COBB
Marietta splits with redevelopment agency
Marietta has decided to dissolve its connection to the Marietta Redevelopment Corporation, the city redevelopment agency. The city council has unanimously approved separating from the struggling group. The council in December approved paying $221,000 in interest payments towards the agency’s bank loan on property near the Marietta Conference Center. The MRC then owed $3.9 million on the loan and the property was appraised at $1.4 million. Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Powder Springs police may take home cars
The Powder Springs City Council is expected to vote at 7 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers, 4488 Pineview Drive on a new policy to allow the city’s police officers to take home police vehicles.
Restrictions include only running personal errands if not out of the way between work and home and no transporting, purchasing or consuming alcoholic beverages in any city vehicle.
Also, weapons and laptops would have to be left in the officer’s home or at the police department. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Easement allowed for electronic sign
Marietta City councilman Philip Goldstein has agreed to a permanent easement for a marquee sign at 11 Whitlock Avenue.
Goldstein owns the former Theater in the Square building that has an electronic sign that extends 18 inches into city right of way. He agreed to an indemnity and release clause and to have a $1 million liability insurance policy.
The councilman abstained during the Wednesday council vote on the matter.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Alternative fuel show to stop in Marietta
The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Roadshow, a nationwide series of educational events, will make a stop June 23 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Marietta. The event begins at 9 a.m.
Business leaders and fleet managers will have the opportunity to 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
Volunteers needed to role-play in training
Gwinnett Police, along with Fire and Emergency Services, will conduct joint training on active shooter response this summer and are seeking volunteers to participate as role players during the exercise. Volunteers must be 15 or older, a Gwinnett County resident, and have a signed parental waiver if between the ages of 15 and 17. Training is taking place throughout the summer 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Mill Creek High School, 4400 Braselton Highway in Hoschton. Information: Corporal G. Behlmann at 404-975-8132 or gregory.behlmann@gwinnettcounty.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Police warn residents of new phone scam
Gwinnett Police Department has seen an increase in phone scams involving suspects contacting victims claiming they have an outstanding debt and threatening consequences if the debt is not paid.
This scam includes the suspects asking for payment on a prepaid debit card. Scammers are using a computer program to make the victim’s caller ID show the police departmentphone number.
Information: www.gwinnettcounty.com.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Third in series on human trafficking
The Gwinnett Human Relations Commission will present the third in a series of forums to raise awareness of human trafficking 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville, 395 West Crogan St. .
Information and registration: email hrc@gwinnettcounty.com.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Hudgens Prize winner to discuss work
Pam Longobardi, winner of the $50,000 Hudgens Prize for 2013, will discuss her solo exhibition, ‘What Once Was Lost Must Now Be Found: Chronicling Crimes Against Nature,’ at 1 p.m. June 21 at the Hudgens Center for the Arts, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.
Longobardi’s exhibit is a continuation of her interdisciplinary international ‘Drifters Project,’ an ongoing environmental art intervention involving photography and installation.
Information: www.thehudgens.org.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Gwinnett trails added to national system
The National Park Service recognized four trails in the Gwinnett County park system as national recreation trails: Harbins Park and Little Mulberry Park in Dacula, McDaniel Farm Park in Duluth, and Settles Bridge Park in Suwanee. The four trails make up approximately 15 miles of the 452 newest miles in the trail system.
Information: www.americantrails.org.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Sugar Hill celebration seeks volunteers
The volunteer team for the 75th @ Sugar Hill Anniversary Celebration is looking for event help Aug. 1-2. Volunteers needed: drivers, gophers, merchandising, parade, concert, dinner, clean-up, and more.
Information: Scott Dorsey by July 11 at volunteers@sugarhill75th.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
NORTHSIDE
Forsyth commissioners get budget numbers
Forsyth County Commissioners got a preliminary look at 2015 budget figures this week. Projected expenditures for a same-service general fund budget total to $102.16 million, with projected revenue at $100.84 million, creating a potential $1.3 million shortfall. Compared to 2014 revenue and expenditures totaling almost $96 million, county departments are requesting roughly $7.4 million, ranging from new personnel to new and replacement equipment. Commissioners will consider the preliminary budget at a June 24 work session. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
New pedestrian bridge set in Sandy Springs
The city of Sandy Springs will cut the ribbon to formally open the new pedestrian bridge on Dunwoody Club Drive at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. City officials say the bridge was added as part of maintenance and repair on the existing bridge located between Grapevine Run and Ball Mill Place.
The bridge will provide pedestrians with continuous sidewalk connectivity along Dunwoody Club from Jett Ferry to Mill Shire Lane.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Forsyth humane society hosts fundraiser
The Humane Society of Forsyth County hosts Mutts and More Festival 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday at Rucker Horse and Pet, 3540 Keith Bridge Road, Cumming.
The event features pets for adoption, dog demonstrations, dog shows, discounted vaccines and microchipping. Information: forsythpets.org Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Water main break closes part of road
A water main break in Cherokee County caused traffic delays Thursday.
Only one lane of East Cherokee Drive was open in the area of Tripp Road, near Woodstock, while crews repaired the break.
Alexis Stevens
Cherokee volunteer firefighters host event
Cherokee County volunteer firefighters will host a meet and greet 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at ire stations: No. 2,388 Groover St., Ball Ground; No. 8, 260 Hickory Road, Holly Springs and No. 23, 7625 Vaughan Road, Hickory Flat.
The event is both for recruiting and an opportunity for residents to get to know their volunteer firefighters.
Folks interested in volunteer work as a result can go to cherokeecountyfire.com for more information and to apply.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Geocaching to take place in Johns Creek
Johns Creek is kicking off its geocaching game.
Geocaching allows participants to use their GPS units to navigate to a specific set of coordinates, and then attempt to find the container hidden at that location. Inside the container are small prizes.
Participants sign a logbook, and return the container where it was hidden. Often people leave trinkets for others to find.
Geocaches: Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, 9770 Autrey Mill Road; Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road; Ocee Park, 10900 Buice Road; and Shakerag Park, 10945 Rogers Circle.
Information: www.geocaching.com Kent A. Miles for the AJC
ATLANTA
Morehouse hosts clinical trials forum
Morehouse School of Medicine will hold a forum on noon to 2 p.m. Thursday n the medical school’s National Center for Primary Care, 720 Westview Drive involving the need for more diversity in clinical trials.
Scientific and medical experts will discuss ways to improve participation in these trials, along with ways to better understand the way science and medical communities develop and provide medicines.
The forum will also provide information on how medicines can be better developed for all people.
Information: 404-752-1500 Janel Davis
Parks program gets financial commitment
U-Haul and The Conservation Fund will partner to improve the environment and quality of life through the Fund’s Parks With Purpose program.
U-Haul will pledge $375,000 over three years to Parks With Purpose, which is working with community members, businesses and city officials to create parks and green space for the city’s Proctor North Avenue section. The program will create Lindsay Street Park, the first park for downtown’s English Avenue neighborhood.
The neighborhood has the fewest acres of green space in the city.
Information: www.conservationfund.org
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
Professional forum on leadership Saturday
Out and Equal Atlanta is hosting a day of workplace leadership development at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Newell Rubbermaid headquarters, 3 Glenlake Parkway, Atlanta.
The program, “Developing Authentic Leaders in the Workplace,” will feature eight different workshops, keynote speakers and a job fair offering career opportunities for LGBT lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender professionals.
Admission to the event is $35.
Information: www.bit.ly/OEA_WLF2014 or outandequal.org/atlanta
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
DEKALB
DeKalb schools get budget waiver
Georgia school board members on Thursday approved a request from DeKalb and two other school districts that will give them greater flexibility in how they spend their money.
The DeKalb, Clarke and Wayne school districts asked for a waiver from the state Education Department from rules that they spend at least 65 percent of their total operating expenses on classroom instruction.
The three districts asked for a waiver, citing financial hardships as a result of declines in state and local revenues in recent years. State officials say the current spending rules for school districts do not reflect recent cost increases for transportation, school nutrition and other services. State education officials have asked the Georgia Legislature to consider changes to the 65 percent rule.
State officials said they receive about 40 requests for waivers each year. Eric Stirgus
Board’s first meeting in new building
Decatur’s school board held its first meeting this week in City Schools Decatur’s new 23,000 square-foot building, the center section of the $38.3 million Beacon Municipal Center. This is the first time CSD has had its own building. For the past decade its central office was at Westchester, which is being turned back into a school Prior to that staff was scattered, with Superintendent Phyllis Edwards’ first office in the old Decatur High gym, since torn down. The BMC’s remaining two wings open in July.
Bill Banks for the AJC
Registration for youth sports thru June 20
The early deadline for youth sports registration at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta is June 20.
Youth sports start in August at the community center at Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. New this year will be recreational lacrosse, rookie rugby, floor hockey, dodgeball and other non-league competition sports. Young people can also participate in league sports of flag football and soccer.
Information: youthsportsleagues@atlantajcc.org, atlantajcc.org/sports or 678-812-4174. Kent A. Miles for the AJC
Discussion on housing, lending practices
The South DeKalb Improvement Association is holding its quarterly meeting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Berean Community Center, 2440 Young Road, Stone Mountain.
Wayne G. Early, president of Early Economics Inc., will talk about the effects of the foreclosure crisis on communities, explain housing and lending practices, and educate attendees on their rights.
The meeting is open to members, individuals, home owners associations, churches, groups and organizations interested in creating a sustainable South DeKalb.
Information: sdiainc@gmail.com or 770-322-3842. Kent A. Miles for the AJC
Stone Mountain opens farmers market
The Stone Mountain Farmers Market opens Tuesdays through Sept. 9 in the municipal parking lot on Main Street in Stone Mountain Village.
The market will carry locally grown produce, dairy products and meats. Information: mmckinley@stonemountaincity.org or 770-498-8984, Ext. 137.
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
SOUTHSIDE
State archives expanding operating hours
Beginning July 14, the state archives will also be open Tuesdays, in addition to its current operating days of Wednesday through Saturday. The archives will be open on those days between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.The Georgia Archive was established in 1918 and was first housed in the State Capitol Building. The Georgia Archives moves to Morrow in 2003. Last year, the state archives was transferred from the jurisdiction of the Georgia Secretary of State to the Board of Regents. Janel Davis
Fayetteville robbery suspect surrenders
A man sought in connection with an attempted robbery in Fayetteville surrendered to police Wednesday.
Justin Blake Moody, 21, of Fayetteville, was encouraged by family members to turn himself in after photographs from surveillance cameras were made public.
Moody was seen trying to take two bottles of a controlled substance from the Kroger pharmacy at 805 S. Glynn St. last Sunday night. He is now at the Fayette County Jail.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Program spotlights African-American inventors
Fayette Senior Services will present a program about African-American inventors from 1 to 2 p.m. today at the Gathering Place on Kelly Drive in Peachtree City.
Jim Scott will trace the history of advancements in medicine, physics, industrialization and everyday life from colonial times through today.
Admission is free; see www.fayss.org. Jill Howard Church for the AJC
McDonough hosts art event Saturday
Visual artists and authors will be present to offer their works for sale on Saturday at McDonough Square, starting at 10 a.m.
Participants are welcome to bring their works for display and to sell.
Information: 770-624-4440.
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
Library to host memoir workshop June 21
The Friends of the Peachtree City Library will sponsor a memoir-writing workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 21 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, a public benefit organization, is seeking families in Fayette and Coweta counties willing 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
