COBB
Powder Springs okays variance, permit
The Powder Springs City Council approved Monday a subdivision variance and a special use permit.
The variance is to allow a few three-story houses with finished attic space, but no basements, in The Vineyards subdivision at Steading and New Macland Roads.
Bryan Shaw of Peachtree Communities said most of the houses on the 53 lots have been sold or are under contract.
Bobby Presley was granted a one-year permit for his automotive transmission and exhaust system repair shop at 5018 Frank Aiken Road.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Veterans event Sunday in Powder Springs
American Legion Post 294 of Powder Springs will hold a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Powder Springs Veterans Memorial in front of the Powder Springs Library, 4181 Atlanta St.
In case of severe cold or rain, the ceremony will be moved to the post home, 3282 Florence Road, one block north of C. H. James Parkway next to the First Citizens Bank.
Information: Post 294 Senior Vice Commander John F. Hollner, III, 770-944-0801.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Children can learn about native plants
The Georgia Native Plant Society will host a children’s workshop on native plants 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Heritage Park. Children ages 5-14 will be introduced to native plants and invasive exotics using hands-on activities. The event is free, but enrollment is limited. Contact kandcghosh@gmail.com to register.
Jaime Sarrio
Homeschooling will be Thursday topic
Communities of Homeschoolers for Christ will host Dr. Mary Hood 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. Thursday at Lost Mountain Baptist Church, 5400 Old Dallas Road, Powder Springs.
Her homeschooling presentation will conclude with a question-and-answer session.
The cost is free for CHEC members and $5 per family for guests. Childcare will not be provided.
Information: chec-ga.org.
Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Parents Palooza this weekend at Galleria
The second annual “Parents Palooza” will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Cobb Galleria Centre, featuring the latest products and services.
There will also be a parenting conference with over 30 speakers including a question and answer session with Dr. Deborah Gilboa, of AskDoctorG.com, and parenting workshops from ParentCoachAtlanta.com.
A concurrent Kids’ Mini-Conference will tackle issues like safety, bullying and health in a fun manner.
There will be prizes and several play areas for kids.
Information: www.ParentsPalooza.com
Andria Simmons
Schools head to hold meeting
Marietta City Schools superintendent Emily Lembeck will be at a community meeting 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the after-school building, Woodlands Park Apartments, 861 Franklin Road. Lembeck will talk about how to access school services and programs.
A Spanish interpreter and child care will be available. Tucker McQueen for the AJC
GWINNETT
Conviction of car salesman’s murder upheld
The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the murder conviction of a man who killed a 50-year-old car salesman in a Gwinnett County hotel parking lot.
Christopher Brown was convicted of the 2008 murder and armed robbery of Robert Lovelace. Lovelace had liquidated his 401(k) for more than $21,000 which he planned to use to buy cocaine and sell at a profit, the ruling said.
The deal fell through, and Lovelace was fatally shot in a Holiday Inn Express parking lot. His money was never located.
Bill Rankin
Gwinnett schools sponsor food drive
Stampede Against Hunger, a community organized food drive that is ongoing through Friday will benefit Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry, a nonprofit that helps those needing food and financial assistance.
Students will bring peanut butter and jelly to Brookwood Elementary, Craig Elementary, Gwin Oaks Elementary, R. D. Head Elementary and Brookwood High. The public is invited to donate as well.
Kenneth Musisi
Chamber hosts healthcare summit
Partnership Gwinnett presents the Inaugural Healthcare Summit 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth.
The event will explore the current state of healthcare in Gwinnett along with opportunities to strengthen the local healthcare industry. Info: 770-232-1174, www.gwinnettchamber.org.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Grayson changes yard waste pickup day
Beginning this month, Grayson will begin yard debris pick-up on Thursday each week.
Yard debris bags can be placed curbside on the same day with trash and recycle bins. In addition, a 95-gallon rolling recycle bin is available upon request.
To obtain this larger recycle bin contact City Hall at 770-963-8017 or email info@cityofgrayson.org.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Suwanee accepting 2013 applications
Each year Suwanee hosts approximately 40 events in the Town Center and other parks.
Event applications for 2013 are only accepted through December.
Information: www.suwanee.com to submit an application by the Dec. 7 deadline.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Charter school meetings scheduled
The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology will host an informational meeting 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at GSMST, 970 McElvaney Lane, Lawrenceville.
Gwinnett Online Campus will host at meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at 2595 Beaver Ruin Road, Norcross.
New Life Academy will hold a meeting and school tour 9 a.m. Nov. 15 at 4725 River Green Parkway, Duluth.
Information: www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us.
Karen Huppertz for the AJC
NORTHSIDE
Fulton still mulling using outside lobbyists
Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts will try again today to get enough votes to solicit bids for an outside lobbyist. The county doesn’t have a strategy for handling the state Legislative session, when Northside lawmakers could start efforts to dismantle county government’s powers.
Last month the commission shot down more than $240,000 in contracts for both state- and federal-level lobbyists. Commissioners have since been unable to agree on whether to hire an outside lobbying firm, use lobbyists on the payroll, or both.
Johnny Edwards
Parent education workshop planned
Kelly Gfroefer and Rosalyn Devine will present a workshop aimed to help parents of preschool and elementary school-aged children balance family life. “Childhood: It’s a Journey, not a Race,” will be 7 to 8 p.m. today in the Curtis Library of the Dorothy Sullivan Lower School at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, 805 Mount Vernon Highway. Information: Karen Kallis, kallis3804@comcast.net.
Mea Watkins
Shelter facility celebrates anniversary
The Cherokee County Animal Shelter, 1015 Univeter Drive, Canton, will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its pet adoption facility 11:30 a.m. today. Local officials will take part. Shelter officials will show plans for a new intake facility scheduled as a SPLOST-funded project in 2013.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Forsyth fire agency notes 40th anniversary
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners recently adopted a resolution commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Forsyth County Fire Department.
The department was established Nov 1, 1972 as a fire protection committee. Today, the department consists of 129 firefighters manning 12 stations, handling more than 11,500 calls in 2011.
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Pope High hosts marching band show
The Alan C. Pope High School Marching Band will present Opposites, a fun show filled with great effects and visual representations of things that are opposites, at 7 p.m. Thursday in the school stadium at 3001 Hembree Road, Marietta.
Attendees will also learn the logistics involved in putting together a marching band performance.
Donations: $5 per person; $20 per family; 13 and under, free. Information: Rosemary at macmill@bellsouth.net. Kenneth Musisi
Noted neuroscientist to speak at induction
Stuart Zola will be the keynote speaker at the 2012 Science National Honor Society induction ceremony 6:30 p.m. today at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, 805 Mount Vernon Highway.
A leading neuroscientist, Zola is the director of the Yerkes National Primate Research Center and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University School of Medicine.
Last year, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School became one of 705 chapters in the SNHS organization, which is dedicated to students who excel in science.
Mea Watkins
ATLANTA
Zaxby’s gives $70k to Downtown Ministries
Zaxby’s Franchising Inc. has donated $70,000 to Downtown Ministries for its new school, Downtown Academy.
The school will be part of the nonprofit’s ongoing efforts to provide educational programs to children from low-income neighborhoods in Athens. Downtown Academy is set to open in August.
Sheila M. Poole
Supsects that killed toddler still at large
Investigators don’t know who fired gunshots into a southwest Atlanta home, killing 2-year-old Ty-Teyanna Motley and injuring her one-year-old brother, Isaiah on Saturday night.
But the reward has increased to $5,000 for information.
Ty-Teyanna was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The boy was taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, where he was initially listed in stable but critical condition.
A fund has been started at Wells Fargo bank in Ty-Teyanna Motley’s name to help the family with funeral costs.
Anyone with information should call police at 404-546-4235 or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.
Alexis Stevens
Diabetes screenings at Centennial Park
In honor of American Diabetes Month Rite Aid is hosting a Wellness Fair offering free diabetes screenings 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today at Centennial Park.
Healthy snacks will be provided. Information: www.RA50.com.
Kenneth Musisi
Beacon College hosts open house
Beacon College, a Leesburg, Fla., college exclusively for students with learning disabilities, will showcase its success stories with Atlanta-area residents 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Ravinia Club & Spa, 2 Ravinia Drive.
Students, families, guidance counselors, teachers, educational consultants, school psychologists and other special education professionals interested in learning about the college should register at 352-638-9731 or email: admissions@beaconcollege.edu.
GRACIE BONDS STAPLES
DEKALB
FODAC holds auction of thrift store overstock
The Friends of Disabled Adults and Children, a nonprofit organization, will auction overstock merchandise on Thursday in its thrift store and warehouse, 4900 Lewis Road, Stone Mountain.
Viewing is 8 a.m.; auction begins at 10 a.m.
Photos can be seen online at http://tinyurl.com/d52gugr.
Proceeds benefit FODAC, whose mission is to provide refurbished medical equipment and services to the disabled.
Information: www.fodac.org.
Kenneth Musisi
NAACP to hold branch elections Saturday
The NAACP DeKalb County Branch will hold elections for officers and at-large members of the Executive Committee 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the branch office, 3011 Rainbow Dr., Suite 180A.
Members must be in good standing of the Branch 30 days prior to the election and identification is required.
Information: dekalbganaacp.org/ or 404-241-8006.
Kenneth Musisi
DeKalb to sponsor Veterans Day program
The DeKalb County Veterans Affairs Advisory Board will hold the 11th annual Veterans Day Program 11 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Dr. The theme is “ONE DeKalb: Coming Together to Salute Our Military Veterans of Every Era.”
Colonel Brent E. Bracewell, Director, Joint Staff, Georgia National Guard, will be the guest speaker. Veronica Fields Johnson
Nature Center to offer fall, winter kid camps
The Dunwoody Nature Center will offer camps for kindergarten through fifth graders the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving and Wednesdays through Fridays after Christmas and New Year’s.
Early morning drop-offs and late afternoon pick-ups will be available. Information: www.dunwoodynature.org/Camps. Ty Tagami
Stone Mountain wins construction award
The city of Stone Mountain recently won a regional award for its focus on green design and construction of its new municipal building.
The Greater Atlanta Homebuilders Association and Southface awarded the building its 2012 project at the year at a recent expo in Atlanta.
It is the first municipally owned building to receive the EarthCraft Light Commercial certification, recognizing buildings of less than 15,000 square feet for use of environmentally friendly construction.
April Hunt
‘Shred and Tread’ event offered Saturday
In honor of America Recycles Day, DeKalb County will host document shredding and tire recycling 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the county’s Central Transfer Station, 3720 Leroy Scott Drive, just off Kensington Road near Decatur.
Sensitive documents will be shredded on-site free, though there is a five-box limit per person.
In addition, county residents can drop off passenger-car tires for $1 each, with a maximum of 10, for recycling.
Commercial grade tires will not be accepted.
Information: www.keepdekalbbeautiful.org.
April Hunt
SOUTHSIDE
Peachtree City begins business renewals
Starting this week, all 1,800 of Peachtree City’s businesses must send a representative to City Hall to renew their Occupational Tax Licenses.
Federal and state requirements related to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services mandate in-person presentation of proper identification and completed forms ready for notarization.
Payment is by check only.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Hampton Idol auditions set for Thursday
The Hampton Idol auditions are set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Train Depot, 20 East Main Street in Hampton. Solo acts must perform a capella (preferably a holiday song) before a panel of judges. Proof of residency is required.
Three semi-finalists will advance and have a sing-off before the lighting of the Christmas Tree in the Hampton Depot Park on Thanksgiving evening.
The contest winner will be determined by popular vote and the judges’ decision, to win $250 and perform at the Christmas Home Celebration on Dec. 6. Information: Chris 678-758-0606.
Kenneth Musisi
Hapeville museum seeks stories
The Hapeville Depot Museum is seeking Hapeville High School yearbooks for all years. The museum is also seeking all stories about living in Hapeville now and in the past. Information: Charlotte Rentz at historichapeville@comcast.net.
John Thompson for the AJC
Police look for suspects in store clerk’s death
College Park police are continuing to search for two suspects in the shooting death of a convenience store clerk Saturday night.
Alagie Dibba, 28, fell to the floor and started praying after he was wounded at the BP station in the 5000 block of West Fayetteville Road, Channel 2 Action News reported. Police answering a robbery call found Dibba shot in the abdomen, and he died later at Grady Memorial Hospital.
Authorities said the store’s surveillance footage showed two suspects enter the store, point a weapon at the clerk and fire one shot before fleeing toward South Hampton Road.
Anyone with information should call College Park police at 404-768-8664.
Angel K. Brooks
Next film in screening series Saturday
The latest screening in Hapeville’s film series is this weekend. The showing of “Smokin’ Fish” starts at 6 p.m. Saturday with a reception at the Christ Church and Carriage House in Jess Lucas Y-Teen Park at 680 S. Central Ave., followed by the film screening at 7 p.m. Admission is free; the film is for mature audiences.
John Thompson for the AJC
Fayette needs help with toys
Fayette Toys for Tots seeks more volunteers to help with donations in November and December. The group needs individuals and organizations to collect and sort toys, host events, raise donations and serve as drop-off sites. To help, visit www.Fayettetoysfortots.com or email fayettetoysfortots@hotmail.com.
Jill Howard Church for the AJC
