ATLANTA
Today’s Braves game shuttle stop relocated
Braves fans will have to board the MARTA shuttle to the game at a different location on Saturday, due to road closures for two parades being held in conjunction with the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival 2014.
MARTA shuttles will begin their pre-game Braves service at 1:30 p.m. at the West End station rather than at Five Points Station/Underground. Fans will board buses to Turner Field on Lee Street.
After the start of the seventh inning, the shuttle will resume regular service to the Five Points Station/Underground for game-goers who are headed home. Saturday’s parade activities will also affect bus routes in the downtown Atlanta area. Andria Simmons
High school baseball players to be honored
The top high school baseball players in metro Atlanta will be honored at the Braves 400 Fan Club’s Annual High School All-Star Luncheon on June 3 at Turner Field’s 755 Club.
Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren will be the guest speaker.
Many of the award winners at the luncheon will go on to successful college and professional baseball careers. The Braves 400 Fan Club supports baseball at all levels in the community. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m.
The public is welcome. Make reservations at the club’s website: www.braves400.org. Nancy Badertscher
‘Return to Rich’s’ exhibit ends Tuesday
“Return to Rich’s: The Story Behind the Store” will close Tuesday at the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, 1440 Spring St. N.W.
The museum will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and Memorial Day Monday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday on the closing day. There are no plans to show this exhibition again.
Info : www.thebreman.org, www.returntorichs.org or 678-222-3700. Carolyn Cunningham
COBB
Kennesaw OKs museum expansion contract
The Kennesaw City Council this week awarded a $926,936 contract to Prime Contractors, Inc. to build a 8,700 square-foot education and archives center at the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History, 2829 Cherokee St.
There were four bids for the project. The expansion of the 50,000 square-foot museum in downtown Kennesaw will be funded by $500,000 in federal dollars with a $125, 000 match from the city. The remaining funds will come from the Kennesaw Museum Foundation. Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Memorial Day service in Powder Springs
American Legion Post 294 will hold its Memorial Day ceremony at noon Monday at the Powder Springs Veterans Memorial in front of the library, 4181 Atlanta St.
The keynote speaker will be retired U.S. Army Lt. Commander John W. Phillips, author of “Boots to Loafers, Finding Your New True North,” about transitioning out of the military.
The program also will include the presentation of colors by Boy Scout Troop 1294, comments by Powder Springs Mayor Patricia Vaughn, the laying of the memorial wreath by Post Commander Donna Redner and patriotic music.
Information:ww.bootstoloafers.com; post home, 770-439-0956. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC
Disabled student gets to walk at graduation
A developmentally disabled Cobb County student walked in his school’s graduation ceremony Friday after previously being told he could not, officials said.
Christopher Alderidge was told that he would not be able to walk with his class at Allatoona High School after failing a state science exam that is required to earn a traditional diploma.
While he did not qualify for a traditional diploma, Alderidge was allowed to accept a special education diploma, which does not require passing state tests. The special education diploma, however, does not qualify students for college.
Alderidge is allowed to retake the graduation test, and if he passes, he can receive a regular education diploma later, officials said. Until Thursday, Alderidge’s parents had declined to accept a special education diploma, but decided to accept the diploma so their son could walk in the ceremony Friday, a Cobb County School District spokesperson said.
Alderidge suffered a massive stroke and another smaller stroke early in his life. He had a cyst on his brain that left him with disabilities.
The use of tutoring, speech therapy and summer school helped Alderidge get through school, albeit at a different pace. Daniel Wilco
Public safety award selections due May 30
Nominations are due by May 30 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
DEKALB
DeKalb health board passes budget
The DeKalb County Board of Health this week approved a $35.3 million budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
The department’s budget includes $500,000 for building upgrades and employee initiatives and another $250,000 in one-time funding for employees who had not received salary increases in seven years. Kent A. Miles for the AJC
Decatur High adding trailers over summer
With Decatur High projected to reach capacity next year, Decatur’s city commission approved adding 10 temporary classrooms over the next two summers.
Four classrooms in two double-wide trailers, along with a third trailer holding restrooms, will be placed on the upper parking lot along College Avenue next month. Another six classrooms in two and a half double-wides will be added in June 2015.
Decatur High currently has 975 students but is expected to jump by nine percent to 1,081 in 2014-15. Bill Banks for the AJC
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
Two construction projects to coincide
Decatur Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon said that two major construction projects surrounding Decatur High will likely coincide for most of the 2015-16 school year.
The long-planned streetscape improvements on North McDonough Road reducing the corridor to two lanes, begins in summer, 2015, while additions to the high school — mostly new classrooms — could start around the same time.
Saxon said the city’s currently working on temporary routes for students and other pedestrian and car traffic. Bill Banks for the AJC
Animal welfare group offering summer camp
PAWS Atlanta, a DeKalb County animal welfare group, will offer summer camps for kids aged 8 to 13 this year, to
focus on being responsible pet owners and humane animal treatment.
There will be two sessions: June 16–20, 2014 and June 23-27. Each camp will also include several hands-on sessions with animals. Information: www.pawsatlanta.org. April Hunt
County launches Smart911 service
DeKalb County launched a new emergency service system that includes additional information to help responders during a crisis.
The Smart911 system includes information about how many people live in homes or their medical conditions.
Residents can volunteer the information in a profile at www.Smart911.com. April Hunt
GWINNETT
Technical college hires new executive director
Perry Roberts has been named executive director of institutional development at Gwinnett Technical College where he will direct efforts to advance support and funding for Gwinnett Tech’s programs and facilities, student scholarships, and faculty and staff development, working closely with the Gwinnett Tech Foundation Board of Trustees. For the past four years, Roberts has led fundraising efforts as assistant vice president for development with the University of North Georgia. Prior to that, he was director of annual funding with Georgia Gwinnett College . Information: www.GwinnettTech.edu or 770-962-7580. Karen Huppertz
Food vendor safety training available
Gwinnett County Extension is sponsoring a farmers market vendor food safety training program 8 a.m.-noon Monday, June 16, at 750 S. Perry St. in Lawrenceville. The program will cover the safe handling, storing and selling of produce at farmers markets. Participants will learn how and when to harvest vegetables, canning and some basics on cottage foods. The training is for vendors at local farmers markets as well as homeowners. $10. Registration deadline is June 12. Information: Timothy Daly at tdaly@uga.edu or 678-377-4010. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Parks department named awards finalist
The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association has announced Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation as a finalist for the 2014 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. The award honors programs for long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition. Winners will be announced live during the 2014 NRPA Congress in Charlotte, Oct. 14-16. Information: www.nrpa.org/goldmedal or www.aapra.org. Karen Huppertz
Grayson plans to build clock tower
Plans are in the works for Grayson to build a clock tower at the intersection of Rosebud Road and Highway 20. The tower will be constructed using stone similar to other historic buildings in the city with plans including a bell, sidewalks and benches surrounding the structure. The city will now begin the process of seeking bids for construction of the tower. Information: www.cityofgrayson.org. Karen Huppertz for the AJC
Summer math program for middle-schoolers
Georgia Gwinnett College’s School of Science and Technology will sponsor a summer math enrichment program for middle-school students.
The Mathematics in Action Scholars Program will include two session, June 2-6 and June 9-13. The sessions will be taught by GGC mathematics faculty and focus on financial literacy, real-life problems and the connections between math and game theory. The program is open to 48 students entering 6th through 8th grades in Gwinnett and surrounding counties. Information and student registration: www.ggc.edu/mia. Janel Davis
NORTHSIDE
Thousands expected for Memorial Day event
The city of Roswell will hold what it bills as the largest Memorial Day ceremony in Georgia. It’s set for 10 a.m. Monday at the Faces of War Memorial Site on the grounds of Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill St. The featured speaker will be founder and executive director of the Doolittle Foundation Jonna Doolittle Hoppes, the granddaughter of World War II aviator Jimmy Doolittle. The presentation of colors, a wreath-laying and a 21-gun salute are also planned, as is music by the Atlanta Wind Symphony and the Chattahoochee Celtic Pipes and Drums. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
More hazard lights installed in Lake Lanier
Boaters in the Forsyth County part of Lake Lanier should find nighttime navigating a little safer this summer.
Lake Lanier Association volunteers have finished installing 20 solar-powered lights on hazard markers in the water, adding to the 20 placed in 2013. Both sets of lights serve the Bald Ridge, Two Mile and Young Deer creek areas, plus parts of the main channel. Association executive director Joanna Cloud said funding for the roughly $10,000 project came from the nonprofit group and from Forsyth County. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
North Fulton school to join ag test initiative
North Fulton County’s Alpharetta High School is one of 10 statewide selected to take part in the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Georgia Grown Test Kitchen initiative. The new program aims to promote healthy eating in the schools by providing school nutrition directors with healthy recipes using Georgia-grown commodities. The recipes will contain information on how to source the products used, plus nutritional information. School officials will supply feedback on the tested recipes. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Forsyth sheriff’s office hiring for new jail
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is starting the process of staffing up for the new county jail and courthouse scheduled to come online the first part of 2015. Sheriff’s officials have been approved for 87 new positions for the 608-bed detention facility and courthouse, including 47 detention officers. A detention officer applicant exam is set for 9 a.m. June 13 at 3520 Settingdown Road, Cumming.
Those planning to test must be at least 18, have a high school diploma or GED and driver’s license and meet other requirements regarding past felony convictions and drug use.
To register: 678-455-8514 or 678-513-5842. More information: forsythsheriff.org. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
Forsyth Water play area opens today
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 today. The pad will remain open daily except for Mondays through Sept. 1.
Daily admission is $2. Annual passes are $30 for individuals, $50 for families.
The park is located at 810 Nichols Road, across the street from Lambert High School. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
SOUTHSIDE
College Park dedicates new multipurpose trail
College Park city officials recently cut the ribbon on a four-mile stretch of multipurpose trail. The new $1.2 million Phoenix trail connects with a previously constructed segment off Sullivan Road and runs to the Georgia International Convention Center. It’s part of an eventual project that will link the city’s MARTA station with the GICC. The money came from a federal grant administered through the Georgia Department of Transportation. City officials say the trail will be used by city residents, area workers and hotel guests staying near the convention center. Mark Woolsey for the AJC
School budget includes raises, litigation
Fayette County Public Schools’ proposed budget for fiscal year 2015, initially approved by the Board of Education last week, includes provisions for pay raises as well as funds to challenge district voting. The $170 million budget would give teachers and staff a 1.5 percent salary increase and hire more paraprofessionals. Tom Gray, assistant superintendent of business and personnel management, said an estimated $300,000 of funds is for contractual services is for legal fees to challenge a recent court ruling to establish district voting in the county. Jill Howard Church
County passes $127M budget for 2015
The Henry County Board of Commissioners convened Thursday in a special meeting and approved a $127 million budget for the 2015 fiscal year, which begins July 1. It is an increase of approximately $5 million from the current budget, with a 2-percent raise for county employees and slightly more for public safety personnel. Info: www.henrycounty-ga.org. Monroe Roark 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
Brown to keep Fayette commission seat
Incumbent Fayette County Board of Commissioners Chairman Steve Brown won the Republican primary race Tuesday, beating former Peachtree City mayors Don Haddix and Harold Logsdon.
Brown got 52.6 percent of the votes, and has no Democratic challenger for the Post 3 seat. Jill Howard Church
