COBB
Austell launches redesigned city website
Austell has a new city website at austellga.gov with increased access to iPhones and iPads and ongoing redesign and video options planned.
By late September, online payment services will be offered for traffic citations and bills for utility, property tax and stormwater.
Comments are invited by email to webmaster@austellga.gov.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Marietta invites kids to read in square
Marietta City Schools will host its tenth “Marietta Reads” event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in Glover Park.
The event, created to encourage children to read, will include a book fair, celebrity readers and drama and dance performances.
Information on the event, contact Jill Sims at 770-422-3500 ext. 228. Daarel Burnette II
Volunteer program seeks mentors
Cobb Mentoring Matters, a year-old volunteer mentoring program, is seeking mentors for this school year’s Cobb students. Mentors go through an orientation and background check and are paired with a student at a local school. Mentors are asked to meet weekly with students.
Information: 678-594-7582 ext. 229 or www.cobbmentoringmatters.org. Daarel Burnette II
Palmer Middle School seeks craft vendors
Palmer Middle School, 690 N Booth Rd. NW in Kennesaw, is looking for craft and business vendors in metro Atlanta to participate in the Craft-A-Palooza Holiday Craft & Business Bazaar.
The event will take place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 3.
For vendor applications, contact Fallbazaar@palmer.ptsamail.com. Kenneth Musisi
Marietta to host YWCA fun run
Northwest Georgia’s YWCA will host a Track or Treat Fun Run on Oct. 21 at Marietta High School. The event, the organization’s first, will raise funds for their Sheltering Hands Domestic Violence Shelter.
Registration begins at 1:45 p.m. and the race will start at 2:30 p.m.
Organizers are encouraging participants to wear their Halloween costumes.
Information, visit www.youthtrackortreat.com or call 770-427-2902. Daarel Burnette II
Police investigating
sexual misconduct
Marietta Police are looking into allegations that a man had inappropriate contact with young female children at White Water amusement park.
Numerous witnesses identified the suspect as a white-haired, older white male between the ages of 50 and 70.
The man was seen having inappropriate contact with young female children in the wave pool in late August and early September.
Police urge parents to question female children who went to the park during that time if anyone behaved suspiciously toward them.
Anyone with information should call detectives at 770-794-5363 or the Marietta Anonymous Tip Line at 770-794-6990. Andria Simmons
GWINNETT
Suwanee to roll out emergency notification
Suwanee residents may sign up for the service at www.suwanee.com to receive notification about emergency weather, emergency situations (such as a gas leak or terrorism threat), and general notification about events.
Residents must indicate how they wish to be contacted (cell phone call, text or email) and what kinds of information – weather and/or non-emergency notifications – they wish to receive. Residents can also opt out of emergency calls by completing a “do not call” form.
Andria Simmons
Children’s author to speak Saturday
Children’s author Carmen Deedy will speak at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Lawrenceville branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library, 1001 Lawrenceville Highway.
A native of Cuba, Deedy came to the United States as a refugee in 1964 and grew up in Decatur. She has been writing for children for more than 20 years. Illustrator Michael White also will appear at the free event.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Books will be available for purchase and signing. For more information, visit www.gwinnettfallintothearts.org or call 770-978-5154. David Wickert
GDOT open house on highway project
The Georgia Department of Transportation will host an open house on plans to widen Ga. 13/Buford Highway 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at Buford City Hall, 2300 Buford Highway.
The department plans to widen Buford Highway from Sawnee Avenue in Buford to south of Ga. 347 in Hall County. Department engineers will discuss the project.
Send comments to Glenn Bowman, Georgia DOT, 600 W. Peachtree St. NW, 16th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30308. Comments must be received by Oct. 18.
David Wickert
Over 200 vendors at Lilburn Daze
The city of Lilburn hosts the Lilburn Daze 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Oct. 13 at Lilburn City Park, behind the Calvin Fitchett Municipal Complex featuring more than 200 booths. Proceeds go to fund projects and community improvement activities. Admission, parking and shuttle service are free. Arlinda Smith Broady
Last city-wide garage sale is Oct. 20
Lilburn’s last city-wide garage sale for season will be 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Oct. 20 on Main Street. Spaces are available at $15 each. Sellers may set up at 8 a.m. Applications and a layout map are available at cityoflilburn.com. Information: Melissa Penate, 770-921-2210 or mpenate@cityoflilburn.com
Arlinda Smith Broady
Norcross reaches out to help Copeland
Like her hometown of Snellville, Norcross is hosting a fundraiser for Aimee Copland, the college student who suffered from flesh-eating bacteria. Art for Aimee: A Community Reaches Out to Help is 6 - 8 p.m. Saturday at the Norcross Welcome Center & Museum, 189 Lawrenceville St.
Information: 678-421-2049 or email ckitchen@norcrossga.net.
Arlinda Smith Broady
NORTHSIDE
Five arrested in Cherokee offender sweep
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office with other agencies arrested three people in the country illegally. They were: Juan A. Cerano-Montez 37, wanted on a bench warrant and for illegal reentry into the county; Juan Manuel Lucio-Gonzales, a known Zetas gang member wanted in Texas for gun smuggling and assault on a public servant; and Martin Heredia-Castro, who was wanted in Kennesaw on traffic charges. They also caught Cameron Lee Sengchanh, 23, and Blas Jorge Granato, 37, both wanted for probation violations in Cherokee County. Andria Simmons
Warriors’ author visits Alpharetta school
One of the authors of the popular Warriors series visited Alpharetta Elementary School.
Gillian Philip is a co-writer of the series that’s published under the pen name Erin Hunter. She spoke to third and fourth grade students about her new series, The Survivors, and introduced the first book of the series, “The Empty City.”
Students were read an excerpt from the book by Philip. She also spoke to them about writing and answered questions. Nancy Badertscher
Cherokee third-grader wins gold in horse show
Brody Wright, a third-grader at Knox Elementary School in Cherokee County won two gold medals in the 2012 Georgia Special Olympics Horse Show held at the National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, August 23-26. The Show featured more than 300 athletes from all across the state competing to be Georgia’s best in showmanship, dressage, English and Western riding, and riding trails.
Entering three events in his first-ever competition, Brody won gold medals for the Bethany’s Equine & Aquatic Therapy Services, Inc. team from Mariposa Farms in Cherokee County. Jeffry Scott
Cherokee school stages fund raiser
Oak Grove Elementary Fine Arts Academy in Cherokee County is hosting a “Run for the Arts!” fundraiser at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 20 at Etowah High School, 6565 Putnam Ford Rd., Woodstock.
Pre-race day entry fees for the 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run are $25 for adults, $20 for students, and $12 for the kid’s 1 mile race.
Information: portal.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/oakgrove-es/default.aspx. To sign up as a corporate sponsor, call 770-974-6682. Jeffry Scott
Night focused on fun, service
Families from Fulton County’s River Eves Elementary participated Friday night in the annual Family Fun Service Night, a free event hosted by the River Eves PTA.
This year’s “road trip” theme inspired students to dress as tourists or wear their favorite destination t-shirt, as they danced to their favorite tunes. The PTA provided free pizza, drinks and desserts.
The event includes a service component, which this year benefits Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite.
Students brought prepackaged snacks, bottled water and travel-sized toiletries to donate for children and families who unexpectedly have to stay overnight at the hospital.
Nancy Badertscher
ATLANTA
Author Toobin to speak at Atlanta Press Club
Jeffrey Toobin, legal analyst and journalist, will speak at the Atlanta Press Club Newsmaker Luncheon on today at The Commerce Club, 191 Peachtree Street, Atlanta.
Registration will be 11:30 a.m., remarks and Q&A at 12:25 p.m., and book signing at 1:10 p.m.
Admission: $30 members and $40 nonmembers.
Information: http://tinyurl.com/8cqyz6u.
Kenneth Musisi
Young Middle seeks council members
Atlanta’s Young Middle is looking for two parents to fill vacancies on the local school council.
The school is accepting applications for the positions until Friday.
An election will be held Oct. 2 and Oct. 3.
Information: www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/young
Jaime Sarrio
National Voter Registration at Capitol
On National Voter Registration Day, metro Atlanta residents will be able to register to vote, get information on state voting rights laws, hear from elected officials and obtain voter ID at the Fulton County Board of Elections from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Georgia State Capitol, 206 Washington St., S.W.
The event is part of the national “For the People” Voter Protection Initiative, hosted locally by Congressional Black Caucus members Reps. John Lewis, David Scott and Hank Johnson and several non-profit civic engagement organizations. Veronica Fields Johnson
Steal Away Home through Saturday
The Steal Away Home Gallery, honoring President Barack Obama for the 2012 re-election campaign, is ongoing 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Saturday at 1226 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.
The gallery showcases The Obama Room and 11 rooms with black memorabilia.
Donations are welcomed. Groups may visit by appointment.
Information: 404-753-1013. Kenneth Musisi
DEKALB
Improvements coming to Buford Highway
The Georgia Department of Transportation in the next few weeks will begin a $11.5 million project for pedestrian and intersection improvements along Buford Highway in Dekalb County.
The project extends 2.3 miles from Lenox Road to Afton Lane. It will include six pedestrian hybrid beacons, a raised concrete median to provide a safety island for pedestrians, improvements at several intersections including ramps for disabled access and pedestrian countdown timers, and sidewalks on both sides of the roadway.
The project is expected to be copmleted by April 30, 2015.
Andria Simmons
Art contest to promote Brookhaven cityhood
The governor’s commission on Brookhaven will host a student art contest this fall to promote awareness of the new city.
Commission member Jed Beardsley is organizing the “Spirit Art” contest, which will be open to children in the Brookhaven’s 10 schools and judged by school leaders.
Students from Brookhaven who attend schools outside the new city can also enter artwork in an open category, which will be judged by a community arts group.
The contest deadline has yet to be announced. However, finalists are expected to be displayed at the first City Council meetings when the city begins operations in December.
April Hunt
DeKalb names new information officer
Gwinnett County’s former IT director has been named the new chief information office officer in DeKalb.
John Matelski has more than 25 years of experience in the information technology field, including work in both the private and public sector.
Matelski takes over from Curtis Rawlings, the assistant information officer who has served as interim director of DeKalb’s department for more than a year.
Matelski starts in the new role on Sept. 24 at an annual salary of $145,896.
April Hunt
Brookhaven gets first city office
The governor’s commission on Brookhaven recently accepted a donation of a former home to be a short-term office for Georgia’s newest city.
Thomas Properties and the Peachtree Group donated the home at 2536 Caldwell Road as commission offices until Dec. 21. The space already has office furniture and utilities, and the two companies will carry insurance and liability for the site.
The commission also accepted $1,000 in donations, split evenly between the Citizens for North DeKalb and the Brookhaven Community Connection, to cover basic supplies at the site.
April Hunt
DeKalb CEO in foreclosure roundtable
DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis participated in a roundtable discussion Monday 9/24 on how to help homeowners avoid foreclosure.
In addition to Ellis, the Southeast Regional Administrator of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development was at the session. DeKalb has launched a handful of programs to help with its foreclosures, which is the third-highest number in Georgia.
April Hunt
SOUTHSIDE
Henry fire department hosts hazmat training
The Henry County Fire Department will conclude the Atlanta “Live” Ammonia Release Drill & Hazmat Training Exercise on Wednesday with the live release of anhydrous ammonia exercises at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. This exercise will be the eleventh year the training has been conducted and the fifth consecutive year this event has been hosted by Henry County Fire Department. It will include industry, firefighters, and hazmat teams from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana. Arlinda Smith Broady
Clatyon hosts national tennis meet
For the second consecutive year organizers of the 12th annual HBCU National Tennis Championships have selected Clayton County to host this outstanding competition, which will be held on Thursday through Saturday at The Clayton County Tennis Center at International Park, 2300 Highway 138 in Jonesboro. The event is free and open to the public. Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University are slated to participate along with other topHistorically Black Colleges and Universities throughout the country. Arlinda Smith Broady
New Fayette fire station on track
Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services continue to move forward with the replacement of Fire Station No. 3 on Senoia Road in Tyrone. The new 9,400 square-foot facility will be built on 6.6 acres at the corner of Highway 74 North at Jenkins Road.Staff reports
Jonesboro Farmers Market wraps up
This may be the last week for the Jonesboro Farmers Market 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. today and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday in downtown Jonesboro on Mill Street in the city parking lot behind the Heritage Bank and across from the Old Fire Station. Staff reports
Henry museum hosts family day
The Henry County Military Museum at Heritage Park, 101 Lake Dow Road, McDonough will host the second annual Gold Star Family Day Saturday.
There will be a public Gold Star ceremony at the Veterans Wall beginning at 1 p.m. followed by a private ceremony in the museum at the Wall of Honor for the Gold Star Families. This year Fort Gordon Survivor Outreach Services, Georgia National Guard SOS, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars have partnered with the military museum to honor these families and provide them with an opportunity to meet other Survivors. Information: 478-284-2766.
Arlinda Smith Broady
Little league coaches needed for spring
College Park is seeking coaches for the 2013 baseball season. Qualifications: Must be able to work well with children, ages 3 to 14, to teach them the game of baseball. Able to commit time to the children in the program, for practices and games. Must be able to successfully pass a criminal background check.
Coaches’ meetings start in late January or early February. The league starts April 2013.
Information: Bryant J. Anderson at (404) 669-3773 ext. 6203 or banderson@collegeparkga.com. Staff reports
