County by county news for Saturday

The city’s tribute on the 10th anniversary of the attacks is part of a national Moment of Remembrance set by a U.S. Senate resolution requesting Americans to stop all activity for one minute on Sunday to honor those who died and sacrifices made by first responders. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Powder Springs council delays work session

The work session for the Powder Springs City Council will be delayed a day next week. City officials will meet Thursday instead of Wednesday but still at 5 p.m. in the Powder Springs City Hall, Second Floor Conference Room, 4484 Marietta St. Their voting meeting will take place at 7 p.m., Sept. 19 in the Council Chambers, Pineview Drive at Marietta Street.

Information: 770-943-1666. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Thompson to hold town hall meeting Tuesday

Cobb County Commissioner Woody Thompson will host a town hall meeting on Tuesday for residents for south Cobb area residents. County officials are expected to unveil the new South Cobb Implementation Strategy aimed at redeveloping the area. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the South Cobb Community Center, 620 Lions Club Drive in Mableton. Read the draft strategy report: http://comdev.cobbcountyga.gov/south-cobb Information: 770-528-3312 Janel Davis

Kennesaw Mountain High teacher recognized

Kennesaw Mountain High School theater instructor Coy Dunn has been named teacher of the year in Cobb County.

Dunn’s students have won five team state titles, 13 regional titles and numerous individual state titles for their performances. Coy was among three finalists for the 2011-12 title. The other two were music teacher Richard McKee of Acworth Intermediate School and family and consumer science teacher Dawn Castleberry of Lovinggood Middle School. Ty Tagami

Taste of Kennesaw takes off today

More than 40 restaurants will sell samples from $1 to $4 at the Taste of Kennesaw 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today along downtown’s Main Street. Proceeds will benefit four local charities. The last free concert of the city’s outdoor summer music series will start at 6 p.m. with Banks & Shane at the Depot. The event is sponsored by the city of Kennesaw and the Kennesaw Business Association. Information: 770-423-1330 or www.kennesawbusiness.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Audubon Society offers backyard sanctuary tour

The Atlanta Audubon Society is inviting nature and bird lovers of all ages to its annual Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Tour from 9 a.m-4 p.m. today . Tour visitors have an opportunity to experience six enchanting gardens in Marietta and Austell. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 the day of the tour, and children (twelve and under) with adults are free. Information: atlantaaudubon.org. or 678-973-2437. Sandra Marshall Murray

GWINNETT

Falcons players to visit Meadowcreek school

Atlanta Falcon football players are scheduled to visit Meadowcreek Elementary in Norcross Tuesday to help launch a statewide youth exercise and healthy choices campaign.

The “Falcons First Down for Fitness” program is a three-month campaign designed to challenge students in grades 3-7 to get active, eat nutritious meals and lead healthy lifestyles. The campaign runs statewide through November 25.

Students who complete the program will receive a certificate. Participating schools receive physical fitness equipment and Falcons memorabilia. D. Aileen Dodd

Norcross mayor to speak to Sierra Club

Norcross Mayor Bucky Johnson will be the featured guest at the Greater Gwinnett Group of the Sierra Club’s meeting Thursday night.

Johnson, chairman of the executive committee for the Atlanta Region Transportation Investment Act roundtable, will discuss the project list and how Gwinnett stands to benefit from the proposed tax.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at Berkmar High School. Information: Dan Friedman at dan3688@aol.com.

Joel Anderson

Georgia SPCA offers $10 pet vaccinations

The Georgia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is offering $10 vaccinations for cats and dogs today .

The vaccinations are scheduled from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Georgia SPCA’s adoption center at 1175 Buford Highway in Suwanee. Information: Jane Stewart at 678-457-7288 or www.GeorgiaSPCA.org. Joel Anderson

Food left on stove blamed in house fire

Gwinnett County fire investigators believe food left unattended on a stove may have caused a house fire Thursday evening in the 1100 block of Sandalwood Drive in Lawrenceville.

The fire gutted the kitchen and sent thick smoke and heat throughout the house before it was brought under control at 6:33 p.m. The Red Cross was contacted to assist the displaced family. Andria Simmons

No meeting for Gwinnett Place CID board

The Gwinnett Place CID Board of Directors will not meet this month. The Board plans to resume its regular monthly meetings on Oct. 12. For more information, call 678-924-8170. Michelle Shaw

Tailgate party today for little Falcons fans

Pint-sized Atlanta Falcons fans to are invited to a tailgate party from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., today on the lower level of Gwinnett Place Mall, 2100 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth. For more information, call the mall at 770-813-6840 or visit, www.simonkidgitsclub.com. Michelle Shaw

Suwanee Citizens Police Academy starts again

Suwanee’s Citizens Police Academy will kick off another eight-week program on Oct. 4. The deadline for applying to the program is Sept. 23. Applications are available at www.suwanee.com. Information: ecasanas@suwanee.com or 770-904-7612. Joel Anderson

NORTHSIDE

Milton police officer heads for deployment

Milton Police Officer Chris Ward is leaving the department for more than a year to go on active duty as part of the U.S. Marine Corps Black Sea Rotational Force 2012.

Ward, who has been in the Marine Corps Reserves Fourth Reconnaissance Battalion for five years, found out he was being deployed Sept. 7. He will leave for training Oct. 1 and begin operations in Romania in March. Ward was supposed to get married in May. However, he moved his wedding up to Friday, with a ceremony planned for when he returns. Andria Simmons

Riverside Drive section to close for repairs

Riverside Drive, between Pointe Ridge Drive and Johnson Ferry Road will be closed for water line repairs Wednesday and Thursday, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. There will be posted detours, using River Valley Road and North Harbor Drive, to get around the construction. To help with congestion, Riverside Drive will be open during rush hour periods. Residents in the area should expect temporary interruptions in water service during the repair work. For more information, visit www.sandyspringsga.gov or call the Citizen Response Center, 770-730-5600. Michelle E. Shaw

Former Gov. Perdue to be 9/11 ceremony

Alpharetta First Baptist Church will honor city public safety personnel and civil leaders on Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 44 Academy Street, Alpharetta. Former Gov. Sonny Perdue and former American Idol Contestant Melinda Doolittle will be participating in the 9/11 services. For more information please visit www.fbca.com or call 770-475-6556.

Sandra Marshall Murray

Benefit golf tourney in Roswell on Monday

The 33rd annual Roswell Rotary Aubrey Greenway Golf Tournament will be all day Monday at Brookfield Country Club, 100 Willow Run Road. The tournament is one of the largest annual fundraising events in north Fulton and supports more than 20 local charities.

Golfing packages include 18 holes of golf, with morning and afternoon flights. Participants will enjoy meals and other activities including contests and a silent auction.

Information: www.roswellrotarygolf.com. Patrick Fox

Final act for Concerts by the Springs Sunday

The September, and final, installation of Concerts by the Springs, hosted by Heritage Sandy Springs, will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Heritage Green, 6110 Bluestone Road, Sandy Springs. This month’s featured group is The Return. Gates open at 5 p.m. For information, call 404-851-9111, ext. 203, or visit www.heritagesandysprings.org. Michelle E. Shaw

Ball Ground school to hold 5K run

The Ball Ground Elementary School PTA is hosting the 2nd Annual Run to Remember in Ball Ground on Oct. 8 at 8 a.m. The event is a 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run to benefit the school as well as the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Cost: $20 prior to race day; $25 on race day. Registration forms can be emailed. Information: Lucy Pence at g8rfutbol@yahoo.com. Kenneth Musisi

ATLANTA

Ford donates $20,000 to the Atlanta Mission

The Ford Motor Company Fund recently donated $20,000 to the Atlanta Mission to help homeless women and children.

The funds will be used to support educational classes offered at the women’s and children’s facility on Howell Mill Road. The Atlanta Mission dedicated two classrooms at the facility to Ford Motor Company. Shelia Poole

Ex-worker guilty of stealing from NAACP

A former administrative assistant at the NAACP’s Atlanta branch pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing from the civil rights organization, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office said. Sandra Douglas was sentenced to 10 years on probation and ordered to pay $31,000 in restitution. From 2003 to 2008, Douglas ordered credit cards in her name and used NAACP funds to pay those bills, the DA’s office said. Bill Rankin

Band to raise money for AIDS Walk Atlanta

Tavern 99 will host an evening of live music with The Ben Deignan Band on Wednesdayto benefit the upcoming AIDS Walk Atlanta and 5K Run. Advance tickets are $10 and can be purchased at www.xorbia.com/tickets. Admission is $15 the day of the show. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the band performing from 8 to 10 p.m. Tavern 99 is located at 128 E. Andrews Drive N.W. in Atlanta. For more information, call 404-876-WALK. Mea Watkins

English classes offered at Westminster church

English classes for non-native speakers will be offered at the Westminster Presbyterian Church at 1438 Sheridan Rd. NE., from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mondays, Sept. 19 to Dec. 12, and free math tutoring will be offered to older kids on Monday evenings there.

The Lindbergh LaVista Corridor Coalition first offered these English classes in the spring in partnership with the Easter Seals Child Development Program. Potential volunteers should attend a training workshop at the church at 9 a.m. on today. Information: email esl@lindberghlavista.org. Ty Tagami

DEKALB

Decatur adds signage for bicycle riders

Earlier this month Decatur placed 114 “sharrows,” or large bicycle symbols with arrows painted on the street, on Ponce de Leon Avenue and Sycamore Drive. “It’s another form of signage,” said city planning director Amanda Thompson. “It reminds cars they are sharing the lane with bicycles and that they need to give them three feet of space when passing.” She added these two streets were chosen for their wide variety of uses and important connections to other city streets. Total cost was $2,850, and Thompson said that over time Decatur will continue adding sharrows. Bill Banks for the AJC

Decatur amends city voting map

Decatur’s Commission officially amended the city’s election district map by taking the northern portion of Agnes Scott College, previously in the city’s northern district, and placing it in the south. This puts an additional 295 people into the south district. The realignment became necessary when the 2010 census revealed Decatur’s north district had 5.76 percent more people than the south, and therefore didn’t conform to the “one person, one vote” standard of the Voting Rights Act. That deviation is now an acceptable 2.72 percent, with the new map becoming effective Jan.1, 2012. Bill Banks for the AJC

Career fair at Maloof Auditorium Friday

DeKalb Workforce Development, in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Labor, invites the public to participate in its 6th Annual “Workforce Development Week 5 Steps to Success” career event on Friday from 10am – 3pm at the Maloof Auditorium in downtown Decatur. The event will kick off with week long work readiness activities and workshops designed to provide jobseekers with valuable skills and techniques and it will end with a “Mega Career Fair”. Pre-register at www.dekalbworkforce.org or call 404-687-3410 for registration information. Kenneth Musisi

Commissioner to host health walk today

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, who has a background in public health, will host another free walking event today morning.

Walking was named the official exercise in DeKalb in 2005, after a County Board of Health report noted a high incidence of health problems among residents. The DeKalb Walks Initiative is designed to focus on the health benefits of being active.

The next DeKalb Walks event begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Murphey-Candler Elementary School, 6775 S. Goddard Road, near Lithonia.

To pre-register for the free event or more information: 404-371-2425.

April Hunt

Workshop to focus on economic development

DeKalb County’s Community Development Department will host a workshop today on how residents can help with economic development.

The workshop will show how residents can help create a vision for their area, possibly create a community improvement district and ultimately help create jobs.

The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to noon at the Clark Harrison Building, 330 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur.

More information: 404-371-3689. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Henry allocates $941,000 to operate Tara Field

The Henry County Board of Commissioners has allocated $941,000 for the current fiscal year for operations at Tara Field, the Hampton airport purchased by the county this summer.

County officials called it a “balanced budget” and said the monetary figures were based on current revenue from rental of space at the airport, sale of fuel and other income.

The purchase of Tara Field from Clayton County officially closed in August. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Woodland students volunteer for 9/11

Woodland Middle School students will volunteer during a day of community service to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Students and teachers will visit the East Point school today from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help with a landscaping project. School officials encourage others interested in helping with the project to volunteer. D. Aileen Dodd

Austin Road teacher wins recognition

Richard Allen, special education teacher at Stockbridge’s Austin Road Elementary, was honored Friday by Symetra Financial, SunTrust Bank and the Atlanta Falcons. Allen and 15 other K-12 teachers are being recognized for educational excellence as Symetra Heroes in the Classroom. Each receives $1,000 for classroom books and supplies, tickets to a Falcons’ home game and on-field recognition at the Sept. 18 Falcons-Eagles game. “His classroom philosophy is modeled on Nelson Mandela’s quote, ‘It always seems impossible until it is done’,” parent Kimberly Green said. Nancy Badertscher

Henry school offices closed during break

While Henry County public schools are out for fall break Sept. 12-16, the central office will also be closed Sept. 14-16 for three furlough days. Normal operations will resume Sept. 19. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Fayette parks offers children’s programs

The Fayette County Parks and Recreation Department is teaming with the Southern Conservation Trust to present a series of nature walks and activities for young children this fall.

Registration is required; the cost is $4 for Fayette residents and $6 for nonresidents.

Visit www.sctlandtrust.org or call 770-716-4324 for information. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Main Street Association needs board members

The East Point Main Street Association is looking for board members and committee members. If you are a resident of East Point, send a resume and a letter to generalinfo@downtowneastpoint.com. The current applicant deadline is Oct. 24. John Thompson for the AJC

East Point offers free bulk waste pickup

East Point will provide free bulk waste pick up in residential areas Sept. 19- 23. The bulk waste will be picked up on regular trash days. Several items will not be picked up including dirt, gasoline concrete and construction debris. Accepted items include chairs, sofas, washer, dryers and bathtubs. John Thompson for the AJC