County by county news for Thursday

Cobb library to open Sundays

Cobb County’s Switzer Library at 266 Roswell St. off the Marietta Square will open 1-5 p.m. Sundays starting Sept. 7. The library will continue to open Sundays through May 17, reflecting the school year calendar for Cobb County and Marietta City Schools. Cobb’s 15 branch libraries will remain closed on Sundays. Information: www.cobbcat.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Glavine to throw first pitch in Acworth

National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Tom Glavine will throw out the first pitch 10 a.m. Saturday in Acworth to raise funds for a ball field and sports league for special needs children and young adults. The Acworth Police Department’s annual “Covering the Bases” will start 7 p.m. Friday-7 p.m. Saturday at the Acworth Sports Complex, 4000 S. Main St. Funds raised maintain the ball field, equipment and programs for athletes. Information: www.coveringthebases.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Expect crowds at Taste of Kennesaw

More than 25,000 are expected to attend the Taste of Kennesaw 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday on Main Street and Depot Park downtown. More than 30 local restaurants will sell samples for $1-$4. Activities include a Kid’s Zone and music. Acoustic musician Scott Thompson will play from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and the Mustangs will perform at 6 p.m. Parking will be at Adams Park and First Baptist Church of Kennesaw. Information: www.kennesawbusiness.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Powder Springs wants to hire police officer

Powder Springs is seeking to hire a part-time police officer.

Sept. 15 is the application deadline.

The officer would be paid $17.48 per hour.

Information: cityofpowdersprings.org/index.aspx?NID=119.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Austell considering tag reader for police

Austell City Council may vote to buy a tag reader 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 2716 Broad St. SW. The $23,487 device has been in use for free during the past month by the police department from Applied Intelligent Systems.

The reader will alert an officer when a vehicle tag on any side of the police vehicle registers, for instance, as stolen or an Amber Alert.

If approved, this amount would pay for the tag reader and the first annual subscription fee from the city’s contingency fund since the item is unbudgeted. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Residents to serve on budget team

Four Gwinnett residents have volunteered to help on the budget review team setting priorities and making recommendations: Mark Brock, a returning review team veteran and building maintenance director for Gwinnett County Public Schools, Burt Manning, a retired real estate appraiser and assessment administrator who has worked in six Georgia counties, Roger Willis, a retired district manager from Jackson EMC and Latabia Woodward, who works as a strategic planning principal for Georgia Power. The Chairman’s 2015 budget proposal will be available prior to a public hearing in December. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

ADMA Biocenters celebrates expansion

ADMA BioCenters executives will join Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development and local officials for a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. todayat 6290 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Suite 210, Norcross. The more than 15,000 square foot expansion will increase the facility’s capacity to process donors. The expansion represents a $1.5 million investment and will add 20 new positions. Karen Huppertz

County displays Berlin Wall section

A four-ton chunk of the 100-mile long Berlin Wall is now on display outside the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville. It was previously displayed in front of Suwanee City Hall. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Community garden gets hand from scouts

A grandfather’s wish resulted in six new, elevated garden beds at the Community Garden @ Snellville Saturday. The new planters are part of an Eagle Scout project by 17-year-old Brookwood High School student Michael Habetler who recruited 12 fellow Scouts to help. Habetler’s recently passed away grandfather, an avid gardener, left him $250 to be used for a gardening project.

Information: snellvillecommunitygarden.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Wine festival benefits Annandale Village

The Suwanee Wine Festival 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 4 at Town Center Park will benefit Annandale Village, a non-profit organization providing care and life assistance to adults with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries.

Admission: $55 Designated Driver tickets: $10

Information: suwaneewinefest.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Input sought in Peachtree Corners

The Peachtree Corners Livable Center Initiative is seeking input on a planning study made possible by a grant awarded by The Atlanta Regional Commission.

The planning process is focused on creating a long-term blueprint for how the Peachtree Corners’ Business District will grow and thrive as the city’s civic, commercial, and cultural center.

The effort will conclude in early 2015 and resulting plan will serve as a guide for city leadership as they make important decisions on economic development, land use and transportation over the next decade and beyond. Survey: www.surveymonkey.com/s/PTC_LCI_Survey. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Roadwork may cause Johns Creek delays

Johns Creek officials are warning of possible construction delays on Medlock Bridge Road through February. Crews are set this week to start extending the southbound right turn lane between State Bridge Road and Old Alabama Road and the northbound left turn lane from Medlock Bridge Road onto Medlock Crossing Parkway. Work will be underway 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. weekdays, but lane closures won’t be allowed during the morning and afternoon rush hours. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Johns Creek weighs FY 2015 budget

Johns Creek officials will hold public hearings at a 5 p.m. work session Monday on the city’s proposed $68.9 million ($49.9 million general fund) budget for fiscal 2015. Public hearings will be held during the 7 p.m. Council meetings Monday and Sept. 22. Council is set to approve the budget following the Sept. 22 hearing. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Hospital donates heart devices in Cherokee

Northside Hospital-Cherokee has donated automatic external defibrillators to the last six Cheroke schools not equipped with them: Johnson and Boston elementary schools and the Little River Preschool in Woodstock, Ralph Bunch Preschool in Canton and Oak Grove Elementary School and Oak Grove Preschool in Acworth. The portable devices are designed to restart a stopped or malfunctioning heart.Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Alpharetta inks mutual aid deal

The Alpharetta City Council has approved an agreement with Johns Creek where each city would automatically dispatch fire rescue units if the other city had emergency equipment or personnel closer to a fire, medical call or vehicle accident than the original jurisdiction, cutting response time. The agreement is set to go into effect on or about Sept. 8. The Council also accepted a $1.3 million state local maintenance and improvement grant for the extension of Northwinds Parkway. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Guard center plans family event

The Georgia Army National Guard’s Cumming Regional Readiness Center will hold its second annual Community Day this week. It’s set from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Saturday at the center, 100 Aquatic Circle, Cumming. Local businesses will be featured, along with military, police and fire units. Activities will include children’s games and learning activities, military displays, arts and crafts and a scavenger hunt. More information: 770-313-6546 or on Facebook.Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth kicks off reading program

The Forsyth County Public Library will kick off the Forsyth Reads Together program, where the community reads, discusses and has events involving the same book. Author Lisa See will discuss 2014’s pick, “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,” at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming. Admission is free. Other book discussions and performances are also set. Information: www.forsythpl.org Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Zoo Atlanta receives project funding

Zoo Atlanta has received $65,000 from the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority for bio-filtration systems for the otters and flamingos exhibits, and upgrades in the picnic area.

The bio-filtration systems will provide cleaner water quality for the animals. Improvements in the picnic area address drainage and future stormwater management.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Colleges offer advice for boys, men

Professors from Morehouse College’s Research Institute, along with national experts from six other university-based policy centers, have released a report outlining 15 federal policy recommendations aimed at improving educational experiences and outcomes for young males of color.

The report builds on President Barack Obama’s $200 million, five-year “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative to help this same youth group.

Among the report’s recommendations are a requirement that colleges implement an early alert system to identify students needing extra help, the provision of professional development and training courses for educators to work with these students, and the creation of a tracking system for schools from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade whose suspension and special education rates are higher for boys of color than other students. Janel Davis

Free ‘Bearing Witness’ talk Sunday

Tosia Schneider, a Holocaust survivor from Poland and author will speak at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum, 1440 Spring St. NW.

An Atlanta resident, she will speak as a part of the “Bearing Witness: Unforgettable Stories from the Holocaust” series that is provided free through a grant from the Sara Giles Moore Foundation.

Information: thebreman.org, 678-222-3700.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

DEKALB

Ebola discussion tonight

Emory University professor Neil Shulman M. D. is the featured panelist discussing the Ebola crisis 5 to 8:30 p.m. tonight at the Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore Street, Decatur.

The dialogue will center on strategies to improve the crisis in West Africa and supporting the cause through the provision of supplies and advanced medical research.

Information: Dazia Fumbah at 470-257-2600 or ebola@ourseedstomorrow.org. Bill Banks for the AJC

Chamblee police say van used in crimes

Chamblee police believe a stolen 1998 Ford Super Wagon was used in two incidents. The most recent was Aug. 27 during an alleged attempted burglary at The Universal Church on Dresden Drive.

Police seek a male suspect in a Doraville burglary using the passenger van on Aug. 23.

The van with Georgia license no. AEI208 was stolen Aug. 12 from the Church of Atlanta on Shallowford Road. Anyone with information should call investigator B. Quinlan, 770-986-5009. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Reps to hear from residents at town halls

DeKalb County’s state representatives are holding a series of three town hall meetings in October.

The events will take place 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 13 at Brookhaven City Hall, Oct. 21 at Maloof Auditorium in Decatur and Oct. 28 at Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in Decatur. Mark Niesse

Developmental disabilities workshop

Workshops for families living with developmental disabilities will be offered through November at Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, in Dunwoody.

All About Developmental Disabilities organization hosts the workshops covering dating, employment, life experiences and planning for future needs. Sessions are held 7 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday (Sept.4), Sept. 18, Oct. 2, Oct. 23, Oct. 30 and Nov. 6.

Information: 404-881-9777.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Georgia Perimeter College celebrates 50

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Georgia Perimeter College, which opened in 1964 as DeKalb College.

The school was the first and only public two-year college in the state controlled by a local school district. The college joined the University System of Georgia 22 years later, and was renamed GPC in 1997.

GPC has grown to include five campuses—Alpharetta, Clarkston, Decatur, Dunwoody and Newton County—and has grown from 763 enrolled students at its founding, to more than 21,000 current students. The college is also the state university system’s largest online program.

The anniversary celebration kicks off Sept. 5 during fall convocation with guest speaker Houston Davis, executive vice chancellor for the University System. GPC administrators will also present the annual state-of-the-college address and a college update.

The convocation begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Clarkston Campus gymnasium, and will be followed by a picnic.

Janel Davis

SOUTHSIDE

Repaving on Highway 74 in Peachtree City has begun

The Georgia Department of Transportation has begun repaving a nine-mile section of Ga. Hwy. 74 North from Aberdeen Drive in Peachtree City toward Tyrone. The project is expected to take about 45 days to complete and will be mostly done at night. Drivers should expect delays and rough pavement in the meantime, and use caution when workers are present. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

MARTA at Saturday community meeting

MARTA chief executive Keith Parker will discuss Clayton County’s upcoming vote to join the transportation system 10 a.m. noon Saturday at the South Clayton Recreation Center, 1837 McDonough Road, Hampton The meeting will be followed by a job fair 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Information: 770-473-5465 or Steven.VanDyke@claytoncountyga.gov. Tammy Joyner

Forest Park GEARS up for safety

Forest Park has joined the Georgia Electronic Accident Reporting System. GEARS improves traffic safety, cuts costs and provides more timely and accurate filing of crash reports in the city.

It also helps police pinpoint problem areas.

To get a free copy of a crash report, log onto www.BuyCrash.com, enter the information on the card given to you by the officer at the scene. Tammy Joyner

For Henry race fans, it pays to spend

The Henry County Convention and Visitors Bureau handed out prizes to 268 people who could prove they spent more than $25 in Henry County during race week. Race fans turned in more than $52,000 in receipts from shopping in Henry County.

More than half of the people were from out of town, some from as far as Canada. People who visited the CVB booth with their receipts received T-shirts, coller bags and other items. Henry CVB has been doing its “receipt redemption” program for five years.

Tammy Joyner

Fayette following new school testing

The Fayette County Public School System is reminding parents that standardized testing will be different starting this school year.

The former CRCT and EOCT tests are being replaced by the new Georgia Milestones Assessment.

Because of the changes, student advancement in third, fifth and eighth grades will not be affected by this year’s scores, and tests for high schoolers will be weighted differently. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Cain to broadcast at McDonough Square

Former presidential candidate Herman Cain will visit the McDonough Square Sept. 12. He’ll host his political talk show from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The conservative talk show host will take questions and offer political advice.

The event is free and open to the public. Bring blankets and chairs. The show airs on News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB. Tammy Joyner