County by county news for Thursday

The display also has six antebellum gowns and undergarments. The museum at 1 Depot Street is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Information: www.mariettahistory.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Cobb holds class on safety topics

Cobb residents age 55 and older are invited to free classes during June and July on fire and police safety topics.

The classes are taught by Cobb Safety Village staff and will be offered on June 13 and 26; July 10 and 26 at the Safety Village, 1220 Al Bishop Drive in Marietta.

Participation is limited to 25 people per class and reservations are required at 770-528-3270.

Next week’s class runs from 10 a.m. to noon. Janel Davis

Powder Springs farmers market to open

Today is opening dayfor the Powder Springs Farmers Market with entertainment by Ballet North and percussion band Code Monaco.

The downtown market will be open 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays through September on Marietta Street at Pineview Drive.

Information: localharvest.org or Market Coordinator Kim Peterson at ktpeterson@cityofpowdersprings.org or 770-943-8001, ext. 307. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Acworth board to discuss rezoning

The Acworth Board of Aldermen meets 6:30 p.m. today in Conference Room One of City Hall, 4415 Senator Russell Avenue, Acworth.

One of the items on the agenda is approval of an ordinance to rezone 18.63 acres at Baker Road and Regions Drive from C-2 (community retail commercial) to MU (mixed use) to build apartments and commercial space. Jeffry Scott

Austell firefighters out to collect donations

Austell firefighters will collect funds for the Burn Foundation on the next three Fridays.

Central collection points will be at the city’s fire stations at 5890 Mulberry St. and 5300 Austell-Powder Springs Road.

Fire Chief Tim Williams said the city’s firefighters just concluded their Muscular Dystrophy Association boot drive, collecting nearly $3,500.

Information: 770-944-6133 or twilliams@austell.org. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Dream Dash 5K in Kennesaw June 16

Registration is open for the inaugural Dream Dash 5K, on June 16 from 7 to 11 a.m. The starting point is Kennesaw First Baptist Church, 2958 North Main St.

The race will benefit the Kennesaw Teen Center, a non-for-profit community project. General entry fee is $25 for the 5K and $10 for the one mile fun run.

Registration is available online at http://DD5K.com or at any Big Peach Running Company location. Veronica Fields Johnson

GWINNETT

Teen found dead in family hot tub

An 18-year-old was found dead in his family’s hot tub in Buford on Tuesday.

Gwinnett County firefighters were called around 7 p.m. to a house in the 500 block of Emerald Parkway after a family member found the teenager in the bottom of the hot tub. The paramedics performed CPR, but the teen was pronounced dead at Northside Forsyth Hospital.

The medical examiner will be investigating to determine the exact cause of death. Andria Simmons

Seniors get discount on trash service

About 15,000 Gwinnett County seniors will get a 15 percent discount on their trash service beginning in January.

The commission approved the discount Tuesday. It applies to those age 65 and older who meet certain income requirements. Information: 770-822-7141 or gcsolidwaste@gwinnettcounty.com. David Wickert

Citizens Fire Academy class graduates today

Members of Gwinnett County’s 17th Citizens Fire Academy will graduate today.

A graduation ceremony is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services headquarters at 408 Hurricane Shoals Road Nein Lawrenceville. Joel Anderson

Online charter school opens registration

Gwinnett, the state’s largest school system, is offering a summer registration program for its new online charter school. The school expands its services in August to include the middle school level. Registration is open to students who live in Gwinnett and are entering 6th through 12th grade. Summer registration closes June 21. It takes place at the Gwinnett County Online Campus, 2595 Beaver Ruin Road, Norcross from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. More info: gwinnettonlinecampus.com. Nancy Badertscher

Fire destroys home in Doraville

Food left unattended while cooking caused a fire that destroyed a house Tuesday evening in the 6200 block of Susan Lane in Doraville.

A man who was temporarily living at the house while it was under renovation said he was making dinner on the side porch just before the blaze broke out, according to Gwinnett County fire spokesman Capt. Eric Eberly.

After momentarily leaving the area, the man noticed the fire and escaped unharmed.

The house sustained heavy fire damage. A home next-door also sustained radiant heat damage. Andria Simmons

Aurora’s Funny Fridays finale June 15

The Aurora Theatre will hold the season finale of their Funny Fridays series on June 15.

Headline comedian Rob Cleveland will be joined on the main stage by Debra Cole, host of Funny Fridays, and Noah Gardenswartz and Mike Kaiser.

The show will start at 8 p.m. at the Aurora, which is located at 153 Crogan Street. Information: 678-226-6222 or www.auroratheatre.com. Joel Anderson

NORTHSIDE

Milton firefighters collecting donations

Friday will be another day of Milton Fire Department’s boot drive, where firemen solicit cash donations from motorists at intersections to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Having raised more than $23,000 in two days earlier this year, the department seeks to top its 2011 total of more than $60,000 in remaining drive days June 22 and July 6. In five years, Milton’s fire department has raised more than $221,000 for MDA, which uses the money to provide wheelchairs, leg braces, clinic visits, etc. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Johns Creek movie in the park Saturday

Johns Creek’s free Movies in the Park will present the family comedy “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked” at dusk Saturday at Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road.

Pre-show activities, which start around 7 p.m., include an inflatable moonwalk, face painting, children’s activities, give-aways, entertainment, food and drinks. Families are invited to bring blankets. No alcohol or pets are permitted.

The next movie in the park event is scheduled for July 14. Patrick Fox

Alpharetta band presents concert Sunday

The Alpharetta City Band will present its annual Flag Day/Patriotic Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Alpharetta Adult Activity Center at North Park, 13450 Cogburn Road. Due to road work, visitors must access the park via Ga. 9 and Bethany Bend.

The band, established in 1989, will play a medley of patriotic music at the free concert, which is sponsored by the Alpharetta Golden Age Club and the city’s parks department. Refreshments will be provided by the Golden Age Club.

Information: 678-297-6140 or activeadults@alpharetta.ga.us Patrick Fox

Classic show coming to nostalgic theater

The Wizard of Oz is showing from today 7 to July 1 at the Cumming Playhouse, a nostalgic, 184-seat theater made from the auditorium of 89-year-old Cumming Public School at 101 School St. Show times are 8 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. For information, call director Linda Heard, 770-781-9178. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Woodstock opens new downtown parking area

A new 63-space public parking lot has opened in downtown Woodstock, designed to ease parking issues in the burgeoning area.

The Woodstock City Council recently voted to lease the gravel lot off Fowler Street from First Cherokee State Bank for $100 monthly. The lease expires in November, and is self-renewing, but either side can back out after giving notice 15 days in advance. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Reinhardt offers Spanish summer camp

Reinhardt University in Waleska will be holding a Spanish summer camp for kids ages 6-10 June 11-15. Campers will learn Spanish language, customs, songs, dances and games from 9.a.m-1 p.m. each day. Cost: $70 per camper. Info: Guerrero8287@students.reinhardt. edu Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Adamsville health center to open today

Today Fulton County will open the new and expanded Adamsville Regional Health Center, an estimated $8 million project aiming to lessen the county’s health disparities.

The center will serve the Adamsville, Carroll Heights and Center Hill communities.

The grand opening will be at 11 a.m. at 3700 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, S.W., Atlanta. Johnny Edwards

Buckhead business group to meet today

The Buckhead Business Association will hold its weekly breakfast meeting at 7:30 a.m. today at the City Club of Buckhead, 3343 Peachtree Road -- Suite 1850. Sue Sanders, vice president of Strategic Planning & Human Resources with Hospitality Ventures Management Group, will be the featured speaker.

Information: www.buckheadbusiness.org.

Veronica Fields Johnson

Library to showcase eCampus program

Atlanta-Fulton library card holders can learn to use eCampus, the library system’s free online learning system, at a summer kickoff event Friday. Users can get help prepping for the GED, finding a job, becoming a U.S. citizen or learning Spanish or English, all over the Internet.

Friday’s event, which will include demonstrations, starts at 10:30 a.m. in the 4th floor of the Central Library, at One Margaret Mitchell Square in downtown Atlanta. eCampus is at www.afpls.org/ecampus. Johnny Edwards

Fraternities, sororities converge for picnic

Thousands of members of black Greek fraternities and sororities will converge on Atlanta this weekend for the annual Atlanta Greek Picnic

The week of events, which ends Sunday, focuses on social awareness and service. Besides the traditional stepping competitions and fraternal activities, there will also be a voter registration drive on Saturday at Morris Brown College and a community service project with St. Francis Table, Feeding the Homeless Ministries.Ernie Suggs

DEKALB

Decatur to re-examine assessments

Decatur city manager Peggy Merriss said Tuesday DeKalb County will send out 1,500 revised property tax assessments to homeowners with increases deemed to have exceeded “a reasonable standard.” The revisions will go out the week of June 25.

Decatur’s aggregate real estate digest increased by an expected 2.9 percent, but 51 percent of Decatur’s homes had property tax increases by an average of $56,700 which, Merriss said, “definitely surprised me.” The initial deadline for appeal is July 13, but those receiving new assessments will get an extra 45 days. Bill Banks for the AJC

2 students stabbed during fight at school

Two students were stabbed Tuesday afternoon during a fight after summer school classes at a DeKalb County high school, a school spokesman said.

The injured students, whose names were not released, were transported to Grady Memorial Hospital by ambulance for treatment after being stabbed in the parking lot at Columbia High School, according to Walter Woods, spokesman for DeKalb County schools.

The extent of the students’ injuries was not available.

Three students were being charged in the incident, Woods said. Alexis Stevens

History centers presents photo exhibition

The DeKalb History Center is hosting an exhibit on photographs from the 1950s and 1960s, focusing on trends and styles from that era.

The photos are part of the collection from Guy Hayes, a professional freelance photographer in the area. A grant from the Decatur Beer Festival in 2010 helped the center digitize the negatives to allow for display.

The exhibit is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at the center, inside the historic Courthouse on the Square in downtown Decatur.

Information: 404-373-1088 or www.dekalbhistory.org. April Hunt

Stone Mountain CID upgrades signals

DeKalb County and state crews have been working on traffic signal and sign upgrades at intersections in the Stone Mountain community improvement district.

The self-taxing district is funding the shift from wired signals to mast arms in a bid to improve the look of the area.

The CID also is seeking outside grants to install illuminated street signs that bear the group’s logo and branding.

Information: www.stonemountaincid.com. April Hunt

Old Trinity High to get new life soon

Redevelopment of Decatur’s old Trinity High may begin as early as next January. The plan features a 33,000-square foot, U-shaped building, which tentatively includes the school system’s new central office. Also included is a new glass, brick and stucco structure housing the police and municipal courts building.

Total cost is $30 million, surpassing “all the projects we’ve done the last six years combined,” city manager Peggy Merriss said.

Decatur schools would pay $5.9 million, $6.1 million comes from host funding and the general fund balance, and $18 million from 30-year bonds. Bill Banks for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Wolf Creek cancels only scheduled concert

Fulton County’s Wolf Creek Amphitheater has nothing scheduled for the remainder of 2012. The county canceled Saturday’s concert headlined by Angie Stone, saying that it will be rescheduled. A reason wasn’t given, but several officials said it was because of poor ticket sales. The only event held at the south Fulton venue so far this year was the two-day Funk Fest last month, which included a nearly sold-out show headlined by New Edition and -- according to Commissioner Bill Edwards -- earned $68,000. Info on Ticketmaster refunds: 1-800-653-8000. Johnny Edwards

Vincent withdraws from commission race

McDonough City Councilwoman Sandra Vincent, who resigned her seat when she qualified for the District III Henry County Board of Commissioners race, has withdrawn her name from consideration for that post. A Fulton County government employee, Vincent stated that she is prohibited by law from running for a partisan elected office because her position in Fulton is partially funded at the federal level. She would have been the only Democrat in the race, which now consists of four Republicans. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Henry District 5 town hall cancelled

Due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict, the Henry County District 5 Town Hall Meeting that was scheduled for June 23 has been cancelled. Plans for the next Town Hall Meeting will be announced later this month, according to county officials. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Union City seek interns for parks department

Union City’s Parks and Recreation Department’s Youth Athletic Programs are seeking student interns studying Physical Education, Sports Management, Health and Fitness Management who are in need of field experience credit hours. Interns will work on a volunteer basis and would be responsible for coaching at least one youth football and basketball team or one cheerleading squad. Please submit resumes to Jaye Pearson at jpearson@unioncityga.org. Sandra Marshall Murray

Hampton’s market is back for the summer

Hampton’s weekly downtown market is returning for the summer. Shoppers can visit 2 West Main Street every Friday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. for fresh produce, jams, honey, breads and sweets, as well as arts and crafts. Contact Candy Franklin at 770-946-4306 for more information. Monroe Roark for the AJC

Camp 911 offered to kids in south Fulton

Registration has opened for Fulton County’s Camp 911, a camp for children ages 9-12 that will be held July 23-27. It will last from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the Public Safety Training Center at 3025 Merk Road, near the Wolf Creek Amphitheater.

Campers will learn about fire safety, first aid and crime prevention. Sessions will also cover bullying, self-defense and gang resistance. Children must live in unincorporated south Fulton or be the child of a county employee to be eligible. Applications are at www.fultonpolice.org. Johnny Edwards