County by county news for Friday

Bids are due before noon April 24 in the Cobb County Purchasing Department, 100 Cherokee St., Suite 260, Marietta to add two offices to the arts center.

Information: Moreland Altobelli Associates, Inc., John Gross, 770-565-8520 or jgross@maai.net. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Commission candidates to debate

Five candidates for the Cobb Commission 1 seat will debate at an event 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday at Cobb County Republican Party headquarters, 799 Roswell St., Marietta. Angela Barner, Bill Byrne, Glenn Melson, Scott Tucker and Bob Weatherford are running for the seat held by Helen Goreham who is retiring. Information: Patricia Rhodes at 404-569-9565.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Candidates to speak Saturday

U.S. Senate candidate Paul Broun and 11th Congressional District candidates Bob Barr and Tricia Pridemore will speak at a Cobb Republican Party breakfast 8:45 a.m. Saturday at 799 Roswell St., Marietta. Candidates will have 20 minutes to speak and answer questions. Radio talk show host Martha Zoller will moderate. Admission is $10.

Information: Joe Dendy at 770-820-6545.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Acworth to hold annual art fest this weekend

More than 100 artisans will participate in the annual Acworth Art Fest 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday in downtown Acworth. The event on Main Street will include paintings, metalwork, pottery, jewelry, glass and folk art. There will also be activities for children and food.

Information: www.acworthartfest.com.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Mableton seeks buyer for antebellum house

A buyer is being sought for an antebellum house in Mableton.

Owned by Smyrna and built around 1850, the Hooper-Turner House is at 5811 Oakdale Road and on the Cobb County Historic Register.

The River Line Historic Area also is interested in its preservation since the house is in what was the center of Confederate General Joseph Johnson’s River Line defenses of June and July 1864.

Information: riverline.org, email riverlinega@gmail.com.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Walk Cobb registration through Wednesday

Free online registration for Walk Cobb continues through Wednesday with the initiative running until April 26.

Hosted by Cobb2020, Walk Cobb is a part of Walk Georgia, a program through The University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension Service.

Last fall, Walk Cobb involved over 400 walkers on more than 100 teams, logging greater than 29,000 miles.

Registration: walkgeorgia.org, sign up using the group name Cobb2020.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Shini Plastics opening headquarters today

Taiwan-based Shini Plastics Technologies, a supplier of plastics manufacturing equipment, will celebrate the opening of its Americas headquarters and technical and logistics center at 3 p.m. Friday, April 4 at 4189 Capital View Drive in Suwanee. The 40,000 square foot facility houses a testing and technology area, warehouse, showroom and offices and is modeled after similar centers established in Poland, Germany, India and Northern Asia. This represents the first U.S. presence for Shini Group and will serve the North and South American markets. Information: www.shini.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Human trafficking forums to inform

The Gwinnett Human Relations Commission will present the second in a series of forums to raise awareness of human trafficking 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 1400 Killian Hill Road in Lilburn. Participants will learn what human trafficking is, how to identify it, underlying causes, how to report it, and what local and federal law enforcement, state legislators, and nonprofit support agencies are doing to combat this issue. Information and to register: hrc@gwinnettcounty.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Duluth kicking off Fridays-N-Duluth

Duluth will roll out Fridays-N-Duluth with a free screening of “Frozen” 6 p.m. Friday on the Duluth Town Green. Food, inflatables and face painting available for purchase. The block party is every Friday through October. Information: www.duluthga.net. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Donation benefits seniors in need

The nonprofit Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services donated $104,000for home-delivered meals and transportation services for senior citizens. Friends earmarked $79,000 to fund home-delivered meals for seniors who are on the waiting list, emergency meals for displaced or distressed seniors and nutritional supplements for seniors in need. The remaining $25,000 will be used to provide eligible seniors with medical transportation services as well as transportation to and from Gwinnett’s senior service centers. Information: www.gwinnettseniorservices.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Discussion on future Gwinnett Place

Partnership Gwinnett will hold their next Economic Development Breakfast 7:30 to 9 a.m. Friday at Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta, 1775 Pleasant Hill Drive in Duluth. Panelists will discuss the future of the Gwinnett Place area, current status of Gwinnett’s central business district and future plans for the area.

Information: www.partnershipgwinnett.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Food trucks return to Suwanee

Food trucks will return to Suwanee’s Town Center 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and continue the first Friday of each month through October, with the exception of July.

Live music will be performed on the Town Center stage beginning at 7:30. Information: www.suwanee.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Council passes new security camera policy

Sandy Springs revised its policy on security cameras in neighborhoods.

The policy will allow surveillance camera poles on private property to be between 4 and 12 feet in height, provided they are approved by 75 percent of the property owners, and 100 percent of the property owners within 100 feet of a proposed camera.

Neighborhoods currently are allowed to install cameras without a permit on poles less than 4 feet in height.Information: www.sandyspringsga.gov Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Cherokee chamber to honor young leaders

The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominees for its 2014 Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals recognition program. The program highlights residents under 40 considered to be the county’s potential future leaders. Judging criteria include professional goals, volunteer and community activities and professional achievements and awards. The deadline for nominations is May 1. Winners will be honored at a Chamber breakfast in June. Nomination forms and more information: 770-345-0400.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Alpharetta game copmpany to grow

Hi-Rez Studios, an Alpharetta-based online game developer is adding 30 jobs and expanding its headquarters on Brookside Parkway by 4,000 square feet, bringing employment to more than 100 by 2015. Officials say the company is investing $10 million in the expansion. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Roswell to develop arts and culture plan

The city of Roswell has hired the Cultural Arts Groups of Los Angeles to conduct a communitywide arts and culture assessment and create a plan strengthening the city’s arts and cultural offerings through 2030. An on-line survey has been posted as a first assessment step. Officials say in-person interviews and town hall meetings will also be conducted.

Information and to take the survey: roswellgov.com

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Celtic harp concert in Sandy Springs

“Legends of the Celtic Harp,” featuring master performers Patrick Ball, Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter is 7:30 p.m. Saturdayat the Hungry Ear Coffee House at the Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 1025 Mount Vernon Highway NW, Sandy Springs.

Tickets: $15.

Information: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/597412

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Chattahoochee cleanup this month

Volunteers seeking to participate in the spring cleanup of the Chattahoochee River have until noon Wednesday to sign up.

The annual Sweep the Hooch event will take place April 12 at 27 sites over 60 miles, many located within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Some 550 volunteers hauled nearly 4 tons of refuse from the river in 2013.

Information: www.chattahoochee.org or www.sweepthehooch.org

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

ATLANTA

Park Pride announces Inspiration winners

Ten people have won Park Pride’s 2014 Inspiration Awards, earning recognition for leadership in Atlanta greenspace projects. Nine of the winners were citizen advocates for Historic Fourth Ward Park. They are: Judy Clements, Marie Cowser, Bill Eisenhauer, Jacqueline Echols, Derek Matory, David Patton, John Perlman, Markham Smith and Cedric Stallworth. Ellen Wickersham, who has served as a senior project manager of parks and greenspace acquisition with Invest Atlanta, also received an award for helping add 500 acres of parks across the city. Wickersham serves on Park Pride’s Board of Directors. Cox Enterprises, the parent company of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is the sponsor of Park Pride’s 25th anniversary.

Katie Leslie

Ceremony to remember victims of violence

The Georgia Center for Child Advocacy will hold a ceremony in memory of the 20 children in Fulton and DeKalb counties who died from violence over the past year at 11 a.m. ThursdayApril 10 at 1485 Woodland Ave., Atlanta.

The Children’s Memorial Flag will be raised at the ceremony, and will stay aloft during the month to raise awareness of the issues of child abuse intervention and prevention.

Information: georgiacenterforchildadvocacy.org Kent A. Miles

Pianist concert at Marcus center

Pianist Jeffrey Siegel will present the works of great Jewish composers 4 p.m. Sunday at the Marcus Jewish Community Center, 5342 Tilly Mill Road.

Tickets: $20- $28. Information: www.atlantajcc.org or 678.812.4002. Kent A. Miles

Ebenezer church pastor to discuss book

The Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, senior pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, will discuss his book “The Divided Mind of the Black Church” 7 p.m. today at the Auburn Avenue Research Library, 101 Auburn Ave.

Information: 404-730-4001. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

DEKALB

Vacant juvenile court judge position filled

Fatima A. El-Amin, formerly a child advocate, has been named a juvenile court judge for DeKalb County, taking the seat that was left vacant by the death in December of Judge Elliott Shoenthal.

Juvenile court judges are appointed by the Superior Court judges in that circuit. The judges in the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit, or DeKalb County, appointed El-Amin on Tuesday.

El-Amin, a graduate of Harvard and Emory Universities, has been a supervising attorney at the DeKalb County Child Advocacy Center since 2005.

Rhonda Cook

Decatur construction may start this year

Decatur’s school board approved borrowing $18.3 million through certificates of participation, or COPS, to be paid over 30 years with a 4.19 interest rate.

The money will finance architectural plans for renovating Renfroe Middle and Decatur High, along with the first phase of high school construction. Architects should be selected later this month, but Superintendent Phyllis Edwards also believes the work on Decatur High – including new classrooms and a cafeteria – may start as early as December. Bill Banks for the AJC

Event to support high school scholarships

The Southwest DeKalb High School Parent Teacher Student Association is hosting a fund-raising event at 7 p.m. April 12 at Dugan’s restaurant, 4975 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur.

A percentage of the evening’s sales will go to scholarships for Southwest DeKalb High students. The event is one of many planned by the association in partnership with community organizations to assist students with scholarships, career readiness and college fairs.

Information:

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Southern Ghosts at ART Station

ART Station, 5384 Manor Drive, Stone Mountain presents “Southern Ghosts,” an evening Southern storytelling April 23 - 27. Thursday-Saturday shows begin at 8 p.m. Sunday shows begin at 3 p.m. Tickets: $15 Information: www.artstation.org or 770-469-1105.

Arlinda Smith Broady

Run for Kenya 5K in Stone Mountain

The Mwangaza Children’s Foundation will hold the Run for Kenya 5K on Saturday at Yellow River Park in Stone Mountain. Registration is $25 in advance and $30 on race day. The foundation asks that participants register by March 18. Race proceeds will benefit the foundation’s work with orphans in Kenya.

Information: www.mwangazachildren.org

Molly Bloom

South River focus of upcoming tour

The South River Watershed Alliance is organizing a tour and visit focusing on the river and its tributaries in DeKalb County.

The tour runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 19 at the Watershed Mural on DeKalb Avenue in Decatur. The tour runs along the campus of Agnes Scott College to Albert Shoals, the series of short falls spanning the river near Snapfinger Creek.

Information: www.southriverga.org or 404-862-0118. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Henry schools consider new budget

The Henry County Board of Education is considering a $318 million budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year with no furlough days and a raise for employees.

The local tax digest is expected to increase 13 percent or $12 million this year, and state revenue is also up about $15 million for the year according to officials. The school board will vote on whether to approve the tentative budget April 14, with the final budget expected to be approved in June.

Information: www.henry.k12.ga.us. Monroe Roark for the AJC

SPLOST information session April 15

Learn more about the capital projects to be funded by the proposed 2015 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax at an information session 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. April 15. Representatives from the cities, county departments and Southern Regional Medical Center will be on hand to answer questions. The session will be held before the county commission meeting at the Board of Commissioners Office, 112 Smith St. in Jonesboro. Details: call 770 477-3208 or go online to www.claytonSPLOST.com.

Tammy Joyner

Poetry workshop in Peachtree City

A poetry workshop led by author and Clayton State University instructor Brigitte Byrd is 1:30 p.m. April 26 at the Peachtree City Library. Lunch is included; pre-registration is required. Send $15 (checks payable to Friends of the Library) to 201 Willowbend Road, Peachtree City, GA 30269 or pay at the library.

Information: ptc.library.friends@gmail.com. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Henry Spring break camp set for April 7-11

The Henry County Parks and Recreation Department offers a spring break day camp Monday - April 11. Cost: $100, with a sibling discount. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Camps will be at Fairview Recreation Center, Stockbridge; Heritage Park, McDonough and J. P. Moseley Recreation Center, Stockbridge. Additional camps will be held at the Locust Grove Recreation Center and Nash Farm Park if the two locations have at least 10 campers registered.

Information: www.hcprd.org or 770-288-7311. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Peachtree City offers LEGO camps

Peachtree City’s Recreation Department will offer two LEGO camps Monday - April 11 at the Kedron Fieldhouse.

Pre-Engineering with LEGO for ages 5-7 will be held 9 a.m. to noon; Engineering FUNdamentals for ages 7-11 will be held 1 to 4 p.m. Cost: $167, Fayette residents; $208, nonresidents.

Information: www.peachtree-city.org/recreation. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Deadline extended for BOE applications

The Fayette County Board of Education has extended the deadline for submitting applications to fill its vacant Post 2 seat. Letters of interest and resumes must be received by 10 a.m. on April 14 at the BOE office in Fayetteville.

Information: www.fcboe.org.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC