County by county news for Friday

Smyrna, Acworth and Kennesaw will vote on Sunday alcohol sales Nov. 8 during elections for mayor and council positions. Gov. Nathan Deal signed a bill into law in April allowing Georgia communities to decide if they want alcohol sales on Sundays. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Deadline near to apply for leadership program

Applications are being accepted through Saturday for Pebblebrook and South Cobb High School students to participate in a six-week leadership program with state Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan. The “Saturdays with My State Rep” program will include sessions on resume building, etiquette, leadership development and student presentations. This year’s program is funded by State Farm Insurance.

The group will meet for six sessions will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. between Oct. 22 and Nov. 26. Information and applications: http://www.alishamorgan.com; 404-656-0109 Janel Davis

Armstrong Atlantic to host reception Monday

Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah will host an Atlanta reception on Monday at the Cobb Galleria for perspective students. The reception is designed for incoming freshman to find out information from admissions, financial aid, housing and athletics. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Cobb Galleria, 2 Galleria Parkway in Atlanta.

Information: http://www.armstrong.edu; 912-344-2503 Janel Davis

Last summer series concert on Saturday

Atlanta musicians Blair Crimmins and the Hookers will be the featured performers Saturday for the final concert of the Summer Candlelight Concert Series at Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre.

General seating is free and tables seating four are $50. Gates open at 7 p.m.; the show begins at 8 p.m. at the Amphitheatre, 4239 Floyd Road in Mableton.

Information, or to reserve a table: 770-819-3285; http://mablehouse.org/amphitheatre Janel Davis

Farmers market to hold a winter season

The Marietta Square Farmers Market will open its tenth season for the first time with a winter market. The market will open 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays Jan. 7 to March 31 on Mill Street. Market director Johnny Fulmer said the cold weather market will sell hydroponic lettuce, winter produce, honey, baked goods and cheese. The spring-summer market will continue in April on North Park Square. Tucker McQueen for the AJC

Volunteers needed for park cleanup

Smyrna is staging a citywide parks clean up from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday and looking for volunteers to clean up Cobb Park and Kidscape Village Playground, Lake Court Park, North Cooper Lake Park, River Line Park, and Tolleson Park.

Information: Parks and Recreation, 770-319-5400; or parksrecintern@ci.smyrna.ga.us. Jeffry Scott

GWINNETT

Chamber to hold leadership reception

The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce will host a Key Leadership Reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at The River Club in Suwanee.

The informal reception will honor local and state elected officials.

Tickets for chamber members are $250.

The registration deadline is Oct. 21.

To register, visit www.gwinnettchamber.org. David Wickert

Mill Creek education foundation to hold gala

The Mill Creek Cluster Education Foundation will host the “Evening of Excellence” event, a fundraiser that will include a gala dinner and auctions. Local education awards and programs will also be showcased. The event is from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 22 at Mill Creek High School, 4400 Braselton Hwy., Hoschton. Proceeds from the event will support the educational and academic needs of schools in the Mill Creek Community. Individual tickets are $50. Information: www.mccef.org. Kenneth Musisi

Boston String Quartet to perform at Brookwood

Boston String Quartet fans will get a treat Oct. 20, when the group performs three shows at Brookwood High School.

The quartet will play with the school’s Maroon and Gold group at 6 p.m.; with the concert orchestra at 7 p.m., and with Brookwood’s philharmonic and symphonic orchestras at 8 p.m. The evening will include music ranging from Latin tunes, to a Charlie Daniels song. Tickets for the event, which will be in the school auditorium, are $15.

The school is at 1255 Dogwood Road, Snellville. For information: www.bostonstringquartet.com, or 617-875-7851. Laurie Hoffman

Fall festival at Mall of Georgia Saturday

The Mall of Georgia will hold its fall festival from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the Village at the mall, 3333 Buford Drive, Buford. Kids can enjoy crafts, games, a bounce house and stage performances. Radio Disney will provide entertainment. David Wickert

Want to be a Gwinnett columnist?

You can join eight other AJC community columnists from around metro Atlanta. Send us:

-- A short essay (400 words or less) pegged to a topic in Gwinnett County.

-- Additional paragraph (100 words or less) on yourself and why you should win.

-- A brief list of five topics that you might write about.

You must be a resident of Gwinnett.

Entries will be judged on the basis of writing style, intelligence and freshness of topic, but not on whether AJC editors agree or disagree with your point of view. The first column will appear in November. Send entries to newstips@ajc.com. Please put “Gwinnett Columnist” in the subject line and include your daytime contact information.

Only finalists will be contacted by the AJC. Deadline to submit your entry is Friday, Oct. 14.

NORTHSIDE

Water main work to impact Alpharetta traffic

Traffic along Canton/Hopewell Street in Alpharetta will be obstructed beginning Monday when Fulton County begins work to replace a 12-inch water main.

Crews will occasionally close one lane to traffic from Mayfield Road to Vaughn Drive between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Work is expected to continue through February.

Information: 404-612-7536 or michael.walochik@ fultoncountyga.gov; 404-612-7547 or ray.wooten@fultoncountyga.gov. Patrick Fox

Leadership nominations due Nov. 1

Nominations for Leadership North Fulton are due Nov. 1. The new Leadership North Fulton program schedule has been compressed to six months. The first class session will be in January.

The online form is available at www.LeadershipNorthFulton.org. Information: 678-526-6831, Jennifer.Hall@SunTrust.com. Patrick Fox

Two programs to help families during holidays

North Fulton Community Charities has begun two initiatives to help needy families through the holidays.

The organization seeks sponsors to “adopt a family” for the season or to provide new toys and gifts for its Santa Shop. Charity officials said they have 792 families, with 2,300 children, eligible for help.

NFCC is also mounting its Warm Coat Drive, collecting new and gently used coats and accessories for adults and children at its Holiday Distribution Site, 608 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, from 1-7 p.m. Nov. 4.

Information: 770-640-0399 ext. 208; www.nfccholiday.org. Patrick Fox

Library offers writing coaching for teens

A writing group for teens will meet Saturday at the Sandy Springs Library, helping young scribes overcome writer’s block and develop characters and plots.

The group meets at 2 p.m. at 395 Mt. Vernon Highway. Information: 404-303-6130. Johnny Edwards

Volleyball tryouts for girls on Monday

The A5 Pure Volleyball Club, a nationally-acclaimed, Junior Olympic volleyball club, will host tryouts for girls ages 12 to 18 beginning Monday at 6 p.m. at The Cooler at the Alpharetta Family Skate Center, located at 10800 Davis Dr. in Alpharetta. Registration is required.

Information: www.a5vball.com. Veronica Fields Johnson

Authors to hold book signings in Woodstock

Children’s author Danny Schnitzlein will be on hand for a book signing and story time at 11 a.m. Oct. 22 at Woodstock’s FoxTale Book Shoppe.

The shop will also host Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock (authors of “The Casserole Queens Cookbook”) at 1 p.m. Oct. 22; author Marianne Walker at 7 p.m. Oct. 26, and Karen White (author of “The Strangers on Montagu Street”) at 3 p.m. Oct. 30. Attendees are asked to RSVP for the Karen White event.

The shop is at 105 E. Main St., #138, Woodstock.

For information: 770-516-9989. Laurie Hoffman

ATLANTA

Mays schools to hold community parade

The students, faculty and alumni of Benjamin E. Mays High School have joined Emc2: Embracing Mays Community & Cluster Schools in hosting the Mays Cluster Schools & Community Parade on Oct. 22.

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Hoosier Memorial United Methodist Church, 2545 Benjamin E Mays Drive, S.W. and end at Mays High Schools, 3450 Benjamin E Mays Drive, Atlanta. Information:info@emc2now.com or 404-849-1916. Gracie Bonds Staples

All-night Visionary Arts Fair Saturday

Area 51 announces the first Annual Visionary Arts Fair of Atlanta on from 4 p.m. Saturday, to 5 a.m. Sunday, at The QUAD, Spring4th Center, 714 Spring St. N.W., Atlanta. Highlights include live paintings by Alex and Allyson Grey. Mr. Grey’s art has graced the covers of Nirvana, Tool and Beastie Boys albums. Performances, body painting, a laser light show and lectures are also included. Information: Visit www.area51presents.com or call 1-877-725-8849. Kenneth Musisi

Gala to benefit Africa’s Children’s Fund

The Africa’s Children’s Fund in conjunction with the United Culinary Chef’s Association and the American Culinary Federation presents the Taste of the World. The annual gala benefiting Africa’s Children’s Fund will be held on Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, 265 Peachtree Street NE. Information:visit www.africaschildrensfund.org. or call 770-465-6610. Sandra Marshall Murray

Wells Fargo chief to speak at press club

Wells Fargo Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer John Stumpf will speak Oct. 24 at the Atlanta Press Club.

The event will be at The Commerce Club, 191 Peachtree St., 49th floor, Atlanta. Registration will be at 11:30 a.m. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $30 for members; $40 for non-members. Tickets purchased after Oct. 21 will be an additional $5. For information: 404-577-7377. Laurie Hoffman

DEKALB

Economic development chief hired

DeKalb County has hired a former manager from the Atlanta Development Authority to oversee its economic development office.

Charles Whatley also worked for 15 years as a consultant specializing in business models, strategic and marketing plans and market forecasts.

Whatley has an undgraduate degree in economics from Yale University and a master’s in economics from Georgia Tech. He will make $168,700 in his new post. April Hunt

Doraville wins award for GM plant plans

Doraville recently won a state award for planning for its vision for the former GM plant and surrounding area.

The Georgia Planning Association gave the north DeKalb city its Outstanding Planning Document award for its Livable Centers Initiative from 2010.

That plan, known as an LCI study, is the culmination of seven months of community meetings that calls for the nearly 700-acre area in and around the former factory to become a mix of offices, condos, shops and parks. April Hunt

County contracts firm for PDK hangars

DeKalb County has signed a contract with the architectural firm that will draw plans to build 63 new hangars at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.

The $321,000 deal with the LPA Group calls for the firm to develop construction plans and specifications for the hangars to be built along a crosswinds runway near the airport’s Clairmont Road side.

The $5.6 million project likely means more planes in and out of PDK, the state’s second-business airport.

It also takes up the only available space for a central terminal, effectively killing a chance for commercial airlines to set up shop there.

The design, which is being paid from the airport’s enterprise fund, is expected to be done by year’s end.

Construction could begin by next summer. April Hunt

Decatur High to offer community education

Beginning in November Decatur High will offer community education classes at its new Career Academy taught by Emory University instructors. Initial seminars cover photography techniques and an intensive SAT Prep class.

Eventually classes will expand from 4 to 9 p.m. five days weekly in all seven classrooms. ”Some will be enjoyable-type classes, while others will offer a more intensive experience leading to various next-level certifications,” said Career & Technical Education Director Duane Sprull.

Decatur High students, faculty or staff enrolling will get a 10 percent discount. Bill Banks for the AJC

Clarkston to host kids tennis tourney

Clarkston will host a tennis tournament for children 8 years old and younger later this month at its new Milam Park courts.

Registration for the Atlanta Jr. Premium 300 is $13 and includes a t-shirt and certificate of participation.

The tournament will be held Saturday at the park, 3867 Norman Road.

More information: 770-416-4333 or ceejai@ustaatlanta.com.April Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

Group wants to halt smoking in public places

Fulton residents who want to stamp out smoking in public places can attend a coalition-building summit on Tuesday put on by Fulton County Health and Wellness and Georgia State University’s Institute of Public Health. “The Ultimate Approach to A Smoke Free Community” will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the College Park Regional Health Center, 1920 John Wesley Ave.

The summit will kick off the Smoke Free Coalition of Fulton County, with a goal of building support for smoke-free policies. Registration: 404-224-3497. Johnny Edwards

Pitts unveils new mobile website

Fulton Commissioner Robb Pitts has a mobile website for constituents on the go who want information about county services, such as birth certificates, court dates, voting precincts, employment applications and art classes. The site also gives residents updates about news and events, and it lets them contact Pitts and county departments with questions or concerns.

To access the site, text “Robb” to 99699 and follow the link within the automated reply. Or go to https://mobilezen.com/Robb from any mobile device or computer. Johnny Edwards

Clayton Republicans to meet Oct. 27

Republicans in Clayton County will hold an Oct. 27 meeting at 7 p.m. at the Jonesboro Rental Center, 7979 Jonesboro Road in Jonesboro. Featured speaker: Peachtree City businessman Bob Ross who helped found the Fayette County Issues Tea Party. Details: Geralyn Daniel 770 421-2768. Tammy Joyner

Arnall historical marker to be dedicated

A historical marker for former Gov. Ellis Arnall, one of three founders of Arnall Golden Gregory law firm, will be dedicated on Sunday in Newnan. Arnall was governor from 1943-1947 and helped found AGG two years later. He died in 1992. Tammy Joyner

Clayton NAACP to hold event Oct. 21

The Clayton County branch of the NAACP will present its “State of the Branch” address on Oct. 21 at the National Archives of Atlanta. The Rev. Curtis Gatewood, second vice president of the NAACP’s North Carolina State Conference, is keynote speaker at the 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. event, which also features food and entertainment. C. Synamon Baldwin is president of the Clayton NAACP branch. The archives is at 5780 Jonesboro Road in Morrow. Details: 770 471-0669 or claytoncountynaacp@gmail.com. Tammy Joyner

Chili competition in Fayettville Saturday

A Chili Fest and Competition on Saturday in downtown Fayetteville will benefit children in need. Fayetteville Main Street and the Fayette Shrine Club are hosting the event from noon to 3 p.m. on the lawn of the Historic Courthouse. For a small donation, guests may sample chili and salsa from 25 different cooks and vote for their favorites.

Proceeds support the Shriner Hospitals for Children, which provide specialty care for burns and other injuries regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Jill Howard Church for the AJC