County by county news for Tuesday

The retreat will last through Friday afternoon and also include City Manager Brad Hulsey, City Clerk Dawn Davis and a facilitator from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government from The University of Georgia. City department directors will join the retreat on Thursday and Friday. Information: brasstownvalley.com, cviog.uga.edu. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Deadline near for police officer applicants

The deadline for applying to be a police officer in Powder Springs is March 28.

Applications at cityofpowdersprings.org or call 770-943-1666 to request an application by mail. The starting annual salary is around $38,000. Applications should be submitted to City of Powder Springs, Rosalyn Nealy, Human Resources Director, P. O. Box 46, Powder Springs, GA 30127.

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

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

District head to host community talk

Marietta City Schools Superintendent Emily Lembeck will host a public forum 7 p.m. Thursday at Sawyer Road Elementary School, 840 Sawyer Road. The ‘coffee talk” meeting is open to parents and residents in the community. Lembeck plans to discuss the school system’s progress and plans. Information: www.marietta-city.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Foundation extends scholarship deadline

The Cobb Schools Foundation has extended a scholarship deadline for high school seniors through Saturday. The non-profit organization that provides financial resources for Cobb County schools will award two $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors at each of the district’s 16 high schools. The scholarships are based on academics, leadership, extracurricular activities and essay. Information: www.cobbschoolsfoundation.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Council to consider pedestrian bridge

The Marietta City Council will consider a request from Wellstar Health System Inc. for a pedestrian bridge on Church Street at a meeting 7 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 205 Lawrence St.

Kennestone Hospital has asked for an easement to build a sky bridge that would connect the hospital to a new emergency department and parking deck proposed to be built between Church and Cherokee Streets. The bridge would be adjacent to a historic neighborhood on Church Street. Information: www.mariettaga.gov. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Sign up now for Marietta July 4 parade

Marietta is looking for bands, military units, scouts, beauty queens and businesses to participate in the July 4 Let Freedom Ring parade. Applications accepted through May 30 for the 1.5 mile parade from Roswell Street Baptist Church to Cherokee Street and North Marietta Parkway. Information: www.mariettaga.gov or 770-794-5601.Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Health center for uninsured expanding

Good Samaritan Health Center of Gwinnett is moving forward with fundraising efforts to relocate to a larger facility that will include the county’s only full-time charity dental clinic. To date, they have raised $475,000 in cash and pledges for that purpose. The non-profit’s fundraising goal for the new facility is $5 million to open the doors, $12 million over five years to fund all acquisition and operating costs. The health center has experienced a 225% growth in demand, providing over 10,100 healthcare appointments to the uninsured during 2013. Information: www.goodsamgwinnett.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Winder to increase sewer rate approved

The cost to operate and manage Winder’s wastewater system has continued to increase due to material costs, increased regulations/standards and continual upgrades to the system. Along with these increases, a portion of the city’s infrastructure is approaching the end of its useful life and will need to be replaced. After an extensive water and sewer rates study Winder’s sewer rates will increase effective June 1. The new base rate will be $17.80 per 1,000 gallons inside the city, and $30.30 per 1,000 gallons outside the city. Information: www.cityofwinder.com.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

College awarded grant for women

Georgia Gwinnett College is one of five academic institutions to receive a $10,000 grant from the National Center for Women & Information Technology Academic Alliance Seed Fund and Microsoft Research for use in developing and implementing initiatives that recruit and retain women in computing and technology fields of study. The grant will allow GGC to recruit female students to a five-day boot camp where they will be trained in Java, increasing their programming skills and confidence.Information: www.tinyurl.com/witcamp.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Vote for photo favorites during March

Gwinnett Parks and Rec is asking for votes in the Art Thru the Lens photo contest. Vote s during March at George Pierce Park Community Rec Center, 55 Buford Highway, Suwanee. Winners will be announced at the Artist Reception 1:30 to 3 p.m. April 30. Information: 678-277-0190. Karen Huppertz

Cleanup challenge underway through May

Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful is hosting the Great American Cleanup Gwinnett Challenge, through May 31. Volunteers will beautify neighborhoods, reduce waste, initiate recycling programs, and plant trees. Open to businesses, governments, school, church and civic groups, athletic teams and individuals. Information: www.gwinnettcb.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Plant sale pre-order deadline approaching

The Gwinnett Cooperative Extension plant sale will take pre-orders through today for fruit plants and decorative perennials including azaleas, gardenias and ferns. Residents may pick up their orders 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 19 at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville.

Information: www.gwinnettextension.com. Karen Huppertz

NORTHSIDE

Bus drivers score top honors in safety roadeo

Cherokee County School District bus drivers Rhonda Fiddler and Susan Nulph won first place in n the 17th annual National Special Needs Team Safety Roadeo March 1 in Nashville.

The competition scored teams on such factors as pre-check, loading and unloading occupied wheelchairs, securing students and managing challenging student behavior. The duo ranked second in the same national competition last year. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Fire safety poster contest deadline near

The for third graders to enter the Forsyth County Fire Department’s fourth annual fire safety poster contest is Monday. Posters should feature original design and artwork and be created on paper with dimensions between 8.5 by 11 inches and 18 by 24 inches. Three winners will enjoy a pizza party with their class and local firefighters. Submit entries to Forsyth County Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division, 3520 Settingdown Road, Cumming. Information: forsythco.com

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Concert to benefit Atlanta hospice

A benefit concert for the Weinstein Hospice will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Steve’s Live Music, 234 Hilderbrand Dr., Sandy Springs.

The concert will feature music and storytelling by Michael Levine and friends to honor the work of the late psychiatrist, musician and writer Warren Jacobs of Atlanta. Suggested donation is $25.

Information: www.weinsteinhospice.com.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Alpharetta seeks to recognize businesses

The city of Alpharetta wants to recognize its top businesses. Companies within the city who got a significant award, accolade or recognition in 2013 are encouraged to send information to the city as part of Alpharetta’s second annual Business Awards Breakfast. The deadline for submissions is March 18. A city selection committee will then pick the businesses deemed most deserving of mention at the breakfast. The date for the breakfast hasn’t been finalized. To enter/information: sabdullahi@alpharetta.ga.us Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Ag expo coming to Cherokee County

The Cherokee County Farm Bureau sponsors an agriculture expo 4-7 p.m. March 28 at the Cherokee County Parks and Recreation Center, 7545 Main St., Woodstock. Farmers markets and other agribusinesses will man more than 30 booths. The Farm Bureau says agribusiness brings in $491 million annually to the county. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

UNG sets Cumming open house

The University of North Georgia’s Cumming campus will hold an open house for prospective students. It’s set for 6-8 p.m. March 25 at 300 Aquatic Circle, room 125. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and the event will include a welcome, three concurrent information sessions and an academic and student services showcase.

Information: ung.edu Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Charter school pension bill goes nowhere

A measure that would have allowed school systems to deduct money from charter schools for unfunded pension liabilities isn’t advancing in the Georgia Legislature.

House Bill 680 didn’t get a hearing or a vote by the March 3 deadline for proposals to have passed at least one legislative chamber. The proposal was intended as a way to force Atlanta’s charter schools to contribute to the city public school system’s $550 million pension debt. Mark Niesse

Home loan workshop Wednesday

A home loan modification workshop will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, 229 Peachtree St., Suite 300.

The workshop is designed to advise homeowners who face financial hardship and want to avoid foreclosure, or who are current on their mortgage but anticipate future late payments due to a loss or reduction of income.

Information: ulgatl.org/events/foreclosureloan-modification-workshop/ or 404-659-1150. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Georgia Southern hosts family days

Georgia Southern University will host spring family days for students and their parents on campus in Statesboro and in Atlanta

Planned events for the Statesboro days on April 19 will include men’s and women’s basketball games and a baseball game.

Planned events for the Atlanta days on March 29 and April 12 will include a Gwinnett Gladiators hockey game at the Gwinnett Arena and an Atlanta Braves baseball game at Turner Field. Information: parents.georgiasouthern.edu; 912-478-7627 Janel Davis

Free monthly wellness seminars for elderly

Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, 1968 Peachtree Road NE will be hosting a free seminar on heart health for adults ages 60+ 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on the third Wednesday of every month.

Information: 404-605-3818. Registration required. Free parking. Arlinda Smith Broady

DEKALB

Oakhurst improvements slated for summer

The long-planned – nearly seven years – streetscapes improvements for Oakhurst is scheduled to begin in late summer. Decatur’s Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon said the delay stems from the lengthy period it took the state’s Department of Transportation to approve plans.

Eventually Harmony Park, originally designed in 1981, will be expanded by 50 percent, along with the area getting new street furniture, bike racks, litter containers, benches, water fountains, sidewalks and street lighting.

Once started, the project should take one year. Bill Banks for AJC

University singers to perform in Tucker

The Anderson University Chorale will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 20 at First United Methodist Church, 5095 Lavista Road, Tucker.

Admission is free and the concert is open to the public.

The concert is part of the chorale’s 2014 Spring tour through Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky and Indiana.

Information: www.anderson.edu

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

County launches Smart911 service

DeKalb County has launched a new emergency service system that includes additional information to help responders during a crisis.

The Smart911 system will include information about how many people live in homes or medical conditions of occupants.

Residents can volunteer the information in a profile at www.Smart911.com. April Hunt

DeKalb offering electronics recycling

DeKalb County’s sanitation department will offer electronics recycling on Saturday in Chamblee.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the department’s north lot, 2315 Chamblee-Tucker Road.

Accepted items include desktop computers, microwaves and stereo equipment.

Televisions will be accepted for a small fee. April Hunt

Community group hosting safety forum

Partners for Action in Healthy Living will host a safety forum for the Belvedere Park community from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Knollwood Elementary School, 3039 Santa Monica Dr. It features dinner and a DeKalb Police major discussion recent burglaries and break-ins in the area.

Other quality-of-life issues will be the focus of future events.

Information: 404-996-6324 or www.PAHLGA.org. April Hunt

Interim CEO to speak to business group

DeKalb County Interim CEO Lee May will speak at a luncheon for members of the Northlake Business Association, noon Wednesdayat the Occasions Event Center, 2101 Northlake Parkway, Tucker.

May, who was appointed interim CEO last summer, will discuss his plans for the county and how they will impact the Northlake Commercial District.

Free.

Information: www.northlakebusiness.org Kent A. Miles for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Clayton State of the County address Thursday

Clayton County Commission Chairman Jeff Turner will deliver the 2014 State of the County address on Thursday at the Morrow Center, 1180 Southlake Circle in Morrow. The 7 p.m. event will highlight county achievements over the past year and upcoming opportunities for growth in the county. This event is free and open to the public. Tammy Joyner

McDonough Recycling Day set

McDonough will host its annual Community Recycling Day on March 22. Paper rubbish, technological trash and other disposable items will be collected from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Items should be delivered to the parking lot of Henry County High School and the Performing Arts Center. Electronics such as CRT monitors and televisions will be collected for a fee ranging from $5 to $25. Console TVs, washers and dryers, ovens, freezers, household trash and tires will not be accepted. . Tammy Joyner

Fayette commissioners meet tonight

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners will meet at 7 p.m. tonight at 140 Stonewall Ave. in Fayetteville. This meeting deviates from the usual Thursday night schedule and will include topics related to municipal appointments, ordinances and zoning. The agenda is at www.fayettecountyga.gov.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fishing season opens in Clayton

Clayton County Water Authority’s public fishing season is open. Clayton residents pay $5 per vehicle or $30 for a season pass. Non-residents pay $10 a vehicle or $40 for a season pass. Season passes are good through October and are sold at the Shamrock/Blalock Reservoir 2610 Shamrock Road, Jonesboro, and J.W. Smith Reservoir, 143 Northbridge Road, Hampton. Information: www.ccwa.us or 770-603-5605 Tammy Joyner

Campaign Tailgating event Saturday

Running for office? Need a platform? Don’t know where to start? Bring your yard signs, campaign material and supporters and participate in the Clayton County Democrats’ 2014 Campaign Tailgate event 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the Morrow City Hall at Lake Harbin Road and Jonesboro Road. Register by today. Information: pat.pullar@gmail.com or claytondems@yahoo.com.

Tammy Joyner

Gardening expert to speak in Fayetteville

“The Lawn and Garden Show” host Walter Reeves will appear at the Fayette County Public Library, 1821 Heritage Park Way, Fayetteville, 11 a.m. March 18. The event is free and open to the public.

Reeves will talk about useful tools for gardening. His radio show airs Saturday mornings on 95.5 FM, News Talk WSB. He also writes a column on gardening matters and hosts a program on Georgia Public Television. Information: www.walterreeves.com

Kent A. Miles for the AJC