County by county news for Saturday

Proposals must be submitted before 10 a.m. July 24 to City Hall, 4484 Marietta St.

Information: cityofpowdersprings.org, and click on “Bid Information”; or Larry Terry at 770-971-5407 or lterry@croyengineering.com. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Cupid will speak to Austell business group

Cobb District 4 Commissioner Lisa Cupid will speak to members and guests of the Austell Business Association at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday in the first-floor courtroom, City of Austell Threadmill Complex, 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road, Austell. Cost: $10, members; $12, guests.Information: felicia@servproswcobb.com.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Kennesaw approves funds for museum

Kennesaw’s City Council has approved an agreement that will allow the city’s Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History to receive $500,000 in federal funds for a 15,000-square-foot expansion. Construction on the $1.1 million project is expected to start before the end of the year.

The city will give $125,000 toward the project and the museum has raised the rest. The expansion will provide more room for collections and railroad researchers and historians to study. Tucker McQueen

East Cobb Park holds anniversary event

Friends for the East Cobb Park will celebrate the park’s 10th anniversary 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the park, 3322 Roswell Road, Marietta.

Food, refreshments, bounce houses, guest speakers, a disc jockey and entertainment will be on site. The park’s founders and the East Cobb Civitan Club will be honored. Jaime Sarrio

Kids can earn Braves tickets for reading

Cobb County children can earn free tickets to Braves games by reading.

The “Home Run Readers” summer reading program will give each participant one ticket to a Braves game when one book about sports or good sportsmanship is read.

Family and friends of readers are eligible for discounted $7 tickets. www.braves.com/reading. Hannah Morgan

Jazz concert planned

at amphitheater

Smooth jazz will be played at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheater 6-10:30 p.m. today. Joey Sommerville will host Ronnie Laws, Howard Hewitt and Mike Phillips. www.mablehouse.org, or 770-819-7765. Hannah Morgan

Kennesaw approves funds for museum

Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History will receive $500,000 in federal funds for a 15,000-square-foot expansion expected to start by year’s end. The city will give $125,000 toward the project and the museum has raised the rest. The expansion will provide room for collections and railroad researchers and historians to study. Tucker McQueen

GWINNETT

Students needed for input on Downtown Duluth

Duluth is looking for four undergraduate students to tour the city’s newly revitalized downtown at 3 p.m. July 26. Students would provide feedback on the challenges and opportunities Duluth has in continuing to redevelop downtown. Variety of undergraduate majors and degree programs desired, but are looking for those other than Planning and Development majors. Selected participants will take a self-guided walking tour of downtown Duluth then meet with the City Planner for discussion.

Information: William Aiken, Department of Planning and Development at waiken@duluthga.net. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Norcross homeowners get verification letters

Norcross homeowners should expect a letter from the city asking them to verify their age and whether they occupy or rent their homes, a requirement for owners age 62 and older to receive $9,000 homeowner exemptions from the city and Gwinnett County.

Responses must be notarized and received by July 30 for Sept. 15 tax billing.

Failure to respond might result in forfeiture of the exemptions.

Information: 770-448-2122. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Chamber collecting school supplies

The Southwest Gwinnett Chamber is partnering with the community to collect school supplies for needy children in the Berkeley Lake, Norcross and Peachtree Corners areas.

Drop off bins are located at the YMCA and each City Hall.

Information: Kim Dorough at kdorough@southwestgwinnettchamber.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Gwinnett schools seek curriculum feedback

Gwinnett County Public Schools is accepting applications to become members of the GEMS Oversight Committee and provide curriculum feedback.

Deadline is Sept. 16.

Information: www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us.

Nancy Badertscher

Duluth to expand river access

City of Duluth Mayor and Council will officially cut the ribbon to open the Rogers Bridge Canoe Launch at 10:15 a.m. July 20 with kid friendly activities continuing until 2 p.m.

There will be free tubing to the first twenty-five guests that register at the event.

Free t-shirts while supplies last. The new river launch is paid for by SPLOST funds. Additional info: City of Duluth Parks and Recreation Department 770-814-6981.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Peachtree Corners taking proposals

The Peachtree Corners Downtown Development Authority has extended the deadline for requests for proposals to 11 a.m. Aug. 1 for a developer to purchase and develop a mixed-use project on a 20-acre site across from the Forum shopping center.

The city hopes to develop the land as a city-center with retail, restaurant, office and residential use along with a 1-acre town green for community events.

Information: www.cityofpeachtreecornersga.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Cherokee school district buses pass inspection

Georgia Departent of Public Safety officials this week visited the Cherokee County School District’s bus garage in Holly Springs for their annual required inspection of the transportation fleet.

All of the 400-plus regular, substitute and special education buses passed.

The district transports as many as 26,000 students daily during the school year, which begins Aug. 5.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Cherokee motorcycle victim identified

Officials have identified the Cherokee County man killed Wednesday when his motorcycle hit a utility pole. Police say Brandon Lyon, 21, of Canton died shortly before noon in the accident on Epperson Road.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Alpharetta run, block party is in August

The Alpharetta Rotary Mayor’s Challenge is 6-11 p.m. Aug. 17 in the heart of Historic Downtown Alpharetta.

Bring lawn chairs for the block party that runs until 11 p.m.The event includes food trucks, concert, expo, etc.

Registration: $25 until Aug. 3; $30 after at Big Peach Running Co. or www.mayorschallenge.com.Arlinda Smith Broady

Johns Creek offering $30,000 in arts grants

Johns Creek arts organizations with at least three years of 501(c)3 status have until 5 p.m. July 31 to apply for a portion of the city’s $30,000 of competitive grant funding.

Applications must be submitted to the City Clerk at 12000 Findley Road or emailed by then to grants@JohnsCreekGA.gov.

Information: 678-512-3200.

Michael Alpert for the AJC

Holly Springs seeks park name suggestions

The city of Holly Springs is asking for citizen input on the naming of a planned 33-acre park.

The City Council decided last month to accept citizen input until July 31.

The so-called passive park on Hickory Road is tentatively set for an early summer 2014 completion.

To make suggestions: jstanley@hollyspringsga.us or 770-345-5536.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Centennial High seeks softball players

All rising sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade girls zoned for Centennial High School, 9310 Scott Road, Roswell, who want to play softball must register by Monday Softball season begins in August.

Information: Marty at alymart@att.net or 678-230-5155. Veronica Fields Johnson

Johns Creek offers teen defense class

Johns Creek police officers will hold a free safety and self-defense class for teenaged girls from 2 to 4 p.m. July 16 at police headquarters, 1445 Johns Creek Parkway.

Slots are limited. Register with Sgt. Debra Kalish at debra.kalish@johnscreekga.gov.

Hannah Morgan

ATLANTA

Free meals for low-income areas

All students in 58 Atlanta Public Schools will receive free daily breakfasts, lunches and after-school snacks in the upcoming school year as part of a federal pilot program to feed low-income students.

The Community Eligibility Option program, included as part of a 2010 law, allows districts or schools to qualify if at least 40 percent of their students are eligible for free meals.

Nutrition Department Director Marilyn Hughes said the program will provide healthy meals and contribute to student success in high-need communities. Mark Niesse

Year begins for year-round students

Summer break is over for Atlanta elementary students enrolled in three year-round schools, which start Monday.

Boyd, Centennial Place and Hutchinson elementary schools are resuming classes after last school year ended June 3.

The year-round school calendar, launched in 1999, is intended to help students retain more of what they learned. Mark Niesse

Service improved for child care searches

The non-profit Quality Care for Children has relaunched its toll-free number, 877-ALL-GA-KIDS (877-255-4254). QCC helped about 25,000 families search and choose child care last year. Information: www.QualityCareforChildren.org or 404-479-4200. Nancy Badertscher

Buckhead sponsors teen photo contest

The Buckhead Library, 269 Buckhead Ave. NE,, is looking for youth photography with a summer contest through Aug. 31 for ages 12-18.

Information: 404-814-3500

Veronica Fields Johnson

Haitian photo exhibit at Auburn library

In recognition of National Caribbean American Heritage Month, “Smile Haiti! Photographic Exhibit by Shaina Oliphant” will run through Aug. 25 at the Auburn Avenue Research Library, 101 Auburn Ave., NE. Information: 404-730-4001 ext. 100 Veronica Fields Johnson

DEKALB

Leaders meet today about recent crimes

A recent crime wave in the Wesley Chapel area of south DeKalb County will be the topic of focus of a community meeting with of several county political and law enforcement leaders Saturday.

More than 800 crimes have occurred within two miles of Wesley Chapel and I-20 so far this year.

DeKalb Police Chief Cedric Alexander, Sheriff Thomas Brown and Marshal Steve Mann will discuss safety concerns at the meeting. CEO Burrell Ellis along with commissioners Lee May, Larry Johnson and Stan Watson also will attend.

The session begins at 9 a.m. at the Sanford Event Center, 4183 Snapfinger Woods Dr., near Decatur. April Hunt

County workers honored for heroics

Three DeKalb County workers were recently honored for their efforts to stop and capture a suspect accused of carjacking at woman at gunpoint.

Cassandra Mouzon, who works in the county solicitor’s office, saw the carjacking at about 9 a.m. July 3.

She alerted nearby public works employees Harvey Carter and Sean Brown, who stalled the suspect until they could call 911 and follow him out of downtown Decatur.

Police captured the 15-year-old suspect following a chase and crash.

He is charged with armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm during commission of the crime and several traffic offenses. April Hunt

Brookhaven to discuss annexation Thursday

Brookhaven’s planning board will hold a hearing Thursday 7/18 to discuss the controversial annexation of the Century Center office complex.

Complex owners requested the annexation despite a planned November vote that, if residents approve, would make it and about 11,000 residents part of Chamblee.

Chamblee officials have said they cannot afford services for the additional residents without the commercial property.

Brookhaven’s Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. Thursday at the city’s municipal court, 2 Corporate Blvd, Suite 125. The City Council is slated to take up the issue at its July 22 meeting. April Hunt

Lithonia has a new

city administrator

Phil Howland, who recently worked as city administrator in Pine Lake, is the new administrator in Lithonia.

Howland was among four finalist for the top job in Lithonia, overseeing the east DeKalb city’s daily operations.

Howland began his new job on July 8. He will earn $47,000 annually in the role.

April Hunt

Black history exhibit

on display at mall

North DeKalb Mall will host an African-American History Exhibition Museum through July 27 in the Macy’s wing at the mall, 2050 Lawrenceville Highway, Decatur. The free exhibit houses over 8,000 artifacts and will feature meet-and-greet sessions with storytellers, local authors and historical leaders and other activities.

James Horton, the collector, will greet visitors and answer questions.

Mall hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. To schedule group tours call 404-454-1462. Veronica Fields Johnson

SOUTHSIDE

Fayette lists proposed SPLOST projects

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners has identified 181 stormwater-related repair projects to be funded by the proposed Core Infrastructure SPLOST. The projects, ranked by severity of need, total $16.8 million and would be completed over two years. The county says repair and/or replacement of badly deteriorating and damaged pipes, culverts and other structures will prevent “potentially serious safety, infrastructure, flooding and environmental problems.” Details: www.fayettecountyga.gov.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Sexual assault suspect armed with grenade

Reinaldo Hector Morales, 57, is wanted for rape, sodomy, aggravated assault and false imprisonment, according to the Clayton County Sheriff’s office.

He is also reported to be armed with a hand grenade and is a former Vietnam Veteran.

Morles is considered very dangerous, and the public is asked not to approach him if seen. Bryan Cronan

Peachtree City hotel meeting postponed

The next meeting of the Peachtree City Planning Commission (originally scheduled for this week) will be held at 7 p.m. July 22 at City Hall.

The agenda includes a public hearing for the proposed rezoning of nearly three acres at Ga. Hwy. 74 and Wisdom Road for the construction of two five-story hotels.

Information: www.peachtree-city.org/planningagenda.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Dance company to host entertainment series

Ballethnic Dance Company will host a Cultural Cul de Sac 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at the studio, 2587 Cheney St., East Point.

The event is part of its summer-fall entertainment series and will feature performances by the company’s Youth Ensemble, the adult performing company and guest musical artists. Arts and crafts vendors, children’s activities and food will be offered.

Free, but donations accepted.

Information: 404-762-1416 or www.Ballethnic.org.

Veronica Fields Johnson

Community invited

to block party

Center of Hope Ministries will host a community back to school block party from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 10 at 492 Roy Huie Rd., Riverdale.

The event will feature music, fun, food, games and special guests.

School supplies and backpacks will be given away to children who attend.

Information: Dee Dee Dunmore at 770-807-4673.

Veronica Fields Johnson

Town hall meeting set for July 27

Henry County Commissioner Bruce Holmes’ monthly town hall meeting will be at 9 a.m. July 27, at Crossroad Christian Church in Stockbridge.

Its focus will be the future of Henry County’s public schools and Henry County School Superintendent Dr. Ethan Hildreth will be the featured guest speaker.

Crossroad Christian Church is at 5365 North Henry Blvd. in Stockbridge. Monroe Roark for the AJC