COBB
Powder Springs buys historic house for museum
The Powder Springs City Council agreed Monday to purchase the historic Bodiford-Butner house for $175,000.
The century-old house at 4355 Marietta St. will be used as the new location for the city’s Seven Springs Museum - now on Brownsville Road at the railroad tracks.
Once those tracks are widened, the present museum will be demolished, he added.
Until his passing in 2012, former Powder Springs Councilman Robert G. “Bob” Bodiford had resided in that house for 57 years.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Kennesaw to host food trucks downtown
Local food trucks will set up 5 -8 p.m. Mondays through Sept. 29 at Depot Park, 2829 Cherokee St., Kennesaw. Pick up food to go or picnic in the park across from the city’s Southern Museum. The Dinner at the Depot event is sponsored by Kennesaw’s Downtown Development Authority. Information: www.kennesaw-ga.gov.
Tuckerk McQueen for the AJC
Farm Fresh Market has 3 Austell sites
Cobb2020 will hold Farm Fresh Markets 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. three times a week through Sept. 30 with fresh produce for the Austell-Six Flags area or zip code 30168.
For $5 a bag, 15 fresh fruits and vegetables offered Mondays at Walton Reserve Apartment Community, 7075 Walton Reserve Lane; Tuesdays at South Cobb Recreation Center, 875 Six Flags Drive; and Thursdays at Birch Landing Apartment, 500 Maxham Road.
Information: info@cobb2020.com.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Principal receives leadership award
Marietta Center for Advanced Academics Principal Jennifer Hernandez has received an elementary school principal leadership award from the International Association of STEM Leaders. The Marietta City Schools leader was recognized at a meeting in Washington, D.C. for advancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics education at the Marietta magnet school.
Information; www.marietta-city.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Mableton ministry to aid homeless
Skilled laborers and donations are needed to make improvements to a nearby building acquired by the Family Life Restoration Center, 6105 Mableton Parkway in Mableton, for a 19-bed homeless shelter.
Luther Washington, Jr., the center’s executive director since 2006, said major renovations are needed such as a sprinkler system, showers, several doors and hand rails.
Information: flrconline.org, click “donations,” earmark “shelter project.”
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
‘How to Do Business with Cobb’ seminar
A free “How to Do Business with Cobb” seminar will be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, 240 Interstate North Parkway.
Participants will learn how to become a vendor for the county and meet county personnel who make purchasing decisions.
Reservations: Inger.Eberhart@cobbcounty.org, 770-528-3317. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
GWINNETT
Bridge at Highway 20 and 316 opens today
The new 10-lane bridge at the intersection of SR 20/Buford Drive and SR 316/University Parkway in Lawrenceville will open to traffic today (Saturday, May 10) to allow motorists to familiarize themselves with the change in traffic flow during non-peak traffic time. Once traffic begins moving over the bridge, work crews can complete the remaining phases of the interchange project. The entire project is expected to be complete May 31, 2016.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Eastside Medical gets patient care award
Eastside Medical Center has received the Get With the Guidelines–Stroke Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for the treatment of stroke patients. As part of initiatives, the Center’s Live Healthy Gwinnett will host the next ‘Walk the Talk’ as part of National Stroke Awareness Month 9 a.m.-10 a.m. today at Vines Park, 3500 Oak Grove Road, Loganville.Information: www.livehealthygwinnett.com.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Students win entrepreneur awards
Brookwood High School students Erica Mills and Caitlin Costello have won the Gwinnett Young Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Entrepreneurship Alliance for their environmentally conscience lawn and design landscaping business model: Weed’em & Reap. .org.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Duluth Police seek to avoid burglaries
The Duluth Police Department host a seminar to help residents protect themselves from burglaries and identity theft 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Police Headquarters, 3276 Buford Highway. Information: 770-476-4151. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Briscoe Park offering swim lessons
Gwinnett Parks & Recreation is accepting registrations for 30-minute swim lessons June 2 through August 7. All classes meet eight times over a two-week period.
Class times based on participants’ level. Register in person 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, or 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at T. W. Briscoe Park, 2500 Sawyer Parkway in Snellville.
Information: www.tinyurl.com/swimbriscoe or 770-985-3535.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Lunch and learn about mergers, acquisitions
The Southeast Gwinnett Chamber will hold their next Lunch and Learn series ‘Business Growth Strategies Part 2: Mergers and Acquisitions’ noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 15 at Hilton Atlanta Northeast, 5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. in Peachtree Corners. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m. Panel will share key tactics and strategies for small and medium size businesses focused on growth. Discussion includes strategic options via acquisition, divestiture or merger transactions.
Information: www.SouthWestGwinnettChamber.org.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
NORTHSIDE
Vehicle flips on I-575, driver hurt
A 23-year-old woman was injured in a dramatic Thursday afternoon accident in Cherokee County, but her toddler was unharmed. Cherokee Fire and Emergency Services officials say the woman’s Ford Explorer was northbound on I-575 near exit 16 when it flipped several times shortly after 2 p.m., landing on its side. The woman was taken to Wellstar Kennestone hospital in Marietta complaining of an ankle injury. Her toddler, properly strapped into a car seat, was apparently not injured, but was transported to the hospital as a precaution. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Sandy Springs donates retired police vehicles
The Sandy Springs Police Department is donating 10 vehicles to the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, to be used for driver training.
A total of 19 patrol cars are being rotated out of the Sandy Springs police fleet this year. City hall staff will use three vehicles, with the others sold to dealerships. Each vehicle has an estimated value of between $2,000 and $3,000.
The city council approved the donation at its meeting on TuesdayMay 6. Kent A. Miles
Cherokee schools set open house schedule
The Cherokee County School district has set open house/walk-through events July 28-Aug. 1. Class schedules and teacher assignments will be available. The front offices for each school will re-open after the summer break on July 22. Information: cherokee.k12.ga.us.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Dozens apply for Sandy Springs fire chief
The Sandy Springs Fire Chief position had 67 applicants from across the country by the April 25 deadline. Interviews with top tier candidates are expected to start in late May. Current chief Jack McElfish announced in January that he’ll retire come October. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Race to benefit veterans’ efforts
The MedAssets Race for Heroes, a 5-k road race to raise funds for Hire Heroes USA, is 7 a.m. May 17 at MedAssets, 100 North Point Center East, Alpharetta.
Hire Heroes USA is dedicated to creating job opportunities for military veterans and their spouses through personalized employment training and corporate engagement. Information: medassetsraceforheroes.com Kent A. Miles for the AJC
Forsyth sheriff’s office hiring for new jail
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is starting the process of staffing up for the new county jail and courthouse scheduled to come on line the first part of 2015. Sheriff’s officials have been approved for 87 new positions for the 608-bed detention facility and courthouse, including 47 detention officers. A detention officer applicant exam is set for 9 a.m. June 13 at 3520 Settingdown Road, Cumming.
Those planning to test must be at least 18, have a high a school diploma or GED and drivers license and meet other requirements regarding past felony convictions and drug use.
To register: 678-455-8514 or 678-513-5842. More information: forsythsheriff.org
Marsk Woolsey for the AJC
ATLANTA
Judicial watchdog group seeks director
The state Judicial Qualifications Commission, which investigates and hears allegations of judicial misconduct, is seeking a new director.
The JQC’s director, Jeff Davis, recently agreed to become the State Bar of Georgia’s next executive director. Applicants must be a member of the State Bar with a minimum of 10 years’ experience. Submit resumé to jeff@gajqc.com by 5 p.m. May 19. Bill Rankin
Class size set at highest level allowed
Class sizes in Atlanta schools will remain steady next year after the city school board voted to allow classrooms to hold up to the maximum number of students permitted by the state.
The school board, which set class size limits during its Monday meeting, has discussed spending money to hire more teachers to reduce class sizes, but adding even one teacher to each of the city’s 100 schools would cost $8 million.
Class sizes for core subjects in can be 35 students in high school and 25 students in kindergarten. Mark Niesse
Operation Hope founder addresses grads
John Hope Bryant, founder and CEO of Operation Hope, will address the Atlanta Technical Collegecommencement ceremony, 11 a.m. Friday at the Atlanta Civic Center.
Operation Hope has raised more than $500 million and helped to restructure another $300 million in subprime mortgages to empower the poor.
Information: www.atlantatech.edu
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
Seniors, caregivers expo this month
The Georgia Seniors and Caregivers Expo is 10 a.m. May 19 at the Atlanta History Center, 130 W. Paces Ferry Road.
There will be information at the expo about senior housing, care for Alzheimer’s patients, home and hospice care, veterans’ benefits, mobility solutions and more. Free.
Information: www.georgiaseniorsexpo.com
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
DEKALB
Decatur streetscape project finalized
After eight years, when the project was initially planned, Decatur sealed an agreement with the Georgia DOT for funding Phase V of the Downtown Streetscape Improvements.
Work will include new streetlights, trees, benches, litter containers, street repair and sidewalk enhancements on Trinity Place from McDonough Street to Fire Station No. 1, and Church Street from Trinity to Howard Avenue.
Construction should start 4-6 months, take about a year and total cost is $2.25 million. Bill Banks for the AJC
Volunteers to create new park playground
More than 200 volunteers are expected to help build a new playground Wednesday at DeKalb County’s Fairington Park near Lithonia.
The design is based on children’s drawings created at a special event earlier this year. It is the first playground in metro Atlanta to be built by Charity Parity and Kaboom, two regional nonprofits.
Volunteers are still welcome at the event, which begins at 8:30 a.m. at the park, 2831 Fairington Parkway. April Hunt
Zoning code meeting this month
DeKalb County will host a community forum Thursday to discuss plans to update its zoning code.
The meeting will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Porter Sanford performing arts center, 3181 Rainbow Dr., near Decatur.
The code is designed to guide development in the county but has not been updated since 2007.
A vote on the new code is expected later this year. April Hunt
Service board hosting art show
The DeKalb Community Service Board will host an exhibit of its clients’ artwork as part of Mental Health Month in May.
The non-profit group, which supports behavioral health and developmental disability services, will display jewelry, woodwork and other art in the creative expression showcase.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 15 at the Richardson Health Center, 445 Winn Way, Decatur. April Hunt
DeKalb Medical to host stroke prevention class
DeKalb Medical is hosting a discussion on stroke prevention at 6 p.m. May 29, at 2701 N. Decatur Road, Decatur.
The panel of experts will give advice on preventing stroke, recognizing possible signs of a stroke and finding available treatment.
The discussion is taking place during National Stroke Awareness Month.
Information: 404-501-9355.
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
Tucker hosts diamond jubilee
Main Street in Tucker will close to traffic at 6 p.m. May 9 in preparation for the 60th annual Tucker Day festival. Businesses will remain open.
The festival begins at 9 a.m. today in downtown Tucker and will feature live entertainment on three stages, arts and crafts vendors and other family-friendly activities.
Information: www.tuckerday.com
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
SOUTHSIDE
Lake Peachtree bridge closing soon
The pedestrian and golf cart bridge across Lake Peachtree near City Hall in Peachtree City will be closed starting May 19. The current structure will be demolished and rebuilt. Maps and signs indicating alternate routes around the lake have been posted. The new bridge will be open in approximately 30 days.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
