County by county news for Wednesday

The city council has rescinded bids to cut down the trees and will look for alternate solutions to address buckling sidewalks caused by trees in the city right-of-way.

The city had planned to spend up to $75,000 to remove the trees.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Mableton to celebrate Community Day

The eighth annual Mableton Community Day will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mable House Complex, 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton.

Mableton Day will include an 8 a.m. 5K race, entertainers, food, vendor booths, a kids corner, arts and crafts and an Old School Car Show.

To become an event sponsor, call 678-590-2803.

Information: mableton5k.com, mabletonday.com or 770-819-3285. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Gun safety seminar in Powder Springs

Powder Springs Police Department will host a free gun safety seminar 7 p.m. Tuesday in the auditorium of Tapp Middle School at 3900 Macedonia Road in Powder Springs.

This program is intended for civilians and will be focused on safety, Georgia laws, and the use of alternative weapons. The seminar will be at 7 p.m.

To register, email SSlay@cityofpowdersprings.org or call 770-943-1616. Andria Simmons

Football camp benefits efforts helping kids

Former Georgia Tech star running back Jonathan Dwyer will host a youth football camp at his alma mater, Kell High School in Marietta, May 31 through June 1 for youth ages 5-16.

Fee of $60 includes meals and a T-shirt as well as gift bags, awards and players’ autographs.

Proceeds benefit the Jonathan Dwyer Neuro Feedback Lab at the Jacob’s Ladder Center. The facility specializes in educating children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, autism, PDD and Asperger’s among others.

Information: JonathanDwyerYouthCamp.eventbrite.com or 770-901-8872. Sandra Marshall Murray

Animal Control hosts adopt-a-thon

The Cobb County Animal Control, 1060 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta will hold an adopt-a-thon 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The event features vendors, food, K-9 demonstrations, raffles, etc.

Information: Billy Mayfield 770-590-5614 or www.cobbanimalcontrol.org.Veronica Fields Johnson

Driving seminar for teens, parents

The Powder Springs Police Department and the University of Georgia will host a free, 2-hour P.R.I.D.E. seminar to help Cobb County parents prepare their teens to drive from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 28 at the Powder Springs Police Department, 1114 Richard D. Sailors Pkwy. A teen and a parent must register to attend. Forms: www.cityofpowdersprings.org/DocumentCenter/View/2199.

Deadline May 17.

Veronica Fields Johnson

GWINNETT

Public information day in Lawrenceville

Lawrenceville and the Georgia Department of Transportation are holding a public information open house to discuss making Ga. Highway 20 two-way in downtown Lawrenceville, instead of existing one-ways Clayton and Perry Streets.

The meeting is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. May 30 at Lawrenceville City Hall, 70 South Clayton St. Drops-ins are welcome any time during the event; there will be no formal presentation.

Information: 770-963-2414.

Michael Alpert for the AJC

Dalai Lama returns to Emory in October

The Dalai Lama, Presidential Distinguished Professor at Emory University, will be at Emory for a series of events, including programs on responsible citizenship, ethics and education.

A public talk and a panel session will be held Oct. 8 at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Tickets include admission to both events. Information: GwinnettCenter.com or 1-888-929-7849. Information: www.dalailama.emory.edu. Shelia M. Poole

Public meeting on disaster preparedness

The Gwinnett County Office of Emergency Management plans for emergencies and disasters, responds to and coordinates incidents, and assists Gwinnett County government and citizens in recovery after an emergency.

The Office of Emergency Management will hold a public meeting at 3 p.m Monday at the Emergency Operation Center at 800 Hi Hope Road in Lawrenceville to provide an overview of its hazard mitigation planning process and accept recommendations from the public.

The final plan will be submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for approval. Andria Simmons

Suwanee arts festival set for Saturday

Suwanee’s Arts in the Park festival will be held in Town Center Park 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. About 60 artists will exhibit, sell, and demonstrate their art.

Attendees can create their own art through a chalk art competition and community art program. In addition, attendees can take advantage of the festival to see the Berlin Wall temporary exhibit in front of City Hall. Dan Klepal

Suwanee adds to permanent collection

Suwanee's Public Arts Commission has added to the city's permanent art collection with Audubon by Tennessee artist Jim Collins and Wind Sculpture Weathervane by Blairsville artist Al Garnto. Information: www.suwanee.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Dacula accepting credit and debit cards

Dacula will begin accepting credit and debit cards from MasterCard, VISA and Discover — either by swiping cards at City Hall or remotely by telephone — for a transaction fee of 2.99 percent. The city will keep no card numbers or personal information, and debit cards will require no PIN. Residents may receive receipts in person or by email. Information: 770-963-7451. Michael Alpert for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Fulton warns of water and sewer customer scam

Scam artists may be targeting Fulton County water and sewer customers, calling them at home, asking for credit card numbers and threatening to shut off services if the customers don’t pay up immediately. It’s a trick, says Fulton County Water and Sewer Billing, and anyone who gets such a phone call should call law enforcement authorities immediately.

Fulton Water and Sewer Billing does not accept payment by telephone and does not contact its customers in the evening, the office says.

Johnny Edwards

Woodstock approves sign project

The Woodstock City Council has cleared the way for better signage downtown, allocating $56,000 toward a planned $73,000 package of “wayfaring” traffic and parking signs, along with pedestrian info kiosks. City Manager Jeff Moon says the project has to be put out for bid, before the signs can be installed. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Adventure Runs scheduled

Soles4Souls Inc., a non-profit anti-poverty organization, will team up with Road Runner Sports to collect footwear for those in need. The first of seven scheduled Adventure Runs takes place Thursdaymay 16 at Road Runner Sports, 3756 Roswell Rd., N.E. Participants are invited to donate gently worn shoes at the event, which will feature free 60-minute scavenger hunts, score giveaways, raffles and live music. Additional events will be held June 29, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Oct. 17 and Nov. 21.

Information: www.youradventurerun.com or www.giveshoes.org. Mea Watkins

Workshop to focus on water conservation

Alpharetta and Fulton County Public Works Water Services will hold a “make and take” rain barrel workshop at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Alpharetta Engineering/Public Works Department, 1790 Hembree Road.

Cost is $40 and includes a rain barrel and all supplies. Space is limited so you must register and pre-pay by sending a check to: Fulton County Dept. of Water Resources, Attn. Jennifer McLaurin, 141 Pryor Street S.W. Suite 6001, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

Information: 404-612-8745 or Jennifer.McLaurin@fultoncountyga.gov. Patrick Fox

Holly Springs seeks park name suggestions

The city of Holly Springs is asking for citizen input on the naming of a planned 33-acre park. The City Council decided Monday night to accept citizen input until July 31. The so-called passive park on Hickory Road is tentatively set for an early summer, 2014 completion. To make suggestions: jstanley@hollyspringsga.us or 770-345-5536. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Alpharetta offers food truck event

Alpharetta’s “Feast on the Street” is 5 p.m. Thursdays through June 27, with six to eight food trucks and music weekly near 37 Old Roswell St. The city seeks to attract the several thousand patrons a similar Smyrna event reportedly has. Parking is available in the lots at 37 Old Roswell, on Old Milton Avenue and on Haynes Bridge Road. Information: 678-297-6000. Michael Alpert for the AJC

ATLANTA

Atlanta Streetcar grows more costly

The MARTA Board of Directors on Monday authorized spending nearly an extra $7 million to build the Atlanta Streetcar. The original contract was $52.2 million based on the preliminary design. The revised contract of $59 million covers changes in the project’s design and also provides for a contingency fund to cover more unforeseen costs. The increases costs of the new contract will be paid from a similar contingency fund.

Steve Visser

Man shot in northwest neighborhood

A man was wounded early Tuesday in a shooting at a home on Griffin Street at Cameron M. Alexander Boulevard, according to police dispatchers.

The man, whose name was not released was shot in the arm and abdomen, and was alert and conscious when taken to a local hospital.

Mike Morris

Schools consider furloughs cut budget

The Atlanta school district is considering three teacher furlough days next school year to help close a budget deficit that has grown to about $61 million.

The furlough days would save about $4.5 million.

The Atlanta Board of Education Budget Commission heard the budget recommendations Monday as it plans to approve a budget by mid-June.

Mark Niesse

Need-based summer camps available

Registration is open until slots are filled for the Chick-fil-A Foundation’s two need-based summer camps.

Power Camp 2013 will give youth ages 8-12 the opportunity to try a variety of non-traditional sports. Day camps take place June 10-14, June 17-21, and June 24-28 at Morehouse College, 830 Westview Drive S.W. To register, contact LaShea Davis, 864-517-7979, ldavis@fca.org.

WinShape Camps for Communities will teach sports, arts, Bible study, recreation, drama and music to ages 7-12, June 3-7 at Kennedy Middle School, 225 James P. Brawley Drive. Information: www.winshapecamps.org.

Mea Watkins

DEKALB

DeKalb schools change budget hearing plans

Hours before a final hearing Wednesday on next year’s budget, the DeKalb County School District cancelled and rescheduled the event for noon June 3.

No reason was given for the change. The school board is now expected to hear from the public just a week before a possible June 10 preliminary vote on the fiscal year 2014 budget, which starts in July. A vote is expected June 26. Ty Tagami

County hosts water quality workshop

DeKalb Adopt-A-Stream is partnering with Stone Mountain Memorial Association to host a workshop to get citizens involved in protecting DeKalb County’s water resources 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 1 Stone Mountain’s Confederate Hall Historical and Environmental Education Center, 2003 Robert E. Lee Boulevard. The workshop is designed to train volunteers on how to collect water samples from DeKalb County streams and how to interpret water quality data.

There is no fee, but registration is required and limited to 20 people. Information: 770-724-1456 or msoshield@dekalbcountyga.gov. Mea Watkins

Commissioner re-elected to ACCG Board

DeKalb County Commissioner Kathie Gannon, Super District 6, has been re-elected to her fourth term as a member of the Board of Managers for the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). She will continue as the District 3 representative, which includes the 10 metro Atlanta area counties. In this role, Commissioner Gannon will facilitate a line of communication between the counties and ACCG.

The Board of Managers of ACCG is the governing arm of the state association of counties, which was founded in 1914. It serves as the forum for consensus building, training and legislative development for all 159 county governments.

Sandra Marshall Murray

Jewish genetic disease screening offered

Genetic counseling and screenings for Jewish genetic diseases offered 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. June 2 at MJCCA at Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody.

Information: Sandra Bass, sandra.bass@atlantajcc.org or 678-812-3798.

Sandra Marshall Murray

Brookhaven Beer Fest scheduled for June 8

The third annual Brookhaven Beer Fest will be 3 to 8 p.m. June 8 at Apple Valley Road behind the Brookhaven Marta Station, 4047 Peachtree Road, N.E. The festival will feature more than 150 beers from around the world, live music, and food vendors. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Atlanta Fundraising Foundation. Admission price of $35 includes a commemorative driving glass and unlimited beer tastings.

Information and tickets: www.brookhavenbeerfestival.com Mea Watkins

Horizon productionwill benefit libraries

The Horizon Theatre, 1083 Austin Ave., Atlanta presents “The Book Play,” a comic look at friends in a book club, to benefit DeKalb County’s 22 libraries for one night’s showing 8 p.m. tonight.

Tickets are $30 online at www.dekalblibrary.org and www.afpls.org.

Information: 404-584-7450.

April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Fulton schools get grant for to-go breakfasts

Fulton County Schools will receive more than $224,000 to feed needy children as one of a half dozen systems in the United States to receive a grant from the American Association of School Administrators to experiment with breakfast options.

A dozen elementary, middle and high schools will provide bagged breakfasts that students can eat beyond the cafeteria.

Breakfast meal prices range from free to $1.20 depending upon the school. Learn more about the Fulton school nutrition program at www.fultonschools.org. Ty Tagami

Fayette may outsource school custodians

The Fayette County Board of Education heard a presentation Monday regarding outsourcing its custodial services. The proposal, part of ongoing cost-cutting efforts, would contract with GCA Services Group, which provides similar services in Hall and Rockdale counties.

Concerns focused on wages and benefits for employees.

A vote is expected May 20.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fayette Chamber hosts healthcare seminar

The Fayette Chamber of Commerce will present a free seminar 10 a.m. to noon Thursday to help employers understand and implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Topics will include compliance, exchanges, tax credits and essential health benefits.

The event will be at the FCC office at 600 W. Lanier Ave., Suite 205.

Pre-registration is required; call 770-461-9983 or visit www.FayetteChamber.org.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Applications open for Taste of Fayette

Vendor applications are now being accepted for the 12th annual Taste of Fayette taking place May 19 in downtown Fayetteville.

The event showcases food from local restaurants as well as information about other area businesses and charitable organizations.

Booths range from $50 to $100; deadline is today.

Information: www.fayetteville-ga.gov or 770-719-4173.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fulton to honor retiring education employees

More than 300 retiring Fulton County education employees will be honored at a semi-formal event on June 6 in the Atlanta Marriott Marquis’ Marquis Ballroom.

Motivational speaker and coach Ken Carter, the inspiration for the movie “Coach Carter,” will be keynote speaker.

Tickets: $45. I

nformation: Damita Holbrook, 404-763-4589 or holbrookd@fultonschools.org. Wayne Washington

Play performance benefits libraries

“The Book Play,” a comical tale of a book club in pandemonium, 8 p.m. today at Horizon Theatre, 1083 Austin Ave. will benefit local libraries, including 34 operated by the Atlanta-Fulton system.

Tickets are $30 and available at www.afpls.org. They can also be bought at the Horizon box office.

Information: 404-584-7450. Johnny Edwards