County by county news for Tuesday

The city’s technology upgrades also includes a revamped website including weekly videos that explain current road projects. This week’s feature is work at Marietta Parkway and Fairground St. Information:www.mariettaga.gov Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Chairman Lee to hold town hall meeting

Cobb County Commission Chairman Tim Lee will hold a town hall meeting today in Marietta.

The meeting is the third of four meetings that Lee has held throughout the county. He will discuss pending countywide issues and take questions from residents.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Mountain View Community Center, 3400 Sandy Plains Road in Marietta.

Information: www.cobbcounty.org Janel Davis

Vendors needed for Austell market

Sellers and food vendors are invited to participate in the City of Austell’s Community Market on April 21. Cost is $25 for a 10-by-10-foot space at Jefferson and Mulberry Streets in the downtown district from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Information: 770-944-4309 or Austell Community Affairs Department, 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road, Suite 101. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

KSU program to hold career night

Kennesaw State University’s College of Continuing and Professional Education will hold a free career night Thursday at the KSU Center. The event will highlight several of the college’s professional certification programs, including medical billing and coding, phlebotomy and project management. Information sessions begin at 6 p.m. Information and registration: www.ccpe.kennesaw.edu/careertraining; 770-423-6765 Janel Davis

Deadline for naming school nears

A new name is needed for a second elementary school for the Austell/Powder Springs area. April 24 is the deadline for naming suggestions for the former Austell Intermediate School, 5243 Meadows Road, Powder Springs.

Names may be submitted by email to Linda.Davis@cobbk12.org, fax at 678-594-8560 or Cobb County School District, Austell Intermediate Renaming, Attn: Linda Davis, Area 1, 514 Glover St., Marietta 30068.

Information: 770-819-2387. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Oldies concert in the Square April 27

An oldies concert at 8 p.m. April 27 will open the summer concert series in Glover Park on the Marietta Square. The free concerts, the last Friday of the month through Sept. 28, will included big band, China Grove/Doobie Brothers tribute, rock, jazz and R&B. Lawn chairs or blankets can be set up in the park after 4 p.m.

Tables can be reserved online at www.mariettaga.gov or at 770-794-5601. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Gwinnett Place CID gets new board member

Kimberly Morphis, president of LVK Management Corp., will join the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District Board of Directors at its meeting Wednesday.

Morris specializes in leasing, management and retail development for shopping centers. The Duluth community improvement district focuses on transportation and other improvements. For information, visit www.gwinnettplacecid.com. David Wickert

Animal task force holds hearing today

The Gwinnett County Animal Task Force will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. today at the Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement Center, 884 Winder Highway, Lawrenceville.

The task force is seeking public feedback on ways to increase adoptions, improve animal welfare and protect human safety. For information, visit www.gwinnettcounty.com. David Wickert

Gun club to expand into Norcross

The owners of Sandy Springs Gun Club and Range are expanding into Norcross with a new location at 5305 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, scheduled to open in May.

Club founders and sisters Cara Workman and Robyn Marzullo want to provide a facility where hobbyists, hunters and others could take up sport shooting and learn proper gun-handling. Previously home to American Classic Marksman, the owners will spend $700,000 to renovate the 7,000 square-foot facility. Andria Simmons

Program combats kids’ heat deaths

Safe Kids Gwinnett, the General Motors Foundation and its partners are launching an education program to combat child deaths to heat stroke on Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center auditorium, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville. The event is open to the public. Information: email safekids@gwinnettcounty.com or call 404-935-3883. Sandra Marshall Murray

Duluth holds alcohol vendor training

Gwinnett United in Drug Education (GUIDE) is holding required alcohol vendor training on April 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Duluth City Hall’s Community Room. The city’s mandatory training for employees of alcohol licensees teaches laws and penalties and responsible serving. Cost: $20 per person. For information, contact Leslie Ward, lward@duluthga.net or 770-476-3434. Michael Alpert for the AJC

Fine arts scholarship auditions Saturday

The Duluth Fine Arts League will be holding auditions for three college scholarships from 2-5 p.m. Saturday at the New Dawn Theater. Three scholarships to be awarded in the amounts of $1,000, $1,500 and $1,500 to Duluth High School or home-schooled Duluth seniors. Application deadline has passed, but auditions are open to the public. New Dawn Theater is located at 3087 Main St. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Fulton students awarded scholarships

Several Fulton County students won Achievement Scholarship awards for black Americans, and will receive $2,500 from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Winners were: Matthew A. Wakefield, of Centennial High School; Lauren Covington, of Chattahoochee High School; Micah C. Jones, of Johns Creek High School; William Anene, of Roswell High School; and Michael I. Hawk, of Westlake High School. They were among among nearly 700 students nationwide who were selected based on test scores, academic performance and other things. Ty Tagami

Chambliss to speak at Forsyth chamber

Barbecue and politics will both be on the table this week as the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce hosts U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga. Chambliss will talk about issues facing the Congress and the nation at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Forsyth Conference Center, 7745 Majors Road in Cumming. Tickets for the luncheon are $23.50 for chamber members, $30 for nonmembers. Guests are requested to RSVP. More information: cummingforsythchamber.org/events. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Cherokee deputies receive awards

A number of awards were recently given out by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

The Citation For Bravery was given to deputies Matthew Verber and Eric Mistretta. Verber responded to a rape in progress and arrested the suspect. Mistretta stopped an attempted kidnapping.

The Life Saving Medal was given to Deputies Liza Robinson and Justin Messenger, for reviving a person with CPR. Deputy Stephen Shumake received the medal for performing the Heimlich maneuver on a choking inmate. Deputy Chad Pifer received the honor for interceding in an inmate’s suicide attempt. Andria Simmons

DAR chapter awards scholarship

The Martha Stewart Bulloch Chapter of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution has chosen a senior from Northview High School to receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Ryan Matthew Prince carries a GPA of 102.5, tests at 99th percentile in his SATs, attained a perfect score on his ACT test, and ranks 6th out of 491 graduating seniors at Northview. Andria Simmons

Program puts students to work

The Fulton County School System plans to expand a program that puts special education students to work.

Five students from Centennial High School have been interning since January at Siemens Industry Inc. in Alpharetta.

The LIFE @ Siemens program has taught them workplace skills such as teamwork, taking direction and working independently, said Julie Butler, a school system official. Ty Tagami

Anti-bullying program at library Thursday

Teens can learn to combat bullying at a program Thursday at the Ocee Library in Johns Creek. “Stop the Bullying” is for students ages 12-18 and starts at 5:30 p.m. The library is at 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road. Information: 770-360-8897. Johnny Edwards

ATLANTA

PATH Foundation gets $5 million gift

In recognition of Earth Month, The James M. Cox Jr. Foundation is making a $5 million gift to PATH Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to building a greenway trail system in metro Atlanta. The gift, announced Monday by Cox Enterprises, will be made over five years and will support PATH’s 2012 goal of raising $11.4 million for 34 miles of greenway trails. Ed McBrayer, PATH Foundation’s executive director, said the Cox gift will help build trails near Ga. 400 and through downtown Atlanta into Centennial Park, as well as extensions to the Arabia Mountain/South River trails at Panola Mountain State Park. Nancy Badertscher

School board to consider redistricting

The Atlanta Board of Education tonight will consider a plan to close 10 schools and move boundaries for dozens of others. The board will hold its monthly meeting at Jackson High, 801 Glenwood Ave., SE Atlanta, starting at 2 p.m. The community will have a chance to address the board at 6 p.m., but will need to sign in between 5:00-5:50 p.m. Info: www.atlanta.k12.ga.us Jaime Sarrio

Freedom of information award goes to Lewis

The Georgia First Amendment Foundation will award U.S. Rep. John Lewis with the 2012 Charles L. Weltner Freedom of Information Award at a banquet Wednesday night.

The banquet is at 6:15 p.m., at the offices of the King & Spalding law firm, 1180 Peachtree St., Atlanta. Tickets are $300. Information: www.gfaf.org, or 404-525-3646. Ty Tagami

Businesses get help with social media

The last of Fulton County’s three “Constant Contact” seminars will be held Thursday.

“Social Media Marketing Made Simple” will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the purchasing department, 130 Peachtree Street, S.W., Suite 1168, downtown Atlanta. Registration: www.fultoncountyga.gov/vendor-training/socialmediaemail. Information: 404-612-5800. Johnny Edwards

DEKALB

Registration open for Dunwoody bike ride

Registration is open for the fourth annual Bicycle Ride Around Dunwoody on April 21 during the Lemonade Days festival at Brook Run Park. Three routes will be offered, ranging from 3.5 to 37 miles. Post-ride activities will include a DJ, Chick-fil-A sandwiches, prizes and raffles from local merchants.

Proceeds benefit restoration of the Donaldson Chestnut Farm House; additional bike racks; and Georgia Bikes, a statewide bicycle advocacy organization.

Early registration discounts end April 16.

Information and registration: http://www.dunwoodylemonadedays.org/BRAD Patrick Fox

Learn how to deter crime with landscaping

As part of its Homeowner Gardening Series, the DeKalb Cooperative Extension is offering a class on landscaping to reduce neighborhood crime. The class is today from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Main Extension Office, 4380 Memorial Drive in Decatur. The speaker is Gary Peiffer, DeKalb Extension Horticulture Manager, who’ll discuss ways to improve and maintain home landscapes that both help deter criminals and protect property values. The cost is $10. Information: 404-298-4080. Bill Banks for the AJC

Library fundraiser hits $20,000

“A Mysterious Evening” fundraiser, featuring local mystery authors, recently raised $20,000 for DeKalb County’s public libraries. The proceeds will go toward helping the 22 branches in the county system buy books and materials. Due to budget cuts, the libraries receive just $100,000 of taxpayer funds annually for those expenses. April Hunt

Seminar targets business owners

The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its next round of capacity-building programs this spring to help small-business owners.

The series continues April 13 and 27, with a class on marketing using social media and other online tools. Costs begin at $49 for chamber members.

Information: www.dekalbcapacitybuilding.com. April Hunt

Adopt-A-Stream wins recognition

The state Environmental Protection Division recently named DeKalb County’s Adopt-A-Stream program the state’s best for large systems.

The award recognizes efforts to increase public awareness of water quality issues and well as to give residents tools to protect local waterways.

In 2011, the DeKalb program hosted 29 workshops, certified 639 volunteers to collect water quality data and helped 519 volunteers remove more than 24,650 pounds of debris from area streams. April Hunt

Park advisory panel to meet Wednesday

The committee that helps DeKalb County decide how to spend its parks bond funds will meet Wednesday.

The Parks Bond Advisory Committee and Initiative for a Green DeKalb Advisory Council meeting will include an update on greenspace acquisitions and a tour of Delano Line Park.

The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Delano Line Park pavilion, 2536 Dusty Lane, near Decatur.

Information: 404-371-2082. April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Dividend Drive repaving approved

Driving through Peachtree City’s industrial park will soon get a lot less bumpy now that the City Council has approved repaving Dividend Drive.

In a 4-1 vote last Thursday, the Council agreed to spend just under $1.43 million of SPLOST funds to do a “full-depth reclamation” of the road, which is down to bare dirt in some places after years of repair delays.

The project will begin in mid-summer and likely take 3-4 weeks to complete. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Watercolor exhibition opens on Friday

This month, Arts Clayton Gallery and the Clayton County Convention and Visitors Bureau welcome art collectors and artists for the Georgia Watercolor Society’s 2012 National Exhibition.The exhibit features more than 70 original water-based media works. The event opens Friday with a 5:30 p.m. reception at the Gallery on Main Street in downtown Jonesboro. The free exhibit runs through May 25. Arts Clayton also will host a workshop titled “Great Starts, Great Finishes” during the week of April 17. Details: www.artsclayton.org. Tammy Joyner

Paws for a Purpose fundraiser Saturday

Dogs and their families will gather at Shamrock Park in Tyrone Saturday for the third annual “Paws for a Purpose” fund raiser. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. with registration for the dog walk that starts at 10:30 a.m. Proceeds benefit the Fayette County Humane Society, Reading PAWS, Good Shepherd Pet Rescue and Canines for Combat Veterans.

See www.fayettedaybreak.org or call 770-487-9399. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Holmes’ foundation to hold fundraiser

Henry County Commissioner Bruce Holmes’ youth foundation will be hosting a fundraiser, “Cocktails for a Cause,” Thursday from 6-9 p.m. at the Merle Manders Conference Center in Stockbridge.

Tickets may be purchased through Eventbrite at http://bruceholmes-auto.eventbrite.com/.

For more information, contact Carlotta Harrell at 770-597-7544.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Young to speak at Democratic luncheon

Former ambassador Andrew Young will be the keynote speaker at the Fayette County Democratic Committee’s Signature Fundraising Luncheon on Saturday . The 11 a.m.-1 p.m. event will be at the Dolce Atlanta-Peachtree Hotel and Resort, 201 Aberdeen Parkway in Peachtree City. Tickets:$60 a person. Details: Bonnie Williamson, FCDCEvents@yahoo.com. Tammy Joyner

Taste of Henry to be April 20

Taste of Henry is scheduled for April 20 from 6-9 p.m. at the Jason T. Harper Event Center at Heritage Park in McDonough. The event, benefits A Friend’s House, Henry County’s home for abused, neglected, and abandoned children. Visit www.tasteofhenry.org for information. Monroe Roark for the AJC