Author: On Common Ground News

By Stacey Thibodeaux The Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce recently held its final Coffee Connections of 2017 at Hanson Aggregates Lithonia Quarry, which offered business owners and stakeholders a bus tour of the world-class operations. Hanson Aggregates supplied the rock for the concrete used to construct the new Mercedes Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta. Chris Edwards, office manager for the quarry, led the tour through the many layers—350 down to the bottom of Pine Mountain—where rock is excavated for various projects around the world. During the tour, Edwards discussed the quarry’s history, including the fact that the quarry at…

DeKalb Medical and Emory Healthcare have signed a Letter of Intent to develop a strategic partnership between the two institutions. The Letter of Intent signals the beginning of the process to formulate a definitive agreement to bring the two health systems together under the Emory Healthcare system. The partnership would allow for continued growth and expansion of services to even better serve the community. The two institutions anticipate finalizing the partnership in 2018, after receiving final approval from regulatory agencies. “Both Emory and DeKalb Medical have a strong and historical commitment to providing exceptional care to the community,” said…

The Conyers Downtown Development Authority (DDA) presented its third annual Outstanding Achievement Award to John Shelley for his efforts in preserving and beautifying the Magnolias Assisted and Memory Care facility located in Olde Town Conyers. The building, originally a residence built by the Tucker family in 1900, opened as a personal care home in 1983 and was acquired by Shelley in 1998. The facility is a licensed 24-room assisted living and memory care service in a former Victorian home. Shelley made façade improvements to the facility this year, as well as interior improvements such as installing new showers and…

Acclaimed author, scholar and journalist Valerie Boyd is the newest member of the DeKalb County Public Library Board of Trustees. The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved Boyd’s appointment as a Library Trustee at its November meeting. Boyd is the author of Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston, considered the definitive biography of Hurston. The book was a winner of the Southern Book Award and was recognized as a Notable Book by the American Library Association. Currently, Ms. Boyd is editing Gathering Blossoms Under Fire: the Journals of Alice Walker, scheduled for publication in 2018. The collection…

Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau was recently awarded two 2017 MarCom Awards recognitions. The MarCom Awards, sponsored and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, recognizes outstanding achievements by creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design and production of marketing and communications materials and programs. Discover DeKalb won Gold for “New Website Design” in the Digital Media/Design (Web) category and received Honorable Mention for the “2017 LGBT Destination Guide” in the Print Media/Print Creativity category. “To be recognized by experts like the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP) and MarCom Awards is an honor.…

My day started out something like this: Me: God, can I ask you a question? God: Sure. Me: Promise you won’t get mad? God: I promise. Me: Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today? God: What do you mean? Me: Well, I woke up late. God: Yes. Me: My car took forever to start. God: Okay. Me: At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait. God: Hmmm. Me: On the way home my phone went dead just as I picked up a call. God: Okay. Me: And on top of all that,…

The Resource Center for Community Action (RCCA) hosted its Thanksgiving mobile food pantry distribution on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. Volunteers helped pass out food boxes during the half-day give away. Food also as given away at Mayor’s Park in Lovejoy, Georgia on Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year marked the second year that RCCA has held the Community Thanksgiving giveaways at two locations. RCCA’s free giveaway was one of several efforts to assist those in need in the local area. The Unique Corvettes Club also pitched in to assist 50 needy families at…

MARTA will suspend all rail service west of Five Points Station after normal operations at 1:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 20, in preparation for the planned implosion of the Georgia Dome. The 25-year-old facility will be imploded at 7:30 a.m. MARTA, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, City of Atlanta and other agencies are working on the temporary service plan to help ensure a seamless, safe commute for MARTA riders. A portion of MARTA’s train tunnels lay almost directly under the implosion site, situated just west of downtown Atlanta, and two rail stations—Dome and Vine City—sit within the blast…

A crowd celebrated the grand opening this past Saturday for the city of Stonecrest’s new City Hall. Mayor Jason Lary, his wife Debra, and the five-member City Council held a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the historic occasion of the newly-formed city of 50,000 residents. Congressman Hank Johnson and his wife, DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, were among several dignitaries and officials who spoke before the ceremony. The half-day of festivities included performance by Arabia Mountain High School Band, talent from Salem Middle and Flat Rock Elementary  and entertainment by R&B band, Gritz and Jelly Butter , as well as…

Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced his plans to run for re-election for another term. “I want to thank the people of Georgia’s 4th Congressional District for entrusting me with the honor of representing them in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Johnson said. “Having served during the terms of three presidents, and I am committed now more than ever to public service. Because of the daunting challenges we face as a nation, I want to continue working to bring people together to get things done in Congress for the American people and my constituents specifically.” Johnson also…