COBB
Powder Springs hires development director
Douglasville’s Main Street Manager Stephanie Aylworth was hired Monday as the first economic development director of Powder Springs.
The City Council vote was 4-0-1 with Councilman Al Thurman abstaining since he said he was out of town when she was interviewed.
Jan. 21 will be her first day with an annual salary of $62,000, Powder Springs City Manager Brad Hulsey said.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Powder Springs elects mayor pro tem
Powder Springs Councilwoman Rosalyn Neal was elected mayor pro tem for the third consecutive year on Monday.
She will preside over City Council meetings should Mayor Patricia C. Vaughn be absent.
Neal serves as one of two at-large councilmembers with her term expiring next year.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Volunteer group to work on new trail
A volunteer group that helps the National Park Service maintain almost 20 miles of trail at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park will work 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on a newly approved trail called the 24 Gun Trail.
Volunteers will meet in the new parking lot on Old Highway 41 near the park visitor center.
Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club volunteers meet on the second Saturday of each month.
Information: www.kennesawmountaintrailclub.org.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Marietta to add more trees downtown
The Marietta City Council Wednesday is expected to continue an ongoing project to add shade trees on streets around the Marietta Square.
The city will plant about 12 trees on both sides of Powder Springs Street from Whitlock Avenue to Waverly Way.
The addition could mean a loss of four parking spaces on the street. A year ago, the city used SPLOST funds to plant trees on Church Street from Polk to Mill Streets and widen the west sidewalk.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
County to hold senior services expo
Cobb Senior Services will hold a services care expo for seniors and caregivers 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday at the Senior Wellness Center, 1150 Powder Springs St., Marietta. Topics will include Veterans Affairs benefits, advance directives, levels of retirement community care, in-home care and estate planning.
Information: www.cobbcounty.org.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
KSU hosts career training expo
Kennesaw State University’s College of Continuing and Professional Education will has a free career training expo 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at KSU Center, 3333 Busbee Drive.
The event will feature more than 50 professional certificate programs.
A life coach will also lead a session on interviewing and personal branding.
Information: ksuexpo.com or 770-423-6765. Arlinda Smith Broady
GWINNETT
Gwinnett Tech to offer new GED test
Test takers at Gwinnett Tech’s GED Testing Center were among the first in the state to experience the new 2014 GED test. Among noticeable changes, the test will only be delivered on computer at one of the fifty-seven state-approved GED testing centers. The test, which once had five content areas, will combine the Language Arts Writing and Reading, and have four content areas. Information: www.GwinnettTech.edu/ged or 678-226-6702.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Lilburn CID meets Friday
The Lilburn Community Improvement District will meet at 8:30 a.m. Friday at Providence Christian Academy, 4575 Lawrenceville Highway in Lilburn. The Lilburn CID is committed to creating a Greater Lilburn that allows families and businesses to prosper. The Lilburn CID was formed by a group of concerned citizens, all of whom are actively involved in other community groups, committees, city and county government. Info: www.lilburncid.com or 678-380-1000. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Hudgens to open three new exhibits
The Hudgens Center for the Arts will open three new art exhibits Wednesday, January 15 through March 29. The first, Evolving Visions: Larry Walker & Colleagues: Joe Camoosa, Patricia Drew, Eleanor Neal, Yanique Norman and Michael Scoffield will feature over twenty works. Walker is a Professor Emeritus of the School of Art and Design, Georgia State University, and draws his inspiration from the urban streetscape, addressing the vitality of the human spirit in many of his works. The second exhibit features Lillian Blades’ large-scale multi-media works. The third exhibit features new artworks pulled from the Hudgens’ own private collection. There will be a reception for the new exhibits 2 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, January 25. Info: thehudgens.org.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Harlem Legends to play north Gwinnett squad
An exhibition game between the Harlem Legends and local public safety officers, politicians, community leaders, coaches and teachers is 3 to 8 p.m. March 22 at North Gwinnett High, 20 Level Creek Road, Suwanee. There will also be a basketball clinic and health fair. Admission to the game is $10, $13 at the door and $25 for VIP tickets. Tickets to the basketball clinic are $25.
Information: www.harlemlegends.com or 678-630-8843.
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
Emergency volunteer course is available
The Gwinnett County Office of Emergency Management is offering Community Emergency Response Team training 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Jan. 28. Participants will learn basic disaster response skills. The training consists of eight sessions concluding with a course review and disaster simulation from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 15. Information: ema@gwinnettcounty.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
NORTHSIDE
Manufacturer inaugurates Cherokee operations
Netherlands-based manufacturer Inalfa Roof Systems began operations Monday in Cherokee County, employing 80 people with an eventual goal of 300 in three years. The Cherokee plant will supply sunroofs and open roofing systems to Ford, Nissan and BMW facilities. The firm’s located in the Cherokee 75 Corporate Park. State and local officials announced the deal last June.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Woodall sets town hall meetings
U.S. Rep Rob Woodall, R-Ga., whose 7th district includes parts of Forsyth County, will hold town hall meetings. Two telephone town hall sessions are set at 7:30 p.m. Monday and Jan. 16. An in-person session is 7 p.m. Jan.21 at the Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 E. Main St., Cumming. More information: woodall.house.gov Mark Woolsey
Alpharetta swears in re-elected council
Three Alpharetta City Council members re-elected in November took their seats at Monday night’s meeting. Post 1 Councilman Donald Mitchell, Post 2’s Mike Kennedy and Post 3 member Chris Owens were sworn in, along with Municipal Court Judge Barry Zimmerman. Staffers also updated the Council on the City Center project, saying that City Hall, the parking deck and public park are still on track for a September finish. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Roswell community calendars available
The city of Roswell’s 2014 community calendars are available for pickup. The free, first-come, first-serve calendars feature photographs from around the city, plus a list of key events for 2014. Residents can pick them up at the information desk at Roswell City Hall, or at city park facilities. More information: roswellgov.com
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Big Creek Parkway project meeting set
The city of Roswell Department of Transportation is holding a public information meeting on the Big Creek Parkway project 5 p.m. Jan. 21 at Mimosa Elementary School, 1550 Warsaw Road.
The project is a proposed new road extending 3.3. miles from Warsaw Road just north of Holcomb Bridge Road, east across Ga. 400 between the Holcomb Bridge Road and Mansell Road interchanges, and connecting to the intersection of Old Alabama Road and Holcomb Woods Parkway before ending at Holcomb Bridge Road.
The public may view project information, ask questions and offer comments.
Information: www.roswellgov.com
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
Court hours in Woodstock changing
Operating hours for Woodstock Municipal Court are now 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, from a prior 9 a.m.-6 p.m. schedule.
City officials say they determined the change would better accommodate the public’s needs.
The court is located at Woodstock City Hall, 12453 Ga. 92. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
ATLANTA
Suspect in MARTA robbery arrested
U.S. Marshals arrested the man accused of a New Year’s Day armed robbery at a MARTA station.
Clifton Spann, 18, was arrested Monday morning at his Kirkwood home by marshals, along with officers from the Atlanta and MARTA police departments.
Spann was was charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Spann, a suspected gang member, is the suspect in an armed robbery shortly after midnight Jan. 1 at the East Lake MARTA station, police said.
A handgun and narcotics were seized when a search warrant was executed prior to Spann’s arrest. Alexis Stevens
Report for 2013 shows financial gains for APS
Atlanta Public Schools’ revenue declined last year, but not as much as the school system cut spending, according to its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for 2013.
The result is an increase of about $31 million in the school system’s net position, an indicator of financial improvement based on the difference between assets and liabilities.
The report said APS’ total revenue in the 2013 fiscal year amounted to $768.5 million, and its total expenses were $737.5 million. Mark Niesse
Men sought to mentor inner-city youth
Priority Male Initiative, a free life-skills and job readiness program sponsored by the Community Council of Metropolitan Atlanta Inc. is seeking males to mentor at-risk young males, 18-28 years of age.
Information: 404-221-1222, 404-935-5859, info@communitycouncilma.org or www.communitycouncilma.org.
Arlinda Smith Broady
Fiction writers award party Thursday
Creative Loafing hosts its annual Fiction Contest Party 7 p.m. Thursday at the Highland Inn, 644 N. Highland Ave.
The free party will showcase the three winning writers in the 2014 Fiction Contest. Winners will read excerpts of their stories. Arlinda Smith Broady
DEKALB
Baskett, Cunningham re-elected
Monday night Decatur’s city commission re-elected Jim Baskett as Mayor and Kecia Cunningham as Mayor Pro Tem, the second consecutive term for both. Decatur remains the only metro Atlanta city that doesn’t popularly elect its mayor, annually appointing the position from its five-person commission. Baskett, 66, who’s been a city commissioner since Jan., 1996, replaced Bill Floyd – who served 13 consecutive terms – as mayor last January. Cunningham’s been a commissioner since 1999.
Bill Banks for the AJC
Thursday meeting focuses on homeowners
DeKalb County will host a meeting Thursday 1/9 designed to help residents understand homeowner associations and covenants within them.
The workshop will be led by Jamie Lyons of Lazega and Johnson Attorneys and Nadine Rivers-Johnson of the Mainstreet Community.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Maloof auditorium, 1300 Commerce Dr., Decatur.
Information: 404-371-3689 or onedekalb@dekalbcountyga.gov.
April Hunt
Jobs bus stops this week in DeKalb
DeKalb County’s “jobs bus” – an RV outfitted with computers, private interview area and office gear for job seekers – has several upcoming stops for job seekers.
The bus will be stationed from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Laurus, 523 Church St., Decatur.
It will be parked from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Wesley Chapel Library, 2861 Wesley Chapel Road, south of Decatur.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday the bus will be at the Clarkston library, 951 N. Indian Creek Dr.
April Hunt
County parks board meets today
The committee that helps DeKalb County decide how to spend its parks bond funds will meet Wednesday 1/8.
The Parks Bond Advisory Committee and Initiative for a Green DeKalb Advisory Council meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in Maloof auditorium, 1300 Commerce Dr., Decatur.
Information: 404-371-2082.
April Hunt
Friends of Dunwoody Library host book sale
The Friends of the Dunwoody Library Book Sale will be held Jan. 23-27 at the library, 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road.
A special preview for members is 1 p.m. Jan. 23. The sale will open to the public 4 to 8 p.m. Jan. 23. Most books are priced 25 cents to $2.
Information: 770-512-4640.
Arlinda Smith Broady
ART Station opens new exhibit
ART Station will host a new exhibit of paintings by local artist Pat Fiorello entitled “Take Me Away on Jan. 18 through March 30. There will be a meet-the-artist opening reception 7 to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 25 featuring Fiorello’s newly released book, “Bella Italia, Italy Through the Eyes of an Artist.”
Information: 770-469-1105 or www.artstation.org
Arlinda Smith Broady
SOUTHSIDE
Fayette changes school lunch charges
Starting this week, Fayette County Public Schools will no longer allow middle and high school students to charge meals.
Payments for school meals must be made by cash, check or money order to the student’s cafeteria, or online at www.mylunchmoney.com.
Elementary students can charge up to three meals, but not breakfast or a la carte items. Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Fayette water commission spot open
The Fayette County Water Commission has an opening for a volunteer citizen member.
The advisory board meets twice monthly to discuss and make recommendations about system operations and improvements.
Candidates must submit an application by Jan. 31
Information: contact Floyd Jones at fjones@fayettecountyga.gov or call 770-305-5102.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
East Point reprimands council member
The East Point City Council Monday night voted unanimously to publicly reprimand Ward B City Councilman Lance Rhodes. The resolution stems from a complaint by ex-mayor Earnestine Pittman, who claimed that Rhodes knowingly gave a directive to a city employee, banned by the city’s ethics code. The council also admonished Rhodes in connection with several other ethics complaints dating back to 2009. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Clayton school board named vice chair
Veteran Clayton County Board of Education member Alieka Anderson was voted vice chair of the school board Monday night.
She will serve in the job for a year.
Anderson has served on the school board about six years, at one point serving as chairman of the board. Tammy Joyner
Housing and Human Services offer grants
The Fulton County Housing and Human Services Department’s Office of Grants and Community Partnerships is accepting applications for the 2014-15 Human Services Grants and FRESH Grants.
Nonprofit organizations that provide services in the county are eligible to apply online. The application deadline is 3 p.m. Feb. 21 . In 2013, a total of $5.4 million in grants were awarded to 129 programs.
Information: fultoncountyga.gov/WebGrants
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
Retired teachers meet Thursday
Joseph Barrow, Fayette County Superintendent of Schools will discuss present and future issues facing schools at the Fayette County Retired Educators Association meeting 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church, 175 E. Lanier Ave.
Information 770-487-7731
Arlinda Smith Broady
