COBB
Residents, employees rate schools, superintendent
Cobb County Schools administrators recently presented to the board results from a district-wide survey on the performance of Superintendent Michael Hinojosa. The study showed students, teachers and parents gave Cobb schools a “B” or better in preparing students. The majority of participants also gave Hinojosa a “B” or better for making the right decisions to improve the district. The study, which cost the district $15,000, will be used in Hinojosa’s annual evaluation.
-- Daarel Burnette II
Austell to open community garden
Austell city officials will open the I. T. and Lodemia Terrell Community Garden and Educational Center 2 p.m. Monday at 2836 Windy Lane, Austell, with a rain date of April 29.
Now deceased, the Terrells resided on this property for nearly 60 years and were known to regularly give away their garden produce. Available to rent are 24 garden plots of 4-feet by 8-feet for an annual fee of $48, including compost, water and the combination to gate locks. Registration: duane@austell.org, austellga.gov/garden or 770-944-4325. -- Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Still students donate to Afghan children
Still Elementary students recently donated clothes, shoes, jackets, toys and books to families in Bagnam, Afghanistan. The donated items were distributed by Sgt. Joseph Reinitz and the 275th Transportation Battalion to families at a local hospital. View pictures from the distribution: cobbcast.cobbk12.org/?attachment_id=5614.
-- Daarel Burnette II
Kennesaw announces free movie series
Kennesaw will hold a free outdoor movie series at Swift-Cantrell Park, 3140 Old 41 Highway. The lineup includes “Brave” on May 4, “The Pirates! Band of Misfits” on June 1, and “Hotel Transylvania” on Oct. 12. Information: www.kennesaw-ga.gov. -- Jaime Sarrio
Big Shanty Festival will be this weekend
The 37th Annual Big Shanty Festival will be held in downtown Kennesaw Saturday and Sunday. The festival will feature more than 200 booths of crafters, artisans and vendors as well as live entertainment, children’s activities and more than 30 food booths.
Admission is free.
Information: www.kennesawbusiness.org. -- Jaime Sarrio
Youth-led event planned for Saturday
Enjoy free food and fun at the second annual Taste of Franklin Road and Field Day in Marietta.
The YELLS (Youth Empowerment through Learning, Leading, and Serving) Mentoring Program has planned the youth-led event, which will build community and celebrate diversity through the sharing of cultural dishes. The day will also include carnival games, a pie eating contest and dance competition. Additionally, we’ll be building and planting four new beds in a community garden to celebrate Earth Day.
The event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday in the YELLS Community Garden at Ashton Place Apartments.
-- Andria Simmons
GWINNETT
Officials join Peachtree Corners update
The United Peachtree Corners Civic Association will hear from representatives from state, county and city at a Legislative Update meeting 7:30 to 9 p.m. Monday, April 22 at Christ the King Church, 5575 Peachtree Pkwy in Peachtree Corners. Officials will include Peachtree Corners Mayor, Mike Mason, District 3 Gwinnett County School Board member, Dr. Mary Kay Murphy, Gwinnett County Board of Commissioner, Lynette Howard, Georgia House of Representative, Tom Rice and Georgia Senators, Fran Millar and David Shafer. Information: www.upcca.org.
-- Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Gwinnett in personal finance contest
Students from the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology will represent Georgia in the National Personal Financial Challenge in St. Louis on May 2. Teacher Karen McKnight and four students were among 172 teams that competed in the state online competition for the right to go to the finals. -- Nancy Badertscher
Relay Rally to raise funds for cancer fight
Lilburn and the Lilburn Woman’s Club will hold the Lilburn Relay Rally from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 26 at Lilburn City Park. The fundraiser includes an opening ceremony, cancer survivor’s lap and live music.
Money raised will go to the Gwinnett County Relay for Life held in May to support the American Cancer Society’s research and awareness programs.
Register teams at www.lilburnrelayrally.org. -- Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Elected officials attend legislative update
The United Peachtree Corners Civic Association will welcome elected representatives from state, county and city to a Legislative Update meeting 7:30 to 9 p.m. Monday at Christ the King Church, 5575 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners.
Information: www.upcca.org. -- Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Peachtree Corners volunteers needed
The United Peachtree Corners Civic Association is seeking volunteers to help clean city streets 9:30 to 11 a.m. April 20 as part of the Great American Cleanup.
To volunteer, email Debbie Mason at masons4nor@comcast.net with name, phone number and email. Children 12 and older welcome.
All supplies provided. Each volunteer will receive bottled water and a T-shirt. -- Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Camp set for Gwinnett middle school students
Middle schoolers can learn new skills and explore career opportunities at a camp offered June 10-13 through the Grayson High Technical Education Program.
Registration ends May 15. Students can explore careers in culinary arts, digital medial design/animation, robotics, music technology, photography and video broadcast journalism. Morning and afternoon sessions are availble. Students also can register for a full-day robotics class.
Information: 770-554-7083 or www.graysontech.org -- Nancy Badertscher
NORTHSIDE
Roswell to officially open multi-use trail
Roswell will mark completion of the Hembree Road Multi-Use Trail in a ceremony at 10 a.m. April 25 in front of Hembree Springs Elementary.
The new trail connects Hembree Grove and other residential subdivisions along Upper Hembree Road to the elementary and middle schools on Hembree and Elkins Roads as well as Hembree Park. The project replaced 5-foot sidewalks with a multi-purpose path 8-10 feet wide. A pedestrian crosswalk, ramps and signals at two intersections also were upgraded. -- Patrick Fox
Volunteers to clean up Forsyth roadways
Littered Forsyth County roads will get some attention this weekend as Keep Forsyth County Beautiful pitches in with the Great American Cleanup. Volunteers will meet at 9.a.m. Saturday at Fowler Park, 4110 Carolene Way, pickup litter and return to the park for food and fun. Preregistration deadline is today. Information: 770-205-4573 or forsythco.com. -- Mark Woolsey
Milton police to hold golf tournament
The Milton Police Department will hold a “K-9 Support” golf tournament May 1 to raise funds for a new K-9 officer to replace a retired police dog at Echelon Golf Club at 501 Founders Drive in Alpharetta. It includes registration and breakfast at 8 a.m., a shotgun start at 10 a.m., and a reception and awards ceremony at 3 p.m.
Cost to play is $125 per golfer or $500 for a team of four. To register, sponsor or make a donation, call 678-242-2570 or email ara.baronian@cityofmiltonga.us. -- Andria Simmons
Environmental group plans open house
Keep Forsyth County Beautiful will celebrate Earth Day by holding an open house 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Coal Mountain Recycling Convenience Center, 3560 Settingdown Road. Information: www.forsythco.com
-- Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Woodstock Earth Day observance set
The city of Woodstock’s Earth Day observance is set for 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at The Park at City Center, 101 Arnold Mill Road. Electronics, batteries, cellphones, etc. will be collected. Live music, crafts, vendors and games. Information: www.woodstockga.gov
-- Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Forsyth schools set budget timeline
The Forsyth County Board of Education has adopted a timeline for consideration of the 2014 budget. Chief financial officer Dan Jones says initial budget recommendations will be presented May 9, with tentative approval May 16.
Final approval is set for June 20. The fiscal year begins July 1. Last year’s budget was $270,523,482. -- Mark Woolsey
Cherokee aquatic center sets events
The new Cherokee County Aquatic Center will have a ribbon-cutting May 9 and an open house May 11, with both events starting at 10 a.m. Director Kim Baker says the outdoor pool will first be open on the latter date.
The new center will feature two indoor pools and one outdoor, and is located at I-575 and Sixes Road. -- Mark Woolsey for the AJC
ATLANTA
Man, wife, shot during SUV theft
A southwest Atlanta man and his wife were both shot around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday during a gun battle that erupted when they tried to stop three suspects from stealing their sport utility vehicle, police said.
Gunfire was exchanged with the victims and the suspects all shooting, police said. The victim was shot twice in the back, and the victim’s wife was hit in her leg.
The victims, whose names have not been released, were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in stable condition.
-- Mike Morris
Professional basketball league holds tryouts
MGBA, a new professional basketball league, will hold tryouts for men and women 9 a.m to 9 p.m. Saturday and April 27 at the Campus Recreation Center at Georgia Tech.
Top players from the Atlanta area are encouraged to participate in this league, which will have coed teams.
Information: www.mgbainc.com or 800-753-3964. -- Nancy Badertscher
Program to help smokers quit offered
The American Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking clinic, a free program that focuses on specific skills and techniques needed to help smokers quit, will be offered at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, 1968 Peachtree Rd. N.W. Registration is required.
For dates, times and registration, call 404-605-2913.
To find other local programs, call 770-434-5864, or go to www.lungga.org. -- Mea Watkins
Earth Day Celebration returns to Candler Park
SweetWater 420 festival will be Friday to Sunday at Historic Candler Park. The Earth Day celebration will include live musical performances, earth-friendly activities, stand-up comedy acts, food trucks, SweetWater brews, artist market and more. Festival times: Friday, 4:20 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 12:30 to 7 p.m. Admission is free. Drink wristband: $5/ day.
Information: www.sweetwater420fest.com. -- Sandra Marshall Murray
DEKALB
County to hold Green Expo on Saturday
DeKalb County will host a free Green Expo 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s conference center, 495 North Indian Creek Road, near Clarkson.
The expo will feature workshops on conservation and rain barrels; local green businesses demonstrating products and services; and document shredding and electronic recycling.
Information: 404-371-7045 or sustainabledekalb@gmail.com -- April Hunt
CID launches online job site
The Stone Mountain Community Improvement District has launched an online job site www.stonemountaincid.com/jobs designed to highlight firms hiring in the district. The CID also is developing a separate website that will list property available for sale in the area.
Information: 770-409-8100 or www.stonemountaincid.com. -- April Hunt
Retired educators to meet today
The Georgia Retired Educators Association in Decatur and DeKalb will hold its monthly meeting 2 p.m. today, at Decatur First Christian Church fellowship hall, 601 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. Retirees from Decatur and DeKalb schools, both public and private, as well as retirees of other districts who live in the county, are welcome. Information: 770-498-9493. -- April Hunt
Alliance to hold South River cleanups
The South River Watershed Alliance will host four cleanups of the South River 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at four sites: Fleetwood Drive in Constitution Lakes, the intersection of Panola and Snapfinger roads; the Panthersville Road river crossing at Georgia Perimeter College and south of Flat Shoals and Waldrop Roads. Volunteers are neededto help remove trash and debris from the river and its banks.
Questions/register your location: 404-285-3756 or southriverwatershedalliance@gmail.com -- April Hunt
Volunteers needed for clean-up
Volunteers are needed to partner with DeKalb County Commissioner Stan Watson and area businesses in a clean-up initiative 9 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Wesley Chapel and Boring Roads.
Clean-ups will also be done at Rainbow and Columbia drives, between Covington Highway and Flat Shoals Parkway and from Flat Shoals to Snapfinger Road.
Information/to volunteer: 404-371-7031 or jnsimms@dekalbcountyga.gov. -- April Hunt
Race raises awareness of sexual abuse
DeKalb County Commissioner Lee May and Saving Our Children and Families will host a 6K walk later this month to raise awareness of child sexual abuse and exploitation.
The Purple Warriors Walk begins at 8 a.m. April 27 at the Davidson-Arabia Nature Preserve, 3787 Klondike Road, near Lithonia. Registration is $20 per person and $15 for groups of four or more.
Proceeds will benefit SOFAC, a non-profit that works on awareness, prevention and intervention programs on child sexual abuse.
Information/registration: www.savingourchildrenandfamilies.org. -- April Hunt
SOUTHSIDE
Attorney Lockhart elected Forest Park mayor
Attorney David Lockhart, 37, was elected Tuesday as the new mayor of Forest Park, defeating Sparkle Adams who resigned her council seat in February to run for mayor. Lockhart won 462-347. The runoff election was held to replace Corine Deyton who resigned as mayor last year for personal reasons. Lockhart said Tuesday night he wants “pure transparency, open access for everyone and availability for our citizens to give their input to their own city.” Lockhart takes office May 6 and will serve the rest of Deyton’s term which ends in December. -- Tammy Joyner
Fayette to discuss career academy
A town hall meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sams Auditorium in Fayetteville to discuss plans to establish a college and career academy.
The goal is to create a comprehensive program to prepare students for sophisticated technical careers.
The effort is being led by Kim Learnard of the City Council of Peachtree City; contact klearnard@peachtree-city.org. -- Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Henry government access on U-verse
All programming on Henry County’s government access channel, previously available only on Charter cable and online, can now be seen by AT&T U-Verse subscribers.
Henry TV14 televises commission and zoning board meetings as well as certain specialty programs.
Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org. -- Monroe Roark for the AJC
Fayette County Library offers free e-books
Members of the Fayette County Public Library can download free e-books and audiobooks from the library’s website. The books are compatible with Apple, Android, Blackberry, Kindle, Nook and other devices.
Titles are available any time and have no late fees because they expire automatically.
Information:gadd.lib.overdrive.com or contact Jessica Kuhr at 770-461-8841 for details. -- Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Free CPR/AED training in College Park
College Park’s Fire & Emergency Medical Services is offering two free CPR/AED courses 9 a.m. - noon and 1 - 4 p.m. Saturdays and Wednesdays through April 27 in the College Park Public Safety Building, 3737 College St.
The course will focus on situations for work and home, covering the standards of the American Heart Association.
Information: 404-766-8248; tinyurl.com/b5mo9ze. -- Lisa Gibson for the AJC
Henry commission keeps sign moratorium
The Henry County Board of Commissioners has extended its moratorium on the acceptance, review or hearing of applications for sign permits until May 21.
The purpose of the moratorium, originally passed in February, was to give staff time to review and update the Unified Land Development Code and address possible safety and nuisance issues created by lighted digital signage.
Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org. -- Monroe Roark for the AJC
