COBB
Noses Creek bridge closed until Friday
The Noses Creek bridge on the Silver Comet Trail, from mile markers 8.3 to 8.7, is closed until Friday.
There is no access across the bridge, and Cobb County Police will issue tickets to trespassers on this construction site.
Information: cobbdot.org for newest trail updates.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Library to hold job fair Thursday
Cobb County’s Stratton Library will host a job fair 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, 1100 Powder Springs St., Marietta. Employers scheduled include Walmart, Carmax, Randstad, Manpower, city and county governments. Workshops on interviewing, resumes, cover letters and job skills included. Information: www.cobbcat.org.
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Garden plots available for rent in Mableton
The Historic Mableton Community Garden, 5178 Floyd Road, and the Community Garden at Riverview Landing, 5271 Riverview Road, have rental spaces.
Both gardens have raised-bed plots in several sizes.
Rentals at Riverview Garden are $25 to $60 and at Historic Mableton Community Garden for $35 to $45.
Information: Farmer Terri, HMCG@mableton.org or Val, riverviewgarden@mableton.org.
Carolyn Cunningham for AJC
Civil War symposium this weekend
The Civil War Center at Kennesaw State University, in conjunction with the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, presents Civil War historians William C. Davis, Richard McMurry, Jim Ogden, Craig Symonds, and Steve Woodworth who will conduct Civil War symposium: ‘1864: The Western Theater’ 8:30 a.m. Saturday with a reception 6 p.m. Friday at KSU Center, 3333 Busbee Drive, Kennesaw. Free and open to the public. Information: www.kennesaw.edu/civilwarera Arlinda Smith Broady
Lacrosse festival at Pope High School
High school lacrosse teams will compete in the eighth annual AJO4LAX Fest 10 a.m. Saturdayat Pope High School, 3001 Hembree Road, Marietta.
Blessed Trinity and Pope open the first of five scheduled games, followed by Decatur vs. Northview, Lassiter vs. Walton, Lovett vs. Lambert and Westminster vs. Centennial.
Tickets, which are good for all five games, are $7 for adults and $3 for children.
Proceeds benefit the Andrew J. Oswald Memorial Fund.
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
Cops and Rodders show in Kennesaw
The Blue Knights Cops and Rodders car, truck and motorcycle show for Special Olympics will take place at 10 a.m. March 22 in the Electric Cowboy parking lot, 1750 N. Roberts Road NW, Kennesaw.
Entrants will compete for a $500 top prize, which they must be present to win. All proceeds will go to the Special Olympics of Georgia.
Entry fee is $20 by March 21, $25 on the day of the show.
Information: 770-823-9566.
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
GWINNETT
City of Suwanee receives AAA bond rating
Standard & Poor’s has upgraded the city of Suwanee’s rating for its general obligation bond debt to AAA, the highest rating available. The city’s rating had previously been AA. S&P upgraded the city to AAA with a stable outlook based on the City’s continued economic expansion. Suwanee is one of only four Georgia cities to have earned a AAA rating from S&P. The others are Roswell, Peachtree City, and Smyrna, which also was just upgraded. Alpharetta has a AAA rating from Moody’s. Molly Bloom
Appreciation continues in Duluth
The Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia held an Appreciation Day Lunch at Bob’s Country Buffet to thank Duluth Public Works and Public Safety staff members. The KACCGA is providing lunch coupons to these departments for use at their convenience during the month of March as a show of appreciation for all their hard work during the winter storms earlier this year. KACCGA presented a special Certificate of Appreciation to Public Works Director, Audrey Turner and Police Chief, Randy Belcher, at the luncheon. www.duluthga.net.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Global shipping company brings jobs
The United Arab Shipping Co. will relocate its North American headquarters to Peachtree Corners, investing millions and creating 160 new jobs. The 50,000-square-foot facility, off Spalding Drive, will house shipping logistics, accounting, finance, customer service activities as well as executive management for the company’s North American operations.
Information: www.gwinnetteconomicdevelopment.com or www.uasc.net.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Gwinnett school district holds job fair
Gwinnett County Public Schools will hold a Certified Teacher Career Fair 8 a.m. to noon Saturdayat the Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. At this year’s Career Fair, the district welcomes highly qualified educators who hold certificates or will be certified by the fall of 2014 in mathematics, science, special education, and other specific areas. Information: www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us.
Molly Bloom
Brannan Road in Snellville closed
Brannan Road in Snellville is closed at the bridge until further notice. The detour route will be SR 264/Bethany Church Road to Leach Road to Brannan Road and the reverse. Information: www.dot.ga.gov.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Seniors encouraged to apply for college
Georgia Gwinnett College is waiving its $20 application fee through Sunday for high school seniors to encourage students to complete required forms early. Application deadline for the fall 2104 semester is May 1. Register now for an open house to tour the campus 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 22 at www.ggc.edu. Begin the application process online: www.GAcollege411.org.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
NORTHSIDE
Alpharetta warning of major road closure
Alpharetta city officials are warning of a traffic mess beginning Monday as Fulton County installs a 30-inch water main across Ga. 9/Main Street in downtown Alpharetta. The project will require periodic lane closures near the road’s intersection with Academy Street/Milton Avenue between 8 p.m.-5 a.m. Drivers can expect heavy evening congestion during the three week project, and city officials say Westside Parkway is the best alternate route. The project is part of a major waterline expansion. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Forsyth picks animal shelter manager
Forsyth County hired Chris Peninger aS manager for the county’s new animal shelter, which is set to open this summer. Peninger has more than 20 years of experience in animal sheltering and administration, and will be responsible for daily oversight, shelter upkeep, personnel management and other functions. The shelter, on County Way off Ga. 400, was funded by SPLOST sales tax revenue.Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Milton school to host Kickin’ Cancer 5K
Northwestern Middle School will hold the Kickin’ Cancer 5K and kids’ fun run 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the school, 12805 Birmingham Highway, Milton.
Registration is $25, $10 for the 1-mile kids’ fun run. Proceeds will benefit the Children’s Cancer Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Information: www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=2123881
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
Woodall plans town hall meetings
U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall, R-Ga., who represents the southern half of Forsyth County, will hold a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday (March 20) at the Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming. A telephone town hall meeting is noon-12:30 p.m. Monday at 877-229-8493. Use pass code 17849 when prompted.Mark Woolsey
Johns Creek hosts breast cancer event
The 2014 Pink Affair breast cancer fundraiser is 7 p.m. Saturday at the Country Club of the South, 9375 Barnwell Road, Johns Creek. The event founded in 2002 raises money for the nonprofit TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation health care organization. Tickets are $100 and can be ordered through thepinkaffair.org. Information: 770-360-9271 or elong@myturningpoint.org
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Food drive to provide summer lunches
Feed Forsyth will hold an Easter canned food drive March 31-April 21 to help provide lunch for more than 10,0000 Forsyth County children who may go without a midday meal after school dismisses for the summer.
The group seeks donations of canned soup, tuna, chicken and ravioli, as well as peanut butter, snack bars and other items. Several community pantries will utilize the donations to provide “Summer Sacks of Love” for those kids while school is out.
Information on donations and participating locations: FeedForsyth.org or 678-807-9120. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
ATLANTA
School pension solution sought
Atlanta’s school system could rid itself of a $550 million pension debt by raising taxes or changing its payment schedule.
Options include asking voters to approve a taxpayer-funded 20-year bond issue, increasing taxes to pay off the debt over 13 years or carrying the debt into the future.The bond issue could save the school system $300 million, but it could also cost $100 million if the economy falters.Mark Niesse
Students to compete against celebrities
Celebrities will challenge students from KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools in a March 27 game show fundraiser.
“Are You Smarter than a KIPPster” contestants include comedian Jeff Foxworthy, Atlanta Falcons defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi, Morehouse College President Silvanus Wilson Jr., Channel 2 Action News anchor John Bachman. Mark Niesse
Georgia Southern hosts family days
Georgia Southern University will host spring family days 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
UNCF Evening of Stars leaving L.A. for Atlanta
The United Negro College Fund’s annual celebrity-studded “Evening of Stars” is coming to Atlanta.
Officials from Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration joined UNCF officials this week to announce the 35th annual philanthropic event is moving from Los Angeles to Atlanta and will be held April 6 at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center.
“Evening of Stars” culminates a weekend of events supporting the fund.
Information: www.uncf.org/sites/aeos. Katie Leslie
DEKALB
Mayor speaks out against renovation
Decatur’s commission approved by 4-1 a second project, 31 townhomes, on the northern tip of the old DeVry University property off Arcadia Avenue. The townhomes will be developed by Greenstone Properties, also renovating the former DeVry building next door into a VA specialty care outpatient clinic. Mayor Jim Baskett voted against the townhomes saying, “It is very disappointing we are not going to see the mixed-use development that [the city] anticipated when we annexed this property [21 acres total in 2009].”Bill Banks for the AJC
Emory expands Wikipedia entries
Emory University students and faculty will contribute articles and entries they’ve researched and written to improve Wikipedia entries about women leaders, Latin-American folklore and international historical events relating to women’s rights.
Emory will host the Global Women Wikipedia Write-In 10 a.m. Tuesday in the university’s Woodruff Library.
Students are expected to upload articles about La Patasola, a female jungle monster from South American folklore; Enriqueta Arvelo Larriva, a Venezuelan poet; and several other Latin American and Caribbean-related people and topics. I
To participate, students must become registered Wikipedia contributors, which allows them to continue the project after Tuesday’s event.
Information: news.emory.edu/ Janel Davis
History Center holding annual meeting
The DeKalb History Center will host its annual meeting and silent auction 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the historic courthouse on Decatur Square. Information: www.dekalbhistory.org. April Hunt
Art exhibit through March 31 in Dunwoody
The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta is hosting the Dunwoody Fine Art Association member show through March 31 in the Katz Family Main Street Gallery, 5324 Tilly Mill Road. Admission is free to the public.
Key to Dunwoody features the historic Spruill Farmhouse where 27 artists created their interpretations of the farmhouse and Dunwoody itself for the exhibit. Information: www.atlantajcc.org or 678-812-4071. Kent A. Miles for the AJC
Bluegrass festival at Stone Mountain Village
Stone Mountain Village hosts its fifth annual Blue Grassroots Music and Arts festival 10 a.m. March 29, and 11 a.m. March 30, in the historic downtown area.
The festival is the first event celebrating the 175th anniversary of the founding of the city of Stone Mountain. Free.
Information: www.stonemountainvillage.com
Kent A. Miles for the AJC
South River, tributaries focus of April 19 tour
The South River Watershed Alliance is organizing a tour and visit focusing on the river and its tributaries.
The tour runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 19 at the Watershed Mural on DeKalb Avenue in Decatur. The tour runs along the campus of Agnes Scott College to Albert Shoals, the series of short falls spanning the river near Snapfinger Creek.
Information: www.southriverga.org or 404-862-0118. April Hunt
SOUTHSIDE
Fayette school board to appeal district voting
The Fayette County Board of Education voted Friday to authorize an appeal of a recent District Court ruling that replaces at-large voting with district voting for county offices. Other challenges to the ruling have failed; BOE member Leonard Presberg called the new appeal “a waste of money” in light of recent school budget and staff cuts. Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Stockbridge hosts ACA enrollment session
Rep. Demetrius Douglas (District 78) is hosting an Affordable Care Act enrollment event in Stockbridge noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at Red Oak United Methodist Church, 3894 Walt Stephens Road, Stockbridge. Help will be available for people to enroll in the insurance plan using the federally-created insurance exchange system. Information: contact Rep. Douglas at demetriusdouglas78@gmail.com. Tammy Joyner
Fayette hospital earns stroke award
Piedmont Fayette Hospital in Fayetteville has earned an achievement award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for its care of stroke patients. The hospital met specific diagnostic and treatment measures for the aggressive use of medications and risk-reduction therapies to reduce rates of death and disability.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Peachtree City seeks rec instructors
Peachtree City’s Recreation and Special Events Department is looking for instructors to lead classes offered at the Glenloch Recreation Center and the Kedron Fieldhouse and Aquatic Center. Art, preschool and holiday camp teachers are especially needed. Anyone with special talents or interests can contact Billy Spezzano at bspezzano@peachtree-city.org to submit a proposal.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Fayette seeks uniform golf cart rules
The Fayette County Board of Commissioners will soon consider a new ordinance that makes rules for operating golf carts more consistent. The March 27 meeting will include discussion of plans to have universal age and use standards in the unincorporated parts of the county and the cities of Peachtree City, Fayetteville and Tyrone. Details will be posted at www.fayettecountyga.gov by March 22. Jill Howard Church
Poverty workshop in Peachtree City
Community leaders, church and civic groups, educators, legal system personnel, and members of the business community are invited to participate in a UGA Cooperative Extension program, “Welcome to the state of poverty: Can you survive?” The simulation will help participants understand living in poverty and develop plans for community action. The event 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Loreto Hall, 101 Walt Banks Road, Peachtree City. Cost: $5. Registration required. Information: je.rorabaugh@gmail.com. Tammy Joyner
