County by county news for Wednesday

The YWCA of Northwest Georgia, Cobb Police Department, Georgia Division of Aging and Cobb Judicial Circuit’s District Attorney’s Office have been awarded a grant to implement the Abuse in Later Life Program, helping them develop a coordinated response to elder abuse. Among the goals are training law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges and victim-service providers and developing specialized services for older victims. Information: surveymonkey.com/s/5K7HB38. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Disaster preparedness program Tuesday

A free disaster preparedness program will be presented by the Cobb County Emergency Management Agency from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Sweetwater Valley Library, Suite 123, 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road, Austell.

The program is designed to help participants prepare to survive a disaster and live successfully through the aftermath.

Information: ema.cobbcountyga.gov, sweetwab@cobbcat.org or 770-819-3290. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Chamber hosts symposium Monday

The free Existing Industry Symposium will be 7:30 to 11 a.m. Monday at InfoMart, 1582 Terrell Mill Road, Marietta with breakfast and parking also free.

State and county personnel will lead panel discussions and lectures on various topics.

City representatives from Cobb County also will be available to answer questions.

Information: Amanda Blanton, 770-859-2336 or ablanton@cobbchamber.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

East Cobb pool to open after renovation

East Cobb’s Sewell Park Pool, 2085 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, will reopen after a $650,000 renovation. A ribbon cutting will be 3:30 p.m. Friday and the public pool opens for the season May 22.

The SPLOST project included updating the main pool and deck and replacing two smaller pools with a splash pad water feature, new bath house and filter room.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Interviewing workshop on Monday

A free two-hour workshop will be presented by Cobb Works from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday at the Powder Springs Library, 4181 Atlanta St.

Participants will be informed on what to do and not do during a job interview.

Information: cobbworks.org, powdersb@cobbcat.org, 770-439-3600.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Acworth to hold party for wakeboarders

Acworth will hold a block party 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Saturday on Senator Russell Avenue downtown to recognize the weekend’s professional wakeboard winners.

The Master Craft Pro Wakeboard Tour competition starts 9 a.m. Friday at Dallas Landing Park on Lake Allatoona through finals competition, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.

Information: www.acworthparksandrecreation.org.

Tucker McQueen for the AJC

GWINNETT

Chamber honored with media awards

The Gwinnett Chamber has been named a recipient of multiple Hermes Creative Awards for professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of traditional and emerging media. The Chamber’s membership magazine, ‘Gwinnett edge,’ won the Platinum Award in the Publications/Magazine category. Gold Awards received include ‘Gwinnett edge’ (Design/Publication Overall category) and the ‘2014 Gwinnett Chamber Promotional Video’ (Video/Nonprofit category). In addition, the Chamber received two Honorable Mentions for publications. Information: www.gwinnettchamber.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Local authors to discuss their work

The Gwinnett County Public Library will host a Local Author Day 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Five Forks Branch, 2780 Five Forks Trickum Road, Lawrenceville. Meet James Newnan, Mike Brown and Richard Hardin who will sign books. Information: www.gwinnettpl.org or 770-978-5154. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Seniors awarded Gates scholarship

A record number of Gwinnett students were selected as Gates Millenium Scholars, an honor for outstanding minority students that pays their college tuition in full: Micheline Amisi, Archer High; Oluwatomisin “Tomi” Adelusi, Brookwood; Paula Deroseney, Dacula; Chinye Ijeli, Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology; Jonathan Peraza, Nabilah Khanam and Caridad Milanes, Meadowcreek; Thaxton Lipscomb, Mountain View; Thien-Phuoc Do, Josselyn Garcia and Benazir Haseen, Norcross; Annie Yang, North Gwinnett; Hildana Haileyesus, Parkview; Brian Chung, Peachtree Ridge and Brandon Johnson, Shiloh. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Duluth Police seekto avoid burglaries

The Duluth Police Department host a seminar to help residents protect themselves from burglaries and identity theft 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Police HQ, 3276 Buford Highway. Information: 770-476-4151. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Lunch and learn about mergers, acquisitions

The Southeast Gwinnett Chamber will hold their next Lunch and Learn series ‘Business Growth Strategies Part 2: Mergers and Acquisitions’ noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at Hilton Atlanta Northeast, 5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. in Peachtree Corners. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m. Panel will share key tactics and strategies for small and medium size businesses focused on growth. Discussion includes strategic options via acquisition, divestiture or merger transactions.

Information: www.SouthWestGwinnettChamber.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Seminar for small businesses Saturday

The Snellville Entrepreneur Council’s next Solutions Seminar will focus on access to capital 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at City Hall, 2342 Oak Road. Seminar includes an in depth understanding of what banks and financial institutions are looking for when lending to small business owners. Register by noon today at www.snellville.org/summit. Information: economicdevelopment@snellville.org or 770-985-3502. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Forsyth searches homes for drugs, nets arrests

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputies conducted drug search warrant operations Thursday at 5255 Club Drive, Cumming, resulting in the arrest of two men on methamphetamine possession charges. And another at 325 Brandywine Circle in Alpharetta which had six people picked up on charges of possession, trafficking and sale of methamphetamine. The search of that home also yielded 77 grams of meth, small amounts of cocaine and marijuana and drug-related items. All of the defendants were taken to the Forsyth County Detention Center. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Woodstock observing police memorial week

The city of Woodstock has a number of events coming to mark National Police Memorial Week. A memorial for fallen officers is set for 7 p.m. Thursdayat the Park at City Center, Main and Arnold Mill roads. The “Hustle for Heroes” 5K run is set for 7:30 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church of Woodstock, 11905 Ga. 92. Registration begins at 10 a.m. Saturday for the Motorcycle Poker Run, to begin at 11 a.m. from 12182 Ga. 92. The third annual Spring Festival is 10 a.m. at the Park at City Center, including live music, K9 demonstrations and kids activities.

Information: woodstockga.gov

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Northside intersection to get improvements

Relief is on the way for a busy intersection at the Roswell/Johns Creek border, as contractors this week start installing a traffic signal and other improvements at Brumbelow and Nesbit Ferry roads. Residents have long sought a signal helping them to turn from Brumbelow onto Nesbitt Ferry. Johns Creek is paying most of the cost of the nearly $300,000 joint project, which will also include turn lanes on both directions of Nesbit Ferry Road and right and left turn lanes on Brumbelow. The signal’s set to functional by September. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Cumming sewer rates about to rise

Higher sewer rates are just around the corner for Cumming residents. Charges will increase from $2.84 to $3.84 per thousand gallons for residential customers and from $3.30 to $4.30 for commercial clients effective with bills sent out starting the first week in June. City administrator Gerald Blackburn said the City Council approved the increase in February. He said it’s the first general rate increase in six years, and was dictated by the need to recoup expenses incurred as the result of fast growth. Further increases are planned in the summers of 2015, 2016 and 2017. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Cherokee water, sewer utility to relocate

The Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority will be closed on Friday and Monday as it moves from 391 W. Main St., Canton, to 140 W. Main downtown. During the closure, payments can still be made online or put in the drive-through night depository at 140 W. Main. For water outages and emergencies: 770-479-2911. Normal business hours resume Tuesday at 8 a.m. CCWSA officials say the move will provide expanded digs (in a former Regions Bank building) for the agency’s 175 employees.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Memorial ceremony to honor firefighters

The 68th annual Firefighters Memorial Ceremony is 10 a.m. today in the atrium of City Hall, 55 Trinity St. SW.

The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department hosts the ceremony, which honors the memory of active and retired firefighters who died in the past year.

Information: www.atlantaga.gov/fire

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Woman recognized for flu vaccination efforts

Atlanta officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention honored Helen Butler, executive director of the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda, Tuesday for encouraging Georgians to receive vaccination against the flu. CDC officials also recognized participants in the National Influenza Vaccination Disparities Partnership, a national campaign promoting flu vaccination awareness for under-served populations. Katie Leslie

Comment on grant proposal by May 30

Fulton County is accepting comments from on a grant proposal to help pay for local crime prevention activities.

The county is applying for the 2014 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs funds local initiatives to help governments thwart crime.

Copies of the application are at the county Department of Finance, 141 Pryor St. SW, Suite 7001. The deadline for comments is 5 p.m. May 30.

Information. www.fultoncountyga.gov or christopher.boyd@fultoncountyga.gov Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Operation Hope founder addresses grads

John Hope Bryant, founder and CEO of Operation Hope, will address the Atlanta Technical College commencement ceremony, 11 a.m. Friday at the Atlanta Civic Center.

Operation Hope has raised more than $500 million and helped to restructure another $300 million in subprime mortgages to empower the poor.

Information: www.atlantatech.edu

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

DEKALB

Medical campuses recognized for quality

DeKalb Medical campuses at North Decatur and Hillandale in Lithonia have been named to the Georgia Hospital Association’s Partnership for Health and Accountability Core Measures Honor Roll.

Hospitals are required to submit care data to CMS, which detail how well a hospital’s caregivers adhere to measures known to be the most effective methods of treatment for surgical patients and patients who suffered heart attacks, pneumonia and heart failure.

Information: www.dekalbmedical.org

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Three senior centers to open within months

DeKalb County will open two of its new senior centers this summer and the third one in the fall.

Each center – in the central, north and southern parts of the county – will be 15,000-square feet and feature activity rooms and meeting rooms. The central and south centers will open in July, while the north center is slated to open in mid-September.

The $11.3 million price tag for all three facilities is being covered with federal block grant money, not local tax dollars.

April Hunt

Housing focus of Saturday meeting

The South DeKalb Improvement Association will host a housing expert at a meeting Saturday to discuss property values.

Lyonel LaGrone Jr., director of enforcement at Metro Fair Housing Services, argues that banks artificially keep appraisals low in the southern part of DeKalb, compared to other parts of the county.

The meeting runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Acts of Faith Baptist Church, inside Glenhaven United Methodist Church, 4826 Glenwood Road. April Hunt

Race raises $25,000 for medically needy

The Friends of Disabled Adults and Children recently raised more than $25,000 to help it provide home medical equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers for those in need.

The Run Walk n Roll race at Stone Mountain is designed to draw money and attention to the group that distributes more than 5,000 items each year in Georgia and elsewhere.

Information: www.fodac.org.

April Hunt

Zoning code public form on tap Thursday

DeKalb County will host a community forum to discuss plans to update its zoning code 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Porter Sanford performing arts center, 3181 Rainbow Drive.

The code is designed to guide development in the county but has not been updated since 2007.

A vote on the new code is expected later this year. April Hunt

DeKalb Medical to host stroke prevention class

DeKalb Medical is hosting a discussion on stroke prevention at 6 p.m. May 29, at 2701 N. Decatur Road, Decatur.

The panel of experts will give advice on preventing stroke, recognizing possible signs of a stroke and finding available treatment.

The discussion is taking place during National Stroke Awareness Month.

Information: 404-501-9355.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Henry schools receive Gates grant funding

The Henry County School System recently was awarded $313,000 in the second phase of the Next Generation Systems Challenge Grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to research, develop, and implement a personalized learning plan and vision for the school system. The largest 200 school districts in the United States were eligible for the opportunity, and only 20 of those districts were chosen for phase one funding. Henry County is the only district in Georgia to be chosen for the grant. Information: www.henry.k12.ga.us. Monroe Roark for the AJC

School board appoints Colwell to Post 2

The Fayette County Board of Education has chosen former interim superintendent Dan Colwell to fill its vacant Post 2 seat. Colwell was among 10 candidates who applied to replace Mary Kay Bacallao. Leonard Presberg abstained from Monday’s vote due to a conflict of interest concern, but supported Colwell’s selection. Board member Barry Marchman did not attend. Colwell will serve through December 2016.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Peachtree City extends camp deadline

Early-bird rates for some summer camps in Peachtree City have been extended to Friday. A $20 discount applies to Summer Adventure Camps and a $50 discount is offered for Back2Basics Basketball Camp. Registration can be done online at www.peachtree-city.org/recreation or in person at the Kedron Fieldhouse or Glenloch Recreation Center.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Positions open on hospital board

The Fayette County Hospital Authority has three openings for volunteer members. Individuals on the five-person board serve four-year terms and facilitate funding for hospital projects. Prior experience in healthcare or business is preferred. Applicants must file by June 6; contact Floyd Jones at 770-305-5102 or fjones@fayettecountyga.gov.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Henry sets Memorial Day service

Henry County’s annual Memorial Day service will be 11 a.m. May 26 at the Veterans Wall of Honor in McDonough’s Heritage Park. There will be a presentation of the colors by the Ola AFJROTC Color Guard, a ceremonial wreath laying and music from bagpipe and bugle. The keynote speaker will be retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gary Freedman. Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

East Point library hosts foreclosure prevention

The Atlanta Legal Aid Society hosts talk on how to avoid foreclosure 1 p.m. Monday at the Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library’s East Point Branch, 2757 Main St.

Learn the basics of Georgia foreclosure law, loan modification options, mortgage payment assistance and other ways to protect their homes when a health emergency or unemployment makes it hard to keep up with mortgage payments.

Information: www.afpls.org/news Kent A. Miles for the AJC