County by county news for Saturday

Thirteen defendants, including former Superintendent Beverly Hall, remain in the case. Baxter delayed the trial to allow Hall receive treatment for Stage IV breast cancer. Baxter is also allowing another Fulton judge to decide a motion filed by defendant Tamara Cotman that seeks to recuse Baxter from the case because he asked the Court of Appeals to expedite a pretrial appeal filed by Cotman’s attorney, Benjamin Davis. Bill Rankin

Food truck festival at Embry Hills UMC

The Embry Hills United Methodist Church Reconciling Ministries Group is sponsoring its first food truck rodeo at 5 p.m. May 10 at 3304 Henderson Mill Road, Atlanta.

Yoli Street Food, Mighty Meatballs and Kona Ice will have food trucks at the event, and there will be additional activities for children. Volunteers will help put together packages containing basic necessities for families forced from their homes because of natural disaster or human conflict.

Information:

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Civil War garments on Sunday

A lecture titled “Outfitting the Civil War: Jewish Contributions to the Garment Industry” will be presented at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Breman Museum, 1440 Spring St. at 18th Street.

The presentation, in collaboration with the Atlanta Cyclorama, features of Dr. Adam Mendelsohn, associate professor of Jewish Studies at the College of Charleston.

A 2 p.m. tour of the “Return to Rich’s” exhibition will precede the lecture. Fees: adults, $12; seniors, $8; educators, students, $6; children, ages 4 to 6, $4; Breman Museum members and under 4, free.

Reservations: returntorichs.org/#lectures. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Atlanta school board puts video of its meetings online

The Atlanta Board of Education plans to begin showing live online video of its monthly meetings starting Monday.

The school board’s committee meeting, which starts at 2 p.m., and its legislative meeting, which begins at 7 p.m., will be streamed through a website called Livestream.com at http://on-ajc.com/Shd4ll.

The online video won’t include the board’s often feisty public comment period, when anyone can sign up to speak to the board about education issues. Mark Niesse

COBB

Kids to Parks Day in Sandy Springs

Sandy Springs will participate in the National Park Trust’s fourth annual Kids to Parks Day with activities at 10 a.m. May 17 at Hammond Park, 705 Hammond Drive.

There will be field day races and other child-friendly activities, the Sandy Springs Fire Rescue Safety House and more. It is part of the national initiative to encourage children to participate in active, healthy activities. The event is free and open to the public.

Information: www.sandyspringsga.gov Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Food truck Tuesdays to start in Smyrna

Food trucks will return to Smyrna this week 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays through Sept. 30 at Taylor-Brawer Park, 3180 Atlanta Road. More than a dozen food trucks will set up each Tuesday in the park’s lower parking lot adjacent to the playground. The event will include live music. Information: www.smyrnacity.com. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Marietta seeks veterans for parade

Marietta and the Georgia Military Vehicle Preservation Association are looking for World War II veterans to participate in the city’s Let Freedom Ring parade July 4. A military vehicle will be provided for vets to ride in along the 1.5 mile parade route. Applications for all participants will be accepted through 5 p.m. May 30. Information: Maggi Moss at 770-794-5609. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Kennesaw farmers market to open

The Kennesaw Farmers Market will open 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday in the Adams Park soccer field parking lot, 2753 Watts Drive. The market will sell local vegetables, fruit, herbs, plants, flowers and baked goods on Tuesdays, rain or shine, through Oct. 28. Information: www.kennesaw-ga.gov. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Habitat for Humanity homeowners sought

NW Metro Atlanta Habitat for Humanity is seeking potential homeowners who are low-to-moderate income families and individuals, living or working in Cobb, Douglas or Paulding.

Habitat builds and renovates three- and four-bedroom homes and finances them at no interest and no profit with a monthly mortgage payment ranging from $525 to $545, including taxes and insurance.

Information: nwmetroatlantahabitat.org, select the “Own a Home, Interested in Purchasing a Home” tab at top, read the qualification guidelines, then complete the interest form. 770-432-7954. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Vendors sought for Taste of Powder Springs

Vendors are needed for the Taste of Powder Springs at 1 to 7 p.m. May 18 at the Ron Anderson Recreation Center, 3820 Macedonia Road, Powder Springs.

This event is sponsored by Cooper and Tapp middle schools and the Powder Springs Community Task Force and will include musical entertainment every half hour by students from Cooper, Tapp, Powder Springs Elementary and McEachern High School.

Vendor booths are $100.

Information: pstaskforce.org/bulletin-board.html, LShyman@comcast.net, 404-271-1607. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

DEKALB

Georgia Perimeter sponsors garden tours

Georgia Perimeter College is hosting its Lunch and Wildflowers Series on Fridays through the end of May. The series features guided walks and lectures through the native plant botanical garden behind the tennis courts on Georgia Perimeter’s campus, 3251 Panthersville Road, Decatur. The guided tours begin at 10:30 a.m., and the talks start at noon. Visitors are encouraged to bring their lunch. Info : www.gpcnativegarden.org Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Exhibition to feature homeless artists

The Central Outreach and Advocacy Center, an organization that provides emergency services, job training and advocacy for homeless men and women in metro Atlanta, is hosting an art exhibition at 6:30 p.m. Thursday (May 8) at the Old Courthouse on the Square, 101 E. Court Square in downtown Decatur. The “Central ArtWorks” exhibition will feature work produced by homeless men and women who are clients of the center. Tickets are $40, $25 for students. Information: www.tinyurl.com/CentralArtWorks. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Waffle House likely in Decatur’s future

Though not yet official, Waffle House is “in the end of negotiations” for a space southeast of the city square under Eddie’ Attic, said Decatur Assistant City Manager Lyn Menne. Founded in Avondale Estates in 1955, Waffle House has never had a Decatur location, but Menne said the company is looking for more “urban locations” such as recent stores near Georgia State and Georgia Tech. Waffle House plans to renovate the early 20th-century building, removing the false front and exposing its original brick. Bill Banks for the AJC

Decatur school times return to normal

With summer approaching and the rough winter of 2014 a fading memory, Decatur schools will return to their regular schedules Monday.

The city school system, like others in metro Atlanta, has been recovering days lost to snow and cold. The district added 30 minutes a day starting March 3. Start and end times return to normal Monday: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for all elementary schools except Clairemont, which runs 10 minutes later, and the 4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue, which is 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; 8:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. for Renfroe Middle School, and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for Decatur High. The schedule will be in place until the end of school on May 29. Ty Tagami

Brookhaven seeks development plan input

Brookhaven will hold meetings to gather input on its comprehensive plan to address growth and development.

The first meeting will be 6 p.m. May 15 at St. Martins Episcopal Church, 3110 Ashford Dunwoody Road. April Hunt

Tucker prepares for 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. on May 10 in downtown Tucker and will feature live entertainment on three stages, arts and crafts vendors and other family-friendly activities. Info : www.tuckerday.com Kent A. Miles

GWINNETT

Diamond interchange ribbon-cutting Tuesday

The Gwinnett DOT will host a ribbon cutting for the diverging diamond interchange at the Pleasant Hill Road bridge over I-85 at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Jameson Inn, 1920 Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth. This is the county’s first diverging diamond interchange and the second in Georgia. The Diverging Diamond project shifts traffic to the opposite side of the bridge, making left turns onto the interstate more efficient and improving traffic flow. Information: www.gwinnettDDI.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Search on for Gwinnett Tech’s next president

The Technical College System of Georgia is creating a search committee to assist in the process of selecting the next president of Gwinnett Technical College. Former President Sharon Bartels retired May 1. Committee members will conduct interviews with applicants responding to a national search. Three candidates will be chosen to interview with the entire process expected to take several weeks. David H. Welden, the college’s executive vice president for finance and administration, is serving as the interim president. Information: www.gwinnetttech.edu. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Gwinnett water quality report now available

The Gwinnett Department of Water Resources has published WaterWords, an annual report about the quality of local drinking water. In 2013, the department detected 12, all below allowable levels, with no health-based violations reported.

View the annual water quality report at www.gwinnettwaterwords.com. Questions or information: DWR Environmental Laboratory at 770-614-2080 or Water Production Director Alan Berg at 678-376-4200. Request water plant tours: 678-376-4200.

Information about how DWR maintains drinking water safety: www.gwinnetth2o.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

GOP Senate hopefuls to hold forum Tuesday

The Gwinnett County Republican Party and Conservative Republican Women of North Atlanta will hold a candidate forum for GOP candidates for State Senate District 9.

The forum will take place on Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. at Summit Chase Country Club in Snellville, 3197 Classic Drive. Confirmed speakers include former Gwinnett County Commissioner Mike Beaudreau and former Lawrenceville City Council Member P.K. Martin. The forum will be followed by a straw poll. Molly Bloom

GOP House candidates plan forum, straw poll

The Gwinnett County Republican Party and the North Georgia 9-12 Group will hold a candidate forum for GOP candidates for House Districts 97 and 98 on May 13, from 7-9 p.m. at Marco’s Pizza, 425 Buford Highway, Suwanee.

Confirmed candidates attending include Brooks Coleman, Jef Fincher and Dahlys Hamilton for House District 97 and Michael Brown and David Hancock for House District 98. The candidate forum will be followed by a straw poll. Molly Bloom

NORTHSIDE

Canton’s budget situation shows improvement

Canton City Council members were told Thursday night that the city’s financial health improved markedly during the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2013. An auditor from the firm Mauldin and Jenkins told council members that combined revenue for 2013 increased $8.6 million to $33.9 million, while expenditures decreased by about $280,000 to $21.1 million. The report says the city ended the fiscal year with combined ending fund balances of $9,949,855, and property tax revenues showed an uptick due to increased valuations. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Farmers market returns to Woodstock

The Woodstock Farmers Market returns today with a new location and a second day each week. The market will run from 8:30 a.m. to noon each Saturday through Oct 25 and 4:30 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday, May 6 through Oct. 28.

The Saturday market will be downtown on Market Street between Mill and Maple streets, and the Tuesday market will be at the Outlet Shoppes of Atlanta, 915 Ridgewalk Parkway. A variety of produce, jams and jellies, coffees, spices and mixes, bread, candles, and bath and beauty products will be available. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Fire poster contest winners announced

The Forsyth County Fire Department has announced the winners of the department’s 2014 Fire Safety Poster Contest. Winners are Diego Martinez and Akshur Raghuran of Brookwood Elementary School, and Aubrey Chester of Sawnee Elementary School. All three third-graders were treated to a pizza party with their class and local firefighters.

The winners and three runners-up will have their artwork displayed in county buildings. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Chamber head honored for SPLOST work

The president and CEO of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce won the annual Liberty Bell Award from the Forsyth County Bar Association this week.

The award was presented to James McCoy for his work promoting the county’s 2011 SPLOST referendum. The resulting revenue is funding the construction of a new county courthouse and jail.

The award is given annually to someone outside the legal profession whose work advances the law and judicial system. It was presented during the Bar Association’s annual Law Day luncheon at the Forsyth Conference Center. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Feedback sought on teen alcohol use

Forsyth County parents are being asked for information on teen alcohol use. The Forsyth County Schools’ “I have a Choice” anti-teen drinking initiative has a survey on the district website through May 9, seeking to gather information on parental attitudes.

Grant administrator Lindsey Shadburn Simpson says results will help in creating a Phase 2 campaign beginning in August that will include billboards, displays within schools and social media. The program is being funded by a $101,362 state grant. To take the survey: forsyth.k12.ga.us  Mark Woolsey for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Fayette kindergarten enrollment ends May 16

Enrollment for Fayette County’s public kindergarten program is open through May 16. Children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to be eligible. Parents must complete the online registration form before bringing the required residency documents to the Welcome Center; see details under “Student Registration” at www.fcboe.org. Jill Howard Church

Rose show coming to Fayetteville

The South Metro Rose Society’s annual Rose Show will be open free to the public 1-4 p.m. on May 17-18 at the Fayetteville Church of Christ, 870 Redwine Road in Fayetteville. Hundreds of flowers and arrangements will be displayed and judged, and experts will be available to answer questions. The event also includes bouquet sales and a raffle. Details: 770-631-3885. Jill Howard Church

Piedmont Henry sets ‘Walk with a Doc’

Piedmont Henry Hospital is coordinating “Walk with a Doc” events at 8:30 a.m. the fourth Saturday of each month through July at Heritage Park in McDonough.

A different physician will be participating each month and available to answer general health questions.

Each participant will receive a free pedometer and T-shirt.

Register at piedmont.org under the “Search Classes & Events” tab or by phone at

1-877-527-3712. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Park committee meeting rescheduled

The Fayette County Justice Park Committee meeting originally scheduled for April 22 has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. on May 7 at the meeting room at 140 Stonewall Ave. West in Fayetteville.

The public is invited to join the volunteer group to discuss aesthetic enhancements to the site. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Town hall meeting May 24 in Stockbridge

Henry County Commissioner Bruce Holmes’ next town hall meeting is at 9 a.m. May 24, at Crossroad Christian Church, 5365 N. Henry Blvd. in Stockbridge. Special guests include new county manager Jim Walker, who will discuss and share his vision and goals for Henry County, along with county planning and zoning director Cheri Hobson-Matthews, who will inform citizens of the progress on the Fairview Overlay District plan and the SR 138 North Henry Blvd. Community Improvement District.

Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Southern Conservation Trust seeks comments

As part of its effort to gain national accreditation with the Land Trust Alliance, the Southern Conservation Trust is seeking public comments about its performance. Information pertaining to the SCT’s standards and operations can be submitted at www.landtrustaccreditation.org or info@landtrustaccreditation.org by June 1.  Jill Howard Church for the AJC