County by county news for Wednesday

This summer the City Council decided not to include the question on the Nov. 8 ballot since Mayor Patricia Vaughn said “no businesses or anyone” requested this question be placed on the ballot. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Silent railroad crossing closer in Powder Springs

The Powder Springs City Council voted 4-1 Monday night to begin engineering work with Norfolk Southern on a silent railroad crossing at Brownsville Road. Mayor Patricia Vaughn said Cobb County would pay for the new crossing with two arms on each side, preventing vehicles from going around the crossing. Train conductors then no longer would be required to sound a horn in the city’s downtown district. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Georgia Ballet presents Celebrity Nutcracker

The Georgia Ballet will present its fifth annual Celebrity Nutcracker on Dec. 3 at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in Marietta. The celebrity performances featuring community leaders is a fundraiser for community nonprofits. The performance begins at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $17; YWCA receives $5 of each ticket sold. Information: www.georgiaballet.org Janel Davis

Kennesaw seeks museum marketing firm

In advance of the 150th anniversary of the Great Locomotive Chase of April 12, 1862 -- when Union troops stole the engine the General and made a run for Chattanooga chased by Confederates -- the City of Kennesaw is seeking a firm to handle the marketing and advertising for the The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History. The account is currently handled by O’Neill Communications of Atlanta, which is paid a $5,000 retainer a month. The account will be awarded Dec. 19. Jeffry Scott

SafePath to hold annual open house

SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center will hold its annual open house Dec. 2 in Marietta.

The event will include an awards ceremony recognizing individuals and organizations that have helped prevent child abuse and neglect in the community. SafePath provides professional services including therapy, crisis intervention and case management, to deal with alleged child abuse cases. The open house begins at 9 a.m. at the center, 736 Whitlock Ave. in Marietta. Reservations : 770-810-3465, fundev.safepath@cobbcounty.org Janel Davis

Kennesaw to get community garden

Kennesaw residents will have a place to plant veggies at the city’s Smith-Gilbert Gardens, 2382 Pine Mountain Road. The 16-acre public garden will set aside a “gather n’ grow” area next year where families can plant a garden. A $150 fee will include 10 classes on vegetable gardening which will start in April. Sign up starts Jan. 3. Information: 770-919-0248 or info@smithgilbertgardens.com Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Gwinnett police charge four in auto thefts

Gwinnett County police have charged four people in connection with several auto thefts. While investigating car break-ins near Lilburn, investigators learned the suspects stole a 2002 Lincoln Blackwood truck that had a trailer and two jet skis hitched to it, which they found at Lake Lanier. Nathaniel Johnson, 24, was charged with theft. Johnson also had a stolen Ford F-250. Johnson and his sister, Tina Johnson, 27, also allegedly sold a stolen Escalade to Craig Davis, 35. Those three are still at large. A fourth suspect, Kempton Greaves, 18, is in jail. Andria Simmons

Shop online and support Gwinnett library

Local residents can support the Gwinnett County Public Library while they do their holiday shopping this year. Patrons of Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com and Better World Books can support the library if they access the retailers online through the library’s web site, www.gwinnettpl.org. The service costs shoppers nothing extra, but the retailers will give a portion of each sale to the library. David Wickert

Thieves not interested in carton of eggs

Two would-be thieves targeted an Exxon gas station owner in the parking lot Saturday afternoon, but they soon found his loot -- a carton of eggs -- was not all it was cracked up to be.

The owner was carrying a box containing a carton of eggs to his car at the station at 930 Indian Trail Road near Lilburn when an unidentified man brandished a gun and demanded his keys. A second thief came up from behind to help the suspect open the box. After seeing the contents, the pair left empty-handed.

Andria Simmons

Gwinnett Place beefs up security for holidays

The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District in Duluth is beefing up security for the holiday shopping season.The district has added extra private security forces to expand on existing seven-day patrols. Uniformed public safety officers from Specialized Intelligence and Security Inc. will monitor high-traffic areas and other businesses. David Wickert

Vines Park to get a big renovation

Vines Park near Grayson will get a major renovation under a contract awarded by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners last week.

Commissioners approved a $1.1 million contract to low bidder Rescom of Georgia. The company will build a new pavilion, replace the existing trail around the lake and add a new lake overlook. It also will remove old wooden structures and bridges that are costly to maintain. David Wickert

Falcons kicker visits Duncan Creek school

Atlanta Falcons’ kicker Matt Bryant recently visited Duncan Creek Elementary in Hoschton to honor a first grader.

Bryant honored first grader Olivia Shaw who won the “Punt Pass and Kick” contest at her school and advanced to sectional competition at South Gwinnett High. Olivia will compete at the Georgia Dome on Sunday against other students at the Atlanta Falcons game. D. Aileen Dodd

NORTHSIDE

Fulton to luanch anti-smoking campaign

The Georgia State University Research Foundation will launch an anti-smoking media campaign, focusing on the dangers of exposure to second-hand smoke, for Fulton County’s Health and Wellness Department. The commission approved using $65,000 in federal grant money to pay for it.

The goal is to convince businesses to prohibit smoking on their own, according to department Director Patrice Harris, not to push for a county-enforced ban as was tried unsuccessfully in DeKalb. Johnny Edwards

Library award to GED testing programs

The GED Testing Program of Georgia has awarded the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System with the “Largest Growth in Number of GED Test-Takers” award. The system was honored for its 2009 to 2010 growth, both in test passed and total test takers, in the large-sized testing centers category.

Atlanta-Fulton was also recognized for achieving a 10.2 percent increase in the number of GED graduates, having graduated 543 people from its program last year. Through a federal grant, the program has extended into Roswell and College Park libraries, driving the growth. Johnny Edwards

Milton council approves zoning for church

Milton City Council members on Monday unanimously approved a zoning request to expand the existing Inner City Quest Church at 12830 New Providence Road.

The church wants to add a new building with an 8,320-square-foot sanctuary, more than doubling the size of its existing 3,800-square-foot church. The expansion would bring the size of the facility to a total of 12,120 square feet within two buildings, with a total of 224 seats. Andria Simmons

Johns Creek library offers camera class

Johns Creek’s Ocee Library will offer a class Nov. 30 on picking out the right kind of camera. “Buying a Digital Camera” starts at 6:15 p.m. at 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road.

The class is for adults. Reservations: 770-360-8897. Johnny Edwards

Nature Center kicks off Craft Week

The Chattahoochee Nature Center is hosting Craft Week this week from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. for ages 4 – 12 years. Visitors will be able to reuse and recycle common items to make fun, take-home projects. General admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for children 3-12 and free for children 2 and under and members.

Information: visit www.chattnaturecenter.com or 770-992-2055 ext. 224. Sandra Marshall Murray

Woodstock to hold Christmas Eve event

The city of Woodstock will host its Christmas Eve experience event in downtown Woodstock City Park on Dec. 24 at 5 p.m.

The free event will include music, cocoa, an appearance by Santa on a Woodstock Fire engine and also enough snow to play in. The snow area will be open from 4:30 p.m. to 6:15 p. m.

Information visit www.ChristmasinWoodstock.com. Sandra Marshall Murray

ATLANTA

Man sentenced in prison fraud scheme

An Atlanta man who participated in a fraud scheme while in prison was recently sentenced to six years and nine months in prison. Carlos Garcia, 39, while housed inside the state prison in Valdosta, used a smuggled cell phone to transfer money from the account of a 93-year-old victim to his prisoner account. Garcia’s co-defendants -- Danyez Hines and Samantha Johnson -- ordered new checks on the victim’s account and forged the checks after they arrived, prosecutors said. Hines and Johnson, who stole the victim’s wallet, also received prison terms. Bill Rankin

Communities in Schools to get grant

Communities in Schools Atlanta is set to receive a $25,000 literacy grant from Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation’s largest children’s literacy nonprofit. The grant will be used to create literacy experiences that will inspire reading in Atlanta area children. The funds were raised during RIF’s 2011 “Be Book Smart” campaign in partnership with Macy’s.

Funds are generally used to provide books for underserved children and try to encourage literacy. Ernie Suggs

School to host information night

Atlanta’s Maynard Holbrook Jackson High is hosting an International Baccalaureate (IB) student/parent information night, from 6 -- 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday in the cafeteria. The event is for pre-IB students interested in joining the program. Eighth-graders are also encouraged to attend. IB is a rigorous academic program with special courses that put learning into a global context. Information: 404-802-5247. Jaime Sarrio

Cascade church choir gives out groceries

Cascade United Methodist Church’s New Advent Choir in Atlanta hosted a Thanksgiving Food Basket Project on Monday. Groceries for Thanksgiving dinner and a week’s worth of additional groceries were distributed to Atlanta residents. The project serviced more than 500 families and was funded by Cascade members and the community. Kenneth Musisi

DEKALB

Decatur set for alcohol sales on Sunday

After more than 90 percent of Decatur’s voters on Nov. 8 favored Sunday alcohol package sales, Decatur’s City Commission officially approved it Monday.

The change is effective this Sunday with sales legal from 12:30 to 11:30 p.m. The eight retailers selling Sunday alcohol include Ale Yeah! Craft Beer Market, Cook’s Warehouse & Sherlock’s Wine, Devki (Citgo) Food Mart, Econo Flash, Hop N Shop, J’s Food Mart, Kroger on Commerce Drive and Oakhurst Market. Bill Banks for the AJC

Proposal would shrink school board

State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur, has pre-filed a House bill that would reduce the DeKalb County School board from nine to seven members, as required by Senate Bill 79, which was signed into law earlier this year.

According to Oliver, if the General Assembly passes House Bill 671, it would eliminate DeKalb’s two at-large districts.

The legislation would also establish a system for electing school board members from seven redrawn single-member districts. Ernie Suggs

Store to be Toys for Toys collection point

Picayune Toy Store at 2482 Jett Ferry Road in Dunwoody will again be a drop off location for the Toys for Tots program. Donations of new and unwrapped toys can be made for this U.S. Marine Corps Reserve campaign for local children.

Information: Becky Goblish at 770-395-0890. Kenneth Musisi

Chamblee gets new restaurant, jobs

Construction is underway on Chamblee’s first Zaxby’s restaurant, a Southeast “quick-casual” restaurant serving chicken fingers and Buffalo wings.

Licensee Sheila Williams plans to open the restaurant later this winter at 4906 Peachtree Blvd., in front of Lowe’s. The new restaurant will create an additional 50 to 60 jobs for the area.

The new location will be the seventh for DeKalb County and the 197th for the state.

Zaxby’s operates more than 535 locations in 12 states. Andria Simmons

Holiday Tour of Homes needs volunteers

The Decatur Holiday Candlelight Tour of Homes needs help.

The DeKalb History Center, which is putting on the tour, is looking for volunteers to staff the houses the evenings of Dec. 2 and 3.

And to thank them for their help, each volunteer will get a ticket to take the tour as well.

Those interested should send an email to director@dekalbhistory.org or call 404-373-1088, extension 22. Rhonda Cook

School chief to hold fireside chat

DeKalb County School Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson is holding another “fireside chat” at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at the auditorium at the school administration building, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain.

The meeting is geared toward school paraprofessional employees, but is open to all members of the public.

The sessions are part of her listening tour to hear from as many DeKalb school workers as possible.

Information: www.dekalb.k12.ga.us. Rich McKay

SOUTHSIDE

Sunday alcohol sales in Fayette to start Dec. 4

Now that their respective city councils have certified local referendum results, Fayetteville and Peachtree City will allow stores to begin Sunday sales of beer and wine at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 4.

The measures passed by a 57-43 percent margin in Fayetteville and 77-23 percent in Peachtree City.

Tyrone voters approved package sales 61-39 percent. If the Town Council certifies the results at its Dec. 1 meeting, stores there will also begin package sales on Dec. 4. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Henry looks at interstate alternatives

The Henry County Planning and Zoning Department will host a Dec. 6 meeting to discuss the creation of an alternative to the interstate. The meeting centers on a proposed alignment of a Western Parallel Connector Road to connect Jonesboro Road to Hudson Bridge Road. The meeting will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Pates Creek Elementary School, 1309 Jodeco Road in Stockbridge. Details: John M. Fish at jfish@jbplusa.com or Cheri Hobson-Matthews, Planning & Zoning Director, cmatthews@co.henry.ga.us. Tammy Joyner

Peachtree City sets hours for holidays

Peachtree City’s municipal offices and recreation facilities will be closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving. The library will close today (Wednesday) at 6 p.m. and reopen for regular hours on Saturday and Sunday. The Kedron Fieldhouse and the Peachtree City Recycling Center will have normal schedules Saturday and Sunday. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Housing Authority elects new officers

The Housing Authority of Clayton County (HACC) Board of Commissioners has unanimously elected to keep its same slate of officers for 2012. They are Curtis Green, board chairman; Dorothy Morris, vice chair; James Searcy, Treasurer, Tonya Clarke assistant secretary and Rubye Harris-Ball. Tammy Joyner

Clayton Water Authority wins awards

Clayton County Water Authority recently received the Georgia Association of Water Professional’s outstanding operations award for its collection system and central water reclamation laboratory. The authority received a 2011 Collection System Gold Award for earning a quantitative inspection score of 95 or higher. CCWA’s W.B. Casey Water Reclamation Central Laboratory Staff received a Laboratory Quality Assurance Certificate of Distinguished Merit. Tammy Joyner

Henry County ready for Turkey Day 5K

Henry County’s Turkey Day 5K, a benefit for Henry County Senior Services and Prevent Child Abuse of Henry County, is scheduled for Thanksgiving morning at the South Point shopping center in McDonough.

Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. with the 5K run at 8 a.m. followed by a one-mile walk and a Tot Trot. Information: Henry County Senior Services Department at www.co.henry.ga.us/seniorservices or call 770-288-7000. Monroe Roark for the AJC