County by county news for Wednesday

Information: lisa.cupid@cobbcounty.org, cobbdot.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Business association to meet June 4

How small business owners can get and keep customers will be the luncheon topic of the South Cobb Business Association from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 4 at the Presbyterian Village, 2000 East-West Connector, Austell.

John Delves, CEO and founder of Southeastern Training and Development, will present “Believe Me, Trust Works.”

Information: setrainingdev.com, sc-ba.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Next Generation nominations due Friday

Nominations are being accepted for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s 2014 Next Generation awards until noon Friday.

Two winners will be honored during the chamber’s First Monday Breakfast on Aug. 4.

Information: cobbchamber.org/Member-Services/Next-Generation-Award.aspx.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Austell has 5 job openings

Austell is seeking to hire five full-time employees - a seasonal laborer and a landscaper, both for the parks department; a public works maintenance worker, a streets seasonal laborer and a firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician-1.

These jobs are open until filled - except for the maintenance worker, which has a June 13 application deadline.

Information: austellga.gov, see “Employment Opportunities” on the right panel, click “Position Details.”

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Cobb parks to hold race Thursday

Families can team up for the Amazing Eco Race 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday at Oregon Park, 145 Old Hamilton Road, Marietta.

The moderately strenuous, hilly course will include roadblocks, pit stops, U turns, detours and clues to find. The race will last an hour and a half to two hours.

Registration is $3 per person.

Information: Kevin.hill@cobbcounty.org. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Public safety award selections due Friday

Nominations are due by Friday for the Cobb Chamber’s Public Safety awards to be presented in October.

They include the Public Safety Employee of the Year, Award of Merit, Medal of Valor and Distinguished Achievement Award.

Information: cobbchamber.org/Member-Services/Public-Safety.aspx, tdawson@cobbchamber.org.

Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Norcross planning Life Long Community

Norcross is taking applications for a Life Long Community Board that will explore ways Norcross’ young families, caretakers, active seniors and the elderly can remain healthy and engaged locally, throughout their lifetime. The seven-member LLC Board will recommend choices for housing and transportation, strategies for maintaining health as well as awareness and access to services. Applications: www.norcrossga.net; search ‘Boards & Authorities.’ About LLC concept: www.atlantaregional.com under ‘Aging Resources.’ Deadline: June 27. Questions: Tixie Fowler at tfowler@norcrossga.net. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Grayson festival raises Make-A-Wish record

At last week’s city council meeting, Grayson Mayor Allison Wilkerson acknowledged participants and sponsors of the Grayson Day festival for raising a record $40,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation. Information: www.cityofgrayson.org/Festivals.aspx. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Eco-friendly cleanup idea can win $500

Gwinett Clean & Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup - Gwinnett Challenge will award 10 prizes of $500 each for the best eco-friendly projects completed by Saturday, May 31. To compete, register your project online at www.gwinnettcb.org/great-american-cleanup.

Then download post-project report, along with photos, by June 5. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Norcross collecting for mayor’s book club

Norcross, Norcross Cluster Schools and 45 South Café will hold a buffet dinner fundraiser 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 5 at 45 South Café, 45 S. Peachtree St. in Norcross. Tickets: $10 per person with all proceeds going to buy books for the Mayor’s Book Club.

Donations of gently used or new books also accepted. Event will feature the culinary expertise of residents of the Southwest Gwinnett Chamber area who will be ‘cooking for books.’ Information: www.southwestgwinnettchamber.com/news. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

City employees decorate wreaths for hospital

On May 22 Duluth employees delivered 16 handmade wreaths to patients at Peachtree Christian Hospice as a way to provide comfort and support. Employees were inspired to create and donate the wreaths after seeing the positive impact a similar wreath made on city employee Kim Deaton’s husband during his time at the center.

Each wreath was individually designed by a city employee and will be placed on patient’s door. Mason Lodge donated $200 toward wreath materials. Karen Huppertz for the AJC

Cleanup challenge underway through May

Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful is hosting the Great American Cleanup Gwinnett Challenge, through May 31. Volunteers will beautify neighborhoods, reduce waste, initiate recycling programs, and plant trees. Open to businesses, governments, school, church and civic groups, athletic teams and individuals.

Information: www.gwinnettcb.org.

Karen Huppertz for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Food bank to screen film on hunger issue

The Atlanta Community Food Bank will host a screening of the documentary “A Place at the Table” at 7:30 p.m. June 5 at AMC Mansell Crossing 14, 7730 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta.

“A Place at the Table” offers an in-depth look at the complex issue of hunger in the United States. Viewers will hear from experts in the field on the causes and solutions to the problem.

A question-and-answer session with Atlanta Community Food Bank staff will follow the screening. Tickets: $12. Information: www.tugg.com/events/9270 Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Historical society to sell bricks as fundraiser

The Cherokee County Historical Society is using bricks from the historic and soon-to-be-demolished Bell’s Store to raise money for preserving other historic properties. Cost: $25-$250, one of which will be engraved with the donor’s name. The bricks will be in a new courtyard at the Rock Barn, 658 Canton Highway. The store, in the Buffington Community, is scheduled to be demolished in July. Information: 770-345-3288 or www.rockbarn.org

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

North Fulton charity plans golf fundraiser

North Fulton Community Charities hosts Swing into Action golf tournament, to support the NFCC Emergency Assistance Program noon June 9 at The Manor, 15951 Manor Club, Alpharetta.

There will also be a tennis round robin.

Information: 678-387-4459 or vmalbrough@nfcchelp.org.

Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Safety class for ATV riders

All-terrain vehicle riders can participate in a free safety course on June 13 at the Motorcycle Safety Foundation campus, 1450 Morrison Parkway, Alpharetta.

The course is being offered as part of ATV Safety Week, June 8-15.

Information: 800-887-2887.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

North Fulton gardening club to meet

North Fulton Master Gardeners will teach a free class on pruning and maintaining shrubs and roses. The class will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Bill Johnson Community Activity Building at Roswell Area Park, 10495 Woodstock Road, Roswell.

Information: www.nfmg.net

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Forsyth gardening group plans tour

The Forsyth County Master Gardeners will host their Bi-Annual Garden Tour 9 a.m.-5 p.m. June 7. The tour includes seven gardens (six of them private) and will demonstrate how to plant for sun, shade, drought tolerances, privacy screening and other facets of maintaining a southern garden. Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 the day of the event.

Proceeds will benefit demonstration gardens at county public library branches and other facilities and will also support educational training programs for both children and adults.

Information: 770-887-2418 or fcmg.sharepoint.com. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

ATLANTA

Census data class for grant writers

A workshop for grant writers who want to effectively use census data in preparing their proposals will take place at 2 p.m. June 5 at the Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library’s Central library branch, One Margaret Mitchell Square, Atlanta.

This workshop will focus on the components of grant writing for which U.S. Census Bureau data is most useful. Census data can help in preparing a needs statement, which presents facts and evidence for a nonprofit project or program proposal. The workshop is free to the public.

Information: 404-730-1900.

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Color-filled activity at Turner Field

Color Fun Fest, a unique color-filled 5-kilometer run, will take place at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Turner Field, 755 Hank Aaron Drive, Atlanta.

The event is inspired in part by South Asia’s Holi festival, in which participants are doused with plumes of colored powder. Participants at this event will experience the dousing at five stations on the course, with a final colorful toss to come at the finish line.

Information: colorfunfest5k.com

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Firefighters to host wrestling fundraiser

The Progressive Firefighters of Atlanta is hosting a wrestling fundraiser in June to benefit the families of three fallen firefighters. “Rescue Mania! 911” will raise funds for the families of the late Capt. Cynthia Wright, Jermaine Hall and Sgt. Frank Guinn. The event features wrestlers including Robert Gibson, Manny Fernandez and Teddy Long, who will host an autograph party. The event will be held 7 p.m. on June 7 at the Rosel Fann Center, located at 365 Cleveland Ave. S.E., in Atlanta. Tickets cost $10 per adults; children 12 and younger may enter for free with a paying adult and a can of food to donate. For tickets or information, contact 404-908-2975 or email tsimon010@gmail.com.

Katie Leslie

DEKALB

Decatur annexes two more parcels

Decatur annexed two properties on Scott Boulevard and four on Conway Road, both initiated through petitions from property owners. These were the sixth and seventh petition-driven annexations in the last 17 months. City Manager Peggy Merriss believes this movement stems from residents wanting Decatur city services and schools while being concerned they’d end up in a newly-created city. Bill Banks for the AJC

Dunwoody court offers amnesty program

Dunwoody Municipal Court is offering amnesty in June and July to individuals with past due traffic citations or active bench warrants for failure to appear. Go to the Dunwoody court, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 103, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday or Friday. If an offense requires a mandatory court appearance, the individual will be given a future court date and all warrants will be cleared.

Information: 678-382-6973

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Decatur school buses adding cameras

Beginning in August Decatur’s school buses will mount side cameras detecting cars illegally passing when the stop arm’s extended.

One camera per bus monitors up to four lanes traffic per side, providing three photos of violating autos including one with the license plate number.

A first-offense ticket is $300, second offense $750 and third $1,000. Bill Banks for the AJC

Decatur passes new tree ordinance

Decatur’s city commission passed a tree ordinance significantly revising the original 1988 ordinance. Before commissioners voted planning director Amanda Thompson said the ordinance is “not meant to stop development but to mitigate the impact of development and encourage replanting.”

The revision was deemed necessary because the city’s lost 4.1 percent of its canopy, or roughly 700 trees, in the last 27 years. The new ordinance takes effect July 7, with a full-time city arborist likely getting hired later this month. Bill Banks for the AJC

Chapel Hill wins ‘makeover’ prize

Chapel Hill Elementary School will get a makeover in time for the opening of the school year in August.

The school, at 3536 Radcliffe Boulevard is the winner of the “School Crasher” makeover program sponsored by Georgia United Credit Union. Chapel Hill was selected from over 700 public, private and parochial schools in the state that submitted nominations.

The work will be done by volunteers July 25 and 26.

Information: www.georgiaunitedcu.org/schoolcrashers

Kent A. Miles for the AJC

Civil Air Patrol meets Thursdays

The Civil Air Patrol’s DeKalb County cadet squadron meets at 6:45 p.m. Thursdays at Peachtree DeKalb Airport, 2000 Airport Road, Suite 227.

The Civil Air Patrol is the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force open to youth 12 to 18 to learn about in aviation, aerospace, search and rescue and leadership.

Information: sites.google.com/site/ga065cap Kent A. Miles for the AJC

SOUTHSIDE

Fayette County offers summer internships

The Fayette County government is again offering summer internships to rising high school juniors and seniors.

The program will run July 7-Aug. 4 and offers career-related work experience through supervised community-based projects.

Applications are at www.fayettecountyga.gov and must be submitted by Monday.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Local TV channel to change on Charter

Henry County government’s local access cable TV channel, currently known as Henry TV14, is moving from 14 to 180 on the Charter cable lineup on or after May 28. The change is due to Charter moving to an all-digital format and having to reorganize and restructure certain channels. The channel name will change to Henry Television.

Nearly all programs produced for the channel will still be available to watch on the county’s website. Information: www.henrycounty-ga.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Henry arts camp coming in June

This summer marks the 20th year for the Henry Arts Alliance’s summer Performing & Visual Arts Camp. It will be June 16-19 at McDonough Presbyterian Church and June 20 at the Henry County Performing Arts Center, where campers will be featured in a Friday night performance. Various programs are offered during the camp, based on age and interest. Info: henryartsalliance.org.

Monroe Roark for the AJC

Southern Conservation Trust seeks comments

As part of its effort to gain national accreditation with the Land Trust Alliance, the Southern Conservation Trust is seeking public comments about its performance.

Information pertaining to the SCT’s standards and operations can be submitted at www.landtrustaccreditation.org or info@landtrustaccreditation.org by June 1. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Applications open for junior police academy

The Fayetteville Police Department’s Junior Police Academy is accepting applications for its summer program, which runs July 28-Aug. 1. Recruits must be in upcoming grades 7-10, and will learn first-hand about vehicle stops, crime scene processing and defensive tactics.

Applications are due June 2 and are available at the police headquarters or Bennett’s Mill Middle School.

Information: 770-461-4441.

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Piedmont Fayette offers sitting course

Piedmont Fayette Hospital offers Safe Sitter babysitting training course 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the hospital. Instruction includes basic first aid, childcare and emergency procedures. The course is open to youths age 11 and up; the $45 fee includes materials.

Register at 770-719-5815 or contact maria.lepage@piedmont.org. Jill Howard Church for the AJC