COBB
Kennesaw opens biking and walking trails
Kennesaw has opened three biking and walking trails to continue a series of pathways connecting city neighborhoods to downtown.
The new trails start at First Baptist Church on North Main Street and link to Whispering Lake and Matlock Trails off Moon Station Road.
The city has received $301,000 from Georgia Department of Natural Resource grants to help build five trails since 2006. The community trail system will end at Jiles Road. -- Tucker McQueen for the AJC
SPSU president will speak Wednesday
Southern Polytechnic State University president Dr. Lisa A. Rossbacher will speak to those attending the South Cobb Business Association luncheon meeting at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Presbyterian Village, 2000 East West Connector, Austell.
Cost is $12 for members, paying online, $15 for members at the door or $20 for guests.
Information: spsu.edu/officeofpresident/aboutpresidentrossbacher/index.htm or sc-ba.org. -- Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Sen. Isakson to speak at Cobb Galleria Centre
Sen. Johnny Isakson will speak to Cobb residents about legislative action in Washington over breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Monday at the Cobb Galleria Centre. General admission to the May First Monday Breakfast is $60. For Cobb Chamber of Commerce members, pre-registration online is $25 and entry at the door is $40. Information: info@cobbchamber.org or 770-980-2000. -- Melissa Abbey
Dine out to support meals for seniors
Three Ruby Tuesday’s restaurant locations will donate 20 percent of food purchases Wednesday to Cobb Senior Services Meals on Wheels.
The three participating locations are in Cobb Town Center, Woodstock and Marietta.
Diners must present a flier, which can be downloaded from the Internet at communications.cobbcountyga.gov/downloads/GB1.pdf. -- Melissa Abbey
Kennesaw announces free movie series
Kennesaw will hold a free outdoor movie series at Swift-Cantrell Park, 3140 Old 41 Highway. The lineup includes "Brave" on Saturday "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" on June 1, and "Hotel Transylvania" Oct. 12. Information: www.kennesaw-ga.gov. -- Jaime Sarrio
Chamber hosts military affairs luncheon
The Cobb Chamber will host an annual luncheon 11 a.m. May 20 at the Cobb Galleria Centre to celebrate the county’s men and women in the armed forces. Dennis McCarthy, the former assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, will give the keynote speech and the 2013 USO Patriot of the Year Award will be presented.
Information: www.cobbchamber.org/chamber/military_affairs_luncheon.aspx. -- Melissa Abbey
Farmers market open Sundays
More than 60 vendors be at the Marietta Square Farmers Market noon to 3 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 24 on Mill Street.Information: 770-499-9393. -- Tucker McQueen for the AJC
GWINNETT
Berkeley Lake fundraising to restock lake
The Berkeley Lake Art Advisory Committee invites residents to a Big Fish & Sips Event 7 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at Eye Candy Art Studio, 3127 Main Street in Duluth.
Participants will learn how to paint a fish scene while sipping wine. Funds raised will help restock Lake Berkeley, assist with establishing the lake ecosystem, and help provide for lake management.
Cost is $35, bring your own beverage.
Register: www.eyecandyartstudio.net. -- Karen Huppertz for the AJC
NORTHSIDE
Forsyth holding hearing on smoking paraphernalia
The Forsyth County Commission will hold a public hearing on a proposed amendment to regulate sale of non-traditional smoking paraphernalia at its public meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 E. Main St., Cumming.
The amendment would require retailers be licensed and maintain name and address of purchasers. Information: 770-781-2101. -- Michael Alpert for the AJC
Johns Creek students design Braille trail
As part of Global Youth Service Day, a group of students from Johns Creek High School gathered Saturday at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center to help design a Braille nature trail for the visually impaired. Led by 15-year-old year Evan Barnard, the students took turns wearing blindfolds and writing down comments as they tested proposed sites for Braille signage along the trail. A Braille nature trail is an outdoor nature trail with special features that enable the trail to be utilized by the visually impaired. -- Nancy Badertscher
Forsyth County to offer summer safety camps
The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department will hold a series of week-long Safety Town camps for children ages 4 to 6 during June and July. Each session will cover such topics as fire, water, car and bus safety, plus stranger danger and safe behavior around guns. Cost is $85. More info: 770-781-2215 or www.forsythco.com/parks. -- Mark Woolsey for the AJC
SAT test prep series offered at library
Connective Tutoring will offer a six-part series of SAT prep classes, covering both verbal and math components, at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Northeast/Spruill Oaks Branch Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Johns Creek.
Information: 770-360-8820. -- Mea Watkins
Forsyth firefighters to host youth camps
Wednesday is the deadline for middle-schoolers to apply for summer camps sponsored by the Forsyth County Fire Department, where participants will learn what it’s like to be a firefighter.
Information: 770-781-2180. -- Michael Alpert for the AJC
Holcomb Bridge Middle hosts Heritage Day
Why were buffalo and Civil War re-enactors at Fulton County’s Holcomb Bridge Middle School last Friday? They were part of the first Georgia Heritage Day.
Staff and PTA volunteers, inspired by teachers Elizabeth McMahon and Jennifer Foil, set up seven stations and created eye-opening experiences for the school’s eighth graders. Students made their own pottery and picked cotton.
They participated in the music and dances from the Cherokee and Creek cultures and learned about the role buffalo played.
They shouted the “Rebel yell” and “Union hurrah.”
They even learned about the history of Coke and had “coke floats.” “Being a world-class school means bringing world-class instruction to our students,” said principal Joy Schroerlucke. -- Nancy Badertscher
ATLANTA
‘Teen talk’ offered for girls on Saturday
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office will host a teen talk panel for girls ages 12-18 to talk openly amongst their peers about current issues and receive professional guidance from female leaders 10 a.m. to noon Saturdayat Romae T. Powell “Juvenile” Justice Center, 395 Pryor St. Lunch will be provided. Registration is required. Information: Deputy J. Hambrick (404) 612-3113 or Natasha Mootoo (404) 612-5138. -- Mea Watkins
Youth orchestra seeks donations online
The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra was recently selected to participate in Atlanta’s “Power2Give” campaign, a fundraising effort supported by the Arts & Science Council and the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs that connects donors to creative projects that inspire them. The online campaign, which runs through June 3, has a goal of $2,500 to support scholarships. The scholarships will help with summer programs and college-level music studies.
Information: www.power2give.org/go/o/395. -- Mea Watkins
Program to help smokers quit offered
The American Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking clinic, a free program that focuses on specific skills and techniques needed to help smokers quit, will be offered at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, 1968 Peachtree Rd. N.W. Registration is required.
For dates, times and registration, call 404-605-2913. To find other local programs, call 770-434-5864, or go to www.lungga.org. -- Mea Watkins
Surgeon General to speak at Spelman
U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin will deliver Spelman College’s commencement address, school officials announced. Benjamin will receive an honorary degree during the May 19 ceremony at the Georgia International Convention Center.
College officials will also give civil rights advocate Rev. Joseph Lowery the National Community Service Award.
Information: www.spelman.edu. -- Laura Diamond
DEKALB
Superintendent: DeVry property unavailable
Decatur schools superintendent Phyllis Edwards admitted the former DeVry University land in east Decatur is an “excellent location,” but added it’s not a current possibility for new school construction.
The 21-acre site was annexed into the city in 2009, but it’s still owned by DeVry and the $17.5 million cost is especially prohibitive, she said.
Also the property’s currently zoned for mixed-use development.
Decatur schools are projected to double enrollment by 2018 with virtually no available undeveloped land that would support school facilities. -- Bill Banks for the AJC
Police chief to speak at Saturday breakfast
Cedric Alexander, DeKalb County’s new police chief, will be the featured speaker at Commissioner Stan Watson’s monthly breakfast Saturday 5/4.
Other speakers include Keith Parker, the new general manager at MARTA and representatives from AT&T and Atlanta Gas Light.
The breakfast is from 9-11 a.m. Saturday at Chapel Hill Middle School on Dogwood Farms Road in South DeKalb.
Registration is not required. -- April Hunt
Families invited to Shabbat celebration
Families are invited to dance, shuffle, and tap their way into Shabbat with help from dance department instructors at the MJCCA 5 – 7 p.m. Friday at Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody.
Information: Rabbi Brian Glusman, brian.glusman@atlantajcc.org or 678.812.4161. -- Veronica Fields Johnson
Schools technology plan underway
The DeKalb County School District has undertaken a fast-paced technology plan to make 123 schools and centers wireless by the end of November. With a total price tag of $4.5 million, the project is funded through the Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax.
Currently, 14 schools and centers are completed, with an average of one access point per two classrooms.
The completed schools are Cedar Grove High, Chamblee Middle, Clarkston High, Coralwood Center, International Student Center, Kittredge Magnet School, Lithonia High, Lithonia Middle, Margaret Harris Comprehensive School, Miller Grove High, Peachtree Middle, Redan Middle, Tucker Middle and Warren Technical School. The cost for the 14 so far is $487,556.
An update of all SPLOST technology projects can be found at www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/splost-iv/projects/. -- Mea Watkins
Dunwoody creating Internet videos
Dunwoody is debuting a series of informational Internet videos showcasing individual city departments on the city’s YouTube channel,
Planned are videos on Public Works, Community Development, Municipal Court, Finance and Administration, Police and Office of the City Manager, with each introducing the department’s head, discussion of responsibilities, projects and how to reach the department.
Information: 678-382-6700. -- Michael Alpert for the AJC
SOUTHSIDE
Henry SPLOST committee seeks input
Henry County's SPLOST committee is hearing public input and suggestions for capital and transportation projects to include in the proposed SPLOST IV program, scheduled to be submitted in time for inclusion on the November ballot. The next meeting is 6 p.m. Thursday at Ola Elementary School. The subsequent meeting, scheduled for 4 p.m. May 9, at the county administration building, will also be televised live on channel 14 for Charter cable customers, channel 99 for AT&T U-Verse customers, and the county's web site, www.henrycounty-ga.org. -- Monroe Roark for the AJC
Commissioners amend small business code
The Henry County Board of Commissioners voted April 16 to amend the county's Unified Land Development Code and create a new business category - private membership recreational facilities - for residential businesses that offer such activities as swimming, court sports, archery and other outdoor uses. Restrictions were placed regarding lot size, setback distance and hours of operation. Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org. -- Monroe Roark for the AJC
Fayette declares Pet Appreciation Day
A half dozen canine constituents attended last week’s Fayette County Commission meeting to help Chairman Steve Brown proclaim May 4 as Pet Appreciation Day. The proclamation promotes spaying and neutering, adopting animals from the county animal shelter, support for the Peachtree City Dog Park and responsible pet ownership. -- Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Free movie series begins Saturday
Clayton County Commissioner Sonna Singleton presents "Movie Under the Stars" 9 p.m. Saturdays on the ball field behind the Carl Rhodenizer Recreation Center, 3499 Rex Road, Rex. The feature film is "Wreck It Ralph." Bring a picnic basket, popcorn, drinks and snacks, but help keep the park clean by cleaning up your area after the movie. Free. Information: www.claytonparks.com/events.aspx for more information. -- Tammy Joyner
Miles for Meals Walk set for Saturday
The Henry County Council on Aging will host its annual Miles for Meals Walk 10 a.m. Saturday at the Jason T. Harper Event Center at Heritage Park, McDonough. The event is a fundraiser for Henry County Senior Services’ programs, including Meals on Wheels.
Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org/seniorservices. -- Monroe Roark for the AJC
Free health screening in Stockbridge
A free health screening will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Hidden Valley Senior Center in Stockbridge.
The screening is not limited to senior citizens, and is being held in coordination with the Henry County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
The event will consist of free screenings for blood pressure, BMI, and vision assessments. Attendees are asked to bring canned goods to donate to Helping in His Name Food Pantry in Stockbridge. -- Monroe Roark for the AJC
