County by county news for Thursday

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Kennesaw seeks development feedback

Kennesaw will hold a drop-in design workshop on downtown development 10 a.m.-4 p.m and a open house 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Depot, 2829 Cherokee St. The Livable Centers study will develop a plan for the downtown future. A$38 million residential and retail development downtown will open in 2015, and the council has approved designs for a $20 million, mixed-use development near City Hall. Information: www.kennesaw.ga-gov.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Public safety breakfast Oct. 6

Cobb’s public safety personnel will be honored at the 20th annual Public Safety Appreciation Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 6 at the Cobb Galleria Centre, Two Galleria Parkway, Atlanta.

This Cobb Chamber’s First Monday breakfast also will kick off Public Safety Appreciation Week.

Online registration and refunds end at noon Oct. 2.

Information: cobbchamber.org/events/First-Monday-Breakfast-4415/details.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Marietta schools to hold book fair

Marietta City Schools will hold its 12th annual book fair, Marietta Reads, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday in Glover Park on the Marietta Square. The event, which promotes reading and literacy, will include a book fair, book costume characters and drama and dance performances. The Smyrna Public Library will host a Smyrna Reads event at 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Tolleson Park, 3590 King Springs Road.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Anonymous drug take-back Saturday

The Powder Springs Police Department will participate in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 1114 Richard D. Sailors Parkway.

The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

Information: cityofpowdersprings.org/Blog.aspx?IID=77#item.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Self-Defense seminar for women

The Powder Springs Police Department will host a free Self-Defense Seminar 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 6 at Compton Elementary School, 3450 New Macland Road, Powder Springs.

Women may learn about basic self defense, the seven most effective body parts to target, weapons of opportunity, general safety and mental conditioning. Information: cityofpowdersprings.org/blog.aspx?iid=74, Maj. John Robison, jrobison@cityofpowdersprings.org or 770-257-1384.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Berkeley Lake lifts tree removal moratorium

Berkeley Lake city council adopted revisions to their Tree Preservation and Replacement Ordinance ending a moratorium on acceptance of tree removal permits. Requirements include an increased minimum tree density from 32 to 40 tree density units per acre. Trees removed must be replaced with the equivalent tree density units. Tree replacement can be accomplished in three ways: planting on-site, planting on approved off-site location, and/or payment to the city tree fund at the rate of $400/TDU for any trees that cannot be replaced by planting. Information: www.berkeley-lake.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Businesses targeted in financial scam

Someone claiming to be from the City of Lawrenceville has been calling businesses telling them they owe for their utility bill and need to make a payment at a third party location to prevent a disconnection of service.

Lawrenceville is reminding citizens no one from the city will initiate phone calls asking for bill payments to a third party.

Payments made to the city should be through the secure website at www.LawrencevilleGa.org or in person at City Hall.

Information: 770-963-2414. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Briscoe Park plan meeting set

Snellville residents are invited to provide input on upcoming plans to improve T.W. Briscoe Park 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Briscoe Park office, 2500 Sawyer Parkway. A current $2 million upgrade is slated to continue into March and includes two illuminated adult slow-pitch and girls fast-pitch softball fields, a new building housing concessions, restrooms and storage, a playground and a small pavilion area. Information: www.snellville.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Volunteers wanted for pond cleanup

The City of Norcross, Sustainable Norcross and Rivers Alive will sponsor a waterway cleanup beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at Pinnacle Pond. Volunteers should dress in long pants, long sleeve shirts, and closed-toe waterproof shoes or boots. Information: jmgaynor303@gmail.com, www.riversalive.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Cops and Robbers Run set for Oct. 11

The Cops and Robbers 5K and 10K runs Oct. 11 at Briscoe Park, Snellville, will benefit the Snellville Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association and the Gwinnett Sunrise Rotary Club. The 10K begins at 8 a.m.; 5K at 9 a.m. Pre-registration fee of $25 ends Oct. 4. Day of registration fee: $35. Information: www.copsandrobbersrun.net.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Redevelopment topic of business forum

Partnership Gwinnett hosts a redevelopment forum 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 16 at Studio Movie Grill, 3850 Venture Drive, Duluth. Keynote speaker Ellen Dunham Jones from Georgia Tech will discuss ‘Sustaining Vibrant Communities through Redevelopment.’ Information: www.partnershipgwinnett.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Cherokee County car wreck claims one

One person was killed in a Tuesday afternoon accident on Ga. 372 in Ball Ground. Cherokee Fire and Emergency Services officials say a red Hyundai and a black Lexus collided shortly after 5 p.m. The driver of the Hyundai, Douglas Perry Patterson, 38, of Douglasville, was dead at the scene. The other driver, Alexamdra Johansen, 23, from Jasper, was taken to North Fulton Medical Center in critical condition. The Georgia State Patrol is investigating. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Milton warns of phone scam

Milton police say a phone scammer has called a number of city residents claiming to be a Fulton County sheriff’s deputy, The scammer tells residents they’ve missed grand jury duty and that a warrant is out for their arrest. The caller then offers to take a payment from them in lieu of jail time. Police say the sheriff’s office doesn’t operate in that manner, and that anybody getting such a call should contact Milton police at 678-242-2570.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth to consider animal control changes

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 5 p.m. Oct. 2 in the Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 E. Main St., Cumming, on an amendment to the county’s animal control ordinance. The proposal would require those adopting animals from the shelter to agree to have them sterilized within 30 days. It also sets a series of fees, including an adoption fee of $85. The recommendations follow the opening of the county’s new animal shelter in late August. Before that, officials had contracted out shelter operations. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Critical incident training set

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and Forsyth County Schools will conduct a critical incident training scenario to test multi-agency response capabilities and the comprehensive school safety plan. It’s set for 1 p.m. until early evening Friday at South Forsyth High School, 585 Peachtree Parkway, Cumming. School safety, fire department and EMS personnel will also take part, as will more than 130 student volunteers, teachers and parents.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Lanier cleanup set this weekend

About 1,000 people are expected to turn out for the Lake Lanier Association’s Shore Sweep 2014 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday . Volunteers will report to ten locations across Forsyth, Hall, Gwinnett and Dawson counties. Both on-land and water volunteers are needed, with water helpers requested to provide their own craft. Organizers say about 30 tons of trash and debris is collected annually. Information: lakelanier.org Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Church sets art exhibit at Ventulett Gallery

An opening reception 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Ventulett Gallery at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church, 805 Mt. Vernon Highway NW, Atlanta will debut “Along the Way,” a painting and metalworks exhibit by Georgia artist Richard Jacobus.

It’s set to run until Oct. 23.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Fox Theatre celebrates 40th anniversary

Fox Theatre celebrates the 40th anniversary of the “Save the Fox” campaign through spring 2015.

The celebration titled “The Legend Lives On” includes several shows such as performances by Jeff Foxworthy and a musical tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd, who performed a 1976 benefit concert and recorded the album “One More From the Road” at the Fox.

A gala event will be held next March followed by a block party in June.

The Fox was in poor condition in the early 1970s and facing demolition. The “Save the Fox” campaign was born from citizens, businesses and city officials who fought to save the landmark.

Information: www.foxtheatre.org/thelegend.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Parks system retains national accreditation

The Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation has retained its accreditation status by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies.

It’s the highest honor nationally for a parks system. Agencies must meet Commission standards, complete a self-assessment report and under go an on-site visitation and review for the designation.

City officials will formally accept the reaccreditation in October at a National Recreation and Parks Association conference in Charlotte, N.C.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Breman Museum holiday closings

Jewish holiday closings are continuing at The Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum, 1440 Spring St. NW.

The museum will be closed Friday and Oct. 9, 10, 16 and 17 with 3 p.m. closings on Oct. 8 and 15.

Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays.

Information: thebreman.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

DEKALB

Blazer gives details for new Farmers Market

Robert Blazer, founder and president of Your DeKalb Farmers Market, shared a few details of the market’s future plans Wednesday after speaking to the Avondale Estates Men’s Club.

The business is currently grading 75 acres just northwest of its current facility. Eventually it will feature a new main building, projected to be 1000 feet long, 500 feet wide, with an upper-floor mezzanine level roughly 150,000 square feet (for production) and a first floor main level for customers that’ll be a half million square feet—the current Farmer’s Market is 500 feet long and 75,000 square feet.

There will be two additional entrances, one further west towards Decatur from the current one on Ponce De Leon Avenue, and another on DeKalb Industrial Way.

Blazer said grading should be finished in the spring and that construction should begin next fall, though he wouldn’t project when it would open.

He founded the market in 1977 and moved into its current 110-acre facility just northwest of Avondale in 1986. Bill Banks for the AJC

Woodland town hall near PDK

North DeKalb Greenspace Alliance will hold a town hall meeting to support preservation of the undeveloped woodland across from Peachtree DeKalb Airport 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Clairmont Baptist Church at 3542 Clairmont Road.

The group seeks to have the 28-plus acres of woodland recognized as a permanent passive green space.

The trees have served as barrier against airport noise and pollution for surrounding neighborhoods, according to William Murray, an Alliance member.

DeKalb and Broohaven officials were invited to attend.

Information: www.apgreenspace.info.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Sign-up open for volunteer day

Registration for “Clean, Shine, Fix-Up Dunwoody” day is open. Volunteers and city staff will plant trees, rake leaves and attend to general maintenance at Brook Run Park, 9 a.m.-noon, Nov. 1, 4770 North Peachtree Road, in front of the playground area.

Last year, volunteers in partnership with Trees Atlanta planted 300 trees at the park.

Extra cleaning supplies and tools such as gloves, clippers and shovels are welcome. Bring your own water and snacks.

Information: dunwoodyga.gov.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Volunteers needed to remove illegal signs

DeKalb County is reaching out to community groups for its second annual “Sick of Signs” campaign to remove illegal signs that blight neighborhoods and roadways.

Volunteers are invited to join code enforcement staff 9 a.m. Oct. 4 at Walmart, 5935 Memorial Drive.

“Sick of Signs” is a national campaign of the American Association of Code Enforcement, a nonprofit that promotes code compliance through certification for industry professionals.

Information: 404-687-3947.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

College Park installs new pedestrian bridge

College Park public works installed a prefabricated pedestrian bridge on Herschel Road between Washington Road and Camp Creek Parkway, Wednesday. It arrived on a flatbed truck and was lifted into place by a crane.

Herschel Road was closed to traffic, except for residents and scheduled to reopen by Thursday. The new bridge will be open to pedestrians in about two weeks and is expected to improve foot and bicycle traffic. The old bridge does not have a sidewalk.

Information: 404-669-3778. Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Union City begins roadwork

Resurfacing of Dodson Road in Union City will start Oct. 6, weather permitting, and continue through Oct. 27. Motorists will be allowed on the road during the project, however traffic will be controlled.

Separately, Buffington Road is closed to through traffic. Construction of the Buffington Road Bridge is ongoing and scheduled to be complete by July 2015. A detour map is available at www.unioncityga.org.

Adrianne Murchison for the AJC

Fayette to consider school pay raises

Budget enhancements being considered by the Fayette County Board of Education include a 1 percent pay raise for salaried employees. The board is discussing how to add $3 million worth of staffing and program provisions that were cut in recent years, based on improved tax revenue. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Market Day back to Fayetteville

Downtown Fayetteville’s Market Day will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Lane Brown Gazebo, 140 Stonewall Ave. West. Vendors will feature homemade and home-grown products, and the Gospel Community Church will provide music. Vendors interested in the Oct. 25 Fall Festival Market Day should call 770-719-4173.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Art committee meets Monday

The next meeting of the Fayette County Public Art Committee will be at 7 p.m. Monday in the Public Meeting Room at 140 Stonewall Ave. West. The public is invited to attend as the committee continues plans for commissioning art projects.Jill Howard Church for the AJC

‘Henrietta Lacks lecture today

A Morehouse School of Medicine professor who introduced a writer to the family of a woman with “immortal” cells will speak at Clayton State University 4 p.m. today.

Dr. Roland A. Pattillo will talk about “Stem Cell Biology and the Henrietta Lacks Legacy.” Henrietta Lacks is the subject of the book,”The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” about a deceased black woman whose cells - known as HeLa cells - were used to develop the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, in vitro fertilization, and other medical advancements during the past 60 years. Patillo introduced the book’s author Rebecca Skloot to the Lacks family. The book is part of Clayton State’s First-Year Common Reading Program. Patillo, co-founder and chair of the Annual HeLa Women’s Health Conference at Morehouse College, is a major national voice in women’s health. Tammy Joyner