County by county news for Friday

Marietta to add names to memorial

Marietta will use $47,234 from a 2009 parks bond to add granite walls, hardscape and landscape improvements at Brown Park on West Atlanta Street. The Friends of Brown Park donated $7,000 to engrave names on the walls of 275 soldiers recently discovered to be buried in the adjacent Confederate Cemetery. Marietta voters approved a $25 million bond for park improvements in 2009. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Cobb schools employee to receive award

Cobb County Schools employee Debbie Randazzo will receive the 2014 Pinnacle Award for her work as director of compliance in the district’s financial division. The International Association of School Business Officials recognized Randazzo for starting an online financial tool for principals and administrators. She will receive an award and $1,000k.Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Healthcare Wednesday chamber topic

“Business University: How the Affordable Care Act Affects Your Business” is 8 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, 240 Interstate North Parkway.

Costs: $50, guests; $25 online or $30 at the door, chamber members. Information: info@cobbchamber.org or 770-980-2000. Carolyn Cunningham

Alternative fuels show to stop in Marietta

The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Roadshow, a nationwide series of educational events, will stop 9 a.m. Monday at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Marietta.

Evaluate motor vehicles that run on alternative fuels like compressed natural gas, propane, biofuel and electricity.

Suppliers and manufacturers will be on hand to deliver presentations and educate guests. Marietta is one of eight cities in the state hosting the event this month.

Information: www.afvroadshow.com

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Reading program includes prize drawings

The Cobb County Public Library System has launched the free Summer Reading Program for all ages through July 31 with more than 800 activities to encourage the development of lifelong literacy skills.

Prize drawings for children in grades 6 to 12 and adults, who submit book reviews, include an iPad from Cobb EMC, a Kindle Fire HD from Manning Properties and free pizza from Stevi B’s.

Children also may be able to win Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks tickets.

Information: cobbcat.org/srp. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Suwanee employing special police for geese

Suwanee is undertaking a humane strategy to control the overwhelming population of geese from Sims Lake Park. Trained border collies with Geese Police of North Georgia will encourage the loud waterfowl to move elsewhere. The program will not impact ducks at the park. Geese graze constantly, and each goose can generate 1.5 pounds of waste on a daily basis. The dogs are trained to never actually touch the birds, and various wildlife agencies, including the Humane Society, and PETA approve this process. Information: www.suwanee.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Architects, engineers wanted for projects

Norcross is seeking design professionals to consult on architectural and engineering services in an on demand basis. The City plans to establish a list of qualified design professionals for surveying, site development engineering and landscape architecture, environmental engineering, transportation and traffic engineering, geotechnical engineering and materials testing, structural engineering, architectural design and construction management. Bids accepted until 3 p.m. August 4.

Information: Jeff Mueller at jmueller@norcrossga.net. Karen Hu pertz for the AJC

SPLOST to help Suwanee transportation

Gwinnett has allocated approximately $12.6 million in SPLOST funding for four Suwanee-area projects including the construction of an interchange at I-85 and McGinnis Ferry Road, the widening of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to six lanes between McGinnis Ferry and Moore roads, intersection improvements, including adding a turn lane and improving pedestrian safety at Peachtree Industrial and Suwanee Dam and intersection improvements at Suwanee Dam and West Price roads.

Information: www.suwanee.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Volunteers needed to install smoke alarms

Norcross Police and Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services are teaming up to install smoke alarms between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday at Norcross’ Manufactured Home Community on Buford Highway. Fifteen volunteers are needed to help install alarms.

No special skills needed; training provided.

Information: NPD’s Detective Arelis Rivera, 678-209-8758.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Sickle cell support group to meet

Sickle Cell Matters Inc. will host its first monthly support group meeting at noon Saturday in Classroom 1 of Eastside Medical Center, 1700 Medical Way, Snellville.

Sickle Cell Matters promotes disease management workshops for individuals diagnosed with the disease. The group’s mission is to improve the lives of people affected by sickle cell disease through advocacy, education, training, support and positive social experiences.

The support group meets on the third Saturday of the month.

Information: sicklecellmatters@yahoo.com or 404-791-5453.

Kent A. Miles for the AJCnch

NORTHSIDE

Roswell woman fights off attack by intruder

Roswell police are looking for a man who broke into a home and attacked a woman while she was sleeping early Wednesday.

The incident happened about 6 a.m. on Old Ferry Way.

The suspect entered the home from a back window and surprised the resident while she was in her bedroom sleeping. The suspect began to drag the female out of her bed and tried to force himself on her. The victim fought off her attacker, and he left the house. The victim was not seriously injured, but was transported to a local hospital. Mike Morris

Cancer screening event set for next week

Northside Hospital-Forsyth’s cancer center, 100 Northside Forsyth Drive, Cumming hosts a cancer screening 6- 8 p.m. July 23. Recommended screening attire is shorts and a t-shirt. Skin assessments will be done in a private setting, and qualified Spanish interpreters will be available free of charge, by request. Information: 404-845-5555 Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Blue and Gray in Sandy Springs

Heritage Sandy Springs is hosting the first Blue and Gray Saturday on June 28 to commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War and the community’s role in the conflict.

Families are invited to learn about Civil War life and see history come alive with reenactors representing both Union and Confederate sides of the conflict.

Soldiers will share the stories of warfare and women will portray precarious life on the home front.

The first Blue and Gray Saturday, focusing on “Life in the Confederate Army,” begins at 11 a.m. at the Heritage Sandy Springs Museum and in Heritage Green park, 6075 Sandy Springs Circle. Other events are scheduled July 26 and Aug 30. Admission is free.

Information: www.heritagesandysprings.org, curator@heritagesandysprings.org, or 404-851-9111, Ext. 2.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

More hazard lights installed in Lake Lanier

Boaters in the Forsyth County part of Lake Lanier should find nighttime navigating a little safer this summer.

Lake Lanier Association volunteers have finished installing 20 solar-powered lights on hazard markers in the water, adding to the 20 placed in 2013.

Both sets of lights serve the Bald Ridge, Two Mile and Young Deer creek areas, plus parts of the main channel.

Association executive director Joanna Cloud said funding for the roughly $10,000 project came from the nonprofit group and from Forsyth County.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth Senior Services plans dance

Forsyth County Senior Services will kick off the summer season with a “You can’t Stop the Heat” summer dance and chili cookoff for adults ages 40 and up.

It’s set for 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Sexton Hall Enrichment Center, 2115 Chloe Road, Cumming and is part of the agency’s 2014 bimonthly dance series. Admission, $10 in advance, $15 at the door with music provided by the Sounds of Sawnee Jazz Band.

Information: 770-781-2178. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

History Center hosts Juneteenth

Juneteenth will be 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW, to celebrate U.S. emancipation from slavery.

Free admissin and parking. Information: atlantahistorycenter.com/program/juneteenth-first-day-freedom or 404-814-4000.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Firefighters to make library visit

Atlanta firefighters teach fire safety and prevention 10 a.m. July 1 at Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library’s Southwest branch, 3665 Cascade Road.

Meet firefighters from Fire Rescue Station 23 and tour the Fire Safety House,where children can learn how to safely get out of a smoke-filled house.

Information: 404-699-6363.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

AARP Georgia to host community forum

AARP Georgia hosts a forum to talk about communities at 6 p.m. Wednesdayat the Adamsville Recreational Center, 3201 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Community residents are invited to join in the discussion on how the city can be a place for people of all ages to live by adopting features, such as safe walkable streets and affordable and accessible transportation and housing.

Information: 877-926-8300.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Auburn Avenue to be transformed

Two blocks of Auburn Avenue in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward will be remade this weekend into a model community with a variety of housing, transportation and service options for young and older residents.

The Sweet Auburn “Living Beyond Expectations” transformation begins on today.

On 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday the public is invited to visit the locations and participate in numerous activities, from shops, restaurants and a movie theater, to health screenings, exercise classes and round table discussions about housing at Wheat Towers, an affordable senior apartment complex.

Information: on.fb.me/1ou9DG7. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

DEKALB

Bingo events provide info about elder abuse

A series of bingo events will educate DeKalb County senior citizens about the signs of elder abuse and what they can do to get help friends in danger.

The four events, which began Thursday and will continue through the end of June, are being run by DeKalb Solicitor-General Sherry Boston and members of her Special Victims Unit.

The remaining sessions will be held at 12:45 p.m. on June 24 at the Atlanta/DeKalb Senior Center in Atlanta, at noon on June 25 at the Toco Hill Senior Center in Chamblee and at 1 p.m. June 30 at the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia. Mark Niesse

School election forum Thursday

Three seats on the DeKalb County school board will be filled at the July 22 runoff election, and community groups are planning a forum next week so voters can get to know the candidates.

The citizens group Leadership DeKalb is leading a coalition of community groups to host the “It’s For Them DeKalb” forum on 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the theater of DeKalb Medical Center, 2701 North Decatur Road. The six candidates who made the runoff for school board districts 3, 4 and 5 have been invited.

Information will be posted at www.itsforthemdekalb.org.

Ty Tagami

Candidate forum set for superintendent

The DeKalb County NAACP is scheduled to host a forum Saturday featuring the two Democratic candidates for Georgia schools superintendent.

State Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan, D-Austell, and Valarie Wilson, a former City Schools of Decatur School Board member, are expected to participate in the forum, which will be held at the South DeKalb Office Park at 3015 Rainbow Drive in Decatur.

Morgan and Wilson were the top vote-getters in the Democratic primary on May 20 and will face off in a runoff on July 22.

The winner will face the Republican nominee in the general election in November.

Wayne Washington

Soccerfest brings World Cup to area

An event billed as “the largest World Cup viewing party in the Southeast” will be held Sunday at Brookhaven Park, where visitors can watch soccer on an 11-by-17 foot screen.

Atlanta Soccerfest includes a 5k race, games, soccer clinics, food trucks and viewing of the day’s World Cup games, including the United States vs. Portugal match at 6 p.m.

Information: www.atlantasoccerfest.org for more information. Mark Niesse

Input sessions set for renovating schools

City Schools Decatur has set two dates for residential input sessions on the renovation and new construction of Renfroe Middle School and Decatur High.

Architects and design personnel, selected by CSD this week, will field questions and suggestions on Aug. 14 at the high school and Aug. 19 at Renfroe.

Design plans for both schools should finish by late fall/early winter, with Phase I construction on the high school — most likely new classrooms – beginning in January.

Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Fayette schools not ready to restart some sports

Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Jody Barrow said Monday that despite numerous messages from parents, the county is not ready to reinstate seventh-grade athletics. Some sports and band programs were casualties of budget reductions over the last two years. Barrow said the sports might be brought back in the spring or next fall if finances hold steady.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

College Park rail crossings now quieter

College Park residents and visitors can look forward to a quieter downtown. The city, working with the federal Economic Development Administration and the CSX railroad, has secured a quiet zone designation for the CSX tracks passing near the Main Street/Harvard Avenue and Main Street/Rugby Avenue intersections. Concrete median breaks have been placed perpendicular to the tracks to alert drivers, pedestrians and trains of the proximity of the crossings. In return, train engineers will not blow their horns as they pass through. The $670,000 project was funding jointly by the feds and the city. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Justice park meeting postponed

The meeting of the Fayette County Justice Park Committee originally scheduled for June 25 has been canceled, but will be rescheduled later. A calendar of all upcoming county meetings is at www.fayettecountyga.gov.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Library to host memoir workshop Saturday

The Friends of the Peachtree City Library will sponsor a memoir-writing workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the library.

Led by author Jessica Handler, it is open to writers of all levels and includes lunch.

Registration is $25; forms are at the library and www. peachtree-city.org/library. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Host families sought for cultural exchange

World Heritage Student Exchange Programs is seeking families in Fayette and Coweta counties to host high school boys and girls from overseas.

The deadline for schools to place the cultural exchange students is July 1.

Families interested in opening their homes to foreign students can call 404-234-1548 or 1-866-277-2799.

Information: www.whhosts.com. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Community Gardens fundraiser Saturday

Community Gardens of Henry will host Love and Homegrown Tomatoes Party 6-9 p.m. Saturday at Heritage Village Garden, 101 Lake Dow Road, McDonough as a fundraiser for charitable donation gardens at Wesley Way Helping Harvests in McDonough, the Helping Harvests at the Cubihatcha Outdoor Center in Locust Grove, and the community gardening program in Henry County.

Tickets: $10, adults; $5, children under 16; children under 3, free. Information: www.henry tomatoparty.org. Monroe Roark for the AJC