County by county news for Wednesday

A public hearing is 7 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers, 4488 Pineview Drive. Hero House founder Randy Haveson wants to expand from his three recovery houses in Kennesaw to open two dormitories by 2019 for 50 college-age male students on eight acres of the Sullivan House property. Opposition came from around 40 residents of the adjacent Ashleigh Parc and Platinum Creek communities. Information: sullivanhouse.com, ashleighparc.com, herohouse.com. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Cobb school board to consider budget

The Cobb County Board of Education approved a tentative $899 million budget for the 2015 fiscal year. The budget includes adding 300 teachers, a 1-percent pay restoration for staff, salary increases for eligible employees and no furlough days. The public may weigh in before the board votea May 23. Information: www.cobbk12.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Farm Fresh Market in Austell begins Monday

Cobb2020 is launching Farm Fresh Market on Monday to provide fresh produce for the Austell-Six Flags area. There is no free-standing grocery store accessible to the 26,000 people in this area. The market will be held three days a week at different locations in Austell until Sept. 30.Information: info@cobb2020.com.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Warsaw ghetto photos on exhibit

“In the Ghetto of Warsaw: Heinrich Jost’s Photographs” are on display 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays through today at the Lovett School Galleria, 4075 Paces Ferry Road, NW.

Jöst’s 40 pictures are among the few of Warsaw ghetto corpses during World War II - some with graphic, disturbing content so that parental and teacher guidance and supervision are advised for young children.

Information: Karey Walter, karey.walter@lovett.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Civil War 150 Commission kickoff

The Atlanta Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, which was established to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, will hold its kickoff event at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, 441 Freedom Parkway with the theme “Civil War to Civil Rights – Our 150-Year Journey.”

Guest speakers will be civil rights legend and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient C. T. Vivian and W. Todd Groce, president and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society.

Visitors then may tour free venues by trolleys, including Oakland Cemetery, the Grant Mansion, Cyclorama and the East Atlanta Village, which was the battlefield site.

Information: 404-330-6048.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Sign up now for Marietta July 4 parade

Marietta is looking for bands, military units, scouts, beauty queens and businesses to participate in the July 4 Let Freedom Ring parade. Applications accepted through May 30 for the 1.5-mile parade from Roswell Street Baptist Church to Cherokee Street and North Marietta Parkway.

Information: www.mariettaga.gov or 770-794-5601. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Pinnacle awards small businesses, non-profits

The 2014 Pinnacle Awards recognizing small businesses and entrepreneurs for extraordinary achievement include: Matt Hyatt of Rocket IT, Overall Small Business Person of the Year Award and Small Business of the Year for the 10-99 employee category. Additional awards: John Lehmberg with Make It Loud; and Lyn Wright with Plumbing Distributors Inc. Nonprofit awards include Northeast Georgia Council – Boy Scouts of America, Single Parent Alliance & Resource Center; Overall nonprofit winner, Creative Enterprises Inc. Information: www.pinnaclesmallbusinessawards.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Small business essentials workshop

Peachtree Corners, the Gwinnett Chamber, SBDC and SCORE will host a free Small Business Essentials seminar at 2:30 p.m. todayat City Hall, 147 Technology Parkway. A panel will answer questions on business and marketing plans, financial and lending assistance and more. Registration required: www.peachtreecornersga.gov. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Gwinnett Village CID crosses $1 billion mark

The Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District recently completed its largest expansion, pushing the number of property owners to over 800 and bringing the value of the CID over the $1 billion benchmark. This expansion includes 31 new parcels accounting for almost $100 million in additional commercial value. Information: www.GwinnettVillage.com. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Snellville excise tax to offset city expenses

The Snellville mayor and council approved a 3 percent excise tax on rental vehicles Monday. While not a new tax, the city will now receive funds raised by the tax instead of the county. Money collected from the tax will go to fund marketing and tourism-related costs for the city’s Downtown Development Authority and Snellville Tourism and Trade. The tax is estimated to bring in $50,000 to $75,000 annually. The ordinance will go into effect July 1. Information: www.snellvillega.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Police hosting multicultural festival

The first annual Gwinnett Multicultural Festival will take place noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the North Atlanta Trade Center, 1700 Jeurgens Court, Norcross.

Families can learn about services provided by Animal Welfare and Enforcement, CSI, the DUI Task Force, and K9, as well as enjoy kids’ activities, a rock wall, inflatables, and food vendors.

Information: 770-513-5119. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Norcross Jazz in the Alley series begins

Norcross’ jazz concert series returns 7 p.m. Saturday at Skin Alley with Phil West and the Phil West Project. Jazz in the Alley is a seasonal concert series sponsored by Norcross’ Downtown Development Authority showcasing various Atlanta-based jazz fusionists.

The outdoor event is free. Bring chairs and picnic baskets.

Information: www.aplacetoimagine.com.

Molly Bloom

NORTHSIDE

Fulton expands early voting for primary

Fulton County has expanded early voting for the May 20 primary to take pressure off polling places on Election Day.

Election Director Rick Barron said Fulton is less likely to have the long lines and other problems it’s had at the polls in past elections if more people take advantage of early voting. He said about 500 people had cast early ballots by 2 p.m. Monday.

Seven early voting locations opened Monday and a total of 19 locations will be open by next week. Early voting runs through May 16. Information: www.fultoncountyga.gov/rae-home. David Wickert

Volunteers to clean up Johns Creek

Volunteers from the city, Keep Johns Creek Beautiful, nature lovers and Chattahoochee High School students will clean up refuse in the water and on the shores 3:30 p.m. Thursday. A Chattahoochee High science teacher in the group will discuss the ecology of Johns Creek and other items of interest.

In the past three years volunteers have collected an estimated 1,500 pounds of litter in the creek from Old Alabama road to just north of State Bridge Road.

Information: www.johnscreekga.gov

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Water play area set to open in Forsyth

Looking for a place to cool off this summer? The spray pad water play area at Forsyth County’s Old Atlanta Park is set to open May 24. The pad will remain open daily except for Mondays through Sept. 1.Daily admission is $2, with annual passes for individuals at $30 and families at $50.. The park is located at 810 Nichols Road, across the street from Lambert High School. Mark Wolsey for the AJC

Electronics recycling event in Alpharetta

North Fulton businesses and residents may drop off computers and other unwanted home electronics at a collection event at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety parking lot, 2565 Old Milton Parkway.

The city of Alpharetta and Atlanta Recycling Solutions are sponsoring the event. Most items will be accepted at no charge. There is a $20 fee for accepting televisions; projection TVs, console units and TV tubes will not be accepted.

Residents may also bring documents for shredding at 9 a.m. Information: tporter@alpharetta.ga.us or 678-297-6213.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Cherokee Library group plans benefit book sale

The Friends of the Cherokee County Public Library will host a public sale at the Ball Ground Library, 35 Old Canton Road 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday

A Friends members preview sale is set for 4-6 p.m. Thursday (memberships available at the door). Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Georgia congressman to get business honor

U.S Rep Rob Woodall, R-Ga., is getting he Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Cumming-Forsyth County chamber 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd, Cumming. . Information: cummingforsythchamber.org

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Judicial watchdog director joins State Bar

Jeff Davis, who serves as director of the state’s judicial watchdog agency, has been chosen to be the State Bar of Georgia’s next executive director.

The State Bar’s executive committee recently voted unanimously to select Davis for the position. He awaits final approval for the job by a vote of the legal group’s Board of Governors in June. Davis has served as director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission since 2010. He previously worked for the State Bar as an assistant counsel and, in the mid-1990s, helped Caribou Coffee gets its start in Atlanta. Bill Rankin

MADD to hold vigil for drunk driving victims

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers is holding a candlelight vigil at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Georgia Power Arkwright Auditorium, 241 Ralph McGill Blvd. NE.

The vigil will bring together victims, survivors, advocates, friends and their families to share stories and offer support to those impacted by the crime of drunk or impaired driving.

Information: www.madd.org/ga Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Animal shelter to celebrate anniversary

Business executive Millard Choate will be the guest of honor at the 12th anniversary celebration of Furkids, 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Thalia Carlos Hellenic Community Center, 2500 Clairmont Road NE.

Furkids operates a cage-free, no-kill shelter for rescued cats and a no-kill shelter for dogs. Choate, president of Atlanta-based Choate Construction Co., donated a $100,000 challenge grant to Furkids.

Tickets: $75. Information: www.furkids.org Kent A. Miles

Schools call off after-school activities

Atlanta Public Schools canceled all after-school activities Tuesday because of the threat of storms.

The school day otherwise went on as normal after a night of storms caused limited damage, including power outages at Bolton Academy in northwestern Atlanta and Coan Middle School. Mark Niesse

DEKALB

MARTA development on track

A joint partnership, recently finalized between Decatur, MARTA and Columbia Ventures, sets the table for a mixed-used development on East College Avenue near Avondale’s transit station.

The city still needs to go through the “design process” followed by community-input sessions, with construction probably not beginning until late next year.

Initial plans call for 600 apartments, 70 condos and 25,000 square feet retail, the first phase including rental units targeting seniors. Bill Banks for the AJC

Expedited permit review underway

DeKalb now offers expedited commercial plan review using peer reviewers to speed up its permitting process.

Applicants select a reviewer from an approved list who will check for code compliance or violations. The goal is to have a 10-day review time for all commercial projects. Information: www.PlanningDeKalb.net/expeditedplans. April Hunt

DeKalb solicitor holding food drive

DeKalb County Solicitor Sherry is holding a food drive this week as part of the Georgia Legal Food Frenzy.

Donations of non-perishable food items will be donated to the Georgia Food Bank Association for distribution throughout the metro area. High-protein items such as tuna and peanut butter are especially needed, as are fruit juices and canned vegetables.

Donations are accepted through Friday at the Solicitor’s office on the 5th floor of the county’s courthouse. April Hunt

Lyme disease prevention program

DeKalb County’s parks department will host a public meeting Saturday May 3 on how to prevent lyme disease.

The class runs from 10 a.m. to noon at the Davidson-Arabia Nature Center, 3787 Klondike Road, near Lithonia, and includes basic tips to reduce exposure.

Information: 770-492-5220.

April Hunt

Westchester to start renovation in May

Renovation of Westchester Elementary, which reopens as school in 2014-15 after being shuttered for 10 years, begins the third week in May according to Jason Ware, Decatur Schools’ Director of Facilities and Maintenance.

The work includes painting, re-equipping the kitchen, constructing a new media center and new playground, and knocking down temporary walls to give the mid-1950s building its original classroom configuration.

The work, which costs about $500,000, should finish in July.

Bill Banks for the AJC

Workshop to focus on preparing for disaster

Officials with the DeKalb Emergency Management Agency will hold a workshop for residents on how to prepare for a disaster at 6:30 p.m. today in the Maloof Center Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur.

Topics will include how to respond to natural and man-made disasters in the community and how to communicate with family members in case of emergency. .

Information: www.dekalbcountyga.gov or 404-371-2881. Kent A. Miles for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Man sought in shooting death of store clerk

Arrest warrants have been issued for a 20-year-old D’Vontavious Bernard William in the shooting death of Sohil Padania, a 28-year-old south Fulton County store clerk.

Investigators believe Williams entered Yasmin’s on 29, in the 6700 block of Ga. 29, shortly after 5 p.m. and fatally shot 28-year-old Union City police said.

Williams, a 6-foot-1, 165-pound man with black hair and brown eyes, should be considered armed and dangerous. Alexis Stevens

Swing Into Spring festival at Forest Park

Forest Park will host its annual Swing Into Spring festival at 11 a.m. Saturday at Starr Park, 803 Forest Parkway.

The family-friendly event is free and open to the public. The event will be moved to May 10 in case of inclement weather.

Information: 404-363-2908.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Fayette limits home event rentals

To apply what County Attorney Dennis Davenport called “appropriate regulation” to homeowners who rent their properties out for weddings and other large events, the Fayette County Board of Commissioners last week approved stricter rules regarding short-term lodging leases.

Effective June 1, such rentals will require permits and health standards, and include a 3 percent excise tax consistent with commercial uses. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Fayette schools on track for accreditation

An external review team from the AdvancED Accreditation Commission has recommended that the Fayette County Public Schools be reaccredited.

A report presented to the Fayette County Board of Education on April 24 came after extensive interviews with school stakeholders and on-site visits.

The reviewers noted both effective practices and areas for improvement. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Bear Creek named top wastewater plant

The Georgia Association of Water Professionals presented Henry County’s Bear Creek Water Reclamation Facility with its Plant of the Year award at its recent spring conference.

This is the fourth consecutive year that a Henry County facility has been chosen as the state’s best wastewater plant. Bear Creek was also the winner in 2012.

Information: www.hcwsa.com.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Kidney transplant options available

Piedmont Fayette Hospital will host a “Lunch and Learn” event from noon to 1:30 p.m. today in the Dietary Conference Room (near the cafeteria), 1255 Hwy. 54 West in Fayetteville.

Doctors will answer questions about kidney transplants and living donor options. Register at 877-527-3712.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC