Author: On Common Ground News

MARTA bus routes 5, 12, 25, 27, 36, 37, 39 and 110 will be redirected to accommodate street closuresduring the race. The roads impacted are as follows: Peachtree Road – Piedmont Road to Peachtree-Dunwoody Road; Lenox Road – East Paces Ferry to Buckhead Loop; Oak Valley Road – East Paces Ferry Road to Peachtree Road; Wieuca Road – Peachtree Road to Roxboro Road; 10th Street between Peachtree Street and Monroe Drive; and Piedmont Road between Monroe Drive and 10th Street.   Planning your excursion is easy: Smartphone and Android users are urged to download MARTA’s “On The Go” app to plan their trip and track bus and rail arrivals in…

Looking for the best way to spend your 4th of July weekend around metro Atlanta? Check www.ocgnews.com to find out what’s happening in your neighborhood! ATLANTA Annual Peachtree Road Race expected to draw thousands of spectators   The annual AJC Peachtree Road Race will be held on Tuesday, July 4, near Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta. The event draws 150,000 spectators who will line the sides of Peachtree Road to enjoy the world’s largest 10K. The race follows a scenic 10K course from Buckhead to Piedmont Park. Lenox Mall will offer families a full day of fun in…

Members of the Lithonia Senior Center on Bruce Street were decked out in their finest red, white and blue for a pre-Independence Day celebration on June 29. Lifelong resident Allene Harper, who was dressed from head to toe in the colors of the American flag, won first place for best dressed. Juliette Hill’s great-granddaughter, 18-month-old Amelia Brown, got in on the fun and tried on a big red, white and blue hat, putting smiles on the faces of many of the seniors. Zenobia Taylor, center manager, also showed her community spirit. The seniors not only dressed in patriotic colors,…

Rockdale County Board of Commissioners honored staff members of the county’s Recreation and Maintenance Department on June 27, just ahead of the kickoff of Parks and Recreation Month, which is observed nationally celebrated in July. The board issued a proclamation to Recreation and Maintenance Director Sue Sanders and showed an 11-minute video showcasing all of Rockdale’s parks.

DeKalb County has removed more than 80 tons of debris from its sewer system, unclogging lines that haven’t been cleaned in over 50 years, according to the county’s Department of Watershed Management. With more than 2,600 miles of sewer lines, DeKalb prioritized cleaning 818 miles of sewer lines documented to be in need of immediate maintenance due to age and repeat overflows. “Issues associated with reduced sewer capacity have begun to negatively impact our quality of life and hinder economic development in DeKalb County,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. “We will almost certainly restore functional capacity to the system…

DeKalb County officials joined community partners on June 29 to break ground on a project that has been 10 years in the making—Sterling at Candler Village, a South DeKalb apartment complex that will provide subsidized independent living for seniors. After 10 years of planning, the $25 million project is finally getting under way at 1955 Candler Road, said Sharon Guest, project lead for The Benoit Group (TBG), the developer. “We’re very excited to be here,” Guest told officials at the groundbreaking ceremony. “When I was working with the DeKalb Housing Authority in 2011, it (the project) kept getting resuscitated then…

Opponents are urging the Stonecrest City Council to vote no on a proposed millage increase, saying it would unfairly tax owners of commercial and rental properties. No one spoke in favor of the increase at two public hearings held on June 27. About 10 people made comments. Attorney Bernard Knight, who represents several businesses and landowners in the city, said the proposed increase of up to 1 mill goes against promises made during the formation of the city. “This is inconsistent with the vision that was crafted by the folks who created Stonecrest and inconsistent with the promises that…

The Rockdale Board of Commissioners (BOC) approved the execution of the agreement and final documents to finalize the purchase of the historic Costley Mill Park. Officials signed the documents following the June 27 meeting. Rockdale is spending $4 million to buy and renovate the 77-acre property on Costley Mill Road, which is located off Georgia Highway 138. The park, owned by the Bowman family, has been in Rockdale since the 1800s. It has been used for films, weddings and other special events including the Rubber Ducky race, which is held annually to raise money to assist senior programs in…

Clarkston resident Chelsea Robinson is among 63 Georgia teaching Fellows selected by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. Robinson, a 2007 graduate of DeKalb County’s Stephenson High School, is studying for her master’s of art degree in teaching and mathematics with a concentration in STEM at Mercer University. “I believe the program is going to really prepare us for the classroom. As a Fellow, I’m especially looking forward to working with a mentor for the next three years,” said Robinson. Gov. Nathan Deal introduced the 2017 fellows at an event on June 29. “Sandra and I are honored to welcome…

Dr. Dale Burgess, a veteran administrator, has been tapped to serve as Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s Dean of Arts & Sciences.  His appointment began June 12. “I am delighted to welcome Dr. Burgess as Georgia Piedmont’s newest dean,” said GPTC President Jabari Simama. “Dr. Burgess possesses an impressive track record of proven leadership at several institutions of higher learning.  He has hands-on experience working in our college with students, faculty and staff, and he is bringing considerable expertise to this pivotal role,” he concluded. Prior to becoming dean, Burgess worked as an evening and weekend administrator at GPTC.  He also…