, 7850 Stonecrest Square in the city of Stonecrest. Parents are invited to bring their children to learn strategies for success as Hudson, founder of Be Someone, Inc., demonstrates how to outthink the competition by using a life-sized chessboard and pieces. Hudson says young people will learn how to respect others, think before they make dangerous moves, and give more than they take through the free Chess Leadership Training and Personal Empowerment back-to-school event. “This…

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…