County by county news for Friday

During the City Council’s agenda meeting, she thanked everyone for all of the flowers, calls, visits, meals, prayers and prayer shawls.

Vaughn has been the mayor for 10 years and a City Council member for 8 years before then. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Marietta schools opposes new snack law

The Marietta City Schools Board of Education plans to ask the state Department of Education for a waiver from the Smart Snacks in Schools regulation.

The board Tuesday passed a resolution opposing the new standards they believe overreaches federal authority. The board said the district already makes healthy nutritional choices for students and not every child needs to be on a low-fat diet.

The group also said the regulation will have a negative impact on school fundraisers. Information: www.marietta-city.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Roses Parade head to visit Walton

Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association president Richard Chinen plans to formerly invite the Walton High School Marching Raider Band to march in the historic parade on Jan. 1.

Chien and wife Kimberly Chien will visit the 200-member band at its annual dress rehearsal 8 p.m. Saturday at the school stadium, 1590 Bill Murdock Road, Marietta.

Chinen will present the traditional Rose Parade flag to the band and the invitation.

Information: www.waltonband.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Bids for resurfacing project due next week

Contractors are needed to resurface nearly 7 miles of State Route 280 from the Fulton County line to Austell Road for completion by next July.

Bids are due by 11 a.m. Aug. 22 at the Department of Transportation, One Georgia Center, 600 West Peachtree St., NW, Atlanta 30308.

Information: 404-631-1215.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Free computer classes this month

The Cobb County Public Library System is offering free introductory computer classes this month at the Switzer Central Library, 266 Roswell St., Marietta and the South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road, Mableton.

At Switzer, registration is required but not at South Cobb.

Classes will be: Computer Basics, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday South Cobb; Computer Basics, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Switzer; Internet for Beginners, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, South Cobb; Email for Beginners, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 22, South Cobb; Internet for Beginners, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 27, Switzer and Downloading eAudiobooks, 3 to 4 p.m. Aug. 28, South Cobb. Information: Switzer at reference@cobbcat.org or 770-528-2377; South Cobb at Roxanne Magaw, magawr@cobbcat.org or 678-398-5831. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Winder storm water project may cause delays

Winder is in the process of upgrading, replacing and relocating storm water pipes in downtown, which may cause delays along North Jackson Street, East Midland Avenue and Park Avenue. Parking near the main entrance to the City Hall/Police Department building will be closed. The main building entrance will remain accessible during the project by the sidewalk along the front of the building. Parking is available in the lot area to the west of the building. The project should be completed by late September. www.cityofwinder.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Redevelopment project discussion set

The Gwinnett Chamber will host Scott Condra, president of Jacoby Development, to discuss the Atlanta Media Campus, a full-scale mixed-use re-development project at I-85 and Jimmy Carter Boulevard 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21 at the Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. The 100+ acre mixed-use re-development is expected to bring the highest budget films in the country to Gwinnett, providing local jobs and increased economic activity. Registration: www.gwinnettchamber.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Bratton appointed state court judge

Governor Nathan Deal has appointed Shawn Fitzpatrick Bratton as a new judge to Gwinnett County’s state court. Bratton, a part-time magistrate judge and attorney with Mahaffey Pickens Tucker in Lawrenceville, will fill the vacancy left by Judge Randy Rich who was appointed to Gwinnett County Superior Court in May. Bratton has worked as a prosecutor for both the district attorney and solicitor’s offices and assisted in the formation and implementation of Gwinnett’s DUI court program.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

High school athlete leadership discussed

The Dacula Business Association will meet noon Tuesday at the Trophy Club at Apalachee, 1008 Dacula Road, Dacula. Guest speaker Jack Williams will talk about the IDEALS Leadership Foundation, a program designed to positively impact the lives of high school athletes. Williams is a graduate of Georgia Tech with a degree in Behavioral Management. He was the quarterback and team captain for the Georgia Tech football team. Information: www.daculabusinessassociation.com and www.idealsleadership.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Berkeley Lake tree removal on hold

The Berkeley Lake City Council voted July 30 to unanimously place a temporary moratorium on the receipt of tree removal permit applications. The moratorium will be in affect while the city reviews the existing Tree Preservation and Replacement Ordinance. The moratorium will remain in effect through Oct. 31or the date upon which the city adopts revisions to the ordinance. Berkeley Lake is committed to tree preservation and regulates tree removal on all properties throughout the city. Instances of tree removal, which would not normally require a permit, and are unaffected by the moratorium. Information: www.berkeley-lake.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Sign project underway in Milton

Drivers in North Fulton will soon have a better idea of where the city of Milton begins. City officials are working on a $60,000 program to place nine large and 17 smaller “Welcome to Milton” signs at the city limits on heavily-traveled roads. City officials say they have a good idea about sign locations and that right-of-way studies are underway to gain the necessary land. One sign, set for Birmingham Highway at the Cherokee County line, is already on the way. The signs are intended to enhance visibility and the city’s “brand.” Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Cherokee seeks burglary suspects

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says one person’s been charged, and they’re seeking others, after a half-dozen burglaries in the Bridgemill/Sixes area between Aug. 3 and 7. Officials say cash register drawers were taken in the four business burglaries. Savon Jones, 21, of Atlanta has been charged with taking a television in one residential break-in, but isn’t in custody. Anybody with information should call 770-928-0239.Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Transportation bond vote set in Forsyth

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners has set a Nov. 4 vote on an up-to $200 million general obligation transportation bond. Commissioners will talk about projects at their next work session, but preliminary discussion has centered on widening portions of Ga. 400 and Ga. 371, and intersection upgrades along Ga. 369. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Cherokee schools add communications tool

The Cherokee County School District is enhancing communication with parents with the SchoolMessenger system. It will enable officials to send district-level emergency and non-emergency messages using email, text and automated phone call. Interested parents will have to “opt in” for text messages. Information: cherokee.k12.ga.us

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Civil war exhibit opens in Cherokee

The Cherokee County History Museum will host a temporary exhibit, “Cherokee Voices from the Civil War,” from now until Dec. 31, focusing on life at home, on the battleground and from an African-American viewpoint.

The free exhibit includes original letters, documents and publications, in addition to such artifacts as bullets and cannonballs, swords, medals, rifles and a battlefield surgical kit. The museum’s at 100 North St., Canton, inside the marble courthouse. Information: rockbarn.org Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth sets reading program

The Forsyth County Public Library is kicking off its annual Forsyth Reads Together program, where the community reads, discusses and takes part in events surrounding the same book. Author Lisa See will discuss 2014’s pick, “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” 7 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming. Admission’s free. A number of other book discussions and performances are also set. Information: www.forsythpl.org

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Fire rescue retains accreditation

Atlanta Fire Rescue has retained its accredited status from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Fire departments nationwide participate in the accreditation process to show they meet best industry practices.

A voluntary accreditation program at the Center, includes a peer review of 258 performance indicators and 82 core competencies on emergency response, training and administrative policies.

Atlanta Fire Rescue received its first accreditation in 2002.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Code enforcement summit Saturday

The city of Atlanta is hosting a code enforcement summit for residents, 9 a.m. Saturdayat the Atlanta Civic Center, 395 Piedmont Ave.

The goal of the summit is to communicate and explain procedures involved in restoring distressed properties to an acceptable municipal code standard. Residents will also be informed on the importance of community involvement in reporting code concerns.

Registration for this workshop is requested. Participants who register for the summit will be able to report any code or zoning concern or inquire about any existing code violation.

Information: 404-330-6044.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

West End to host wellness day

Free health screenings will be provided during Community Wellness Day, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the Family Health Center at West End, 868 York Ave., S.W. In addition to games and door prizes, patients of the center can receive free mammograms and diabetes and colorectal FIT kits.

Body mass index measurements, blood pressure checks, assistance to stop smoking and exercise demonstrations also will be available.

Information: 404-756-6874. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

DEKALB

Trinity Triangle construction delayed

Though Decatur’s “Trinity Triangle” development recently closed on its construction loan, it’s still waiting for building permits and permission to connect with DeKalb County’s sewer line.

uction of the 210 apartments (projected rents $1000 to $3000 monthly) and 6200 square feet of retail and restaurants (including Dairy Queen, which closed Feb. 22) is expected to last 21 months. Bill Banks

Charter cluster meeting this month

The Emory LaVista Parent Council will hold an informational meeting about a renewed petition to put a group of schools near Emory University into a charter “cluster.”

The DeKalb County school board rejected the proposed Druid Hills Charter Cluster. The proponents renewed their petition, but Superintendent Michael Thurmond has recommended denial.

Speakers are yet to be announced at the Aug. 27 information session, which is at Sagamore Hills Elementary School, 1865 Alderbrook Road, Atlanta at 9:15 am. Doors open at 8:45 a.m. Ty Tagami

Chamblee sidewalk closed for construction

The curve portion of the sidewalk on Keswick Drive in Chamblee will be closed for six months. Oak Hill Companies is starting construction of 10 new homes for Keswick Village. Construction includes new sidewalks with streetlights and tree landscaping.

Developers also plan to construct a permeable paving street system built with materials that allow stormwater to filter through to the soil below.

Information: www.chambleega.com.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Kirkwood health summit Saturday

A “Kirkwood Health Summit” with medical screenings, brief workshops and cooking demonstrations will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the DeKalb-Atlanta Human Services Center, 30 Warren St.

The event is intended to increase awareness of free services in the community and healthy living. Representatives from Morehouse School of Medicine and Emory University Rollins School of Health will be on hand. Free. Adrianne Murchison

Northlake businesses join Tucker district

More than 67 companies in DeKalb County’s Northlake area have joined a self-taxing community improvement district to improve infrastructure and economic development.

With the addition of its new members, the year-old Tucker CID changed its name last week to the Tucker-Northlake CID, according to an announcement from the group last week.

The public-private partnership includes a total of more than 166 commercial property owners representing about $157 million in property value.

Mark Niesse

Dunwoody to hold resident meetings

Dunwoody will continue its community conversations 7-9 p.m. Aug. 28 at Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive. The series is in response to residents’ interest in more direct contact with city officials on projects and initiatives.

More than 250 people attended a Dunwoody Town Hall meeting in February. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Peachtree City plans Fire Academy

The Peachtree City Fire Department and Volunteer Association are starting a new Citizens Fire Academy this fall to let residents get a feel for firefighting duties. The academy will meet 6-9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays Sept. 2-Oct. 2. The program is free but class size is limited; apply at www.peachtree-city.org/index.aspx?NID=1067 by Aug. 22. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Piedmont Henry merits ADA recognition

The diabetes education program at Piedmont Henry Hospital has again been awarded the Education Recognition Certificate by the American Diabetes Association, a distinction the hospital has earned since 2001. The certificate assures that educational programs meet national standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. Information: piedmonthenry.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Homework program seeks volunteer tutors

Volunteer tutors are needed for Fulton County’s Kinship Care program 3:30-6 p.m. Wednesdays at East Point Library, 2757 Main St. Qualified tutors help elementary through high school students with homework.

The program runs Sept. 10 through Dec. 10. The Homework Assistance program serves nearly 20 students who attend school within Atlanta Public School or Fulton County School Districts.

Volunteers undergo a background check. Information: 404-612-9034 or 404-612-0765 Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

WASA applications due today

Applications to fill an open volunteer position on Peachtree City’s Water & Sewerage Authority board are due at City Hall by 5 p.m. today. Applicants must have lived in the city for at least six months; the term runs for five years. Details at www.peachtree-city.org/jobs.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Apartments available to income-eligible

Stanton Crest Apartments, 1988 Stanton Road, East Point, have been remodeled and units are available for moderate-income residents.

The Fulton County Housing and Community Development Division and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development purchased the vacant property in 2012.

Units will rent for $563-$708 per month. Information: 404-762-9871 or www.StantonCrest.com.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Bohannon Road closure delayed

The date for the closure of a portion of Bohannon Road has been pushed back to October.

The road was scheduled to be closed in late July between Mann Road and Creekwood Road due to construction of a new bridge over Line Creek at the Fulton/Fayette County line. However, the request for bid process for the bridge work was extended to 2 p.m., Aug. 28.

Construction is expected to last until July 2015.

Information: www.fairburn.com. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC