County by county news for Tuesday

Information: 404-656-0169 or Renardo Paschal at renardo@alishamorgan.com.

Daarel Burnette II

Open house for Six Flags roadwork

Residents are invited to an open house 5-7 p.m. March 5 to view improvements and express concerns about the proposed roadwork on Six Flags Drive. The meeting will be held at South Cobb Recreation Center, 875 Six Flags Drive, Austell.

The project will add a raised center median along Six Flags Drive from Factory Shoals Road to Riverside Drive and widen Six Flags Drive to three lanes.

Written statements on the project will be accepted until March 19 and may be emailed to brian.loudermilk@cobbcounty.org. Meghan de St. Aubin

Mentoring Matters celebrates anniversary

Cobb Mentoring Matters recently celebrated its one year anniversary with a trip to the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum. The program matches Cobb County students with local community members. The group’s theme this year is “Discovering and Nurturing the Gifts in our Students.” Information: www.cobbmentoringmatters.org/. Daarel Burnette II

Marietta HS honored for AP achievement

The Georgia Department of Education recently recognized Marietta High School as an Advanced Placement Honor School. Last year, more than 30 percent of the school’s AP test-takers were black or Hispanic and more than 30 percent of the test takers scored a three or higher. Daarel Burnette II

Superintendent to host coffee talk

Marietta’s superintendent, Emily Lembeck, will host a “Coffee Talk” 7 p.m. today at West Side elementary to discuss district-wide initiatives and accomplishments. The school is located at 344 Polk St. in Marietta. Daarel Burnette II

Libraries offer free puppet museum passes

Cobb residents with valid library cards can get a pass worth four free admissions to the Center for Puppetry Arts museum in Atlanta. Passes are available at Cobb library branches.

The museum, which features more than 350 puppets from around the world, is open Tuesdays through Sundays. Valid dates, show times, hours of operation, and reservation information available at www.puppet.org. Jaime Sarrio

Acworth to offer citizen police academy

Acworth is enrolling residents for a free citizen police academy starting March 5 and running for 12 weeks at Acworth Police Department, 4400 Acworth Industrial Drive. The classes, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, will cover police operations and include a ride-along with an officer. Applicants must be 21. Information: www.acworth.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Peachtree Corners buys land to stop complex

Citing their responsibility to protect quality of life in Peachtree Corners, Mayor Mike Mason and the City Council voted unanimously to purchase a tract of land across from the Forum shopping center slated to become a 250+ apartment complex. The city promises the purchase will not affect resident’s millage rate and will be financed with a ten-year bond. In order to acquire the property, the city will form a Downtown Development Authority consisting of citizen representatives to coordinate the acquisition and disposition of the property. More information: www.peachtreecornersga.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Delta head to highlight awards event

Delta Airlines president Ed Bastain will be the keynote speaker at Gwinnett’s second annual Movers & Makers Awards at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the Buford Community Center, 2200 Buford Highway. The event honors manufacturing and distribution companies three years and older.

Nominated companies are judged on criteria including economic impact, corporate responsibility and workforce excellence. MICHAEL ALPERT FOR THE AJC

Latin American group will host Career Expo

The Latin American Association will host its 31st Annual Career Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the association office at 2750 Buford Highway.

The bilingual job fair will feature workshops on recruiting, managing a diverse workforce, entrepreneurship and networking.

Preregistration is required.

Candidates should send resumes to employmentservices@thelaa.org, and employers should contact Jennifer Solano at jsolano@thelaa.org.

Information: Aixa Pascual at 404-638-1823 or apascual@thelaa.org. Veronica Fields Johnson

Snellville holding artist reception

Snellville residents can greet Sally Arnold, the next featured artist in the city’s Art on the Wall at City Hall program, at a 4:30 p.m. reception on Thursday at City Hall, 2342 Oak Road.

A 40-year resident of Snellville, Arnold has become acclaimed for her encaustic works, hot pigmented wax painted on boards and fused in layers with a torch. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Suwanee garden has open plots

About 12 small plots remain available in Harvest Farm Community Garden at Suwanee’s White Street Park.

Cost: $52.50 annually for residents; $65 non-residents.

Information: Jessica Roth at jroth@suwanee.com.

Michael Alpert for the AJC

Fitness and nutrition classes available now

Can’t get motivated? Join Ines Beltran, Cooperative Extension agent, to learn healthy cooking and eating habits while exercising and losing weight from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Centerville Community Center, 3025 Bethany Church Road.

Cost is $15 for seven weeks payable in cash.

Registration: 770-985-4713. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Early voting starts in Canton bond election

Early voting begins today for the March 19 Canton bond referendum. Voting continues 8: 30 a-.m.- 5 p.m. weekdays through March 15 at the Cherokee County Elections and Voter Registration office, 400 E. Main St., Canton.

Voters will decide on issuance of up to $6 million in bonds to pay for building three new fire stations, renovating the downtown station and purchasing fire vehicles.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Forsyth county stream project gets award

The Georgia Urban Forest Council recently honored the Forsyth County Engineering Department for its Midway Park Stream Restoration Project. The work, completed in May, was designed to reduce stream bed and stream bank erosion, improve water quality and overall functioning of the stream and protect wildlife.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Canton seeking applicants for police job

The city of Canton is seeking an assistant police chief. The position has been vacant since last August, when Todd Vande Zande was terminated. Applicants have until April 1 to apply for the job, which pays $74,000, and must supply a resume, cover letter and three references. More info: www.canton-georgia.com

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Alpharetta seeks resident input

The third of Alpharetta’s three public input meetings to solicit residents’ ideas to enhance the Rucker Road corridor is 7 p.m. Tuesday at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 South Main St. The city wants to know what vision residents along the corridor have, including pedestrian and bicycle improvements. The city plans to present engineers’ subsequent design to the community in March. MICHAEL ALPERT FOR THE AJC

Rec center closed for floor refinishing

Suwanee’s Old Atlanta Park Recreation Center at 810 Nichols Road will be closed Tuesday through Sunday for refinishing of its gym floor. Central Park’s and Fowler Park’s will be available meanwhile. Old Atlanta’s center is scheduled to reopen at 7 a.m. Monday.

MICHAEL ALPERT FOR THE AJC

North Fulton residents can get tax return help

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System and AARP Tax-Aide are offering free help with 2012 tax returns. Although the service is available to everyone, the aim is to help low- and moderate-income taxpayers, especially those 60 and older.

Trained volunteers will be at the Sandy Springs, Roswell and Northeast/Spruill Oaks branches during the tax season. For specific times and dates, go to www.afpls.org. Johnny Edwards

Johns Creek mayor to address residents

Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker’s sixth annual State of the City address is 7 a.m. Friday at Atlanta Athletic Club, 1930 Bobby Jones Drive. Cost: $5 for breakfast and question-answer session afterward. MICHAEL ALPERT FOR THE AJC

ATLANTA

School on lockdown after false gun report

The Intown Academy on Pine Street was briefly put on lockdown Monday morning after reports of a gun on campus.

The lockdown at was lifted after a search of the campus turned up no gun, according to principal Gene Dunn.

“We had an anonymous report of a student having a handgun on campus,” Dunn said.

Dunn said police were immediately called to search the campus, “and they determined that there was no weapon.”

Mike Morris and John Spink

Fashion documentary screening at SCAD

The Savannah College of Art and Design will offer a screening and discussion of the fashion documentary, “Versailles ‘73: American Runway Revolution,” at 5 p.m. Thursday at SCAD Atlanta, 1600 Peachtree St. N.W. The film follows the events that lead up to the 1973 fashion show battle at the Chateau de Versailles between American and French designers. Free and open to the public.

Information: scad.edu. Mea Watkins

Cortland Partners

to hold career fair

Cortland Partners and the National Apartment Association Education Institute will hold a career fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Monarch Tower, 3424 Peachtree Road, Buckhead.

Cortland Partners, a multi-family real estate firm, seeks candidates for manager, assistant manager, leasing associate, maintenance supervisor and maintenance technician positions. A resume and proof of residency are required.

Information: www.cortlandpartners.com. Mea Watkins

Museum announces Fulton family days

The Children’s Museum of Atlanta hosts Fulton County Family Days for Fulton County residents only. Residents can buy one admission ticket and receive one additional general admission ticket for free on the opening day of each feature exhibit. Proof of residency is required.

Information: tinyurl.com/ab7onwg. Kenneth Musisi

DEKALB

Recorders Court move underway

Some services by the DeKalb County Recorders Court began being handled in its new location Monday. The court’s clerk offices will handle warrants, past due tickets, document filing and public information on the second floor of the Bobby Burgess building, 3630 Camp Circle.

The existing court building next door will remain open for arraignments, trials, special hearings and probation services.

The county expects to complete construction and renovation on the new courtrooms by this summer. The overhaul of the court is being paid with $4 million in federal stimulus dollars. April Hunt

Hearing to address pipeline concerns

Residents in central DeKalb County can get more information about a proposed gas pipeline and regulator in their area at a town hall meeting 6 p.m. today at the Hellenic Community Center at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 2500 Clairmont Road.

Atlanta Gas Light will host the session that will address the proposed pipeline through the Clairmont Road neighborhoods and as well as the call for a new regulator station.

Some residents have complained the regulator, which reduces pressure as gas travels through the pipeline, is a safety hazard that does not fit with their residential area. April Hunt

Lakeside cityhood focus of hearing

Organizers behind a possible new city of Lakeside in DeKalb County will host a public hearing 7 p.m. today at Briarlake Baptist Church sanctuary, 3715 LaVista Road.

Members of the Lakeside City Alliance will answer questions at the session, while attendees can also make comments about the proposal.

Information: www.lakesidealliance.org. April Hunt

Community challenges discussed Wednesday

Challenges ranging from struggles in the school district to economic development woes will be the focus of a discussion 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Southwest DeKalb High, 2863 Kelley Chapel Road. County Commissioner Stan Watson, David Schutten, president of the Organization of DeKalb Educators and DeKalb Chamber President Leonardo McClarty will be present. April Hunt

Rain barrel workshop Wednesday

DeKalb County Watershed Management department will host a rain barrel workshop Wednesday at Wylde Garden Center, 435 Oakview Road. Cost is $40 and includes all materials needed to make a barrel. Information: 770-724-1456 or msoshield@dekalbcountyga.gov. April Hunt

Emory to explore pope’s resignation

A panel discussion about what Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation may mean for the Catholic church, sponsored by the Aquinas Center of Theology and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University will be 7 p.m. Wednesday in room 252 at the Candler school.

Scheduled speakers: Cory Andrew Labrecque, a Catholic ethicist; Steffen Lösel, an associate professor in systematic theology at Candler; and Phillip M. Thompson, executive directo of the Aquinas Center of Theology. Shelia M. Poole

SOUTHSIDE

Clayton fire chief named to security taskforce

Clayton County Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Jeff Hood will represent fire services on the state’s Homeland Security Taskforce. Gov. Roy Barnes created the Homeland Task Force in October 2001.

The taskforce advises the Director of Homeland Security on issues related to Terrorism and Homeland Security post 9-11. Hood joins top personnel representing public safety agencies statewide. Hood has been with the Clayton Fire & Emergency Services for more than 34 years. Tammy Joyner

Peachtree City CERT applications due today

Today is the deadline for submitting applications for the next round of Community Emergency Response Team classes in Peachtree City.

The police department will host the free 10-week program 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Thursdays starting March 7. Information: www.peachtree-city.org/CERT.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Dental services offered to expectant moms

The Clayton County Board of Health will offer dental cleanings and basic dental services to area expectant mothers on Thursdays from 1:30 to4:30 p.m.

The initiative is part of the “Smile, You’re Pregnant” prenatal dental health campaign, designed to educate mothers on the importance of dental health as it relates to a link between gum disease and premature, underweight births. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call CCBOH at 678-610-7199.

Veronica Fields Johnson

Peachtree City offers homestead exemption

Qualifying individuals can apply for the Senior Homestead tax exemption through March 1 in Peachtree City.

Homeowners must be age 65 by Jan. 1 and have already applied for the Fayette County exemption.

Proof of income is required; visit City Hall, or call 770-487-7657 or email info@peachtree-city.org. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

State parks offer exercise for pets

Panola Mountain State Park in Stockbridge is offering Pets RXercise, aimed at preventing obesity in pets and their owners through walks in the woods.

Through the program, veterinarians can give their canine patients a “prescription” to visit a Georgia state park. The prescription is redeemable for free parking. Park admission and hiking on trails are free.

Information: GeorgiaStateParks.org/petsrxercise. Kenneth Musisi

Cliftondale opens soccer registration

Boys and girls, ages 3-16, are invited to register through March 2 for Cliftondale Soccer Association’s spring season.

Online registration is available at www.amazonsports.org. Orientation for parents is set for March 9 at Cliftondale Park, 4645 Butner Road, College Park.

Information: 404-613-3061 or coach Sidney Lawrence at 404-349-9036. Lisa Gibson for the AJC